The Kaleidoscope Project Celebrates BIPOC Designers by Transforming Historic Inn into a Showhouse
May 25, 2021
Room by Rasheeda Gray. Photography by Frank Frances.
Tucked away in the Berkshires, a historic inn has morphed into a showhouse of diverse design talent after co-founders of The Kaleidoscope Project—Amy Lynn Schwartzbard, Patti Carpenter, and Liz Nightingale—dreamed up the idea nearly six months ago. “It feels really surreal,” says Carpenter, who also is principal of carpenter + company, about walking through the Cornell Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts, where the works are on display.
The Cornell Inn, open to visitors through June 6, features works by 23 BIPOC designers who transformed 21 rooms in the main building and nearby carriage house into vibrant and inviting spaces working closely with The Shade Store, which supplied all the custom window treatments. The window treatments are inspired by three central design themes and color schemes—restful (neutrals), reflection (cool tones), and rejuvenate (warm hues). “We wanted to bring more diverse voices to the table; to expand the concept of beauty so it’s not so euro-centric,” Carpenter shares, noting that those featured live and work throughout the country, bringing their own unique experiences to the project. In doing so, the showhouse aligns with The Kaleidoscope Project's mission, which aims to foster the careers of underrepresented designers and improve representation in the industry.