The Chelsea Passage home goods section of Barneys New York on Madison Avenue is now playing temporary home to interior designer Kelly Behun’s pop-up. Running until October 31, the immersive shop, called A Kook Milieu, features a capsule collection including new pieces from Behun’s line, exclusive pieces designed by Behun for Barneys New York, and extra pieces she selected specifically for the space, hewing to an aesthetic of gallerist Holly Solomon, a leader of the Pattern and Decoration movement of the 1970s and ’80s and one of Behun’s inspirations.

Behun chats with EAL about the unique merging and mingling of art, design and home:

How did the partnership/pop-up with Barneys originally come about?
I was introduced to Tom Kalenderian of Barneys New York several years ago at an exhibition I did at R 20th Gallery in Tribeca. When I was approached by Toni Russo (buyer at Chelsea Passage) to do a pop-up, I was thrilled—I can’t think of a better place to launch my new collection than Barneys, as they share my enthusiasm for great design and I have always admired their rule-breaking vision as a retailer.

What is your relationship to Holly Solomon’s work?
Holly Solomon’s groundbreaking approach to blurring the lines between art and design has served as an important inspiration to my work. She was fearless and uninhibited in the way she incorporated art and design into her home, and I wanted to reflect that spirit in this collection.

Can you share a few of the objects and items that will appear in the pop-up shop? 
The collection includes cashmere throws, silkscreened and laser-etched suede pillows, wood marquetry lazy Susans, trays and tables, lacquer trays, vases and coasters, stone mosaic dining tables, a tasseled wall mirror and console, and mohair club chairs— all made in limited production. There will also be a new series of rugs designed in collaboration with handmade rug specialist Tai Ping. 

How did you determine which artisans to collaborate with?
Tai Ping, Foglizzo and Enzo, for example, were no-brainers because their quality is unparalleled. I also collaborated with and commissioned a number of ceramic pieces by artists who I have either been collecting personally for years or who I’ve been just very recently excited to discover.