Home Is Where the Heart Is Designer Showhouse

‘My goal was to creat a warm, welcoming entry for this magnificent Neoclassical mansion,’ says Eva Karsai of Eva Art & Design, Inc.

‘The inspiration was the building itself and its surroundings. In order to continue the feel and also complement the grand exterior entry, I finished the vestibule with faux limestone blocks using marblestone plaster material. Two trompe l’oeil stone niches with two glorious, elegant macaws were added to complement this amazing architecture with an element of nature. To bring light to the space, I designed the ceiling to evoke the vibrations of the atmosphere with a highly polished pale blue venetian plaster finish.’

Eva Karsai would like to thank Firenze Enterprises LLC NYC.

‘While visiting Maison et Objet in Paris this past winter, black and white was a huge trend,’ says Kim Radovich of Kim E. Courtney Interiors, ‘and it is now showing up in home fashion here.’

‘The silver cheetah was a fortuitous surprise. I found it tucked away in the closet of the house. She finds her home guarding the passage in the window of the grand staircase.’

‘Dorothy Draper meets Tony Arquette with a touch of Cartier. The cheetah pattern is referenced in a large-scale floral wallpaper, ‘Papillon’ by Clarke and Clarke, and regales the staircase, with a smokey Robert Allen silk fabric, was backed for wallcovering application in the main entry. The bold runner, ‘ Exotic’ courtesy of Country Carpet, adds drama.’

‘The inspiration for the powder room came from the beautiful grounds of the property and the fine architectural detail in the awkward space,’ says Christine Gentile of Ashbourne. ‘The space was originally three tiny rooms decorated in different color palates.’

‘I chose to unify the space by adding a black and white marble floor throughout, removing the unnecessary doors and unifying the spaces with a beautiful nature-inspired wallpaper.’

‘The detail in the groin vaulted ceiling was enhanced with faux finish. Fine moldings were added to the entry area to bring detail to an otherwise ordinary space.’

Interior designer Keith Baltimore of Baltimore Design Group took his inspiration from the grandeur and historical context of this mansion with its gracious architectural elements and moldings.

To accentuate this massive living room, Keith enveloped the room with wide black and white horizontal stripes on the walls, visually bringing the ceiling height down to a more human scale.

Walls are adorned with art, giving the impression of a personally curated collection belonging to someone well-traveled and sophisticated.

Great splashes of sharp red and rich blue make a bold statement against this backdrop.

Keith chose classic, traditional furniture and gave it an updated feel like the Bergere chairs covered in blue leopard. His use of elegant fabrics, diverse patterns and textures, and glossy lacquer blue and red paint on the armoire, convey a sense of urban chic.

‘My inspiration for this room was the grand era of the 1920s when the prosperous Gold Coast of Long Island was built,’ explains Melanie Roy of Melanie Roy Design. The sun porch pays homage to the glamorous, opulent lifestyles of the wealthy industrialists who inhabited the Gold Coast estates in the 1920s.’

‘I preserved the original aged brick walls and the intricate metal work in the windows and chose materials for the room that would reflect and refresh the original design. I chose two teal and white Mamounia rugs from The Rug Company in silk and wool to complement the pattern in the metal work on the windows.’

‘All of the seating in the sun porch is outdoor furniture and waterproof except a Harry Bertoia side chair in an 18 karat gold finish from Knoll.’

‘I love a small, well-designed room that elicits a sense of intimacy and privacy,’ says Margreet Cevasco of Margreet Cevasco Design. ‘The bar room is that space. A recent trip to Paris inspired me to incorporate old world and contemporary elements. A 19th century Flandrin portrait, handcrafted brass lighting, embossed linen wallcovering and modern lounge chairs combine to create a comfortable, sophisticatedenvironment.’

‘A perfect place for a drink and relaxing conversation.’

‘On first viewing the library for the second time, (we actually decorated this space 15 years ago), the richness of the wood and the beauty of the garden inspired us to do a chic sophisticated room that would create a feeling of opulence and serenity,’ says Denise & Missy Rinfret of The Rinfret Group. ‘A room to drink a 15 year old scotch while contemplating all the wonders of this beautiful life. A deep gorgeous couch, rich brass accessories and only the best in porcelain and books. Here’s to a life well lived!’

The Rinfret Group would like to thank the following vendors: Cowtan and Tout | Safavieh Home Furnishings | Country Carpets | Elizabeth Pash | Meg Braff | Two World Arts

‘I was inspired to bring the room back to its original grandure from the period that the home was built,’ says Keith Mazzei of Keith Mazzei Interiors. ‘So I started using my resources and found some great antiques that I think fit the room and the era of the home. I also found a painting of a heart for over the fireplace that I loved because the foundation is the American Heart Association.’

Keith Mazzei would like to thank the following vendors: Arlene Mcloughlin Murals | Accetra Arts | Antique Elements | Arlene Mcloughlin Murals | Design Exclusives | Fiorano Tile | Gaetano Forist and Gardens | John Kreese | Jose Arias Painting Inc. | Long Island Exchange Antiques | Robert Allen Fabrics | Starbrite | Superior Tile and Stone | Wood Inc. | Table Wraps

‘As a decorative painting company with a keen eye for a beautiful space to paint, the moment we walked through ‘Gallery A,’ both myself and my fellow artist John were struck by the incredible arch of the barrel ceiling,’ says Arthur McShane of Art Works & Design, Inc. ‘We knew we had to emphasize the arch and the height but make it feel light and pleasant. By using a pearlescent paint we created a visual texture that emanates from the center and reflects the light from the chandelier. A faint sparkle applied over all catches the light to finish the effect.

‘Last, but not least, for fun we painted a trompe l’oeil monarch butterfly, as if even a real butterfly could not resist this serene garden. This was painted in full color to fool even the sharpest of observers what can be accomplished with paint and imagination.’

Bakes and Kropp

Bakes and Kropp

‘The Breakfast Room is named ‘Morning Blush,” says Katharine McGowen of Katharine Jessica Interior Design. ‘The room design was inspired by happy shades of color; fuchsia and turquoise are the accent colors placed in a warm grey backdrop. The warm glow continues by using brushed brass sleek hardware and stylish brushed brass lighting.’

‘The room has numerous custom details; including a built-in banquet and mudroom bench with storage. The grey back drop is further enhanced by the beautiful grey laminate flooring. The room is accessorized with fabric and glass items of white, fuchsia and turquoise. The result is a playful yet chic breakfast room, the space is a cheerful environment to begin the day!’

‘This quirky space was formerly the ‘flower room’ and probably a potting area. I knew immediately that it would be an artist’s studio,’ says Vera Mingovits of Design by VM. ‘The concrete floors and exposed brick, along with the wonderful natural light from the north, so loved by artists like myself, were natural ingredients for creating a space that retained signs of the history of this gracious home.’

‘These have been brought to new life with touches of elegance and lots of original artwork and photography.’

‘The inspiration for the design of the master bedroom was the vibrant Calypso Blue in the Robert Allen spring fabric collection,’ says Jackie Higgins of Beach Glass Designs. ‘It is clean, crisp and fresh which is a welcoming color after a very long winter in the North East.’

‘I paired it with a sophisticated Benjamin Moore gray paint color ‘Smoke Embers’ and a splash of yellow in the art work for contrast.’

‘The inspiration for the master bath was the masculine black marble that was original to the house,’ says Jackie Higgins of Beach Glass Designs. ‘I paired it with a grey snake skin fabric wallpaper that is a new introduction at Robert Allen. The graphic window panels in black and white add a modern appeal to the vintage bath and crisp up the black marble.’

‘I was inspired by the grandeur of Gold Coast architecture,’ says Barbara Page Glatt of Barbara Page Home. ‘The house was designed and used as an American version of Downton Abbey. I wanted the Master Study to represent the new Gold Coast, interpreting the way a family and there guests would live today. I used the lightness of the marble fireplace as inspiration and created a room that imbued a natural elegance; fresh, crisp and elegant with a thoughtful mixture of light linens and natural textures.’

Barbara Page Glatt would like to thank the following vendors: Artful Windows | Beacon Hill | Robert Allen Design | Country Carpets | Ghassan Painting and Wallcovering | Hinkley Lighting

‘The inspiration for my space was the precious stone malachite,’ says Diane Guariglia of Dyfari Interiors

Dyfari Interiors would like to thank the following vendors: Robert Allen | Beacon Hill | Sherwin Williams | Madisons Inc. | Akke Woodworks | Murphy Design | Sun Upholstery | John Corbett Art

‘The inspiration for my room came from the beautiful hand-painted French furniture from Grange,’ says Rose Ott of Rose Ott Interior Design. ‘The pretty floral fabrics from Duralee inspired the soft blues and greens on the bedside tables, while the beautiful natural light from the two windows in the bedroom spoke to me as a little girl’s room as well. (I’m sure the fact that my little girl just got her first job in L.A. had something to do with it, too– nostalgia).

Rose Ott Interior Design would like to thank the following: Grange Furniture | Duralee Fabrics | Frank J. & Sons | Carpet Emporium | The Complete Window | Elements Lighting | Jason S. Weiss Paperhanging | Rarebits | Rita Broughton Decorative Arts Studio | Rob Salamack Painting | Seaford Paint Place | Sherwin Williams | Thibaut

‘We wanted to create a jewel box – a sitting room that felt feminine, glamorous, and intimate,’ says Anelle Gandelman and Ariella Duker of A-List Interiors.’We envisioned a place where a woman could retreat from a hectic household and be surrounded by and enjoy beautiful pieces of furniture and unique objects collected over time.’ Inspired by nature we incorporated gemstones like amethyst, rose quartz, and selenite among a base palette of gold, black, and white. Further inspired by our love for Art Deco, we brought in authentic period light fixtures, sculptural objects, and a bit of lucite.’

‘For the backdrop, we installed hand painted wallpapers which add texture and visual interest and by layering in original artwork we were able to achieve a one-of-a-kind setting perfect for a fashionable sophisticate to hold court. ‘

With set design experience in the Italian opera and ballet, and a fine art background, Nancy Kirk treats every room as a backdrop for a living environment that transforms each time one enters.

The floors are enriched by the beautiful tribal carpets carefully chosen by Megerian & Sons Rugs of Locust Valley and NYC. The Cabinetry hardware was donated by Top Knobs from Nassau Suffolk Hardware in Glen Cove. Entrance Chandelier and table lamp are from The Light Touch in Locust Valley.

‘Creating a serene, contemporary bedroom was my goal,’ says Rachel Florez of Vintage Interior Design Inc.. ‘The serene colors and shimmering silver threads in the new Hartmann & Forbes bamboo wallpaper were inspirational for the color scheme. The room design grew around this paper as the center point of the design.’

‘Flanking the fireplace is a shimmering leather hide which anchors the desk and a cozy deep club chair beckons you to curl up with your coffee and a good book.’

‘The inspiration for the room was definitely the main wallpaper that we used and the beautiful artwork of the Sleeping Beauty fairies,’ says Brian Hahn and Susan Calabria of NoliHahn Interiors & Textiles. ‘The wallpaper, which is called ‘Sanctuary’, is a whimsical design of birds on flowering branches in colors of pinks and greens that create a feeling of being in a sanctuary for the baby girl.’

‘The beautiful artwork represents the many fairies that are depicted in Tchaikovsky’s Ballet ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Each fairy represents a certain virtue given as a gift to the princess (the baby girl) and they are all there to watch over her.’

‘My inspiration for the second floor bathroom was the classicism of the house,’ says Karen Ferreyra of Karen Ferreyra Interiors. ‘This English regency home had exquisite details throughout. However, the bathroom did not.’

‘I added strong crown and base moldings to give the room character and connect it to the rest of the house. The custom plastered walls, black vanity and mirror and sheepskin rug give the room a cozy feeling, where as the crystal and silver accents bring on the glam!’

‘The water jet patterns on the floor and in the tub area are Carrara and Thassos marble. The hexagonal pattern on the floor and damask pattern in both the tub focal and linen drapery is classically traditional; the larger scale and dual colors keep it current, but not trendy. I added strong crown and base moldings to give the room character and connect it to the rest of the house. The custom plastered walls, black vanity and mirror and sheepskin rug give the room a cozy feeling, where as the crystal and silver accents bring on the glam!’

Creative Landscapes by Patrick Thomas