Designer Showhouse of Westchester First Peek

From North Carolina to NYC to Westchester, each location has welcomed a designer showhouse this spring. On the heels of my Kips Bay coverage, we’ll take a first look at the third annual Designer Showhouse of Westchester. Benefitting Cerebral of Westchester, this year’s event is hosted in a beautiful 1915 colonial in the heart of the estate section of Scarsdale, NY.

Upon entry and a few steps, you are greeted by Gideon Mendelson‘s super chic “Martini Alley.” In a small foyer area, the designer created a timeless sophisticated space, perfect for cocktails and a quick repose.

Driven by the coloration of the house’s original Gracie wallpaper, Mendelson infused the room with an elegant palette of aqua and grey, warmed by the tonality of the wood and brass.

Mendelson smartly stayed with symmetry to strike a balance in the small space, anchoring the center with a vintage Edward Wormley tete-a-tete from Mark Frisman and altering each side with art and accessories. On the left a mirror from Lorin Marsh lends a 20’s glamour over the designer’s own collection of decanters. And on the right, a contemporary painting courtesy of Art + Interiors adds a touch of modern color over a handsome vintage tea set from Maison Gerard.

The major furniture in the space is all custom including the handsome buffets and banquettes, executed with a level of detail that lends the jewel box of a space its couture appeal. Beautiful deep tufting with contrasting pillow is all fabricated by Mark David Interiors.

And I loved the charm of the flowerettes on the Samuel and Sons trim against the graphic hex of the Stark rug.

And elegantly presiding over the foyer like a crown is a fabulous fixture from Bernd Goeckler.  Truly a perfect place for a modern day Nick and Nora.

Up the next half flight to the mezzanine, is the modern glam of Rachel Laxer‘s sun room. Her sophisticated take on relaxed elegance always includes a great mix of fine and functional art.

The existing geometry of the wall turned out to be a great backdrop for the elegant lines of the tonal furnishings and black and white photography. The beautiful organic Calla Lilies by Kenro Izu at Howard Greenberg Gallery is the perfect compliment to the sculptural sofa by Promemoria.

And the lush luxury of fur pillows from Pologeorgis are a wonderful textural contrast to John Houshmand’s rough luxe coffee table.

Modern classics form a stunning sihouette. The organic forms of leather and lacquer chair by Jacques Jarrige from Valerie Goodman and Robert Kuo‘s lacquer stool work in tandem almost as if in conversation.

Details are kept spare and elegant as evident in the styling of the bookcase. Only volumes in black and white with pops of red populate the shelves and crystal and silver accessories echo the sleek hardware.

The simple window treatments received a touch of bling with custom agate tassels, pulling your eye up to the beautiful Maya Romanoff Weathered Metals wallpaper on the ceiling. On the beautiful sunny day I toured the house, it was hard not to linger in this light-filled luxurious room.

We’ll visit more from this designer showhouse on Friday but do stop back tomorrow for the next Stylish Shopping episode as Susanna and I share our special morning we spent at the flower market with Carolyne Roehm.