The stunning Kelly Behun has been a force in the design world since 1994 when she joined Ian Schrager’s in-house hotel design studio and trained under the great Philippe Starck. After years of success as an integral member of the design teams responsible for the Delano, Mondrian and more,  Kelly opened kelly behun|STUDIO, specializing in residential design that operates on a laboratory model where experimentation is encouraged and a hands on approach produces customized environments unique to each client. SUITE NY is proud to carry her new Neo Laminati furniture line. Inspired by Ettore Sottsass’ and the New International Style of the Memphis Group from the 1980’s, the collection is realized in the finest laminate from Abet Laminati, the world’s leading manufacturer of decorative laminate. (Founded in 1950, it is the same studio that created work for the Memphis group.) The patterned laminates were specially designed by kelly behun| STUDIO and are made locally in Brooklyn. A chair, bench, two tables and a set of psychedelic Lazy Susans round out the collection.

My top three influences are…

Just living in New York is an endless source of inspiration. But if I had to pick three work influences they would be movies, contemporary art and design blogs. I love the way a good movie can transport you, always enjoy going to galleries especially to see emerging artists, and there are just so many good design blogs and websites out there I find myself getting completely engrossed and seduced by the beauty and talent that I see. But with the blogs especially I can get too immersed and become overwhelmed by it all. It’s a bit like Paris that way, so much beauty everywhere it almost hurts. I literally find myself getting overstimulated by it all, then have to step away from the computer and stare at a blank wall for a few minutes to recover. Or go to bed because it’s usually 1am at that point.

A favorite SUITE New York product is…

It’s such a beautifully and thoughtfully curated collection it would be impossible to pick a favorite, so I’ll mention a few: the Tre 3 Chair and Eros Table by Mangiarotti are timelessly elegant, the Dominioni Catilina Chairs are really chic and the Nendo Mirror Chair / Mirror Stool just feels really fresh.

It’s Sunday morning, I’m…

Meditating with my sons Arno & Miles then off to church. We tap into the intense gratitude we feel, but I’m Catholic so there’s the requisite guilt as well.

My dream project is…

Come to think of it a church would be pretty great. Or a tree house.

Currently, I’m most excited about…

Working with the SUITE NY gang! I’m so excited that they are the first to carry my Neo-Laminati line of furniture and accessories and I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship…

I’d be lost without…

My husband and two sons, they are everything good wrapped up into three handsome packages. And post-it notes.