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Hempstead House

Historic Hempstead House at the Guggenheim estate in Sands Point, NY, is considered the “quintessential Gold Coast mansion.” Image: Friends of the Sands Point Preserve.

Looking for an activity to lift your spirits and fire your imagination on a gray November weekend? JMMDS is participating in a design showhouse sponsored by the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve at the historic Hempstead House on the Guggenheim estate in Sands Point, NY. Various rooms of the magnificent Tudor-style mansion are being transformed with designs inspired by “titans” in the fields of business, technology, fashion, publishing, entertainment, and the arts. Besides JMMDS, other designers include Liz Cordeiro Designs, the Metroplitan Institute of Design, Safavieh Home Furnishings, and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire‘s Emmy-award-winning set design team.

Julie chose cellist Yo-Yo Ma as her inspiration, and in the Sunroom overlooking Long Island Sound, she and JMMDS designer Jana Bryan designed a magical indoor winter garden in his honor. The design features a gorgeous silk carpet with a chair where he might play his cello, surrounded by a garden of silver stones that look like oversize musical notes. Streamers painted “to the music” by schoolchildren will float from the ceiling. On Sunday afternoons, local youth orchestras will perform on a stage in the room as a tribute to Yo-Yo Ma’s dedication to sharing music with children everywhere.

Silver leaf river stone table by Jason Phillips

Julie and Jana’s design for Yo-Yo Ma’s indoor winter garden in Hempstead House’s Sunroom features several of these gorgeous silver leaf river stone tables from the Phillips Collection.

The Showhouse will be open November 2-24, 10am – 4 pm on Thursdays through Sundays. Youth orchestra performances will take place in the Sunroom each Sunday afternoon.

In addition to the Showhouse tours, art and photography exhibits, and youth orchestra performances, there will be a Masquerade Ball on November 1, an Artists’ Reception on November 10, and a fashion show on November 23. Showhouse tour tickets are $30 for ages 12 and up (children free), and private group tours are available. The design showhouse will raise funds for the preservation of Hempstead House. For details and a complete schedule of events, visit the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve website.

Join the discussion One Comment

  • Carol Wood says:

    How thrilling! I love the silver river stones. Wish I could come to the event! I’ll try!