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INSTALLATION COCKTAILS By Billy Fong. Photography Jonathan Zizzo. ust days before Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas opened, Lauren Hudson, owner of Wells Abbott showroom, and The Wells Companies (Rose Cumming and Classic Cloth textile collections) extended a much-welcomed dinner invitation to all the design talents involved this year, as well as design- world colleagues, including Cathy Kincaid (who participated in last year's inaugural show house) and fans like me. Spirits were high, and the designers, albeit exhausted, were enthusiastic about their Kips Bay rooms. The always effervescent Hudson greeted guests and quickly got a drink into their hands. "As a Kips Bay designer last year," she told me, "I vividly remember the stress of installing my room. This year, I figured the designers could benefit from a strong Javier's margarita!" One of my favorite stories came from a decorator heavily involved in last year's inaugural show house. (I won't break the vow of trust by sharing who spilled this delicious bit of tea.) Another designer apparently slept in their show- house bed one night, as they were likely pulling an all-nighter working on last- minute details before the VIP reception. The Sleeping Beauty decorator simply re-ironed the sheets and fluffed up the pillow cushions and bolsters. Voilà! Ready for viewing. Some of those gathered were ahead of the game, such as dashing designer Javier Burkle, who had finished his room days prior. Other designers, however (once again, I won't share names — wink, wink), simply popped in for a glass of wine and a plate of the divine Javier's restaurant cuisine before heading back to the show house for final fluffing. Gathering for fuel and sustenance were Kips Bay's guiding light Nazira Handal; two of the Kips Bay co-chairs, Chad Dorsey and Trish Sheats; and Ann Whitley Wood, Sherry Hayslip, James Arsin, Philip Vanderford, Courtnay Tartt Elias, Michael Flores, Traci Connell, Shelly Rosenberg, Brian and Mike Yates, Janet Gridley, Mary Beth Wagner, and Caroline Gidiere. THE KIPS BAY PRELUDE AT WELLS ABBOTT SHOWROOM Bryan Yates Nazira Handal, Mike Yates Gretchen Norris Caroline Gidiere Chesie Breen Cathy Kincaid Dan Houchard, Liz McPhail Javier Burkle, Janet Gridley Jeremiah Johnsen Jason Jones, Jennings Ross Javier Burkle, Philip Vanderford Lauren Hudson Traci Connell Christina Dandar Sherry Hayslip James Arsin Chad Dorsey Pamela Hoffmeister watercolor paintings, and Rose Cumming Sheryl wallpaper. 86