Designer Rita St. Clair Celebrates 40 Years in Business

• Dr. Nagi Khouri chats with Pamela Malester.
• Hostess Rita St. Clair greets guests.
• Gabe Pasquale of The Ritz-Carlton Residences with Donna Baros.
• Guests select from a series of passed hors d’oeuvres.
• St. Clair’s husband, sculpltor Joe Sheppard, makes a point.
• The main hall of the historic Octagon building on the campus of the Mt. Washington Conference Center was the setting for the cocktail party.
• St. Clair is joined by designer Joseph Bowers and television personality Rhea Feikin.
• A seafood and sushi bar was part of the food offerings.
• Barbara Katz and Ruth Shaw share a laugh.

Some 150-plus friends, clients, associates and well-wishers gathered on a warm October evening to join designer Rita St. Clair in celebrating 40 years in the interior design business. The venue for the party, the circa-1855 Octagon building in Mount Washington, held a special significance— Rita St. Clair Associates created the interiors when the building was initially renovated in the 1980s to become part of what is now the Mt. Washington Conference Center.

Guests mingled and chatted over hors d’oeuvres and Champagne while strolling through the beautifully restored structure, even spilling out onto the terraces outside. In addition, a full raw bar and a tempting dessert spread were created by caterer Aramark Harrison. The hostess spent the evening greeting guests and reminiscing about past projects, including the one hosting the party. Glancing around the glowing interiors of the Octagon, she remarked, “This design is 25 years old; it’s held up well. They’ve taken good care of it.”