The Brooklyn designer whips up a dreamy confection to support a great cause.
When the Holiday House Hamptons announced the prestigious lineup for its fourth designer showhouse last spring, one name on the list of 20+ featured designers was Cara Woodhouse, a talented creator of beautiful, imaginative spaces.
"When I was asked to join [Holiday House Hamptons] this year, I was so honored," Cara told us. "It was an opportunity to show off my creativity and design vision, and most importantly, to support a cause that I hold dear to my heart, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation."
Funding the fight against breast cancer is the purpose behind Holiday House Hamptons, founded by designers, philanthropist, and breast-cancer survivor Iris Dankner and sponsored by Hamptons Cottages & Gardens. Top talents in the design world are invited to create an original room loosely inspired by the holidays, and proceeds from the summer-long open house directly benefit BCRF.
A celebrated designer, architectural consultant, and social media influencer, Cara fashions luxurious living and work spaces at her namesake firm, Cara Woodhouse Interiors, based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The first thing you notice about her work is a wonderful flair for the creative: unique patterns in unexpected places, chic yet playful color palettes, eye-catching shapes and materials—everywhere a detail waiting to surprise and enchant you. So who better to pull together a fanciful showhouse bedroom?
If this bedroom had a name, what would it be?
"I would call this room "Dream," because it was designed to evoke the feeling of walking into a dream. I did this through the use of a lot of soft textures layered in a pink and white palette."
How did you achieve the room's glamorous, curvy style?
"To create a space where people could see, feel, and experience luxury at its finest, I started with the backdrop of pink watercolor wallpaper and an organically shaped, hand-carved shearling rug. I collaborated with some of my favorite furniture designers to make custom furniture pieces, like the amazing platform bed, that were inspired by organic shapes and curvilinear lines."
Talk about your use of textures.
"I used many playful, tactile fabrics within the space to illustrate my "Dream" theme, from the shearling rug to the pillows and throw to hand-dipped alpaca-linen ombré window treatments that helped create a sense of floating. For contrast, I included a custom-etched mirror (with a quote to spark the reader's thoughts), as well as a pair of night tables with black marble cubes that played against the texture of the rug. All of these most definitely define luxury in this space."
What was your inspiration for the palette?
"I wanted to use relaxing, light, airy colors. White, light pink, and the pop of blue give the space such a serene and luxurious feeling. Pink especially represents inner peace and harmony, which adds to that feeling of tranquility."
Describe how you used the room's unusual ceiling shape.
"I incorporated the curved ceiling into the room's design by having the pink watercolor wallpaper flow up into it. Seeing the wallpaper pattern cascade down the walls from the ceiling opens up the sapce in the room."
Can you share some tips to keep in mind when trying to achieve this look?
Mix and layer
"Layering different shades of a color and mixing different textures is a technique that adds to the luxurious feeling within the space. Try to find a balance between texture and color, but don't be afraid to break out of your comfort zone."
Tip the scales
"Resist the temptation to keep every element evenly paired or matchy. It is essential to have a blend of symmetry and asymmetry."
Tell us about the Matouk bedding you used. Why was it right for this space?
"We used the Olivia collection by Matouk, which is a 600 thread count sateen bordered by gorgeous Swiss-made lace. The Olivia flat sheet, sham, and duvet cover were perfect for the Holiday House room because they're very silky, soft, and lavish, purely made for comfort. I love how elegant and gorgeous Matouk bedding is. The quality, comfort, and durability of the linens, towels, and inserts make them some of my favorite products!"
Tell us a little about your experience with the Holiday House event and its support for breast cancer research.
"The color pink that is ever-present throughout my room was inspired by the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, the pink ribbon. It means so much to me to have the chance, through my work, to bring awareness and help combat this disease. At the closing of the showhouse, my plan is to auction all pieces displayed in the room, and all proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation."
“The color pink that is ever-present throughout my room was inspired by the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, the pink ribbon. It means so much to me to have the chance, through my work, to bring awareness and help combat this disease."