By W.A. Muller 

This year marks the seventh annual Holiday House NYC, a celebrated interior design showcase at the Academy Mansion at 2 East 63rd Street in Manhattan, where 20 seasoned designers will transform the space into various themed rooms. Sponsored by Traditional Home magazine, this season will kick off with the Opening Night Gala on November 19, followed by the opening of Holiday House NYC for general admission seven days a week from November 20 – December 21, 2014, with proceeds benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. In 2013, Holiday House NYC raised about a quarter of a million dollars. Leonard Lauder will serve as Honorary Chair for the event along with Co-Chairs Iris Dankner and Christopher Hyland. Alexa Hampton, Thom Filicia, Geoffrey Bradfield, and Mario Buatta will serve as this year's Design Chairs.The roster of designers includes Ally Coulter Designs, Amy Lau Design, By Noelia, Décor by Guillaume Gentet, Dineen Architecture + Design, Gary McBournie, Inc., Hollingsworth Design Associates, Justin Shaulis, Inc., Kapito Muller Interiors, Kara Mann Design, Laura Krey Design, Lillian August, Louis Navarrate, Matthew Patrick Smyth, Michael Tavano Design, Pamela Banker Associates, Patrick Hamilton, Rachel Laxer Interiors and Taylor Hannah Architects.

One designer in particular with personal ties to the showhouse is award-winning décorateur-ensemblier Guillaume Gentet, who is transforming a bedroom and bathroom suite on the second floor of the mansion. At last year's showhouse, Gentet designed a café in the courtyard that also hosted his private wedding ceremony to husband, David Carpenter. This year, in celebration of their first anniversary, Gentet is creating a "Honeymoon in Paris" theme. Drawing inspiration from the City of Light's Hôtel de Crillon, the suite will seamlessly blend the bold gestures of contemporary design with the intricate detailing of traditional style including romantic drapery and passementerie. Gentet is also designing a new line of linens for his online store, La Décoratique, which will be featured in the room and available for purchase in the coming months. An exuberant palette of Robert Allen textiles will complement a whimsical room of layered artwork, antiques, upholstered furniture and hand-rendered boiserie(or wood paneling).

Vendors that are contributing to Gentet's room include, but are not limited to, The Robert Allen Group, Tisserant Art & Style, Brunschwig & Fils, Farrow & Ball, Louis J. Solomon, Michael Aram, The Field Gallery, Stark, Lampworks, Leonardo Upholstery, fashion designer and illustrator Chesley McLaren, Jim Greene, Imperative Painting Inc., La Décoratique, and artist Nathaniel Galka.

For more information:
holidayhousenyc.com