2014 Community Leaders of the Year: Designer show house organizers

Designer Bob Tapp of Greenport and real estate agent Kate DiGregorio in the front hallway of the 1835 farmhouse. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch, file)

It was, perhaps, an unconventional idea: recruit interior designers to transform the rooms of an 1835 Cutchogue farmhouse and then donate proceeds from tours of the home to local charities.

But parting with convention has paid off literally.

When all was said and done, organizers said, the 2014 North Fork Designer Show House attracted close to 1,500 visitors and raised more than $40,000 for nonprofits Community Action Southold Town, Maureens Haven, Timothy Hill Childrens Ranch and Katinka House. A follow-up version of the event, Christmas at the Show House and Best of North Fork Emporium, raised an additional $30,000 and benefited the Wounded Warrior Project, local families in need and Mondays at Racine, an Islip-based charity that provides spa services for female cancer patients. Local vendors also sold goods at the second show house.

You can help a good cause and enjoy yourself at the same time, interior designer Conni Cross said in November. Its like a grown-up version of playing house.

For their demonstrated commitment to local charities in Southold and Riverhead towns, the organizers of the North Fork Designer Show House Bob Tapp, Kate DiGregorio, Melissa Buckley, Nick Ellis, Christina Kosmynka and Barbara McAdam are The Suffolk Times 2014 Community Leaders of the Year.

It was thrilling to see the enthusiasm and continued support of a beautiful event all in the name of charity, Mr. Tapp said. Both events made people happy.

Sponsored by The Corcoran Group, the idea for the original show house took shape in February, when organizers were brainstorming ways to assist local charities.

Weve done charity events in the past, and I had a done a 5K for CAST, so we were just trying to come up with a new idea, Ms. DiGregorio explained last year. So Bob said, What about a designer show house?

Luckily, the ideal property was available: an airy 12-room house next to the Village Green in Cutchogue, owned by Cutchogue Presbyterian Church. It had become vacant in December 2013 when the churchs former minister moved out, Mr. Tapp said. Church officials offered the use of the property and local designers were quickly recruited to revamp a room of their choice, with some decorators working in pairs or small groups.

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2014 Community Leaders of the Year: Designer show house organizers