Hampton Designer Showhouse Foundation, Inc.

The Hampton Designer Showhouse Foundation, Inc. is led and operated by a dynamic team of experts from the worlds of marketing, public relations, fundraising and special events production. This is the twelfth year that they have combined their talents to produce what is now recognized as one of the country’s most successful showhouses. Hampton Designer Showhouse Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) corporation.

Mario Buatta, Honorary Showhouse Chairman

Mario Buatta is one of America's foremost decorators. He was born in New York, studied architecture at Cooper Union and attended Parsons School of Design in Europe. After an apprenticeship in the decorating department of B. Altman & Co., Mr. Buatta became associated with several decorating firms including Elisabeth Draper, Inc. and then formed his own decorating company. Mr. Buatta holds Honorary Doctorates in the Fine Arts from Wagner College and Pratt Institute. He received the 1990 Augustus Saint Gaudens Award for Professional Achievement in Art and Architecture from the Cooper Union Alumni. He received the 1992 Cartier "Pasha" Award for outstanding professional achievement and distinguished public service and was recently named "Dean of Design" by the Chicago Merchandise Mart.

Jamie Drake, Honorary Design Co-Chairman

Author of some of this country’s most glamorous spaces, New York-based designer Jamie Drake believes that the best décor expresses personality and place. Renowned for his exuberant color sense, his eye for the unique and telling detail, his practical approach to planning, and his equal facility in traditional and modern styles, Drake creates inviting, delightful, and resolutely livable environments.  [READ MORE]

Alexa Hampton, Honorary Design Co-Chairman

Under Alexa Hampton’s direction, the world famous firm Mark Hampton LLC has completed a wide range of designs for domestic and international projects, from New York City to Hangzhou, China, including apartments and large residences, private airplanes and yachts. A perennial member of Architectural Digest’s AD100 and House Beautiful’s Top Designer list as well as a member of Elle Décor’s A-list, Hampton’s work is classic, traditional and eclectic.  [READ MORE]

Showhouse Management

Tony Manning

Tony Manning is the Showhouse Marketing Chairman. He is also president of Mitchell Manning Associates, a full service public relations and marketing agency with a special focus on the home furnishings industry. His realm is the creation of the full scale public awareness campaign that has propelled the Hampton Designer Showhouse to national prominence in three short years, with phenomenal coverage in local and national newspaper media, home design magazines and television. He has also directed the packaging and sales of the various sponsorships that have linked the Showhouse with a variety of corporations in the publishing, banking, home design and related fields.

Mary Lynch

The administration of the thousand and one details that comprise the planning and the day to day management of the Showhouse are under the control of the highly talented Mary Lynch, whose background as the Director of Special Events at Southampton Hospital for twelve years makes her uniquely qualified to administer the myriad complexities involved in running a Showhouse. These range from supervising the rejuvenation of the house to coordinating the diverse needs of the designers creating their individual “fantasy space” within the Showhouse.