Designer Houses & Heavenly Gardens
The 2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse
Last year I attended the Hampton Designer Showhouse benefiting Southampton Hospital—twice. The first time I went solo, but there was so much to see that I returned a week later with my favorite contractor. It’s always a lot to take in, a real feast for the senses of design junkies like us.
The Hampton Designer Showhouse, now in its 11th year, has become a premier showcase for America’s top design talent. This season, approximately 25 A-list interior designers and decorative artists have taken on an enormous shingle-style house in Bridgehampton and turned it into a magazine-worthy masterpiece, one room at a time. The Showhouse, located at 1224 Scuttle Hole Road in Bridgehampton (north of the traffic circle), will have a six-week run, kicking off with a sneak peek preview party on Saturday night.
You can easily get lost in the splendors of the Hampton Designer Showhouse for at least a couple of hours, visiting the eclectic rooms, studying the designers’ materials and strolling the grounds and “outdoor rooms.” Last year I enjoyed ending my self-guided tour with a stop at the on-site Showhouse boutique. [expand]
Legendary interior designer Mario Buatta is serving as Honorary Showhouse Chairman, and interior designers Jamie Drake and Alexa Hampton are the Honorary Design Co-Chairs. All three luminaries of the home design world will attend the Gala Preview Cocktail Party on Saturday, July 23, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Showhouse itself will be open for six weeks, from Sunday, July 24 to Sunday, September 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2011 Hamptons Designer Showhouse, presented by Traditional Home magazine and benefiting Southampton Hospital, 1224 Scuttle Hole Road, Bridgehampton. Admission $30, including an official 2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse Journal. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at www.hamptondesignershowcouse.com. No admission 30 minutes before closing. No strollers, infants, children under 6, or pets are admitted. Gala tickets are $225 each. For more information call 631-745-0004.
And don’t miss…
The 8th Annual Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center House and Garden Tour
This house and garden tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the gracious living that epitomizes Hamptons style. Benefiting the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, the self-guided tour takes place Friday, July 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can begin this design tour at any of its spectacular locations, setting your own pace and choosing the order in which you want to tour the properties. With breathtaking ocean views, manicured landscapes and exquisite decor, these special homes and gardens showcase the best examples of design and architecture on the East End. Don’t miss the charming boutique at the Westhampton Country Club, open to all joining the tour. Luncheon is included in the full-day package.
Tickets are $75 for the tour only or $100 for the full-day package. They are available at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Box Office, 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach, or online at www.whbpac.org. Call 631-288-1500 for more information. [/expand]