Houston Designer Julie Dodson’s Dreamy Bunk Room in the Hampton Designer Showhouse

Dodson’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’-themed bunk room in the 2016 Hampton Designer Showhouse. Photos courtesy of Julie Dodson Interiors.

If you’re in the habit of summering in the Hamptons, it’s probably already on your calendar: the Hampton Designer Showhouse, open now through Sept. 5 in Sag Harbor, New York. Houston’s own Julie Dodson was selected to join the fleet of elite designers that make the event one of the premier showhouse events in the country each year. Now in its 14th year, the house at 1597 Noyac Path benefits the Southampton Hospital and is presented by Traditional Homes. 

The daughter of renowned interior designer Tricia Dodson, Julie grew up steeped in taste and style. Under her own banner, Julie Dodson Interiors,  the Ole Miss grad has won such accolades as “Star on the Rise” from the Houston Design District in 2012, and one of “20 Young Designers to Watch” by Traditional Home Magazine in 2010.  The “Alice in Wonderland” theme she chose for her contribution in the show house illustrates her trademark combination of Hollywood glam and refined traditional — old and new, elegant and rustic — with a playful wink of whimsy. 

Dodson’s canvas is a downstairs room with a bath, adjacent to a media room, workout room, and lounge.  A guest bedroom was a natural choice.  Dodson decided on the fun of bunk room, but not just kids’ territory. “Anyone from 8 to 80, even an adult, will feel comfortable in this space,” she notes.

Inset in the tufted acai berry-colored headboards she designed are brass fragments from Atkins Architectural in Houston, adding antique character to the beds. The half-round canopies are draped with fabric from Pindler Linen, enhanced with trim from Parisian maker Houlès. Bedding is washable linen from Pom Pom at Home, over a dust skirt made of fabric from Carolina Irving, a line Dodson sourced through Dallas’ Alan Knight. Embroidered and appliquéd pillows are from Holland & Sherry, the mirrors hanging between the beds Louis Phillipe reproductions from Worlds Away, the blush-based lamps from Circa Lighting, designed by Kate Spade. And, oh yes, the art — over the beds hang three rabbit prints: one white, one pink, one blue. “I wanted each bed to have a nametag,” said, Dodson. “The Hunt Slonem bunnies were my immediate thought.”

Brian Kelley, an antique dealer out of Atlanta (and a regular at the Marburger Farm Show at Round Top) had the perfect antique Italian chest on which to display a special find she found through him, also, recently: an Italian wooden cobalt blue urn, perhaps once an altar piece, graced with elegant carvings. Carpet by Stark added more fanciful detail.

Imagine yourself gazing out the window from this chair — the stuff of dreams!

This peek inside leaves us wanting more.  Tickets to the showhouse are $35. For details on purchasing, click here.