Hampton Designer Showhouse Brings Out the Best

It was a balmy, summer night for the opening of the 13th Annual Hampton Designer Showhouse on Brick Kiln Road in Bridgehampton. I arrived at the press preview and opening gala of this year’s showhouse to catch the designers arranging the very final details before welcoming a large, celebratory crowd. The magazines, sponsors, designers and craftsmen worked tirelessly day and night to showcase a beautiful home complete with a luxurious home theater, a finely decorated patio and pool area and well-appointed “cook’s” kitchen. This year’s home feels cozy and warm and, to me, the design scheme flows well from room to room giving the feeling of an inhabited home with a cohesive plan. The colors are plentiful, there’s apple green and soft teal blue interspersed with plenty of neutral colors and textures. Many of the designers show how to use wallpaper in a modern, fresh approach, and I was particularly struck with the detailed textiles and upholstery throughout all the rooms.

This year’s home highlighted many local designers and artisans. I was impressed with wallpaper from Jack Lenor Larsen’s collection in Keith Baltimore’s Front Bedroom, inspired by Larsen’s East Hampton Longhouse Reserve, where nature in the highlight. Look for Baltimore’s brand new summer pop-up shop in Sag Harbor at 11 Bridge Street in Sag Harbor and included in Ken and Grace Kelly’s Kitchen Design Center where there are already outdoor furniture and custom kitchen displays showcased. Other local designers showed their custom work such as Bakes and Company in the state-of-the-art kitchen utilizing their custom kitchen hardware collection and a lovely combination of materials from quartz to high-end appliances. Patricia Fisher and Barbara Page are two Southampton designers bringing talent to the house this year in the Keeping Room and Back Bedroom. Fisher arranged an array of beautiful textiles including a custom-designed rug from Doris Leslie Blau. Page’s upstairs Back Bedroom was inspired by her teen daughter’s youthful style and the fresh taffeta pink curtains add a nice colorful element to a calm, serene space. Many of the designers used local showrooms such as Mecox Gardens and English Country Antiques to accessorize their spaces.

There’s no shortage of world-class design brands involved as well. The apple green dining room created by the design team for Lillian August makes a fabulous first impression. World renowned Pearson Furniture had their textile and furniture collection prominently displayed and creatively arranged by Sherrill Canet in the Family Room, and as always the Pearson Collection just keeps getting better and better. Interior designer Celerie Kemble created an awe-inspiring Master Bedroom and sitting area utilizing her finely tuned eye to create a neutral bedroom with lots of exquisite touches. She painted the atrium in the bedroom’s sitting area a soft teal blue that works well with the exquisite touches in the space. Kemble’s furniture collection from Maitland Smith and Henredon are shown in the bedroom, along with her fabric and wallpaper collections from F. Schumacher.

The outdoor area feels lived-in, not brand new, and there’s a good mixture of furniture shown, from Gloster chaise lounges to Ballard Design accessories and lanterns. The back porch designed by Bryant Kelly makes for a perfect respite after a busy afternoon in the Hamptons, and offers a shady spot to read a book or sip a sweet tea on the gorgeous antique teak furniture and Scalamandre fabric collections.

All in all this year’s home is one of my favorite Hampton Designer Showhouses yet, and with many of the designers on the same aesthetic page the house has a nice flow. There are several new sponsors this year, and the enthusiasm and community participation is a testament to the area’s
love and fascination with interior design and philanthropy.

The Hampton Designer Showhouse is open through September 2. Visit hamptondesignershowhouse.com.