East End perfect for ‘Design Inspiration’

When it comes to dreaming up the perfect East End home décor, inspiration can come from the most interesting places and things—celebrities, food, nature and even animals, to name just a few—for designers Suzanne Caldwell and Maria Greenlaw.

The duo, partners at Southampton-based Design House, are set to share some of the more unique impetuses for their creative inspirations with the world this Thursday, March 25, when webisodes of their new design series, “DI: Design Inspiration” premiers on the AOL-hosted banner lifestyle website, Shelterpop.com. The 25-part series, locally produced by Martin von Ruden and Naomi Hogarty, will shed a cheeky look into the world of design here on the East End.

“It’s an inside, kind of behind-the-scenes look at what we have available to us,” Ms. Greenlaw reported during an interview and webisode preview at Design House last week.

What’s more, according to Mr. von Ruden, the concept for “Design Inspiration” is different from so many of the scripted lifestyle shows that feature hosts in a static environment such as a television studio. “The goal was to reinvent what a style segment would be,” he said, adding that the hosts travel all over the East End, from Westhampton to Amagansett, for the show. “This is a fun, fresh and organic take.”

Though Ms. Caldwell and Ms. Greenlaw are both well-known in the local design world, prior to filming “Design Inspiration,” neither of them had experience in front of the camera, nor had their talents been showcased on such a broad national venue. But their abilities, and personalities, are front and center in the series—comprised of three- to five-minute snippets—which manages to be funny, slightly impudent and informative all at the same, according to Ms. Hogarty.

“Their personalities really shine through. It’s fun,” she said.

The series, which was filmed over a four-month period last fall and winter, was shot on location at a variety of venues. Featured East End businesses include: Mecox Gardens in Amagansett; Lisa Perry at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor; Comerford Hennessy at Home in Bridgehampton; Donna Parker Habitat in Water Mill; Crezana Design, Ann Madonia Antiques and Saks Fifth Avenue in Southampton. Also appearing in the series: furniture maker Michael Hennessy of Bridgehampton, artist Marcie Honerkamp of Springs and furniture refinisher Lori Barnaby of Tuckahoe. The homes of Ms. Greenlaw and Ms. Caldwell, and a boat docked in the marina in Sag Harbor, are also featured in the series.

The ideas from whence inspiration occurs are as varied and broad as the interests of the busy designers themselves. The ladies, who are both quite active in local organizations and events, came up with the idea and pitched it to Mr. von Ruden while the three were taking French classes at the Ross School together last year. Some of the webisodes include the duo playfully finding inspiration in chocolate, blueberry pie, cosmetic surgery, bling, dogs, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, wicker, boats and the 1960s.

As an example, the “Bling it On” idea came from when Ms. Caldwell took fourth-place honors in a fencing tournament. Trying hard to cheer up her partner, Ms. Greenlaw suggested that her friend “could still take home the gold, silver or bronze to sparkle up your décor.” In that webisode, the two discuss the differences between warm and cool metals and how to tastefully incorporate metallics into a room.

Another webisode finds the pair designing an aesthetically pleasing pet crate.

“We tackled pet-proofing your home by jazzing up a crate,” Ms. Caldwell said. “It’s basically a dog’s fantasy. We really went for it.”

Chocolate was explored in yet another webisode after Ms. Caldwell develops an unrelenting hankering for rich brown colors when friends bring her chocolate from Switzerland. Lessons and demonstrations in that particular webisode include: chocolate morsels (rich brown accent pieces), chocolate bars (backdrops and finishes) and chocolate sauces (the designers visit a house “swimming in chocolate”).

It’s this kind of unique perspective on inspiration, and how to proceed after that first “aha moment” strikes, that made the idea behind “Design Inspiration” really stand out to Shelterpop.com Senior Editor Allison Mezzafonte.

“When it comes to decorating a home, finding inspirations and ideas is never really the challenge. They’re everywhere we go and surround us every day. The real trick is figuring out how to take those ideas and turn them into action,” she said. “It’s easy for someone to know what they like. It’s not so easy to figure out how to make it happen in their home. That’s where ‘Design Inspiration’ comes in. It’s all about taking inspirations—some of which can be totally mundane, every day elements—and transforming them into a certain style, aesthetic or even just a single element in your home.”

Throughout the “Design Inspiration” series, the two nattily attired and attractively engaging designers share some of their experiences “hunting and gathering,” as Ms. Caldwell says, while imparting design ideas with a bit of pizazz to viewers.

“It’s a way to show what everybody can do,” Ms. Greenlaw said, adding that she and her partner are anxiously awaiting the premier. “Hopefully people will find it interesting to watch.”

“DI: Design Inspiration” premiers on the Shelterpop.com website on Thursday, March 25.