Holly Hunt ORIGINS AND ELEMENTS

metropolitan Home & sHowtime sHowHousesenior creative director joannah kornak takes on “californication”

On September 10th, Metropolitan Home unveiled their Showhouse in Manhattan’s Tribecca Summit. With 14,000 sq feet of space to design, they invited the best in the industry to revamp rooms based on popular Showtime series. With Joannah Kornak at the helm of the hollY hUnt design, choosing one of the most provocative programs on the network, this room was always destined for greatness.

It’s a show about sex. An egotistical, creatively confused, out of work writer struggles with purpose in mid-life, while battling his megalomaniac sexual addiction. Showtime’s Californication, starring David Duchovny, launches its 3rd season at the end of September. Selected out of other network favorites such as Weeds, The L Word and Dexter, this twisted yet tantalizing program served as the inspiration for hollY hUnt’s Met Home showhouse bedroom and outdoor patio design.

With a reputation for cutting edge interior design, our own Joannah Kornak has been linked with the hottest names in fashion today. In her 11 years in the industry, she has worked with the very best in fashion and interiors, including Escada, Gucci, YSL and Armani. As the Senior Creative Director for HH, Kornak continues to explore her relationship with color and culture as she sets the standard for high-end interiors, styling all 14 inside and outside showrooms as well as working on custom renovation projects like The Little Nell Hotel. With this much experience and buzz, Kornak’s showhouse bedroom was certain to exude an edge and excitement above all the rest.

From the onset of the project Kornak was determined to make her indoor/outdoor space flow together effectively and with a cohesive positive energy. She states that “every room needs to have good architecture” with the bare bones of the structure telling so much about the space, they need to be addressed along with every other aspect of the room design. This led to the creation of custom paneled wood mill-work that was installed over the windows in the room, helping to balance out the height vs. width of the space, and give focus to the exceptional penthouse view.

Every wall treatment and fabric was chosen to highlight different sections of the room, with a warm sophisticated color palette reminiscent of the laid back California style, and both visual and visceral textures begging the resident to touch and feel. Cork wallpaper was used in the entry way and a mix of rope, cowhide, linen, and leather take your senses for a ride as you move throughout.

All the design elements of the room, from the Indonesian swans swooping down the hallway wall towards a sharp thorned mirror, to the pleated drapery skirts or the coiled rope chair, send subtle messages about the connection to Californication’s character and theme. His struggles, obsessions, and idiosyncrasies are woven throughout the space making it inspired without being overly literal.

The outdoor patio is spacious and luxurious. Kornak built out the long wall fireplace and added a bevy of ivory candles to properly set the mood. The night of Met Home’s grand gala opening event, every candle was lit, rock n’ roll music was playing, and a Duchovny stand-in (played by Holly’s son Trent) was lounging in his robe writing on his laptop to properly complete the scene.

With dedicated help from Kelly Coyle and Maureen Carmichael, Joannah’s room took shape in less than a month — an impressive feat for any designer. Incorporating pieces from an array of hollY hUnt collection designers — Alison Berger, Kyle Bunting, Kevin Reilly, Frette, Christian Astuguevieille, Studio H, Great Plains, Phillip Jeffries and Blackman Cruz — this room is true representation of the HH brand aesthetic. Not about trends, but about taking risks and exploring new avenues that could lead to the best and the most beautiful spaces possible.

ProdUct l istrugs – Kyle Bunting, http://www.kylebunting.com (corridor and bedroom)

Drapery Fabric – Great Plains, www.hollyhunt.com (bedroom)

beD – Studio H, www.hollyhunt.com (bedroom)

beDDing – Frette, http://www.frette.com/ (bedroom)

penDant & Floor lamp – Alison Berger, www.hollyhunt.com (corridor)

rope cHair – Christian Astuguevieille, www.hollyhunt.com (bedroom)

outDoor Furniture – Great Outdoors, www.hollyhunt.com (outdoor space)

outDoor Fireplace wall – hollY hUnt Design Studio, N/A (outdoor space)

wall covering – Phillip Jeffries, http://www.phillipjeffries.com (corridor)

mirror – Blackman Cruz, www.blackmancruz.com/home.php (bedroom)

custom Drapery HarDware – hollY hUnt Design Studio, N/A (bedroom)

outDoor sconces – Kevin Reilly, www.hollyhunt.com (outdoor space)