HAMPTON DESIGNER SHOWHOUSE DIARY

 photo by Eric Stiffler

I'm so excited to share with you all my room for this year's Hamptons Designer Showhouse sponsored by Traditional Home. It's such an honor to be chosen to participate and I was thrilled to be asked to design the dining room for the house.

Color inspiration for the room came from the Atlantic ocean and bucolic farmland that surrounds the Hamptons. I chose various shades of ocean blue punctuated by green as the color scheme for the room.  

When it comes to designing a room for a showhouse, it really does "take a village" and I was privileged to work with some fabulous partners. Beacon Hill provided me with fabric for the room and their glamorous Sakura stripe in Neptune was the starting point for my design. I love this print! The awning stripe, a summer classic, is elevated in glamorous silk with shades of ocean blues and white.  

I covered a lucite bench in Robert Allen's Perfect Wave in Calypso blue-- a whimsical print with the perfect beachy vibe.  

The room, shown below in a "before" photo has a large bay window and a pretty coffered ceiling but it needed some color!

Phillip Jeffries Juicy Jute in Tantalizing Teal had just the right pop of color for the walls. 

 The textured grasscloth has a beautiful sheen that reflects the rooms natural light and adds depth and texture.

 Pratt and Lambert's November, a subtle blue-gray paint color with a slight glaze added dimension to the coffered ceilings. 

There's so much more to go over! Next post will feature furnishings, lighting and art-

  

TRENDING-- WALLPAPERED CEILINGS ON THE RISE

Lacquered, wainscotted and stenciled, ceilings have gone from flat to fabulous bringing the eyes upward making "the fifth wall" decors latest star. Kelly Wearstler kick started the trend by featuring her bold and graphic designs on top. Her graphic stripes, bold geometric designs and whimsical spatter's have graced the ceilings of stars like Cameron Diaz bringing an added layer of energy and artistic elegance to the room. 

Wearstler's mod and playful girl's bedroom

Love the horizontal lines juxtaposed with swirled granite

Cameron Diaz's muted bedroom gets a boost from gold caned wallpaper

Malachite on the ceiling? Yes! Shelly Johnstone Pashke has embraced the trend with gorgeous results.

Muted wallpaper balances the rich lacquered walls.

Cole & Sons Hicks wallpaper looks gorgeous paired with blue kitchen cabinets

I'm ready to jump on the trend. My latest design project includes a sitting room layered with texture in soothing shades of cream and white. The element of surprise? A wallpapered ceiling-bold and graphic or subtle and sophisticated?  I'll keep you posted...

VALENTINE CRUSH-I HAVE MORE THAN ONE

A heart shaped box of chocolates, always delicious, but where's the surprise? Get hearts racing with one of my Valentine crushes- 

 Bodacious Lips red skimmer slippers from Stubbs and Wootton will set hearts aflutter.

Rouge Louboutin-a stiletto topped bottle of red lacquer to match the bottom of your Louboutins, naturally.

Delicate Peonies by Aerin are sure to make a lasting impression.

Big on bling-Kara Ross + Donald Robertson's edgy leather tote is the ultimate go to accessory.

Just sayin'-love this 14K necklace from Jennifer Meyer.

Add a little bubbly to the bath--Lush's Lonely Heart bath fizz is really the bomb!

MY DATE WITH KATE AND WILLIAM

The GORGEOUS couple

During their recent whirlwind three day visit, Kate and William squeezed in dinner with moi. OK, there were a few others there, 450 to be exact--but it felt intimate and very special.  

Prince William's Place Setting

Shhhh! I was one of a handful that knew the Prince and Princess would be traveling to to New York to celebrate the 600th Anniversary of St. Andrews nearly 14 months ago but couldn't tell anyone. As part of the St. Andrews parents benefit committee, (my daughter CeCe attended) we were a group of about twenty that worked on planning the gala benefit and were sworn to royal secrecy. 

Kate and Will St. Andrews Graduation Day

As you may know, Kate and William met and fell in love at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. With the 600th Anniversary approaching, they wanted to do something special for the school (and help fund the University's endowment) with a gala in NYC. We knew a party at the Metropolitan Museum would be spectacular, and it was.

St. Andrews Grads in their traditional red robes holding ribbons to keep us back!

Cocktails were held in the Mets Great Hall, the majestic entry to the museum. Its a neoclassic work of art with three immense domes and a series of grand arches--the perfect reception area to greet a Prince and Princess. Cocktails had a decidedly Scottish flair with a whiskey tasting bar and mini Scottish haggis puffs. I went Continental with a glass of French champagne and a cavier blini. 

Me glammed up and waiting...

With a flurry of paparazzi bulbs and a regal announcement Kate and Will were lead through the room in a small procession. St. Andrews graduates in their red robes greeted them on each side as they made their way down the hall. While photos were forbidden, most of us couldn't help sneaking our iPhone out and taking a quick shot or two as they made their way in.  

Kate charmed the pants off Anna Wintour and Mary Kate Olsen

Kate was simply radiant in a midnight blue pleated gown with her hair swept up in a side chignon that showed off her emerald and diamond chandelier earrings. 

Anna and Kate dishing at the bar

You absolutely need a bag pipe player

Princess Eugenie made the party too.

Dinner was held in the Temple of Dendur. It's an imposing and glamorous space even in the light of day.  At night with dramatic lighting, jewel toned flowers and bag pipers in their tartan it was warm, intimate, spectacular.

I loved working on the rooms table decor. We kept it traditional with a St. Andrews plaid topper which covered a gold silk tablecloth. Flowers in golds and deep reds were layered on the table and added warmth and glamour to the room.

Kate and William's table post party

William's speech touched on his fondness for the University, it's traditions and of course, the fact that he met his future wife there--he was funny and charming! 

A perfect ending to the evening: Kate was presented with a baby St. Andrews red robe for her future prince or princess!

Something Gave At The Something's Gotta Give House

I recently received a call from a friend about an estate sale that was being held at the fabled "Something's Gotta Give" house in Southampton. The movie has become a classic--not just because it features A-list actors Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, but because so many people have fallen in love with the "quintessential Hamptons beach house" where the movie took place.

Home today

The stunning oceanfront built in 2000 resides on tony Meadow Lane in Southampton and has quite a loyal fan base. Charming and picturesque, the estate features a sloped roof line, wooden shingles and expansive porches, perfect for summer drinks. The kicker of course is the priceless beachfront vista (well almost priceless, it recently sold for 41 million.)

Ocean front views

The interiors, designed for the 2003 movie by Beth Rubino, strikes just the right note of class and comfort. Beautiful transom windows and custom wood paneled walls painted a soft white sets the tone for one of the most loved and lusted living rooms. A pair of sea glass blue slip covered sofas house a collection of billowy pillows. Soft lighting from table lamps and an enormous tufted ottoman filled with candles, books and and a cashmere throw lend a cultivated elegance to the room. Even the sea blue striped dhurrie (which is now housed in my bedroom-see story here) adds a thoughtful contrast to the muted palette. The room is stylish and welcoming--a put your feet up, have a glass of rose and stay a while kind of room that is instantly relatable. I think what appeals most is that this "staged" room doesn't feel staged at all. Yes, I'm a big fan!

Iconic living room

Dining Room

Movie set kitchen

Actual kitchen

Back to the estate sale, which was scheduled to take place on a Friday-Saturday. I knew that anything worth buying would be scooped up within the first few hours and I arrived about an hour into the sale with about one hundred people milling about. While I knew the interiors for the movie were filmed mostly on a Hollywood soundstage, I was hoping for a chance to walk through the house and see if it still had the same elegant beach vibe I had long admired. 

Cosy nook in the movie

 Room photos from estate sale

I was disappointed--the exteriors where unchanged from the movie, but the interiors were lackluster. The second floor bedrooms were taped off as was the first floor master. We were relegated to the living room, dining room and kitchen which were filled with mismatched one-offs, dark carpets, heavy furniture and bric-a-brac waiting to be sold.  

I guess its true--you can never go back!