2025 Decorators’ Show House
The stately residence of a prominent Buffalo family with deep roots in flour milling was selected for the 23rd Decorators’ Show House, where 30 design teams stepped in and ultimately unveiled their modern interpretations of the historic space, room by room.
The George Urban Mansion on Pine Ridge Road dates to 1869 and once was a gathering place for dignitaries including Grover Cleveland, the New York governor who would go on to become the 22nd president of the United States in 1884
“It really is a hidden gem,” said Megan Ortolani, Communications Co-Chair for the signature event of the nonprofit Junior League of Buffalo, in partnership with The Buffalo News.
“What’s amazing is that the house has changed ownership over the years but many of the original details are still intact,” she said. “The woodwork, which was built from trees on the property, is unbelievable and untouched. You look at the staircase, the eight fireplaces, the exterior of the home — it’s really a work of art that we are so glad has been preserved.”
More than 10,000 people toured the 7,200-square-foot house from April 26 through May 18, 2025. Proceeds will be donated to a nonprofit organization in the form of a community grant. The Decorators’ Show House is a biennial event that since 1981 has raised more than $5 million to benefit Western New York.
“It’s a beautiful experience that appeals to so many and a phenomenal way to showcase Buffalo’s rich architectural history combined with our very talented design community,” Ortolani said. “We love that people can come and see the amazing craftsmanship up close and hopefully foster that appreciation in younger generations.”
The three-story mansion with seven bedrooms and five bathrooms was built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and originally was part of a sprawling estate that included farmland, a pond, horse barns, exotic flower gardens, and an impressive vineyard.
“George Urban Jr. was an entrepreneur. He was a banker. He had his hand in so many different things, and he knew a lot of influential people — most notably Grover Cleveland, who launched his first presidential campaign from that house,” Ortolani said. “This house was a social and cultural hub for the city’s elite class.”
Original highlights included stained glass windows, grand columns, ornate ceilings, pocket doors, splendid chandeliers, and an elevator. Over the years, the house was modernized with such features as an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a tennis court and a six-car garage.
The most recent transformation of this historic treasure is on display here as we spotlight a handful of rooms that reflect the spirit and creativity of the 2025 Decorators’ Show House.
“We love designers who can champion the home the same way we do,” Ortolani said, “They dedicate their time during the period when we transform it, from the ‘sneak peek’ to Opening Day. It’s really a team project. Although they all are in their own spaces, everyone comes together in the end.”