As the doors to Mansion in May swing wide, visitors to the elegant showhouse catch their breath as they glimpse the rooms beyond. Now in full swing, Three Fields, this year’s Mansion in May, offers a cornucopia of aesthetic riches. It lasts for only one month and draws enthusiastic crowds, not surprising for such a unique and expansive event. As designer showhouses go, Mansion in May ranks with the best, and visitors can expect a delightful experience as they wander the rooms and enjoy the gardens.
The Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center presents Mansion in May every two years (occasionally three) as its signature event to raise money for what is now ranked as the number one hospital in New Jersey. Three Fields, situated in a scenic corner of New Jersey, down a winding country road in the Borough of Mendham, welcomes visitors to explore its designer spaces and verdant gardens. More than 100 designers submitted proposals last year, with 29 interior and 14 landscape designers being chosen to create artful spaces indoors and out.
Three Fields was designed by the prominent architect Greville Rickard in the French Normandy style and built between 1928 and 1930. While the home has had a number of residents since it was first built, it has now been carefully restored, and the exterior looks “very much as it did in 1929,” said Barbara Ruane, Mansion in May co-chair. Architectural elements such as tall, steeply-pitched roofs with dormers, wood casement windows, and French doors opening to the rolling fields beyond, speak of a time when grand houses dotted the countryside. Ruane adds, “We encouraged designers to use their own creativity rather than adhering to a single theme.” A number of spaces incorporate technology in subtle ways as, for example a state-of-the-art technology-driven family room.
Most of the designers have combined traditional and contemporary features. Each space reflects attention to lighting, texture, color, shape, and pattern. Visitors may not only be inspired by the design, furnishings, and accessories, but they may chat with docents and even buy some of the items they like best at the Designer Sales Office located near the cafe. Attendees are encouraged to take pictures to remind them of what they like and what they might wish to translate to their own homes.
Outside the main house, Susan Cohan, winner of Silver and Gold awards at the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2021, 2022, and 2023, has created a master plan for enjoyment of the natural setting. Visitors can wander around ponds, a pool with a cabana house, shrubbery, and bountiful displays of flowers that invite a leisurely stroll.
Lunch in the cafe and shopping in the boutiques in the adjacent carriage house add to the experience of being in a sequestered country setting.
The Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center (WAMMC), now over 400-strong, has for 130 years helped the hospital respond to the changing healthcare needs of the community. This year proceeds from Mansion will go to support the expansion and modernization of the Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation. The institute allows healthcare professionals to hone their skills in high-tech and other procedures using simulation training. For more information about WAMMC, visit www.wammc.org.
All signs point to banner attendance for Mansion in May, and you won’t want to miss the chance to explore the home and gardens. Tickets are $50, now available online. Private tours may also be scheduled online.
Mybergen.com is proud to serve as a media sponsor of the 2023 Mansion in May fundraiser.
Special thanks to article contributor Nanci Healy, Publicity Committee, Mansion in May 2023.
Read more about Mansion in May.
