A magical transformation was on full display at the 2025 Kingston Design Showhouse in October, marking its seventh year in the Hudson Valley. The recent gut renovation of this 19th-century Second Empire brick residence rendered a blank canvas for a collective of uber-talented designers and makers, most from upstate New York. Showhouse founder Maryline Damour, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Kingston Design Connection, said every room reflected the area’s long heritage of original thinkers. “This region has always been a haven for creatives, from the amazing Hudson River School artists to today’s designers who create exceptional work. The 2025 house had inset windows, intricate moldings and curved ceilings. It was great to see how designers worked with these elements in their individual spaces.”
Design News | Kingston Design Connection are on the lookout for upstate New York homeowners to submit their homes for consideration to be the 2026 showhouse; the application deadline is March 14, 2026. Apply here.
Damour Drake
Designer: Maryline Damour, Saugerties, NY. Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Kingston Design Connection and Cofounder and Principal Designer of Damour Drake, interior and garden designer
Project: Upstairs Hallway
From the Designer: I designed an airy and minimalist hallway as a foil for the colorful rooms flowing from it. We always focus on sightlines when designing hallways, so everything you see is in harmony. Hallways connect spaces that often aren’t given as much attention as primary areas. I love to create quiet drama in these spaces, a reason to pause before continuing your journey.
Sources: Benjamin Moore paint in Spa (walls and ceiling) and Stratton Blue (staircase); Rosendale Flooring Co. carpet; Andreas Gatterer Photography cloud photo print; Marieken Cochius metal sculpture and welded drawing; lighting is original.
This or That: Bold statement lights or softer accent lighting?
As a designer, I use a mix of overhead, task and decorative lighting when designing rooms. In real life at home, I only turn on lamps. Romantic lighting for the win!
Ana Claudia Design Studio, Inc.
Designer: Ana Claudia Schultz, ASID, Rhinebeck, NY
Project: Kitchen
From the Designer: I wanted to create a contemporary space that complemented the architecture. Initially, we had cherry cabinets designed for the kitchen, and I wanted to balance the warmth with a cooler tone, such as green. However, we needed to pivot, but I kept the green in the design and leaned all the way into it. Then I balanced the space with white oak counters, a kitchen island, and seating, and contrasted it with black accessories and furniture. Meanwhile, it was essential for me to include local makers in all my designs. The furniture, lighting and accessories are designed and made in the Hudson Valley.
Sources: Fromental wallpaper in Millefleurs; Stone Ridge woodworker Andrew Finnegan handcrafted dining table, bench and stool; Reform Cabinets Column collection; RBW ceiling lights and sconces; Corston clear switch plates; Pinkwater Gallery small artwork; Michael McGrath large-scale artwork; JRN Pottery vases; Dean Babin wood accessories.
This or That: Designing an intimate area or a generously dimensioned space?
Scale and proportion, along with creating a sense of breadth in my designs, are common threads in all my work and essential to me; otherwise, the spaces I design would feel cluttered and uncomfortable. A cluttered space is a cluttered mind.
House of Brinson
Designer: Susan Brinson, Hudson Valley, NY
Project: Primary Bedroom
From the Designer: I designed the primary bedroom and used the home’s cottage style as my starting point. I’m personally inspired by the landscapes in the Hudson Valley and reviewed historic landscape painters for inspiration. I noticed they all used a similar dusty purple color in the clouds; this color is reflected in the custom wallpaper by Waterhouse Wallhangings. By using cottage-inspired furnishings, a custom closet made to look old, and including modern art and lighting, we presented a historic house with notes of modern ideas. A romantic Hudson Valley retreat.
Sources: Benjamin Moore paint in Kasbah, Victorian Mauve and Mauve Blush; Waterhouse Wallhangings FRONTENAC custom color wallpaper; In Common With table lamp; Art & Forge closet hardware from James Williamsburg Collection; Winslow Antiques chair, side tables and accessories; Thomas Winslow custom closet millwork; Ball and Claw antique accessories; Fromental Ukiyo-E needlepoint cushion and Kiku Edo bronze cushion; Turner and Turner wallpaper installation.
This or That: Warm wood tones or lightly colored furnishings?
Warm wood tones all the way! I work in a lot of historic homes, and real wooden furniture looks at home and luxurious. I work with these pieces in a specific way, making sure there is enough contrast in the space, so the furniture is highlighted. Using wooden furniture and considering contrast is a hallmark of my interior design style.
Photo by William Brinson.
Methods of Assembly
Designer: Omar Aqeel, Catskill, NY and New York City
Project: Primary Bath
From the Designer: I envisioned the Primary Bath as a space of emotional retreat, a room that feels both grounded in craft and slightly untethered from time. Rather than a “spa” in the traditional sense, I wanted it to feel like a historical daydream: part Shaker restraint, part surreal fantasy. A place where the act of bathing becomes a quiet ritual. Warm wood, tactile surfaces, and imperfect materials were chosen to cultivate an atmosphere that’s intimate, romantic and softly mysterious.
Sources: Fireclay Tile bath tiles; Color Atelier limewash paint in buttercup yellow; Waxwing Studio custom Shaker millwork and vanity; Nick Bloomstein and Jesse Groom metal shower screen; Max Simon custom mirrors; Pidgin miscellaneous bath accessories and linens; C.L. Perkins vintage objects and art; Devin Wilde aged brass vessel, side table/cocktail table; In Common With brass and mushrooms surface mount lights, Gemma sconces; BestCase aluminum stool designed by Charles Constantine; Moxie Sparks custom bronze switch plate and outlet; Hudson Valley House Parts midcentury American Standard cast iron sinks; Assembly Line Shop toilet paper holder, Sugihara Fine Furniture, and FS Objects screen shower knobs; Heath Wagoner Silversmith Studio towel hooks, Carolina oyster vanity pulls; Kenny Barrett installation coordination; Ed Herrington Inc. building materials; Hort & Pott; E. Martinez LLC; Studio Ages
This or That: Glass door shower or shower curtain?
A custom glass or metal-framed door. A solid plane — especially when crafted, patterned, or given weight — becomes an architectural gesture, not just a functional partition. It allows the shower to feel like its own spatial moment, adding depth, shadow, and a sense of ceremony to the ritual of bathing.
Lyndsey Alexander Design Studio
Designer: Lyndsey Alexander, Catskill, NY and New York City
Project: Study
From the Designer: As the smallest bedroom in the house, with a single, solitary window, I wanted this space to feel unexpected. The concept grew from the idea of a Room of One’s Own: a private interior world where a person’s truest self can exist without interruption. I approach design as a form of storytelling, so I began by imagining the inhabitant of this room. Who is she? What is she thinking, writing, feeling? What is she trying to say that the world might not be ready to hear? I drew inspiration from both fictional and real-life figures: what if Don Draper were a woman? What if Joan Didion or Patti Smith retreated here to make sense of their lives on the page? I wasn’t interested in recreating their time periods but rather translating their essence; their clarity, their contradictions, their interior storms, into a space that feels wholly theirs.
The result is a room shaped by the arc of a complicated woman; and, like many writers, she has a complicated relationship with alcohol, which inspired the cheeky little bar moment tucked into the room. More than a set piece, it’s a wry nod to the rituals, comforts and vices that often accompany the creative process.
Sources: Sawkille Co. painted chair; Dedar Milano Moiré Chanvre 009 wallpaper; L.A. Painting lacquer painting; SP Woodenworks custom bar; Burke & Pryde couture pigeons and medieval shell plant pots; Benjamin Moore paint in Outer Banks; Caliber Granite blue fusion quartzite bar counter.
This or That: Minimalism or maximalism?
Can I offer a third option? Intentionalism. Every client is unique, and every project is truly bespoke. Each decision, whether it’s a bold gesture or a quiet one, carries weight in shaping who the client is, how they want to see themselves, and the story we’re telling through their home. Intentionalism means being thoughtful at every step, from the initial concept to the materials, objects and finishing touches. It’s not about “more” or “less.” It’s about making every choice meaningful.
Brooke Cotter Design Co.
Designer: Brooke Cotter, New York City and the Hamptons
Project: Hall Bath
From the Designer: This upstairs hall bathroom blends organic forms, watery textures and muted natural hues to create a serene, tactile atmosphere. It layers fluid art, stone, and botanical elements with sketches of the human form, evoking sensuality and movement. The overall mood is both earthy and ethereal. Grounded in nature yet dreamy in execution.
Sources: Geometrie wallpaper; Palmer Works custom cherry vanity; Peconic Kitchen & Bath stone material and fabrication; Benjamin Moore paint; Robert E. Otto Glass, Inc. vanity mirror; Bespoke Glass custom stained glass window cover; Nicole Jurain pottery; Autumn Sonata towels; Mayer & Ko custom wood shower bench; Lauren Cunneen Art acrylic paintings; Modern Matter robe hooks, soap dish and toilet paper holder; MSI Surfaces tile.
This or That: Pedestal sink or double-sink vanity?
It really depends on the architecture and what the space wants. Both can be beautiful when done thoughtfully. Personally, if the room allows for it, I love a larger vanity with ample counter space, especially when you’re working with a gorgeous marble you want to showcase. So I’d lean double vanity when appropriate. That said, the hall bath I just completed uses a single vanity, and I couldn’t be happier with it. The integrated marble sink and backsplash give it a sculptural, seamless quality that feels elevated and special.
Casa Marcelo
Designer: Abigail Marcelo, Salisbury, CT
Project: Living Room
From the Designer: When I design, I often assign a song, a genre, or even an entire album to a space, letting the sound guide the mood and story. For this living room, without a client’s vision to interpret, I became my own muse. I imagined what I might have created for myself as a young, wealthy woman in her 20s or 30s… independent, vibrant and a little indulgent. Inspired by countless late-night hangouts with girlfriends, I designed a space that romanticizes that chapter of my life. It’s filled with pieces that feel a bit too precious for my current home with two children. Delicate, playful, and utterly free. The soundtrack? A blend of disco, house and soulful R&B and jazz. A few rare records sit within reach, inviting you to stretch out on the floor, lose yourself in a book, share stories with friends, or simply let the music wash over you. It’s a space meant for comfort, creativity, and a touch of nostalgia. The album for the space: Through the Wall by Rochelle Jordan.
Sources: Benjamin Moore paint, Porter Teleo wallpaper, Jensin Okunishi Studio rug, Arteriors Home chandelier, Fenestella NY and The Gallery at 200 Lex vintage sofa, Casa Marcelo Home pillows, Craig Anthony Longhurst ribbon chair/ coffee table/floor lamp, Cody Brgant stools, Ian Ingersoll bar, Montage Antiques console, Peter Cusack Studio painting, Cottage and Campe nook console, Lakeville Interiors window treatments, Revolution Fabrics window fabric, Schumacher window edging tape, Ani the Artist carved mirror, Nicole Jurain Pottery vase, Fox Object styling, The McKenzie Shoppe select décor, Upscale Movers USA moving.
This or That: Working with existing architectural features or a completely open room?
Working with existing architectural features — especially if they’re good!
JL Caccamo Designs
Designers: Jessica and Lynda Caccamo, Troy, NY
Project: Rose Music Room
From the Designer: The Rose Music Room honors the history of the home while incorporating a modern sensibility. Music rooms were always spaces to gather and relax, and we wanted to embody that here. It embraces a rich use of color that drenches the room and is applied as a limewash to add depth and texture. It envelopes you with a sense of calm and invites you to slow down and spend some time in the room. The fabric choices, lighting and art all work to lend a modern twist while adding rhythm and energy. With this room, as with all our work, we are striving for balance between opposing ideas.
Sources: Benjamin Moore trim paint in Kept Love Letters; Sydney Harbour Paint Company wall and ceiling lime wash in English Rose; Artist Painting Company decorative wall painting/lime wash application; Revolution Performance Fabrics window treatments; Modern Matter closet hardware; Hudson Valley Lighting Group lighting; MC Home antique plant stand; Mark Nelson Designs area rug; Vanity Sloth Avarice Antiques music stand and sheet music; Mack Sikora sculpture; Jenny Kemp acrylic paintings; Fair side table.
This or That: Clean-lined seating or plush chairs?
Clean-lined chairs are always a plus, but comfort is always paramount. Clean lines open the door to so many design choices. A foundation of clean-lined seating provides great supporting pieces to an overall design plan.
Taupe Stories Studio
Designer: Minna Etters, Delaware County, NY and Brooklyn
Project: Powder Room
From the Designer: The Powder Room is inspired by the horticulture of upstate New York, particularly the color palette of hydrangeas and their seasonal shifts in the Catskills landscape. Natural textures and woven details create a layered, tactile atmosphere, while heritage craft and folk details ground the space in tradition. Contrasting, playful touches of urban whimsy open a dialogue between rustic roots and contemporary design.
Sources: MI & GEI bath hardware; SIN accessories; Palmer Works vanity; Demetria Chappo art; Sydney Harbour Paint Co limewash.; Artist Painting Group limewash and stencil painting services; Katie Ford mirror; Findere pendant light; Elana Shvalbe vase; Dean Babin stool; Vanity Sloth Avarice Antiques sheepskin rug and botanical book; Benjamin Moore door trim in Pebble Rock and stencil paint in Bewitched; OUTERclé tile.
This or That: Painted walls or wallpaper?
Painted walls! I love paint for its versatility; you can create texture with limewash, mimic wallpaper with stencils, and it’s much easier to change when you want a fresh look.
Photo by William Brinson.
AphroChic
Designers: Jeanine C. Hays and Bryan Mason, Ellenville, NY
Project: Library and Patio/Garden Room
From the Designers: We created the To Be Free Library, a design inspired by Black liberationists and one woman in particular: Sojourner Truth. Truth was enslaved just minutes from where this year’s home stands. We researched and read about this American hero and wanted to create a space that honored what she so boldly knew: that one may be denied liberty, but we are all free. The outdoor garden room became a wonderful companion space. We were inspired by reflective gardens and seating areas, like one would experience at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. We wanted it to be a space where people could look out into the water, reflect on the history around them, sit with others, and be at peace.
Sources: California Closets – Upstate New York customized hand-milled shelving system, AphroChic To Be Free Collection of home furniture and décor; FN Furniture outdoor furniture.
This or That: Outdoor furniture: weatherproof or natural materials?
In 2018, we traveled to Morocco, and one of the things we saw was very little delineation between indoor and outdoor furniture. There was furniture that enhanced life. A Moroccan rug could be out in the elements, drying naturally after a rainstorm. And furniture made with high-quality natural wood could live both indoors and out. We loved the multi-functionality and believe that we need pieces for the home that allow us to live comfortably in the ways we desire. Pieces that seamlessly blend life within and without that speak to what we’re all really after — feeling at home.
A portion of the Kingston Design Showhouse proceeds support Ulster County Habitat for Humanity; aspire design and home was the media partner.
All showhouse photography by Phil Mansfield unless otherwise noted.
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