There’s no shortage of stylish homes in the Hamptons, and no shortage of charity-minded people who live in or decorate them. When you put the two together, you come up with Holiday House, a designer showhouse event that opened this month in Bridgehampton to help raise funds for funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded by Evelyn H. Lauder, and local Southampton charity, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation.
Founded by breast cancer survivor and interior designer Iris Dankner in 2008, the event returned this year after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. The festivities kicked off in true Hamptons style with a “White Party” on July 8 to raise funds and excitement for the showcase and the schedule of events, that start this week with a book signing with celebrity designer Preston Bailey and conclude August 12. Tickets for most events are $40, or for $100, attend the “Art Night” auction and cocktails hosted by Joe Badilla of Badilla Painters and Roman Roth of Wölffer Estate on August 11.
The showcase will be held at 279 Mitchell Lane in Bridgehampton, a 9,000 square-foot contemporary residence provided by Matt Pantofel of BJC, a builder of custom luxury homes.
“The key to the showhouse is finding a great property,” Dankner says. “The past few years with inventory being low and people gobbling up what they could created a perfect storm for the potential showhouse – builders are still building as fast as they can but with interest rates so high, buying is slowing and there’s [less] inventory out there.”
Nonetheless, the return of the showcase this year in a three-level showstopper has attracted 20 of the industry’s top interior designers for design take-over. The event typically attracts the general public, design enthusiasts and the trade industry.
The designers this year include Amy Storm & Company, Ashley Stark Home, Barbara Ostrom & Associates, Bjorn Bjornsson Interior Design, Blake & Emily Interiors, Brianna Scott Interiors, Campion Platt x Kim Dent Design, CLW Interiors, Collette Home, Elizabeth Dow Home, Elsa Soyars Interiors, Fish Row Designs, Gil Melott Studio, Kim Radovich Interiors, KRID Studio, Lola Tucker Interior Design, Melanie Roy Design, ML Interiors, New Age Interiors, Riki Wagh Design x Neil Kerman Art, Siriano Interiors, Tamara Hubinsky Interiors and Unlimited Earth Care by Frederico Azevedo.
Upon its founding, Holiday House became the first designer show house in New York City to benefit a breast cancer organization with a track record of attracting national designers to participate. In its early years, the showcase, held each fall, was held in the historic Academy Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It expanded to the Hamptons for the summer season, establishing itself as a premier showcase and fundraiser.
“I came up with the idea [of] fundraising in the design industry; there was nothing in design that benefitted women’s issues, Dankner said. “So, I started Holiday House to combine my two passions to eradicate breast cancer and to indulge in my love of interior design.”
It was in 1997 when Danker was treated for breast cancer. Since then, she says, “we’ve made so much progress keeping women alive.”
Holiday House will be open from now through August 27 on Friday to Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door of the showcase.
More information about Holiday House and events can be found at holidayhousehamptons.com.
