Former Friary Provides Backdrop For 2023 Decorator’s Show house
A FORMER FRIARY LOCATED IN BUFFALO’S LARKINVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVED AS A CANVAS FOR THE IMAGINATIVE WORK OF SOME OF THE TOP INTERIOR AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS IN WESTERN NEW YORK DURING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BUFFALO’S 22ND DECORATORS’ SHOW HOUSE JUNE 3 THROUGH 24, 2023.
This biennial event sponsored by the Junior League and The Buffalo News, allowed some 40 designers to apply their visions to living rooms, bedrooms, vestibules, among many others, spread throughout the three-and-one-half story Gothic Revival-style St. Patrick’s Friary.
They created unique specialty rooms, including one for classic cars and billiards, a bridal suite, and a sitting area to watch the sunset. More than 10,000 guests toured the show house over the three weeks.
Since its inception in 1981, the Decorators’ Show House has served as the signature fundraising event for the Junior League, raising more than $4.4 million for community projects. They have included $315,000 to the Providence Farm Collective, $215,000 to the Chestnut Ridge Conservancy, and $215,000 to the Westminster Economic Development Initiative’s capital campaign to expand its small business incubator space.
Built in 1891, St. Patrick’s Friary once served as a place of worship, education, and community outreach for individuals living in the neighborhood, many of whom were Irish immigrants. It stood adjacent to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in what was then known as the “Hydraulic District.”
The structure was recently sold to new owners, and Junior League leaders thought with its size, location, and historical significance, it would be a perfect location for a show house, said Stephanie Wilkinson, president of the Junior League of Buffalo and co-chair of the 2023 event.
“People were awed by its transformation, especially if they attended the Sneak Peek viewing of the friary beforehand,” Wilkinson said. “With the help of so many talented designers and volunteers, we were able to turn a structure in need of a lot of TLC into a fabulous showcase.”
Strolling through the former friary also brought back memories for several visitors. Wilkinson noted that some mentioned worshipping or attending school there 40 or 50 years ago.
“Our designers were able to both honor the friary’s rich past and feature contemporary elements in their designs,” she said.
Deanna Ernst and Jessica Palmer, decorators with Millington Lockwood, for instance, created a living space with classic Herman Miller and Knoll products, including Saarinen tables and Geiger Crosshatch chairs, which they said helped create a feeling of timelessness and versatility.
Michael Poczkalski, owner of Michael P Design, focused his work on the dining room, which was meant to inspire spiritual connectiveness, gratitude, and mindfulness to the friars who lived there. In addition to long tables and benches, he added smaller pieces, papered the walls in Red Disk wallpaper, and added decorative trim around the fireplace.
“All the little details made the room superb,” Wilkinson said.
Lauren Schulte, owner of Monarch Kitchen Design Studio, created a pantry that reflected the charm of the late 1800s, with an old-world light fixture, detailed wallpaper, and a copper sink.
Meanwhile, Karen Kleinmann, a designer with Buffalo’s Special Spaces, a national non-profit organization that designs rooms for kids living with cancer, created a whimsical children’s bedroom.
It featured a twin bed tucked inside a replica of a vintage RV, Adirondack chairs, and a simulated star-studded night sky.
“The ways she designed the room got people thinking of transforming their own kids’ bedrooms into something less traditional,” Wilkinson said.
Denine Jackson of Denine Jackson Interiors paired up with Chris Lamendola of Creekside Custom Workshop to create a room celebrating urban music, art, and design, with built-in cabinetry, modern lighting, and shaker-style floating shelves.
“It was fashioned into a room where musicians could jam or just hang out,” Wilkinson said. Like with every show house, the decor and artwork the designers brought in were available to purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Junior League’s charitable endeavors.
“The community helped us tremendously this year by coming out to tour the show house and purchasing some of the unique and beautiful pieces,” she said.
“It’s such a worthwhile event. One of the reasons I wanted to get involved with the Junior League 10 years ago is that you get to give back to various organizations that support the Western New York community while also developing leadership skills, making friends, and having fun.”