Nostalgia for family, modern takes on historic motifs and a mind for magical entertaining set a timeless tone in a light-filled dining space created by designer Gideon Mendelson for the 2016 Hamptons Designer Showhouse. Christened “Memory Lane” via a handwritten footnote on the room’s planning illustration, this dining room was specifically created to both recall the past and pave the way for new memories.
Mendelson’s well-earned reputation is for creating classic interiors that shine with a youthful glow and energetic vibe. That sensibility went to work here to suit the lifestyle of his imagined client. “(She is) a very sophisticated woman, but one who is grounded by the values of family and friends,” the designer explains, noting the team at Mendelson Group created natural, yet stylish space for her.
“The room’s muted palette and mix of midcentury elements create an aura of the past,” Mendelson says. “On the other hand, the architectural elements – the lattice and the ceiling treatment – and the modernist art and palette bring us into today.”
Vignettes throughout the bright and airy space set tones of individuality, clearly defining specific areas while also connecting them to one another. The modern take on the ceiling medallion, for example, defines the primary dining space, which is in direct conversation with a side table that can be expanded for larger parties or enjoyed for intimate meals; the marriage of modern art with a midcentury bar cart would be just at home on a “Mad Men” set as it is in this modern-day space, where it is in chorus with the room’s overarching themes; and the dining room’s large expanse of windows not only contribute the warm glow of natural light but offer up the working palette of nature at every turn.
“We hoped visitors would feel a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, as well as a sense of freshness,” Mendelson tells. “The wish is for visitors to experience the space and discover more with each visit.”
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