Fairfield Designers Take Part In Rooms With A View Fundraiser

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Interior designers from New York and Connecticut all agreed that designing a tiny 6-foot by 5-foot space wasn’t the easiest thing to do, yet 12 designers undertook the challenge for the annual fundraiser at Southport Congregational Church.

Designer Thom Filicia and Rooms With A View publicity chair Ann Franzen stand in front of Filicia's room at Southport Congregational for the annual fundraiser.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Darien resident and designer for Stamford's Last Detail Interior Design Carey Karlan stands with her room "Game On".
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Lilian August did the decorations in the transformed chapel of the Southport Congregational Church for the Saturday night champagne dinner with Thom Filicia.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Bryant Keller of Bryant Keller Interiors in New York, designed this room.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Lynne Scalo, of Westport's Lynne Scalo Design, created this room very modern room.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Fairfield resident and interior designer Nancy Corbett designed this office.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Shelter Interiors designers Carolyn Kron and Tricia Izzo designed this coastal room.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

Many came out to see the rooms designed for Rooms With A View at a preview party Thursday night.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

by Alissa Smith

11/08/2013 5:00 a.m.

For the past 19 years, designers have come up with rooms to fit themes picked out by the committee. This year, the designers were asked to work with Americanism.

The theme is about combining classical American design with modernism, said designer Thom Filicia, the honorary chairman, author and star of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." This is the fourth year that Filicia has been involved in Rooms With A View and his first as chairman for the fundraiser to benefit the historic church.

“I love it, it’s a great cause and such a great group,” he said. “I think the rooms this year are just really exceptional.”

In the room by Darien resident Carey Karlan, the goal was to create room where any family in America could feel at home.

“This is ‘Game On’,” said Karlan, a designer for Stamford's Last Detail Interior Design. Each element of the room was designed to be a game room, and she incorporated puzzles into her hanging artwork, house of cards, Scrabble and oversize chairs to give adults the illusion of being in a place much bigger than themselves. “I think family games are all American.”

Other rooms, such as the one by Greenwich native Saranda Berisa, were about bringing a New England sophisticated style to her men's sitting room and office space.

“My inspiration was to think big and juxtapose with the small,” said Berisa, of New Canaan’s Wadia Design.

Still others, such as Fairfield designer and resident Nancy Corbett, the design was done with simplicity in mind.

“I really wanted to go for simplicity,” Corbett said. Her room, she calls it the “Ohm Office,” is designed with a woman in mind, offering a beautiful, light, spring-like place to work. A lattice ceiling was added to give the illusion of bringing more light in the space and opening the room even more.

“They’re all so different,” said Ann Franzen, publicity chair and a Fairfield resident. “To do this much with such appeal in this much space is so challenging. You’re very limited.”

In addition to all the designers' rooms, local food vendors will be selling their wares. On Friday, there will be two seatings of a fashion show, with tickets costing $50, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The fundraiser runs Friday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 10, from 10 am. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets for $20 to enjoy the rooms can be purchased at the door.

Southport Congregational Church is located at 524 Pequot Ave., Southport. Call 203-255-1594 or visit the website for more information.

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