Get to Know Kips Bay Designer Noel Pittman

September 11, 2022 | Elaine Raffel | | Design, Designer's Corner

Design mainstays include ceramics, textured rugs, and linen curtains. (All photos: Noel Pittman)

As one of a select group of 2022 Kips Bay Decorator Show House designers, Noel Pittman knows she’s in excellent company. Showcasing her work alongside the best of the best was the culmination of a long-time goal.

“When I decided to apply, I knew it was a long shot,” she said. “But I’ve always loved Kips Bay. The work they do is so important.”

Turns out, Noel, who moved to Dallas from Los Angeles last March, got more than she bargained for.

“I didn’t anticipate the number of people I would meet. Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. That’s been a huge bonus.”

The surprises didn’t stop there. No one could have anticipated last month’s untimely Stop Work Order, which resulted in a two-and-a-half-week standstill for Show House designers.

Yet for Noel, it was business as usual.

Work on her assigned space — the laundry room — is progressing exactly as planned. “I didn’t change a thing. I’m having a lot of fun with it. And getting my name out there is great.”

A rendering of Noel’s Kips Bay laundry room.

Thousands of new eyes — both in-person and virtually — will see her work, a style Noel describes as inviting and personal. “I think ‘layered’ is the best word. You start with your base — comfortable upholstery and your furniture plan. And then you layer in things that make a room feel truly special like cool vintage ceramics or custom throw pillows.”

She’s also a fan of texture. Rattan, wicker, and sisal show up in many of her designs. Other mainstays: Heavy linen curtains, inlaid tile, Moroccan accents, carved Spanish antiques, and ceramic lamps.

Projects include Noel’s former LA home (above) and a New York City townhouse (below).

For inspiration, Noel studies the masters: Albert Hadley (“my first interior design love”), Mark Sikes (“his work always looks comfortable and beautiful”), and Cathy Kincaid (“her rooms look so finished and well done”). The passion to create comes naturally. She inherited the design gene from her mother, interior designer Renvy Pittman.

“My mom is the most visual person I’ve ever met. She is so creative and has such a fantastic eye.”

Noel’s curated product assortment will feature vintage ceramics.

Likewise, her daughter. Next on the horizon is a curated line of shoppable furnishings and decorative items. “It’ll be a mix of antique and vintage pieces from different parts of the world,” she said. “Things that feel reflective of me.”

Get to Know Noel

Favorite colors: Blues and greens.
Top travel destinations: Marrakesh, Paris, Mexico City, and Cabo San Lucas.
Best part of the job: The final day of an install. “I really love seeing everything come together.”
Most challenging part of the job: “Anything outside my control.”
Most memorable purchase: A collection of antique Spanish lebrillos. “Fed Ex thought I was insane. The boxes were SO heavy.”

A photo of Veere Grenney’s townhouse in Tangier fueled Noel’s love of Spanish antique bowls. (Architectural Digest)

Design trend that should stay: The renewed appreciation for antiques.
And one that should go: The all-white sterile contemporary box look.
Three things I can’t live without: Design books. Window treatments. “And my dog, a husky/golden retriever mix.”
Something people wouldn’t guess about you: “I did stand-up comedy in LA during college.”
Guilty pleasures: White wine and chocolate.
Bucket list: “I’d love to see the pyramids. And maybe, one day, a book of my own.”