We’re a proud sponsor of the Kingston Design Showhouse this year, and a number of designers who are participating tapped us for products. The photos are flowing in so we thought we’d give readers a sneak peek at a few of the spaces. But first, here’s what you need to know if you’d like to attend the event. The showhouse is put on by the Hudson Valley’s Kingston Design Connection, which brings together designers, artists, makers, contractors, and vendors to produce programming that is truly unique to the region. 

The 2020 Kingston Design Showhouse

Kingston Design Connection hosted its first design showhouse in October 2018, and this year’s Hudson River Gothic abode, situated at 1 Ponckhockie Street, is the third home tapped by the group for transformation. The house has cathedral-height windows, steep gables, and ornate woodworking details that are instantly captivating. The structure sits on a picturesque parcel with towering ancient maples and a vista of the Hudson River. This coming weekend is the last weekend the Kingston Design Showhouse will be open so make sure you visit their site if you want to see it on December 12 or 13 from noon to 5 p.m. 

Advance ticket purchasing is required and a 45-minute reservation can be made on the calendar on the “Purchase Tickets” page. To follow safety protocols, the organizers are limiting each timeslot to ten guests, and masks are mandatory and non-negotiable. Among the 12 designers who participated in this year’s showhouse are Ana Claudia Design, KD Reid Interiors, and Hendley & Co. The latter, a thriving Newburgh-based design firm owned by Jessica Lynn Williams, created the dining room in the photo above, which is illuminated by our Bevilacqua Medium Chandelier. Ana and KD agreed to tell us a bit more about their spaces to give our readers some insight behind the designs. 

KD Reid at the Kingston Design Showhouse

KD Reid, the owner and principle designer of KD Reid Interiors, shares his inspirations for his space:

C&C: What is your favorite thing about designing spaces for showhouses? 

KDR: This is my first time doing a showhouse on my own. I’ve worked for other designers who have created spaces in showhouses before but this is my first time producing a space under my own brand. My favorite thing was collaborating with new vendors. It was an opportunity for me to come out of my comfort zone and explore new brands; to expand my horizons. Manufacturers like Currey & Company made the process so seamless that it was a true pleasure. The challenge was making sure I had everything planned perfectly for installations because I live two hours away in New Jersey.

C&C: Tell our readers about the “theme” for your space and what overall mood you hoped to achieve. 

KDR: My theme is “Treehouse Modern.” When you are in the space, which is in the tower of the house, you see the surroundings, which makes the room feel like a treehouse. But the octagonal space is attached to a bedroom and the architecture feels a bit modern. When you enter the room, the mountains and the river come into view and it feels like you are in the canopy of the trees. I originally thought it would be a dressing room. 

But when I went out onto the deck, I looked at the surroundings and closed my eyes and let the space speak to me. This led me to see that I wanted to capture the essence of nature that I remembered as a child, but have the mood be modern and elegant in the setting. So I chose lush and natural materials like the brass ceiling fixture, and paired it with the petrified wood coffee table and the lush sofa. I was playing with organic materials by making moves like wrapping the walls in grasscloth.

C&C: Our Pinders Flush Mount looks absolutely gorgeous on that deep-toned ceiling. Is juxtaposing dark and light something you like to do? 

KDR: I like contrast and playing with the different feelings that a space can inspire.  I am learning how to play off of all the senses and evoke a variety of moods in a space. The ceiling was my interpretation of the sky and the fixture was my interpretation of the sun. When you’re in that setting after dark and the light is on, it creates such a beautiful glow, and shines on the petrified wood table to make the room so warm and cozy. 

C&C: Though the space has a wonderful sophistication to it, there are whimsical elements like our Declan Drinks Table. Was this intentional? 

KDR: It was intentional. When I first saw the Declan Drinks Table, I saw it as a Dalmatian. This inspired me to want to put it in a space, but I knew I wanted to reimagine it. When I decided to have a treehouse theme, I thought it was perfect for the room because it reminded me of ants climbing up the table to get to the plant! This is the level of whimsy I wanted to achieve. I also didn’t want the design of the room to be too serious because I wanted it to be approachable.

Ana Claudia Schultz at the Kingston Design Showhouse

Ana Claudia Schultz, ASID, the Owner and Principle Designer at Ana Claudia Design Studio, Inc., shares her inspiration for her space:

C&C: What is your favorite thing about designing spaces for showhouses? 

ACS: Designing a showhouse space allows us to create a room that will attract potential clientele who like our aesthetic. In this particular showhouse, it was a community effort that allowed me to introduce myself and local makers, in addition to drawing some national attention. Another reason I love showhouses is that I get to meet other interior designers and am able to establish new friendships.

C&C: Was there something you did differently this time than in showhouses you’ve participated in in the past?

ACS: The Kingston Design Showhouse is the only one that I have participated in because I wanted to wait for one that was locally focused. Kingston is a great city with lots of diversity, creativity, and it is only two hours away from New York City.

C&C: Tell our readers about the “theme” for your space and what overall mood you hoped to achieve. 

ACS: I had the opportunity to meet the homeowner, and in addition to loving the house, she loved the property, so I wanted to bring the outdoors inside but with a creative approach. The mountain-themed wallpaper is an ode to our bucolic mountains and the stairs are covered with runner mats ending in a puddle, which are inspired by the streams and Hudson River right out their windows. The Currey & Company Graduation Chandelier glows when on, serving as the sun, and the ombre blues on the shade represent the sky. Then I curated local makers and contractors to showcase their work.

C&C: Designing a stairwell can be challenging because of the linear aspects of the space. How did you take this into consideration as you were designing this one? 

ACS: We had to customize the wallpaper to wrap the hall and to seamlessly transition up the stairs. I wanted it to feel like you were in the mountains.

C&C: The Graduation Chandelier is so dynamic in this space. Tell our readers what inspired you to choose it. 

ACS: I love the geometry, the colors, and that it glows from the light hitting the gold inside the shade.

C&C: The murals add such great drama to the space. Were these hand-painted or are they wallpaper?

ACS: This is handprinted wallpaper from Fromental. I love mural wallpapers because you can customize them to the space, creating lots of excellent drama.

Saluting a Burgeoning Design Mecca

Given the Hudson Valley region of New York has been growing into a solid design mecca during the past decade, it’s no surprise that around 50 decorators applied to create a space in this year’s home in spite of the challenges 2020 has thrown at all of us. We are happy to be part of this dynamic project, and we thank the designers who included our products in their lovely spaces.