Bess Hochstein reports from Lenox."Designer Dad" blogger and author Stephen Saint-Onge was the celebrity host of Homefield: Bringing Design Home, a Saturday home furnishings, fashion, art, and antiques market held under a tent behind Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. The market kicked off with a preview party on Friday, August 10, to support Community Health Programs (CHP) in its various Family Services initiatives to help at-risk children with developmental delays and disabilities through nutrition, play, and educational therapies. Guests were greeted at the door by CHP CEO Bryan Ayars and his wife, Barrie (above), who served on the event committee, before being handed a glass of champagne in the mansion's elegant interior. Saint-Onge said Ventfort Hall reminded him of Downton Abbey, but it was also a little bit Upstairs/Downstairs as anyone who wanted to shop had to tear herself away from the Silent Auction display (not to mention the delectable spread prepared by Michael Ballon of Castle Street Café) and descend a stairway from the terrace, and then another to the lower-level lawn to reach the vendor tent. Most attendees found it well worth the trip, given the fabulous array of goods at hand.
Jesse Suphan and Ruth Dinerman of CHP checked in the guests, including Paula and Eric Ungewitten.
Event host and interior designer Stephen Saint-Onge with committee member Pat Navarino of Renaissance Art School; Timbercraft Homes proprietor Mark Rosengren with singer Wanda Houston, who performed later that evening.
Antiques dealer Alex Sarbib of Le Trianon with fitness trainer Antoine Alston; Berkshire Co-op Market general manager Art Ames, a member of the CHP board, with Heather Flemming of Berkshire Playwrights Lab.
The Auro Quartet performed as guests arrived.
Sculptor Kerry Milikin and Caren Mercer; the Hammertown crew: Dana Simpson, Camilla Gray from the Great Barrington store, and landscape designer Christine Krause.
Painter Karen LeSage and Pamela Berkeley; Jane Wright, Ted Shola, and Suzi Butkus of T.P. Saddle Blanket.
Ceramicists Mary Ann Davis and Bob Feuer; designer/event host Stephen Saint-Onge with Brigitte and Mike Harney.
Barbara Manring, Saiid Daemi, and Pilates instructor Annie Rye; Diana Blumethal and painter Gillian Seidl.
Homefield committee member Michelle Derr, director of CHP's WIC program, with doctors Tony El Khoury and Lara Setti; Home Asian import store owner Renee McBride and her mother, Susan Geller.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
