Hamptons Designer Showhouse: Rosemarie Petruzzellis

Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the grand opening party of the Hamptons Designer showhouse. I jumped at the chance to see the house but also to tour that area of Long Island as I hadn't visited before.

Some amazing decorators were invited to work on the project, as we have all seen many places online, but I thought in the next few posts I'd show some of my favorite areas and details that I happened to notice while there.

Strangely enough, but as is often the case, my favorite rooms weren't the grand spaces on the main ground floor done by the big names, but rather the smaller rooms located on the 2nd floor and the lower level (where the best of the best work had been done in my opinion).

Two of the first smaller rooms which blew me away were the 'his' and 'hers' dressing rooms (closets really) which had been taken on by the decorative artist Rosemarie Petruzzellis of The Paint Palette.

I believe I may have actually seen Rosemarie at the opening party over drinks on the pool deck as I saw someone in eye-catching pants painted EXACTLY like the bright green Lady's dressing room, but I was distracted by seeing my friend Emily Eerdmans whom I spent the majority of the evening talking with because as we all know, she is so unbelievably interesting and distracting!

If one can't have fun in their private closet at their beach house, where can you really let loose? I love this wild abandon on the walls both in the 'his' and the 'her' dressing areas.

The rooms were decorated as if in use, with clothes tossed around (much like my own closet!), you half expected the bathing suit and towels strewn about to be wet. I imagine she raided her own closet as well as her husband's in furnishing the clothing!

The bright orange wall color in 'his' closet is grounded against a dark ground with a green stripe (much like faux panels) which would really help to cheerfully wake you up while dressing in the morning -I love painted 'architecture' like this.

No detail was left untouched, even the door stop to the 'his' closet is a cute cast iron dog. Who wouldn't love a dressing area like either of these!

Rosemarie can be reached via facebook under the name of 'the-paint-palette' or at paintpalette2k @ yahoo . com

Sag Harbor shopping

While in the Hamptons, my favorite town was probably Sag Harbor. As my favorite activities are house stalking and furniture shopping, it was a natural fit!

The first stop for anyone visiting should be JED for classic glamorous style at 27 Washington Street. They also have a 1st dibs website here, definitely check it out.

Also be sure to check out Ruby Beets next door with a mix of vintage and new homegoods at 25 Washington Street. My friend Heather at Habitually Chic had recommended these stores to me and has covered them on her blog (see links) and they did not disappoint!

After all of this shopping, you're sure to work up an appetite so stop across Main Street at LT burger, where all of the local celebrities hang out for burgers and shakes (try the delicious turkey burger; Christie Brinkley's favorite, a local regular, and mine as well!).

Like the rest of the town, the restaurant has an updated vintage feeling to it: laid back, unpretentious and delicous!

Across from the harbor at 34 Harbor Street is La Maisonette -an eclectic and edited mix of mainly French antiques. I saw so many unusual quirky items here I really wanted to bring home with me!

However, my favorite shop of all (and a real treat) is the Christy's Building Art Center at 3 Madison Street.

Housing an amazing collection of art, salvaged architectural pieces and amazing antique furniture from all styles - every piece is a show stopper.

Rather than a shop, it felt more like the apartment of some incredibly stylish person with a highly edited but eclectic mix of offerings.

These built-in mahogany book cases are really gorgeous -I wonder where they came from? (and how I get my hands on them!).

My take-home piece though would have to be this painted screen showing the Place Vendome in Paris. I was too in awe to even inquire the price (i'd be willing to risk my retirement on this piece!). So while in the Hamptons, be sure to leave the allure of East Hampton to spend some time in nearby Sag Harbor!

My apologies for the poor photo quality. My camera seems to have developed a case of the 'blues'.

Looking up

While I work on a few in-depth posts from recent travels, I wanted to leave you with some window boxes I noticed the other day here in DC. Who says an apartment without a garden space needs to be banal; this is amazing! I only wish my thumb were half as green. Also notice the great brick details along the cornice.