Tony Freund, Joan Barzilay Freund, Alex and Michael Shuman - photo Christos Katsiaouni

Phaidon launches Defining Style with a designer gathering on the Upper East Side hosted with 1stDibs and UOVO

One hundred of the world’s leading interior designers and design media gathered at Alex and Michael Shuman’s gorgeous Upper East Side town home earlier this month to toast author Joan Barzilay Freund on the eve of the publication of Defining Style . Alex and Michael Shuman’s residence, Carriage House, is one of over 150 contemporary residential interiors from around the world featured in the book and it gave centre stage to a veritable who's who of the design world, including: Frank & Gøril Bjornson (who flew in from Sweden especially for the event), Dennis Bruns, Lotte Bruns, Adam Charlap Hyman, Billy Cotton, Kana Cussen, Michael Edward, Josh Evan, Nathalie Farman- Farma, Nina Farmer, Paris Forino, Shawn Henderson, Frank Bjornson, Alexandra Kelly, Jane Keltner de Valle, Audra Kiewiet De Jonge, Isabel Kirshner, Rodney Lawrence, Courtney McLeod, Rustam Mehta, Patrick Mele, Peter Mikic, Sarah Morgenthau, Joe Nahem, Sandra Nunnerley, Melanie Raines, Mike Rupp, Fern Santini, Tal Schori, William Sofield, Giancarlo Valle, and Carla Zhuang-Thatcher among others. Media guests included Nate Freeman from Vanity Fair, Sean Santiago from Dwell, Suzanne LaGasa from Dwell, and Natasha Gural from Forbes. Friends and family of the Freund’s and Shuman’s were also in attendance.

Guests snacked on bites by Paradis at the event, and cocktails including The Maximal and The Moody were all based on the different design styles the book's chapters are named after. Organised by 25 timeless design styles, our interiors survey inspires readers to enrich their own spaces by equipping them with ways to identify each style and what elements best speak to their ideal way of living.

Among the many rooms in Alex and Michael Shuman’s residence is the Jeffrey Bilhuber-designed sitting room. Featured in Defining Style’s Patterned chapter, it is one of over 150 contemporary residential interiors from around the world featured in the book.

Barzilay Freund’s husband, 1stDibs Editorial Director Tony Freund, sang the praises of Joan and our new book before handing over to Joan who said a few words of her own. A great and very stylish looking night was had by all, including the two African Grey Parrots, pets of the Shuman’s. Check out our photos below, all taken by Christos Katsiaouni.

Meanwhile, our friends at UOVO Art, Fashion, and Wine who co-hosted the event, are pleased to invite you to learn more about premier storage and logistics services at uovo.art. For more information, contact Alexandra Kelly, Vice President of Business Development, akelly@uovo.art.

Many people know UOVO for Art, but they also specialise in fashion and wine, too. From seasonal wardrobe switch overs, to cellar management, and art transport, they provide a one stop destination to cover client needs. UOVO operates 30 facilities across 24 markets with an expert team of industry professionals who support and provide solutions to clients across the US.

Defining Style party Kana Cussen and Hugo Grisanti - photo Christos Katsiaouni