My recap of the 2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse

The Hampton Designer Showhouse

1224 Scuttle Hole Road

Bridgehampton, NY

Sunday July 24 - September 4

11am-5pm




Photograph by Michael Rodenbush

 

 You may have read
my Sneak Peek of Tilton Fenwick's Family Room

last week before
The Hampton Designer Showhouse opened



Sharing a few laughs with the ladies of Tilton Fenwick before the showhouse opens

  So, this week let's take a look at all the "happenings" leading up to this fun event in Bridgehampton and a glimpse of some of my favorite rooms at the house. There was the stellar Barn Bake BBQ hosted by publisher Beth Brenner and Editor-In-Chief Anne Maine of Traditional Home magazine.   

The design crowd turned out for a balmy evening in Bridgehampton on one of the Hampton's most picturesque farms:




All photographs below by my eager son, Miles Stephenson

   

Nova Art Center in Bridgehampton




a beautiful sunset
on one of the hottest days of the year (100 degrees)!

  


Here I am with hostess Beth Brenner (publisher, Traditional Home).  They truly know how to put together a fabulous party:  lobster, beautiful art, delicious spirits and great company!

 

above right:  Did you attend Blogfest? 

Remember these amazing ladies who spoiled us from Kravet (Beth Greene, Anne Feldstein)  and the New York Design Center's (Alix Lerman) 

below left Kravet folks, Tobi Fairley and me enjoying the festivities. 

Tobi (named by Traditional Home at one of the top 20 designers to watch this year) designed a bright and cheery bedroom at the house with a hot pink striped painted ceiling.  To me, it was a throwback to good old-fashioned southern preppy chic. 

Even Patrick McMullan came out for the festivities --
here my son Miles turned the camera on the photographer extraordinaire.

HGTV made the rounds,

Brad Ford proudly showcased his unique bar (remember this beauty at this year's Diffa By Design event?),

complete with sunflowers and delicious spiked punch

Patricia Fisher and me (with our hubbys) chatting about the glamorous blue guest bedroom she designed for the house

Next, the Opening Preview Party held at the Showhouse...another balmy evening:

I popped into the lovely guest house
and found Eileen Kathryn Boyd's stylish pool house decor

She made some gorgeous beach bags with her new line of fabric.  These bags caught my eye --- Eileen chatted with me about her fabric line carried by Duralee 

I covet these bags -- eye candy!

Eileen posed for me to showcase her bags and fabrics

Our colors worked nicely together, don't you think?
  my Kelly green dress and her turquoise and white gauzy halter dress

It is all very beachy, but the colors of Eileen's line got my attention:  fabrics are bold, yet with great taste - we both agreed this particular color combination of purple and turquoise worked well!

   

Next, let's go inside to check out the large, vaulted living room designed by Lillian August:
  take a look at what their talented in-house design team
Skye Kirby Wescott and Angela Camarda
served up for this year's event:

Photographs provided by Lorin Klaris 

A muted palette sets a soothing tone. The beautiful custom designed rug is the piece de resistance of the room. Dan proudly showed me the detailed work in the rug, custom upholstery, interesting accessories, antique credenza, an antique mirror over the fireplace, and this incredible art work taking cues from landscape design.



stacks of Lillian Augusts magazine --
did you know they write a magazine as well?



trellis and garden elements in the table and art...you must view this up close to appreciate the detailing with architecture and landscape art as the muse.

  

More about the company Lillian August

Lillian August website



Lillian August started with a shop in Connecticut over 25 years ago, and now they've grown into a leader in the industry with over five locations.  Some of the products they offer: custom designed rugs, fabrics, furniture and accessories.  They even sell antiques!  Lillian August reps many popular furniture lines, but they also create their own furniture line.  The family-owned company is run by Lillian and her two sons, Dan and John.  Dan gave me a thorough tour of the room at the showhouse days before it opened, and said to look for more of their own furniture in the future.  With a talented in-house staff, Lillian August offers full-service interior design, and also maintains friendly relationships working well with outside designers. 



sons Dan and John opening the store in NYC

I recently read their magazine and it's chock full of information

Lorin Klaris (Dan's wife) invited me into the NYC showroom back in May for lunch and a tour of the fabulous new digs on 20th street. Set in the former Sam Flax building it runs the span of two blocks and spacious 17,000 square feet of products and creatively designed vignettes offer varying styles from traditional to contemporary. The Connecticut showroom is magnificent utilizing 100,000 square feet of space -- that's room for lots of product!




New York City Showroom, photograph courtesy of Apartment Therapy. 
 Read AT's blog post about designer Skye Kirby.

I hope you get a chance to stop by the Showhouse
see the rooms and chat with the designers,
but in case you are not able, 
thought I'd give you a glimpse. 

Next week, new topic for August:
"Foodies" and entertaining
in the Hamptons and first post, 
my
LA FONDITA family party