The inaugural Design Hudson over Memorial Day weekend surpassed all expectations. Over 450 people attended the opening night party at the Bronson House and over 600 participated in the Saturday and Sunday designer home tours. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public and the event helped to create a sense of community amongst the Hudson business community.
Planning for next year’s Design Hudson has already begun— Design Hudson 2019 will be held again over Memorial Day weekend. Sign up for our email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to stay informed!
A very special thank you to Lead Event Sponsor SDL + GHS.
Thank you to Cocktail Party Sponsors HOUSE Hudson Valley Realty and Quadrille. Thank you to Event Sponsors Columbia County Tourism, MetzWood Insurance, Stair Galleries, Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture, and our Media Sponsors Chronogram, Modern Magazine, and The Magazine Antiques.
Thank you to Ferol Barton Blake, Chip Bohl, Katharine Dougherty, Chris Draghi, Paula & Phil Forman, Todd Gribben, Amy Ilias, Kristan Keck and Kirby Farmer, Iva Kravitz, Cindy Kridle, Alan Neumann, Peg Patterson, Alex Petraglia, Tim Pugh, Ann Rosenthal, Ian Solomon, and Lisa Weilbacker.
Thank you to all the designers, participating businesses, and artists who helped make the event a success. Thank you to all the volunteers who checked passes and made sure the weekend ran smoothly.
Design Hudson 2018 Recap
Bronson House Opening Reception
Design Hudson kicked off with a bang— an opening reception and party at the historic Bronson House. Visitors experienced the juxtaposition between the architectural remnants of the historic home and the furniture, art and decorative wares available from Hudson antique dealers, art galleries and modern home furnishing stores, all while enjoying rosé from the Hudson Wine Merchants, catering from Gianni Locono at Farm Table Catering, and live music from Carolyn and Darcy of 2Note. Proceeds from this opening night party allowed the Hudson Business Coalition to deliver over $6,000 to Historic Hudson as it works to preserve the Bronson House.
Design Hudson Home Tour— 10 South Front Street— Ferol Barton Blake
The home at 10 South Front Street was built in 1750 as the residence of a shipping captain, at a time when Hudson was still just a small river settlement, and not yet a city. Today, it operates as an inn managed by Wm. Farmer’s and Sons. During Design Hudson, the home featured the work of Hudson valley-based designer Ferol Barton Blake. Blake described his redesign as being appointed with “touches of classic chinoiserie mixed with modern elements and a nod to the seafaring captain for whom this home was built.”
Design Hudson Home Tour— 105 Warren Street— Andy Goldsborough
105 Warren St. began life as a 1785 ship captain’s house. The hand-hewn beams, clapboard exterior and the 18-inch wide board floors were all imported from Nantucket when the whaling industry still thrived along the Hudson river. Designer Andy Goldsborough transformed it for Design Hudson into a modern interpretation of Jean Cocteau’s immersive frescoes of Santo Sospir, a villa on the French Riviera. Local artists Emily Brooks and Nicholas Kahn interpreted Cocteau’s drawings and tapestry depicting Greek mythology and the French Riviera providing, a backdrop for contemporary furnishings and lighting reminiscent of Cocteau’s sunny palette of yellows, blues and greens.
Design Hudson Home Tour— 217 Warren Street— FR Gillette
217 Warren Street is located on the site of the renowned General Worth Hotel built in 1837 when Hudson was a bustling port city. An example of the Greek revival-style of architecture, the hotel was a center of culture and hospitality in Hudson for more than 100 years. The building that currently stands on that site, constructed in 1998, was designed to emulate the appearance of the famed 19th century hotel. In 2013, designer FR Gillette relocated his design firm to the building and made it his home, office and gallery showroom. Gillette’s understanding of space, use of color, and curatorial skills, stem from a lifetime in the visual arts. His work at Design Hudson reaffirmed his commitment to what he describes as “eliminating traditional boundaries, stepping out of the box when it comes to color, mixing fabrics and art.”
Design Hudson Home Tour— 41 W Court Street— Amy Row
The house located at 41 West Court Street is a grand Victorian, Italianate mansion. This home has retained exquisite original details including wide overhanging eaves, decorative brackets and cornices, bay windows, and moldings. For Design Hudson, the home was reimagined featuring the interior design of Amy Row. Her intention was to create a space of that one can “bask in the light and feel a deep sense of calm.”
Design Hudson Home Tour— 17 N 4th Street— Alan Barlis
17 North Fourth Street was originally built as a garment factory in 1835. During the past few decades, it has been used as a retail space, office and gallery loft. It now operates as the home for BarlisWedlick Architects. For Design Hudson, Alan Barlis borrowed the interior decor of a client’s stylish barn in Ancram and reinstalled it in the loft space.
Design Hudson Home Tour— 420 Warren Street— Brown Cranna
The handsome brick mansion with Italianate and Renaissance Revival appointments located at 420 Warren Street was built in 1887. Many hidden design treasures were uncovered during the most recent renovation, like the newly exposed woodwork and stone, and beautifully crafted design details. For Design Hudson, the home featured the interior design of Brown Cranna, who grew up right here in Hudson. The mansion provided the perfect creative catalyst for him to share his skill at creating memorable interiors while honoring historic architecture.
Design Hudson Home Tour— Bronson House
Design Hudson attendees had the rare opportunity to explore the halls and rooms of Hudson’s historic Bronson House. The Bronson House was first built as a Federal-style residence for Samuel Plumb in 1812. The house and grounds were reinvented by architect Alexander Jackson Davis into a fully realized Romantic-Picturesque estate for Dr. Oliver Bronson and his family. The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2003 and is maintained by Historic Hudson. For Design Hudson, visitors experienced the juxtaposition between the architectural remnants of the historic home against furniture, art, and decorative wares from over 20 Hudson-based antique dealers, artists, and modern home furnishing stores.
