Old Westbury Gardens shimmered with early-winter glamouron December 6th as friends, supporters, and design-world tastemakers gathered inside the storied Westbury House for its end-of-year gala dinner celebrating the incomparable Bunny Williams. The historic home, glowing with holiday décor and flickering candlelight, provided a perfectly enchanting backdrop for a night devoted to beauty, preservation, and festive cheer.
The event was chaired by Elizabeth (Betsy) W. Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. Maura Brush, President and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens, shared heartfelt remarks about Bunny’s extraordinary influence — both in the design world and in the preservation community that helps sustain places like Westbury House.
Dinner unfolded beneath elegant tablescapes crafted under the direction of Design Chair Tham Kannalikham, whose thoughtful, layered details paid tribute to Bunny’s signature style. Lively conversation, laughter, and toasts filled the rooms as guests settled in for an intimate celebration.
The highlight of the evening came when Carol Large, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stepped forward to present Bunny Williams with the Old Westbury Gardens Award, honoring her visionary work and decades-long dedication to timeless design.
Carol Large and Bunny Williams.
It was, in every way, a sparkling and spirited night — one that captured the charm of Old Westbury Gardens and the enduring magic of gathering in a place where history, beauty, and good company meet.
L. to r.: Betsy Smith, Bunny Williams, and Maura Brush; Maura Brush and Patrick McMullan.David Shin, Kimberly Lee, Albert Kim, Minsun Kim, and Jin Hong.Kev Massoyan, Ann Feldman, and Steven Spandle.Bunny Williams, Sealy Hopkinson, Rebecca Hathaway, and Mark Hopkinson.Dita Amory Nickson, Lucie Kinsolving, and Maura Brush.Sandy Tytel, Alan Adler, and Faye Adler.Peter Lyden and Emily Frick.Buncho Shin and Sun Yi Pock.L. to r.: Ann Feldman and Sandy Tytel; Bunny Williams and Tham Kannalikham.Carol Large, Bunny Williams, and Emily Frick.Elizabeth Graziolo, Peter Lyden, and Tham Kannalikham.L. to r.: Bernadette Castro; Courtney Halip and John Halip.Mary Love Harman, Betsy Smith, William Harman, and Emily Frick.Lauren Knutsen, Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen, Faye Adler, and Alan Adler.L. to r.: Faye Alder, Alan Adler, and Laureen Knutsen; Ed Dugger and Sandeep Jauhar.Tim Gokey, Kristen Siebert, Dr. Sonia Jauhar, and Kyle Siebert.Vincent Gallo, Theresa Gallo, Mary Lagnado, and Joseph Lagnado.L. to r.: Fred Bauerschmidt and Patricia Bauerschmidt; John Deignan, Joan Deignan, and Mike Gueli.Michael Johnston, Meredith Johnston, John Halip, Courtney Halip, Minina Johnston, and Bobby Johnston.Minina Johnston, Meredith Johnston, and Michael Johnston.L. to r.: Minsun Kim; Tim Gokey and Michelle Gokey.Meredith Johnston, Michael Johnston, and Courtney Halip.L. to r.: Richard McElhiney and Lorna Goodman; Suzanne Bancroft and Dr. Sonia Jauhar.Peter Lyden, Elizabeth Graziolo, Bunny Williams, Steven Spandle, and Tham Kannalikham.L. to r.: Roni Kohen-Lemle and Robert Lemle; Patricia Barry and John Cosgrove.Roni Kohen-Lemle, Robert Lemle, and Bernadette Castro.Sandy Tytel, Cynthia Stebbins, and Fred Bauerschmidt.Laureen Knutsen and Rebecca Hathaway.Julia Smulson.
