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HOW TO “SHOWHOUSE”: WITH HOLIDAY HOUSE FOUNDER IRIS DANKNER AND DESIGNERS MELANIE ROY AND AMAL KAPEN

Join us for an inspiring and delightful gathering at Room & Board’s stunning East Hampton location. Discover best practices for participating in showhouses and learn how to leverage the many opportunities they offer from Holiday House founder Iris Dankner, alongside designers Melanie Roy and Amal Kapen. Enjoy drinks, light bites, and—of course—shopping! We hope to see you there.

PLUS! Want to see this year's Holiday House before the event? Plan your visit here.

Iris Dankner

Iris Dankner graduated Carnegie Mellon University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (BFA). She soon joined Federated Department Stores where she worked in the advertising department at Lord & Taylor’s flagship store in New York City. She rose to the position of Art Director and remained there for thirteen years. She then founded her own interior design firm, ​Iris Designs, which has since evolved into ​ID Creations by Iris Dankner​. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 1997, Iris became involved with fundraising as part of her desire to "pay it forward". ​For six years, Iris was an executive committee member of the Susan G. Komen Greater NYC Board of Directors; was a three-year chair of the Komen NYC Race for the Cure; and a co-founder (with her daughters, Danielle and Niki) of Teens for the Cure®, whose major fundraising event was called Tickled Pink. In October 2009, Dankner was a US delegate representing Komen at the first Race for the Cure® in Cairo, Egypt. The following year, she became an integral member of the planning team for the first Race for the Cure in Israel, which was held in October 2010. Along with the philanthropic work which Iris has dedicated her life to, she has also been honored with a number of awards that acknowledge her generosity, ability to inspire, and desire to make a difference in the world. These awards include the following: 2009 – Featured Survivor in the Survivor Portrait Gallery from Susan G. Komen, 2010 – Myrtle Wreath Achievement Award from The Nassau Region of Hadassah, 2013 – Pink Apron Award from The Ellen Hermanson Foundation, 2017 – Spirit of Life Award from The City of Hope, and 2018 - Hewlett-Woodmere Alumni Hall of Fame. As a breast cancer survivor, Iris was inspired to combine her two passions — interior design and eradicating breast cancer — and noted a lack of high profile interior design events in the New York City area, which benefitted women’s issues. In response, she created an interior design showhouse, naming it Holiday House, to celebrate life events and raise funds for breast cancer research. At it's inception in 2008, Holiday House became the first designer showhouse in New York City to benefit a breast cancer organization, attracting talented designers from across the country to transform 23 rooms of the historic Academy Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side into artistic creations. It is now celebrating its 12th year anniversary. Holiday House has also expanded to a summer showhouse in the Hamptons. It is now established as one of the premiere interior design showhouses in the country and, last fall, launched the first Holiday House showhouse in London.  Proceeds from Holiday House events benefit ​The Breast Cancer Research Foundation​® (BCRF), which was founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993. BCRF works tirelessly towards achieving prevention ​and a cure for breast cancer by providing critical funding for innovative clinical research at leading medical centers worldwide and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Iris currently proudly serves as a member of the Advisory Board of BCRF.

Melanie Roy

Melanie Roy’s passion for the creative arts drew her into the fashionable world of interior design and a successful second career. After 15 years in the television industry, including 10 years at HBO where she received two Cable Ace awards for segment producing on The Chris Rock Show and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, she went on to produce her greatest achievements, two sons. This led her to turn to the design world and her career as an interior designer, creating family-friendly residences. As she says, “I have a passion and depth of knowledge for designing family homes that are truly functional and comfortable while also being beautiful and stylish.” Raised in New York City and Los Angeles, she graduated with a BA from Emerson College where she studied Communications and Art History. Following her successful career in television, she went back to school at the New York School of Interior Design when she decided to make her career change, pursuing her passion for design. After working with Cullman & Kravis, she started Melanie Roy Design that today handles full interior design services in New York City, the Hamptons and Palm Beach encompassing new construction, renovation, and architectural design. Melanie is versed in all periods and styles but designs for her clients’ tastes with a focus on creating family-friendly residences that are sophisticated, elegant and timeless while still being functional. To date, her work has appeared in AD Pro, Lux, Traditional Home, HC&G, NYC&G, Manhattan, Beach, Newsday, The Southampton Press, The East Hampton Star, 27east.com, and the TV show, NBC Open House.

Amal Kapen

Amal Kapen is an interior designer with a retail store and office located in Cold Spring Harbor, NY.  Specializing in “new traditional” design. Amal is know for her colorful, cheerful interiors that blend old and new to create inviting and livable spaces. A former transactional attorney, Amal began her career in interior design in 2010 and focuses primarily on residential interior design. From NYC to the Hamptons as well as points south,  Amal’s work has been featured in numerous print and digital publications including the Wall Street Journal,  New York Cottages & Gardens, Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Traditional Home, Coastal Living, Cottages and Bungalows, Forbes, Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes and Gardens. Amal’s shop, Amal Kapen Interiors & Decorations, launched in 2018 and features a curated assortment of artwork, new and vintage furnishings, lighting, and accessories.  Born in South Africa but raised in Garden City, NY, Amal attended Amherst College, Vanderbilt University Law School and CW Post for design. Currently, Amal resides on the North shore of Long Island with her family and Boston terrier, Theo.

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