Dan's Papers - July 24, 2009 - The Glitz & Glamour of the Hamptons Designer Showhouse

A grand and whimsical foyer greets guests as they enter this summer's Hamptons Designer Showhouse sponsored by Traditional Home magazine. This magnificent Water Mill house, built by Farrell Building Company, is, for a short time, home to over 25 designers and decorative artists that collaborate and contrast to please the eye and challenge the imagination.

A warm yet contemporary library designed by Kristen McGinnis subtly beckons guests to grab a good book and nestle into the couch. Working with gorgeous knotty pine cabinetry, she created an engaging space that is a celebration of women artists and reflects a deep connection with nature. Look for a tribal-print inspired Chesterfield sofa, a Moroccan rug, a lush green Podocarpus and works by contemporary artists such as Michelle Oka Doner and Toots Zynsky.

Marshall Watson's delicious dining room pays homage to nature at every turn. He embraces found objects and antiques, such as his row of Bee Skeps lighting fixture by Mark Figuerado and iron topiaries repurposed as freestanding sculptures. The English Oiled walls with an oversize damask print envelop the room, bringing together the rustic textures and natural linens, such as the inventive chair slips with screen-printed names and the renewably resourced aloe carpet from Nepal.

Brad Ford created an unforgettable oasis in his screened porch. Featuring custom-built porch swings and a porcelain wind-chime installation his casually luxurious space captures the spirit of the Hamptons.

In KA Design Group's sumptuous contemporary Great Room, white, pink, brown and green furniture and art make the room pop. The mélange of color is encased in a wall wrapping of a dark, almost-black Venetian plaster, above traditional white molding. A tongue-in-cheek Vic Muniz art-from-chocolate syrup photograph compliments humorous, naughty photos by Marilyn Minter and Sarah Hobbs, as well as an angular sculpture by Xavier Veilhens.

Perhaps the most 'entertaining' room in the house is the media room by S.E.A.L. Solutions and designer Joe Ginsberg. "It's where the beach meets the circus," explained Ginsberg. The 12' by 14' rug in the space is a 100% silk Tibetan rug hand-painted watercolor design by Ginsberg. There's a unique media platform, two-tier cushioned banquette, an extra wide flat screen and roving mood lighting. The room is a fun mix of inspirations and periods, as are the films that will be shown there.

Kate Singer's fashion-inspired guest bedroom is an ideal confection for your favorite fashionista. Inspired by her favorite Vera Wang Purple Label blouse, the room incorporates purple, chartreuse and gray hues, as well as clear and reflective surfaces - mirrored chests, Lucite, crystal and chrome. Silk taffeta curtains and organza shades give the room a glamorous ball gown touch.

The master bedroom by Jenny Garrigues is both detailed and ornate, while remaining soothing. "This bedroom is so typical of the British," said Garrigues. "Unique carvings and shapes gave a more casual and exotic character to the homes."

Local design firm SY Interiors' home office features a world-class art collection. The room showcases art from Vered Gallery with ocean, equestrian and garden themes, distinctive to the Hamptons, alongside whimsical modern vintage touches such as a donut phone.

Brendan Kwinter Schwartz turned a small, windowless basement room into an haute couture Mahjong room for the lady of the house. She wrapped the room with Indian print Quadrille wallpaper on three sides and reclaimed barn wood on the fourth. A playful life-size paper-goat-with-painting installation by Ivar Theorin and other contemporary pieces sourced by curator Jayne H. Baum complete the modern game room.

The master sitting room, by Hamilton and Associates, and the master dressing room, by Kat Burki, are also both modest sized spaces that feel larger than life. Ellen Hamilton creates a cheeky slant on the sitting room with vibrant colors, floral prints, a life-size humorous photograph by Suzy Hoodless, and unique colonial Dutch furniture. The room opens onto a perfect breakfast terrace with gorgeous potted plants. Burki's room innovates with a surprisingly tranquil creamy green wall treatment and antique Japanese tables as dressing tables.

The Showhouse also features impressive spaces and design by Katie Ridder, Robert Stilin, Bradley Thiergartner, Nathan Egan, Jeff Lincoln, Victoria Burke, Brian Brady, Greg Lanza, Denise Rinfret, Lucille Khornak, Lizzie Bailey, Carrier & Co., Dinging Delight, Couture Interiors, Lydia MacLear, Dutch Petals, Just Terraces and Lle-dom Contemporary Art Glass.

The Hampton Designer Showhouse opens to the public with a Gala on July 25 to benefit Southampton Hospital. Located at 179 David's Lane, Water Mill, he Showhouse will be open daily Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 6. Admission is $30.