Follies

Lord Shaftesbury-Nicholas Ashley Cooper

Guests enjoyed an evening filled with cocktails, British fare, a silent auction, and dancing, which featured music and a special set by “DJ Nick AC” Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury.

Attendees included James Reginato writer-at-large for Vanity Fair, designer Jamie Drake of Drake/Anderson, Cameron Silver, Fashion Director of H by Halston, designers Nick Olsen and Thomas Jayne; Mitchell Owens, Samuel Cochran, Jeffrey Caldwell and Alison Levasseur of Architectural Digest; Creative Director at Bunny Williams Audrey Margarite; Elle Decor’s Robert Rufino, & antiques dealer David Duncan. Representing Royal Oak were Board Members Lynne Rickabaugh, Chairman; Susan Samuelson, Vice Chairman; Betsy Barbanell, Michael Boyd, John Clark, Tom Kelly & Renee Tucei; and Executive Director David Nathans. Sponsors included Drake/Anderson, Lee Jofa, Benjamin Moore, Architectural Digest, The McGraw Agency, Debevoise & Plimpton, 200 LEX New York Design Center, and Zezé Flowers.

Lord Shaftesbury-Nicholas Ashley Cooper

The Chinese House at Stowe

The Chinese House by attributed to William Kent (Bridlington 1685 ¿ London 1748) ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

This year’s FOLLIES fundraiser supported the Chinese House at Stowe, a beautiful folly with a long history. Guests were welcomed into a chinoiserie wonderland, designed by top interior designer, and event Co-Chair, Caleb Anderson, paying tribute to the ornate and whimsical Chinese House folly. Fellow Co-Chairs were Wolf Burchard, Emily Collins & Robbie Gordy.

FOLLIES fundraiser not only raised important funds for the Chinese House at Stowe but also provided support for the Royal Oak Foundation which celebrates the protected historic sites and landscapes of the National Trust, including and their architectural follies, found throughout the British countryside.

The Chinese House by attributed to William Kent (Bridlington 1685 ¿ London 1748) ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

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