Nicky Haslam's "A Designer's Life: An Archive of Inspired Design and Décor," Rizzoli, 2015.

An array of the Bay Area’s leading interior designers are sponsoring a spectacular event dedicated to the legendary Nicky Haslam. Organized by the Northern California Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), The Decorators Host the Decorator will include a reception and book signing for Haslam’s monograph A Designer’s Life: An Archive of Inspired Design and Décor. Published by Rizzoli earlier this year, A Designer’s Life explores the enduring appeal of Haslam’s English-style interiors.

Haslam founded NH Design in 1972 and quickly emerged as one of the world’s most unique and daring designers. Widely credited with reinventing interior design in Britain and the United States, Haslam is also a well-known socialite, artist, cabaret singer, book reviewer, art editor, memoirist, and literary editor. His singular aesthetic, which is opulent, magnetic, and timeless, is underlined by a dedication to liveability, which he achieves by layering classical elements with a modern contemporary outlook. Much like Haslam himself, his interiors are immediately identifiable thanks to their liveliness, charm, and wit.

In A Designer’s Life, Haslam shares materials from both his personal scrapbook and professional archive to highlight pivotal moments in his spectacular career, his most celebrated interiors, and the inspirations behind his unique creative vision. Following the reception and book signing, Haslam will present an illustrated lecture where he will share insights into his glamorous world of royalty, celebrities, and design. Among Haslam’s most notable clients are Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, and Charles Saatchi. He has also designed the décors for some of the ritziest parties of our age, including the Opera Ball in Hong Kong and events for the Prince and Princess of Wales, Lord Rothschild, Simon and Jennifer Murray, Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild, the Cartier Polo gala lunches at Windsor, a candle-lit dinner at the State Apartments in Kensington Palace as well as a National Gallery banquet.

An interior by Nicky Haslam from "A Designer's Life: An Archive of Inspired Design and Décor," Rizzoli, 2015.

The leading interior designers sponsoring The Decorators Host the Decorator include Suzanne Tucker, the founder of the renowned firm Tucker & Marks and a master at creating spaces that are impossibly elegant yet warm and approachable; Jay Jeffers, the founder of Jeffers Design Group, who is known for his luxurious yet livable interiors that are infused with a soulful energy; Allison Caccoma, a protégé of the inimitable Bunny Williams and an expert at crafting timeless interiors that are firmly rooted in tradition yet boast a contemporary appeal; Pamela Babey and Steve Henry of BAMO, a firm specializing in elegant and functional spaces; Geoffrey de Sousa and Erik Hughes of de Sousa Hughes, a source for professional interior designers seeking contemporary innovative home furnishings as well as a design firm that specializes in creating exceptional spaces; Jeffrey Holt and Peter West of HEWN, a showroom created and tailored to serve the unique needs of interior design and architectural professionals; Kathleen Navarra, the founder of Navarra Design and an expert at creating innovative interiors that exude a sense of classic simplicity with a modern twist; Kendall Wilkinson of Kendall Wilkinson Design, a firm dedicated to creating artful, timeless, and fulfilling personal spaces; Amy Weaver of Weaver Design Group, a boutique firm that specializes in crafting enduring interiors that reflect their clients’ lifestyles and needs; Antonio Martins, a designer who brings an eclectic approach to his interiors by incorporating an interesting mix of antiques, modern artwork, and contemporary furniture; and Heidi Gerpheide, the publisher of California Homes, a magazine focused on architecture, the arts, and distinctive design.

An interior by Nicky Haslam from "A Designer's Life: An Archive of Inspired Design and Décor," Rizzoli, 2015.

The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art is dedicated to advancing the contemporary practice, preservation, and appreciation of the classical tradition in regional architecture and the allied arts. The ICAA Northern California Chapter was founded in 2004 and its membership is comprised of dedicated architects, interior designers, landscape designers, allied professionals, assorted vendors, community leaders, patrons of arts, and like-minded individuals. The Institute fulfills its mission through education, publications, awards, and advocacy.

"The Decorators Host the Decorator" will talk place on Monday, May 11, at the Walt Disney Family Museum in The Presidio of San Francisco.