Crafting Exquisite Interiors

with Miriam Ellner, Guillaume Féau, Peter Lane, & Brian J. McCarthy

On June 30, 2026, the ICAA was pleased to welcome four distinguished designers and artists for a conversation on the relationship between interior design and artisanship. In this panel discussion, moderated by designer Brian J. McCarthy, Miriam Ellner, Guillaume Féau, and Peter Lane explore artisanry’s impact on well-rounded design.

Miriam Ellner combines her innate curiosity with a multifaceted exploration of the ancient art of Verre Églomisé: the process of gilding precious metals on the reverse side of glass, etching in a design and setting it off with color. These seductive materials coalesce to enliven the surface of glass with luminous reflections creating moving glass paintings. She is one of few artists who have mastered this rare art form, making it fresh and relevant in the 21st century. Her work enhances private collections and design projects around the world.

Creating an extensive body of work, Miriam employs églomisé in a variety of ways. Her diverse applications include rooms completely paneled in glass, furniture, ceilings, laminated glass partitions & window screens, powder rooms, and original glass paintings. As a designer, Miriam's skills are widely recognized and have led to exceptional collaborations with world-renowned interior designers and architects including Tony Ingrao, David Collins, Williams Lawrence, Peter Marino, Michael Simon, Brian McCarthy, Alexa Hampton, Winch Design, Steven Gambrel, David Kleinberg, Wesley Moon, Thomas Jayne, Achille Salvagni and Michael Smith.

Miriam’s églomisé work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Galerie, Elle Décor, First Dibs: Introspective Magazine and Interior Design among many others. Her work has shown at The Museum of Arts and Design’s NYC Makers Exhibit. Sotheby’s has auctioned her work under the category of “Important European Furniture.”

Guillaume Féau is the Managing Director of Féau Boiseries, the renowned French house dedicated to the preservation and creation of exceptional historic wood paneling. A third-generation leader of the family business, he has spent decades championing the artistry and architectural significance of boiserie, overseeing both the restoration of 17th- and 18th-century panels and the creation of bespoke designs for contemporary interiors. Under his leadership, Féau Boiseries has expanded its international presence, bringing centuries-old French craftsmanship to leading architects, designers, and collectors around the world. Guillaume is widely regarded as a steward of French decorative arts heritage, with a deep knowledge of period styles and techniques. He frequently speaks on the intersection of history, craftsmanship, and modern design, advocating for the enduring relevance of artisanal practices. His work reflects a commitment to preserving cultural legacy while adapting it for today’s most discerning interiors.

Peter Lane is a New York based ceramic artist who specializes in large-scale architectural installations, monumental furniture, and decorative work. His imagery evokes the nature of clay at its most brutal, primal, and sensual, utilizing rough-hewn and hand-wrought direct techniques that take advantage of the character of the earth itself.

Working directly on the concrete floor of his 10,000 square foot Brooklyn studio and showroom, Peter and his expert assistants create the sculptures: mixing, throwing, pounding and stomping up to eight tons of clay at a time. While he takes his inspiration from artists like Diego Giaccometti, Alberto Burri and Paul Evans, Lane is equally influenced by his passion for the earth, for the processes of nature, and the idea of human connection.

He has been fortunate to work with so many excellent architects and designers who have specified his work in their projects, integrating site-specific designs in their luxurious interiors and gardens. Some of his clients include Chahan Minassian, Peter Marino, Jamie Bush, Joe Nahem, Emily Summers, to name a few.

Brian McCarthy founded his eponymous firm Brian J. McCarthy Inc. in 1992. Since then, he has worked on projects and residences around the globe. In 2005, Brian was invited by the U.S. Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle to design the private quarters and refurbish the State Rooms in Winfield House, the official residence of the Ambassador to the Court of St. James. A graduate of New York City's Pratt Institute, Brian is a proud member of Architectural Digest's AD100 and Elle Decor's A-List and his work has been featured in many publications, including Architectural Digest, on the cover of Galerie magazine, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, New York magazine (100 Best), the New York Times, and Veranda, as well as in several books. Brian is also the author of Luminous Interiors and Parish Hadley Tree of Life, which he co-authored with Bunny Williams, and he lectures about his work and design around the country. He was awarded The Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award from The New York School of Interior Design on March 3rd, 2020. Brian lives in New York City with his partner, Danny Sager.

The ICAA is very grateful to our Craftsmanship Series sponsor:
Kannalikham Designs

Lead Annual Public Programs Sponsor: RINCK
Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Dell Mitchell Architects
Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Hyde Park Mouldings

Thank you to our Interior Design Series Sponsors:
Lindley Martens Design
Timothy Corrigan
Tammy Connor Interior Design