Kingston Design Connection Preps for Fourth Annual Showhouse With a Focus on Affordabilty

After forging ahead amidst the pandemic last year, the Kingston Design Showhouse is returning again this fall with another transformation highlighting the design skills of the Hudson Valley.

The annual showhouse is hosted by Kingston Design Connection, a network for Hudson Valley area creatives, founded by designer Maryline Damour of Damour Drake after she moved from Brooklyn to Kingston.

With the Hudson Valley seeing an uptick in new residents during the pandemic and housing costs on the rise, Damour wanted this year’s showhouse to address the issues surrounding affordability for long-term residents. She began talks with the Kingston City Land Bank, a nonprofit that rehabs vacant and distressed properties, resulting in a collaboration with the showhouse this year.

“This partnership feels like an important community piece of the puzzle,” Damour told Brownstoner. “Because the mission of Kingston Design Connection and of the showhouse every year is to connect the design/build community across the region for local economic development, working with the Kingston City Land Bank is another way we can build community by helping to create a beautiful and affordable house in Kingston for a first-time homeowner.”

Designers and artists will transform the interior before it is unveiled to the public, and after closing the renovated showhouse will be sold at below market value to an eligible buyer.

Chosen for the transformation is a modest 19th century front-gable brick house at 174 Hasbrouck Avenue. The Kingston City Land Bank is handling the renovation of the exterior and key changes to the interior layout before it is handed over to the designers. Work has already begun, including the reconstruction of the collapsing front porch. Original architectural details on the Italianate-style porch will be restored.

The designers who will be tackling the interior were recently announced and include Haleh Atabeigi, Audrey Sterk Design, Aude Bronson-Howard, Damour Drake, Jesika Farkas, Barbara Fisher Interiors/Suzanne at Atmosphere, Jennifer Morris and Nesta Studio.

Visitors will be able to get a look at their creative solutions from October 8 to 24. Also new this year will be an online “Shop the Showhouse” in partnership with Field+Supply that will highlight items for sale by the participating designers and makers.

For updates on hours and ticket reservations for the showhouse, visit the Kingston Design Connection website or their Instagram.

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