Holiday House 2015 ~ part 3

sketch:Andrea Selby

There was so much good design to cover, it took a whopping 3 posts in order to do it.  That speaks volumes about how good this show house is.  You only have till Dec. 3rd to get there and see it for yourself.

The colors of sun, sand, and sea convey the Summer Solstice celebrating summer and the rising of the blue moon by Drew McGurkin.  I immediately felt calm in this space, but it wasn't for the lack of pattern.  The elements played off one another beautifully.  The custom mirror/desk combination with Robert Allen's new paper backed fabrics for wallpaper application are making their debut to stunning effect.  Pretty paintings by Kelly Neidig referenced a water's edge that gave rise to dimension more than color in the room.  I kind of loved that!

This pied-à-terre by Kathleen Walsh is like my NYC dream come true!  In collaboration with Gaggenau, a small space like this designed for a globetrotting woman warrants a "staycation" for however long or short she may be enjoying the well appointed space.  "Is functional, it's trendy, it's lavish."  I could move right in!

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite space, but Darrin Varden's room definitely spoke to me, or rather he spoke to me.  I was mesmerized listening to Darrin explain the spiritual journey he is on and the deeper meaning and metaphors behind much of the design incorporated into his St. Valentine's Day space.  The darker side of romance is exposed in this custom designed, seductive, hedonistic bedroom with undertones of sadomasochism.  The garnet velvet custom bed/sofa by Luigi Gentile took center stage.  The ravishing ombre Bodhi leaf wall referenced where Buddha was enlightened.  The cocktail table with it's natural volcanic rock sides speaks to the rocky side of love.  Less subtle, but no less fun are the Hershey kisses filling the fireplace, the cherry sculpture, and the bondage accouterments leaving one a little hot under the collar.

"After the Ball Drops," a little jewel of a room, reminded me of my parents' bedroom growing up.  It was an enveloping dark emerald green space, similar to this with all its textural surfaces.  The father daughter design duo Calder Design Group gave us a clue to the theme with mirrored balls, gleaming surfaces, and luxe materials.

Glamping looks good in the hands of Vicente Wolf.  The outdoors is brought in with a custom dome like tent, or yurt as I called it, full of state of the art audio, and visual systems, antiques and the creature comforts that elevate any camping experience.  We know we're in for a surprise, because Vicente does what he does best ~ takes us on a journey

                                                             It's one thing to travel
                                                          It's another thing to explore

And that does it for another Holiday House.... till the Hamptons this summer that is.

Holiday House 2015 ~ part 2

Antonino  Buzzetta's Mother's Day room, awash in pink, is a reminder that CANCER SUCKS!  The XOXO neon art was a jumping off point, inspired by Antonino's love for his mom (that's beautiful.) Street artist Bradley Theodore's funky portraits of strong women adorned most of the walls, and the strength of pattern throughout was a perfect counterpoint in this feminine room.  Bradley USA custom made all the furniture for the room.  Anthony said, "Cancer is ugly!"  One way he feels he can help is by making a pretty room in an effort to raise money to hopefully eradicate it in our lifetime.

The Home for the Holidays bedroom by international designer Paris Forino is a restful artist's respite.  Like a delicious intermezzo between two very bold rooms, it had an ethereal, rich flavor.  Art from Neuhaus Gallery and fabrics by one of my favorites, Jim Thompson, made this room feel like an homage to a world traveler reveling in treasures found from around the globe.

A happy accident in the way of the wrong wallpaper being delivered to Marks & Frantz's room totally made the space eclectic and visually exciting.  The duo known for fashion forward, whimsical spaces  noticed a trend recently.  Their clients have been requesting games be incorporated into their spaces; thus Game Night was born.  This beautiful, richly layered, multi tasking room was designed for fun and games.  The scotch tasting was a nice touch.

Julia Buckingham has been a busy girl!  She just rolled out a collection for Global Views (see story here) and she has been promoting it in lots of fun filled ways.  Her room at Holiday House,
Holi Festival of Colors, signifies the coming of Spring in India and Nepal.  Happy colors and pattern embody her spirit and achieve her main objective of bringing that spirit into the design of the room. Julia was working with a woman who was battling cancer during the project.  This woman said she wanted to keep going with the decorating because it brought her joy during a difficult time.  NEVER underestimate the power of a beautifully designed environment!

I loved the way Katie Scott merged her 2 passions, that of interiors and jewelry design.  This Houston designer made the most out of a few small spaces! The ladies lounge or private space, celebrating a Golden Anniversary was infused with dark colors, metallics, and jewel like accessories with sex appeal.  I just followed the fabulous lighting.  A percentage of her jewelry sales will be donated to BCRF.

Speaking of jewel like spaces ~ Rio Hamilton's graphic Charging Station yielded high drama in a small space!  The obvious focal point of the room was the oversized painting by artist Andrea Selby, depicting a woman who beat cancer, passed her 5 year mark, and is celebrating at her favorite cafe in Paris.  Not to be overshadowed is the (almost) priceless turn of the century frame where each side is made out of a single piece of elaborately carved wood by Lowy.

It became the unofficial hot spot for a photo op as demonstrated by Tamara, Rio and myself.

We're not done yet.  Stay tuned, there's more....

Holiday House 2015~ Part 1

Since 2008, Holiday House has grown into a dynamic show house with talented top tier designers, inspired by a holiday, to benefit breast cancer research.  Each year the bar is raised a little higher.  This year was no exception, and was I impressed!

Jenny Dina Kirchner's ladies lounge (above) packed a punch!  She made the most out of a small space.  All Hallows Eve was her holiday with an angels and saints theme.  The furniture and textiles were from Donghia, and eye popping art by Ginestroni.  She wanted a "fun, funky, wild space."  She got (created) it.

The "St Andrews Day" grand salon by James Riner celebrates all things Scottish.  One of the sponsors of Holiday House is the Scottish Luxury Brand Council, so it was fitting that James paid homage to them when creating a relaxed, inviting, multi tasking room.  A room for relaxation and entertaining, heavy with pops of primary color, warm woods and rich plaids.

Nothing says Boxing Day like beautiful ribbon clad boxes cleverly piled high in the fireplace; promises of gifts for the help that inevitably would have lived there in a different time.  Warm wood paneling, leaded glass windows, beautiful European mid-century antiques, hints of lavender and mint, sumptuous textiles, and a striking painting by Mary Nelson Sinclair are all parts of the carefully curated library, completely reflective of  Robert Passel's  warm, refined livable spaces.

 Snow Day was this year's holiday for Bjorn Bjornsson's dining room.  Wrapped in white, crystal, Christopher Guy furniture and mirror, it's a nice place to cuddle up on a "snow day."  One of the nice things about this particular show house is that it is in the same place, the Academy Mansion, year after year.  I get a kick out of seeing different designers put their stamp on these same spaces.  The bones of the dining or sitting room always make it a stand out.  You have to keep that in mind when making a strong design statement; keeping your attention at eye level when grounding the room.

Champion Platt's therapist's office is a "Turkish delight."  Inspired by Nardoqan, the Turkish winter solstice.  It is said that is when the darkness and evil are defeated by the emergence of the new sun.  The warm, cozy room is enveloped in symbolism: intricate Turkish rugs, a shadowy palette, and unexpected function set you on a transformational journey from darkness to light. 

I have been in a therapist's office a time or two ~ I wish it looked like this.  Think of how open you would feel enveloped in a beautifully decorated, calm environment!

Stay tune for Part deux

photos: via Alan Barry, CoolHunting, CLI