A Night for Plants and Place: Bunny Williams Celebrated at Old Westbury Gardens Gala

Gala Honors a Designer and the Place She Inspired

On the evening of December 6, Old Westbury Gardens hosted a dinner gala that brought together designers, preservation advocates and garden lovers to celebrate Bunny Williams and to raise support for the estate’s conservation work. The event, held on the grounds of the historic Long Island property, felt like a conversation between beautiful rooms and the landscape around them: an elegant, low-lit night focused on sustaining a fragile, living place so future visitors can enjoy it as people do today.

From Rooms to Gardens: Why Bunny Williams Was Chosen

Bunny Williams is one of those names people in design immediately recognize. Her career spans decades of interiors, gardens and a distinct point of view: rooms that feel lived-in, layered and welcoming, and outdoor spaces that extend the home rather than stop at the door. Over time she became known not only for showrooms and magazine spreads, but for a steady dedication to historic houses and the stories they hold.

That mix of style and stewardship made Williams a natural choice for an honor tied to Old Westbury Gardens. The gala framed her work as more than decoration: it celebrated a professional life that often connects architecture, furniture, textiles and plants into coherent places worth saving. Organizers said that Williams’ approach — combining beauty with respect for history — mirrors the mission of the gardens themselves.

An Evening of Design, Friends and Quiet Festivity

The tone of the night was celebratory without being flashy. Guests arrived in seasonally elegant attire and spread through candlelit rooms and heated tented spaces on the grounds. Hosts and presenters introduced short remarks, and there was a steady hum of conversation among professionals from the design world, trustees of preservation organizations, volunteers and neighbors who care for the property.

Highlights included a brief tribute to Williams’ career, a presentation recognizing her influence, and a moment when she stepped forward to speak about how places shape the people who love them. Rather than a long program, the evening favored intimate exchanges: designers comparing planting notes, preservationists discussing maintenance challenges, and longtime supporters swapping memories of years at Old Westbury.

Fueling Preservation: How the Gala Helps the Gardens

The gala’s main purpose was clear: to generate critical support for the gardens’ preservation work. Old Westbury is a living estate whose upkeep includes fragile stonework, aging pathways, historic plantings and the need for ongoing care of both house and landscape. Events like this one help ensure that repairs can be made thoughtfully and that public programs can continue.

Organizers explained that funds raised at the dinner will feed into priority efforts such as landscape restoration, conservation of historic garden structures, and educational programming that brings new audiences to the site. The work is steady and practical — not flashy — and relies on steady backing from supporters who value keeping the place intact for years to come.

Beyond the immediate projects, the gala also served a quieter but important function: it reminded donors and visitors that historic gardens are living systems that need professional care. That message matters because restoration is not a one-time act but a commitment to ongoing attention and funding.

Voices from the Night and Ways to Connect

Speakers at the gala captured a mix of affection and urgency. One organizer praised Williams for bringing “a generous eye and steady hand” to projects large and small, and for inspiring others to value histories woven into places. Williams, accepting the evening’s recognition, spoke about the emotional pull of houses and gardens, saying she felt honored to be linked with an institution focused on protecting both.

Attendees described the night as a reminder that design and preservation are companions: good design helps people care for places, and strong care allows design to live on. For readers who want to experience Old Westbury Gardens in person, the estate welcomes visitors for seasonal tours, special programs and educational events. Those who wish to support the gardens’ work can look into memberships, volunteer opportunities and giving options offered by the institution.

The December gala did more than honor a single life in design. It highlighted a simple idea: beauty matters, and it takes people — designers, donors and local stewards — to keep beautiful places alive. For Old Westbury Gardens, the night was a fresh push to keep that work moving forward.

Photo: Rosa Stone / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com