In celebration of the sixth Holiday House Hamptons, founder Iris Dankner shares her initial inspiration, while renowned designer Christian Siriano buzzes his recently debuted furniture collection—and gives us a peek inside this year’s space.
Can you share the inspiration behind Holiday House Hamptons?
ID: I was diagnosed with breast cancer at my first routine mammogram at the age of 40. I was an interior designer by trade and a mother to two young girls, so the diagnosis turned my world upside down. One of the ways I was able to heal emotionally was through getting involved with fundraising. I noticed there were no design events in NYC benefiting this great cause, which inspired me to combine my two passions— interior design and fundraising for breast cancer research. Since 2008, Holiday House has raised almost $2 million. With every event, we get closer and closer to my dream of living in a world without breast cancer.
Iris Dankner and Christian Siriano
What can you tell us about this year’s home?
ID: This year’s home is nestled within Christopher Burnside’s new 23-acre farm, which has been divided and transformed into a gorgeous seven-lot, gated, equestrian-themed community featuring new, exceptionally designed estates. 4 Windy Hill Lane offers open interior spaces, walls of glass, state-of-the-art kitchens, large porches, a finished basement, a fireplace, a gunite pool and spa, and a tennis court. The huge picture windows throughout the house off er views to the beautiful and serene surrounding greenery. It is truly the perfect canvas for our designer showhouse!
This is the sixth Holiday House in the Hamptons! How has the community supported you throughout the years?
ID: What always seems to impress me is how generous the Hamptons community, and especially the design community, are. With each passing year, the event continues to grow and become more beautiful and successful than the last. It takes a village to pull this off , and I am so grateful to each and every person involved. I am also grateful for the opportunity to meet so many generous and creative designers like Christian Siriano. We are so thrilled to have him back on board this summer designing one of the main spaces in the house and cannot wait to see how he transforms this space!
Let’s talk interiors! You have recently debuted a stunning new furniture collection. Tell us about the aesthetic and what customers can expect from the line.
CS: Every piece from my newest furniture collection is a chic and comfortable addition to your home. It adds a sculptural element to any room—like a piece of art that doubles as a functional bench or cozy armchair. I believe in bringing more fashion elements to the home by considering the shapes and the silhouettes, just like I would when designing a dress. Our new Silhouette wardrobe is a great example of something that feels new and exciting for any room with a hint of playfulness but is also very functional.
How has your fashion experience influenced your expansion into interior design?
CS: Working in fashion for the last 16 years, I have an incredible knowledge in fabrication. I’ve been working with mills all over the world and that’s probably something I bring that’s diff erent to a project like this than a typical interior designer. I’m not afraid to mix textures, patterns and colors in a room. I think fashion is about taking risks and being bold and that’s something I like to bring to the interiors world as well. There is always something unexpected on my runway and always something unexpected in a Siriano-designed room.
When designing a collection, how is your approach to fashion compared to interior design?
CS: My approach to interior design is similar to that of the fashion world. I always start with an inspiration and then I pull from sculptural elements and historical styles from the ’40s to the ’60s. That can be the same for a vintage dress or a vintage chair. I think the ability to mix styles is what keeps interior design projects interesting and inspiring.
From custom stools and chairs to consoles
Can you share the inspiration behind your room in this year’s Holiday House?
CS: I’m inspired by all the stylish women I have dressed over the years in the Hamptons. I wanted this space to feel dramatic but elegant, just like when I design for a customer. We will bring strong silhouettes with plush textures, vintage pieces from the 1960s and a lot of style to this large, open space. And definitely a ton of custom Siriano furniture pieces! The rooms will feel relaxing while being the perfect place for socialization and every piece will spark a conversation.
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND; pORTRAIT BY RICHARD LEWIN
