The 2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse kicked off with a packed Gala Preview Cocktail Party on Saturday, July 21, in Water Mill, and will run for six weeks from July 22- September 3.  Proceeds from the showhouse will benefit Southampton Hospital, Southampton, NY.

Now in its twelfth year, the Hampton Designer Showhouse is a showcase for America’s premiere design talent. Approximately 25 top interior designers and decorative artists turn a lavish shingle style home into a decorating masterpiece! KDH attended this year’s showhouse located at 80 Flying Point Road in Water Mill [generously provided by Grande Design Residential Inc.] and we were thrilled to pour over every room & detail!

Legendary designer Mario Buatta is the Honorary Showhouse Chairman, with Jamie Drake and Alexa Hampton serving as the Honorary Design Co-Chairmen. Traditional Home magazine is the 2012 Presenting Sponsor, supported by: Barlow Tyrie, Circa Lighting, Gloster, Juliska, Karastan, Lillian August, LX.TV Open House NYC, Natural Decorations, Inc. (NDI), Pearson, Pratt & Lambert Paints, Raymond Vineyards, The Rug Company, Schumacher, Stanton and Thibauld.

“The summer season is rich with tradition. We are delighted that one of our own traditions includes partnering with the Hampton Designer Showhouse,” says Ann Maine, Editor-in-Chief of Traditional Home magazine. “This incredible project is a marquee destination on our annual Showhouse Tour. We are privileged to work with the talented designers and generous sponsors of this event to benefit Southampton Hospital year after year.”

The Hampton Designer Showhouse is produced by Hampton Designer Showhouse Foundation, Inc. (HDSF, Inc.).  HDSF, Inc. is led and operated by a dynamic team of experts from the worlds of marketing, public relations, fundraising and special events production. They have combined their talents to produce what is now recognized as one of the country’s most successful showhouses.

KDH absolutely loves the show this year! So creative, fun, and certain designers got out of their comfort zone and took some risks…below are my favorite rooms in the showhouse!

Designers of the dining room above, Austin Handler and his wife Jennifer Mabley tell KDHamptons, “Every dining room in the Hamptons should be so fun!!”

“Our inspiration for the room above was the multi-color blue chevron fabric by Jonathan Adler for Kravet [Pattern: Wabash, Color Aquamarine, used on the drapery and back-seat panels in the dining chairs]…We saw the fabric at Kravet earlier this spring, and even though the collection won’t be released until the fall, Kravet was able to get us some of the fabric for us to use at the Showhouse this summer!” shares the designing duo.

Designer, author and makeover television personality Libby Langdon was asked to design the largest room in the showhouse. In less than a month, Libby met the ultimate design challenge and totally transformed an unfinished 1,150 square foot basement [above] in the six-bedroom gambrel-style home into a relaxed retreat reminiscent of an English clubroom with a modern, sexy twist.

Katie Leede’s bedroom was definitely in our top two favorite rooms! And the only thing more enchanting and pretty than this bedroom was Katie herself! The stunning native Texan has recently planted some East Coast roots in NYC and the Hamptons, so get ready to hear a LOT more about this design star!!  KDH is already working on a feature…

**For more information on the Showhouse and to purchase tickets, please visit www.hamptondesignershowhouse.com