Eight of Interior Design's Hottest Stars Take on the Ultimate Decorating Challenge: the 2004 eBay Showhouse
> Back To Resources Main

NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- April 12, 2004 -- eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY):

Isabelle Bosquet, Sheila Bridges, Shawn Henderson, Thomas Jayne, Lulu deKwiatkowski, David Netto, Katie Ridder and Matthew Patrick Smyth Turn an Upper East Side Townhouse from Drab to Fab Using eBay as Their Only Tool

Eight designers. Eight computers. Seven weeks. One Manhattan townhouse. All access. Only eBay! These ingredients are all that's needed to make the second annual eBay Showhouse a bona fide success.

From fashionable fabric designer Lulu deKwiatkowski to traditionalist Thomas Jayne, eBay has asked eight of the freshest faces in design to decorate a room from scratch using products purchased exclusively on eBay. The eBay Showhouse designers have been given a shoestring budget, eBay and PayPal accounts, and less than two months to furnish their assigned rooms by choosing from the more than 19 million items available on the site daily. The group began their online shopping adventure at 9 am on April 1 and will have one week to install their rooms in late May.

Unlike last year, the public will have access to the eBay Showhouse when it opens its doors at 148 East 63rd Street from June 12 to 19, 2004. Visitors can take walking tours from 11 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends. Tickets, which cost $25, are available for purchase at the door, and starting today, can also be bought online at www.ebay.com/showhousetickets or by calling 212-594-7320. All proceeds will benefit Alpha Workshops, a design studio where artists living with HIV train and work.

Consumers can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the eBay Showhouse by viewing Point, Click, and Design, which will premiere on the A&E Network on Sunday, June 6, 7pm ET/6pm CT.

There's good news for those who like what they see in the eBay Showhouse: all of the furniture and accessories will be resold on eBay. The charity auction, which will take place from Thursday, June 10, through Saturday, June 19, can be accessed through eBay's home page (www.ebay.com) and will be powered by eAuctionSolutions. Showhouse visitors can also bid while they tour the townhouse, as kiosks will be available for onsite use. Alpha Workshops will be the beneficiary of all auction proceeds.

We are delighted to be working with such a talented group of designers, said eBay Showhouse curator Marian McEvoy. Through this experience, we have the opportunity to show people how they can use the site as the ultimate do-it-yourself resource. Whatever their style, taste or budget, consumers can easily find the perfect piece or outfit a room from top to bottom.

From novices to pros, the designers have varying levels of experience using eBay, which only adds to the excitement of the challenge. The second annual Showhouse features a rich blend of established and up-and-coming designers:

Isabelle Bosquet (Garden): Isabelle Bosquet, founder and principal of Fleurisa, has created floral arrangements and decors for scores of stylish parties and events, from posh seaside weddings in the Hamptons to an exclusive birthday bash in Tangiers. Isabelle has established a reputation as the style setter's floral designer, having created arrangements and events for socialites Nan Kempner and Tori Burch, and designers from Muriel Brandolini to Yves Saint Laurent. Her work, characterized by intense color and cutting-edge containers, has been featured in magazines, including Town & Country, Elle Decor, House & Garden, Architectural Digest, and Vogue.

Sheila Bridges (Dining Room): Named America's Best Interior Designer by CNN and Time magazine, Sheila Bridges founded Sheila Bridges Design, Inc. in 1994, with a mission to create visual spaces that are thought-provoking and interesting while also comfortable and livable. The author of Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime, Sheila has a television show on the Fine Living network, Sheila Bridges Designer Living, and is a regular contributor on NBC's Today Show. www.sheilabridges.com

Shawn Henderson (Breakfast Room): Shawn Henderson's interior design philosophy is based on the belief that each interior must be a reflection of how a client lives. As head of his New York City-based interior design firm, Shawn brings a sense of order and consistency to a project, ultimately creating a space that is clean, modern and elegant. www.shawnhenderson.com

Thomas Jayne (Living Room): Thomas Jayne Studio, Inc. was founded ten years ago on the premise of approaching decoration that highlights the presentation of art, antiques, and the use of historical research. Known for his expertise in architectural planning/detailing and deft sense of color, Thomas is regularly featured in the design press and consistently recognized in yearly compilations of prominent interior designers. www.thomasjaynestudio.com

Lulu deKwiatkowski (Master Bedroom): The brains behind the successful fabric and design company LuluDK Fabrics and a favorite of the social set and design world, Lulu deKwiatkowski frequently appears in magazines such as W, Vogue, Elle Decor, and House & Garden. Her collections are inspired by her many travels to India, Morocco, Italy and Peru. www.luludk.com

David Netto (Nursery): For the last three years, David Netto has been named one of House Beautiful's Top 100 Designers in America. The interior decorator is known for his reluctance to work within a typical style. His understated, clean-lined interiors have been featured in the pages of Vogue, Elle Decor and House & Garden. David Netto Design, which he established after a stint as an associate in an architecture firm, has recently grown to include a line of sleek and luxurious children's furniture and accessories called NettoCollection. www.davidnettodesign.com

Katie Ridder (Guest Bedroom): Katie Ridder is a New York City-based decorator whose sense of style -- comfort and practicality -- combined with whimsy and eclecticism has brought her house commissions across the country. A former editor at House Beautiful, Katie started her own design firm in 1993. Starting with an understanding of the client's needs and the architectural context, Katie shapes her interiors around an imaginative palette with an uncanny touch for choosing the right furniture and fixtures. www.katieridder.com

Matthew Patrick Smyth (Library/Media Room): Matthew Patrick Smyth, Inc. was founded under the premise that the finished interior reflects the client's needs and interests. Blending classic style with comfort, Matthew's projects -- including residences from New York and Paris and rooms in the Kips Bay Designer Showhouse -- have been featured in publications such as Elle Decor, New York magazine, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. Matthew was named one of the Top 100 Designers in House Beautiful and included on top designer lists in New York magazine and Gotham. www.matthewsmyth.com

This year's eBay Showhouse promises to make a splash with design-conscious consumers. Offering a medley of talented designers with both traditional styles and funky flairs, the Showhouse is guaranteed to both surprise and delight. Visitors outside the New York area can get in on the action by taking a Showhouse virtual tour (accessible at www.ebay.com starting when the Showhouse opens in June through the end of the year) or by bidding during the charity auction taking place June 10-19, 2004.