A fabulous showhouse hits the Hamptons -- a Sneak Peek at the talented team of Tilton Fenwick
Welcome
Suysel DePedro Cunningham
and Anne Maxwell Foster
of design firm Tilton Fenwick
to the
2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse
2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse
 |
| Anne( left) and Suysel (right) resting momentarily for a quick photo after a long day of installation |
see below a sneak peek of
opening later this week in Bridgehampton.
You may have read the informative interview my friend Ronda Carman of All The Best blog wrote recently about Anne and Suysel of Tilton Fenwick. Ronda gives us an up-close look at what makes this team work -- read Ronda's interview with Anne and Suysel here. I am grateful to these two ladies for inviting me into their world for a few moments, amidst the hustle and bustle and makings of a showhouse. On Thursday there were trucks delivering furniture, designers working tirelessly to get their spaces ready for the upcoming show and photographers milling about. I made my way downstairs to the basement of this cavernous home to find a very calm design couple completely finished with their project. Anne and Suysel are the design team of the now famous firm Tilton Fenwick (TradHome recently named them one of the 20 New Trad designers). The ladies tell me they are thrilled to be given this honor, and only after one year in business together. Although these two admit they 're tired, they are composed and the room is impeccably turned out days before the opening of the showhouse -- now that's professionalism don't you think?
Both Anne and Suysel are warm, conversational and very supportive to other designers in the industry. They happily give me a tour of the house, pointing out their favorite rooms, as well as sharing tidbits of their own background with me. What I particularly enjoy about their design aesthetic is their philosophy of using high-end custom work yet peppered in with bargain pieces. They decorate the way they live and that is certainly a refreshing point of view. Suysel shares with me a "before" photograph of the basement while divulging she even cried when first seeing the space.
Thankfully, they have a nice window to work with and built the room around a comfortable, stylish ideology of easy and elegant living in eastern Long Island. The green and blue color story with shots of deep purple is soothing. The deep green banquettes, all set in a four square, anchor the room. The sober studded wallpaper frames the space nicely, giving a clean, tailored feeling and the whimsical floral fabrics balances it out well, creating a layered feeling without overwhelming. I become ensconced on a hot, sunny day, and find the room a calm respite, imagining a relaxing afternoon sipping Iced Tea while maybe playing a game of backgammon with friends. Overhead in the center of the room is a beautiful patina'd Vaughn lamp, and to the left a stylish and stocked bar complete with local popcorn and spirits.
I encourage you to stop by the showhouse while in Bridgehampton next weekend - and don't forget to pop downstairs to take in the fabulous space for yourself!
THE BEFORE:
THE SKETCH:
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| Photograph courtesy of Michael Rodenbush THE AFTER: |
See below a few close up shots I took with my cell phone -- not great photography but I want to show the details of this well thought out room:
the ladies point out the high/low detailing with these curtains. The fabric is a simple inexpensive cotton (the bargain), but beautifully lined and trimmed with a punchy Brunschwig & Fils fabric (the splurge)
The same B&F fabric for the skirt with a shot of color (blue lamp)
this custom designed faux ostrich skin studded table is luxurious
The lamps from Circa lighting with custom designed shades
I love both these chairs -- the striped one with the amazing floral fabric running down the center is very appealing. I like how the chair sits low and swivels. The grand tortoise shell number below is a statement piece and covered in black horse hair -- it's divine!
The natural elements, mixed with the high-end custom pieces and sprinkled in with bargain items, creates an elegant ambiance that feels very
"Hampton Style"
Happy Nesting
XO Tamara
