Showhouses give designers a chance to display their creativity and skills without limitations, and they give you a chance to walk through some of the most innovative spaces. Few showhouses reach higher than Mansion in May, the signature fundraiser for the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center.
This year’s showhouse transforms the Wildfair estate in Chester Township into a sprawl of modern-day elegance. More than 30 interior designers and a dozen landscape designers are participating, all to raise money for a new proton therapy center at the medical center.
“This year’s Mansion in May was imbued with a sense of warmth, of refined intimacy, no easy task with so many large rooms,” notes NJ HOME Editor in Chief Rita Guarna. “While there were many bespoke statement pieces, the overall feel was subtle and inviting. Many of the designers deftly incorporated texture, juxtaposing rough-hewn finishes with smooth, curvy pieces. The result: richly layered spaces that beckoned you to stay a while. And I’m so glad I did.”
The home is open every day this month. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at the Mansion in May website.
Here are just three of the designers, all of whom have been featured in NJ HOME and its sister publications, whose talents are on display at Mansion in May:
Diane Durocher, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
This great room in Mahwah contains both a dramatic grand piano, the perfect conversation starter, and a cozy seating area to create a gathering place that encourages connection.
Honored with numerous “Design of Excellence” awards from the New Jersey Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Durocher creates elegant, timeless spaces and prides herself on a deep collaboration with clients.
Lisa Santoro, LSJ Interiors, Morristown
Lisa Santoro gave this Seaside Park vacation home a serious facelift, keeping the open concept and breathing new life to the space with furniture and décor that kept the vibes coastal and cool.
Comfort, luxury and customization are at the heart of all Santoro designs. Warmly neutral and always inviting, her spaces are functional, livable and chic.
Dana Hunkele, Plume Interiors, Caldwell
The dining room in this Madison colonial is drenched in a rich blue, but the real standout is the spectacular gold feather chandelier.
With designs that carefully balance cozy and modern, Hunkele’s signature look is “traditional with a twist”—always fun and fanciful but never at the cost of sophistication.
Heading Mansion in May? Have a designer whose work you’re excited to see? Tell us all about it in Instagram @njhomemag.