Wendy Goodman & Todd Oldham: Discovering the World in Other People's Homes

Join us for a colorful conversation and slideshow of houses around the world.

Over a career spanning thirty years, design editor extraordinaire Wendy Goodman has discovered an astonishing array of private houses notable for their character, personality, and flair. An indefatigable design hunter, Goodman has found three things to be true in her quest for the marvelous. The first is that curiosity and never giving up will get you everywhere. The second is what Diana Vreeland stated best: “Few things are more fascinating than the opportunity to see how other people live during their private hours.” The third is that houses never lie.

In May I Come In?, Wendy's latest book, she visits seventy homes that capture and express their owners’ spirit and passions. Every room has a story to tell. Alba Clemente’s closet is a Renaissance theater; Amy Sedaris built a playroom (not for children); Andrew Solomon houses his guests in an igloo; Richard Avedon’s private walls were bulletin boards; Kathy Ruttenberg’s house is an animal kingdom; Jay Maisel called a former bank with seventy-two rooms home.

Profusely illustrated with superb images by leading interior photographers, as well as Goodman’s own snapshots and memorabilia related to her quests, May I Come In? is an irresistible visual record of the art of living by one of its most astute observers.

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Wendy Goodman is the author of The World of Gloria Vanderbilt and coauthor, with Hutton Wilkinson, of Tony Duquette. She has been New York magazine’s design editor since 2007. Goodman’s career began in fashion at Harper’s Bazaar, from which she went to the New York Times Magazine, where she wrote and produced fashion pages, and House and Garden, where she covered the world of style and fashion. She lives in Greenwich Village and was born and raised in New York City.

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Distinguished as the pioneer of DIY and accessible design, Todd Oldham is the founder of Todd Oldham Studio in New York City — a multi-faceted creative studio with a reputation for its constant variety of ongoing projects. Initially a celebrated couture fashion designer, Todd’s 30-plus-year career has invaded all areas of design including (but in no way limited to): interior design, furniture, film, photography, product design, graphic design and curatorial appointments. Oldham has authored and designed 23 books from monographs on artists Charley Harper, Alexander Girard and Wayne White to inspiring D.I.Y. tomes like Hand Made Modern and Kid Made Modern. His most recent book, Queer Threads, is the first overview of LGTBQIA fiber artists. Queer Threads was the recipient of the 2018 Stonewall Book Award. Efficiently delivering inventive solutions for everything from tea cups to tree-houses, Todd is well-known to TV audiences from his time as the host of ‘Todd Time’ on MTV’s House of Style. Todd currently designs the collections of art supplies and crafting kits Kid Made Modern and Hand Made Modern.