Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer
The jaunt up the winding drive to the 2012 Harrisburg Symphony Society’s Designer Showhouse & Gardens, entitled “Serenity on the Yellow Breeches,” is nothing short of breathtaking. The seemingly endless driveway helps build excitement as you crest the final corner, pass the impressive dark-stained bank barn and approach the lovely home, which overlooks the Yellow Breeches Creek and was believed to be originally built around 1795, with various additions over the years (a more complete history is found on the show’s website, www.symphonyhouse.org). Upon entering the home, which was being renovated during our visit, the scent of drywall and sawdust combined to create the unique aroma of possibility in a home that’s undergoing massive renovation and is soon to arrive at its fullest design potential. Each room anticipated the joy of being fully brought to life by the visions of expert regional interior and landscape designers. We caught up with a few of the design teams on the site of the pre-designed Showhouse to offer a peek into the inspiration of the designs they’ll be presenting during the showhouse, May 19 to June 10.
Come behind the scenes on the transformation of the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse with exclusive videos from some of the designers!
Garden Party
Most designers aim to bring a touch of the outdoors inside, but Jim Martin of The Garden Path and Luba Batazhan of Designs by Luba wished to bring the indoors out with their design for the covered front porch (pictured on page 68).
An outdoor dining area is perfect for this space because it offers shelter without any obstruction of the garden views, explains Martin. The space is meant to have the elegance of an indoor dining area but with the luxury of being outside. Batazhan claims that she “did not think of it as an outdoor space” when conceptualizing the design.
Hungarian china, hand-painted by Anna Weatherley, intrigued the designers, and they decided to use it as the centerpiece for their design scheme. Each piece includes some sort of garden creature—whether it is a bumblebee, butterfly or snail—among gorgeously detailed flowers. It is the colors of these flowers that will be used as bursts of brightness among the sage and mossy greens of the space’s color palette.
An antiqued dining table sits to the right of the farmhouse’s front door. Four antique chairs, painted by local artist Bonnie Bissett, and an iron bench surround the table to create seating for a party of six. Mossy greens and butter yellows can be found in the fabric used for the seat cushions of the dining chairs.
A smaller, more intimate seating area will contain his and hers plush chairs and a table at which the designers envision a couple enjoying a cocktail on a summer evening or reading a book in the afternoon. The space is meant to be versatile.
Sheer draperies, held back by sophisticated ties, will help to soften the stone exterior of the home. The shutters, painted in creamy white and soft grey, also work to lessen the impact of the home’s hard façade. Antique statuary blended into the décor works in this same way while simultaneously accentuating the garden theme.
Lighting comes in the form of a crystal chandelier, which is non-traditional for outdoor lighting, but the covered porch provides safety for this elegant piece. And the chandelier works to create the atmosphere of a refined indoor dining area.
This space was designed in such a way that homeowners and their guests can enjoy the structural beauty of the home and the magnificence of the property all at once.
Blue Skies & Open Pastures
When designers Timothy Weishaar and Megan Scheffey of INTERIORS Furniture and Design (www.interiors-furniture.com) first visited the showhouse property they were immediately inspired by the colors of the landscape. The blue hues of the sky and luscious greens of the far-reaching pastures then became the color palette for this modern farmhouse’s living room. The design pair combined their color choices with updated versions of traditional furniture to create a look that Scheffey describes as “Americana with a modern twist.”
The first element chosen for the room was a white console by interior designer Thom Felicia. The console, which features a large baldheaded eagle at its base, is made of hard resin. This piece is a reinterpretation of a piece from the 1700s, originally made of hardwood. The white color modernizes the classic piece according to Weishaar, who also feels that “nothing can be more American than an eagle.” It is the contemporary quality added to a traditional piece like this that makes it a perfect fit for this living room.
Another piece of furniture that illustrates “modern Americana” is the classic wing chair, which is a part of an intimate seating area focused around the existing fireplace. This wing chair is upholstered with a light green zebra print fabric and stainless steel buttons. “If that is not the perfect marriage between modern and iconic, I don’t know what is,” says Scheffey. Her favorite piece in the room, a cowhide ottoman with a polished nickel frame, works to further this vision.
Antique illustrations of jockeys adorn the walls to emphasize the equestrian theme in the room and of the property as a whole. Accents of mustard yellow appear in the form of urns to add an additional pop of color. Blue is brought into the room through a dark textured wallpaper and accent pillows, while green makes its appearance in the upholstery and a warm sea grass rug that adds warmth.
In addition to a seating area the space also features a writing desk and a bar. The designers strove to make the room as multipurpose as possible and did so by dividing it into separate areas that are able to remain cohesive through the design elements of the room.
Weishaar has noticed a trend in design where “the living room is coming back.” It is a place void of television and other distracting electronics where homeowners can sit, relax, and talk to one another at the end of the day. The living room is a call back to simplicity. Weishaar and Scheffey worked to make this living room one that is reminiscent of old world simplicity yet still highly functional for today’s modern homeowners.
Today’s Heirloom
A marriage of the old and new is how the mother-daughter design team of Sharon Gatt and Stacey Christopher of IWS Design Group (www.iwsdesigngroup.com) described the look they created for the farmhouse’s kitchen.
Their inspiration for this space came from a pair of historic nickel light fixtures that are affixed to either side of the deep-sill kitchen windows, which look out onto the property. These timeworn pieces are juxtaposed against the polished stainless steel appliances to illustrate a successful commingling of the old and the new.
The antiquity is carried over into the cabinetry, which boasts an heirloom crackled glass, giving it a historic feel. The cabinets, designed and built in a collaboration with RM Kitchens and Cabinetry (www.rmkitchens.com), are a cream color with a pewter finish. This richer tone, combined with the green-grey-brown of the walls—a color all too perfectly named “equestrian green”—balances out the space and produces warmth. Gatt describes the dark wood floor as “warm, natural and casual” and also points to its durability, which is essential in a high-traffic area such as a kitchen.
Height is added to the room through the tall cabinetry, which has decorative illuminated upper cabinets where Gatt plans to display décor in accent colors of amber, amethyst and merlot. These accent colors will also appear in an iridescent glass tile backsplash above the range as well as the triple sinks.
Other amenities of the kitchen include a double oven, a six-burner stove, a warming drawer and two additional refrigeration drawers. “Cooking functionality was essential” in designing this space, says Gatt. This kitchen allows for two cooks to be working simultaneously in one space. The idea of functionality can also be found through the ample amount of storage space in the cabinetry by way of roll-out shelves and built-in spice racks. Gatt plans to bring the freshness from outdoors inside by having a small herb garden growing in historic nickel tins on the sill. This design component also keeps the at-home chef in mind.
The work of local artisans can be found throughout the room, starting with the hand-painted range hood design by Julie River. It gives a visual nod to the history of the property. A kitchen table and chairs have been custom made to fit the eat-in area. And original artwork done in a soft, abstract style will appear in the dining area. This space promises function without sacrificing style.
Agrarian Luxury
The second floor hall bath almost wasn’t a part of the Harrisburg Symphony Society’s Designer Showhouse & Gardens. That is, until Darren Trautman of Inspirations Bath & Kitchen Studio by Hajoca (www.inspirationsharrisburg.com) saw the potential of the space. After begging the committee to include it in the remodel, and getting their approval, he teamed up with Jen Popovice and the two co-designed the small but inspirational space (pictured on page 74).
Being the only bathroom on the second floor that isn’t tucked away in a bedroom, this bath has the luxury of a window, providing ample amounts of natural light. The light is what originally drew Trautman to the space—he described it as making the room “pop.” Trautman combined that with his affinity for the heavy, dark wood of the barn that is adjacent to the home to create the look of the bath, which he likes to call “sophisticated agrarian.”
The tall built-in custom oak cabinets with a heavy grain will mimic the style of barn wood. These oversized cabinets also make use of the high ceilings, as to not create dead space. The whites and polished nickel of the tub, sink and faucets then counter the heavy wood of the cabinetry to soften the space. Polished nickel has a slightly understated finish that tends to look warmer than the shiny chrome of traditional faucets, explains Trautman.
A slipper foot tub is a large focal point of the room and is a more modern or “cleaned up version of the claw foot tub,” says Trautman. It maintains that look of elegance within the space but adds a bit of innovation as well.
The floors are done in a matte finish grey tile that has a linen-like look and is extremely economical, notes Popovice. This matte floor helps to further warm the room, as will the creamy white wall tile.
Because the space is so small there is no room for unnecessary accessories that would only cause clutter. Every piece was chosen for a reason and has a purpose. A wooden tray and small ceramic market basket add to the farmhouse aesthetic while a large brown vase that is designed to look like cherry bark is reminiscent of the outdoors. It also adds a hint of color to the otherwise “colorless room” as Trautman and Popovice sometimes refer to it. The two designers hinted at another small pop of color that may be used on the walls, but that has yet to be determined and will only be revealed upon the opening of the showhouse.
Plan Your Visit to the Showhouse & Gardens Serenity on the Yellow Breeches 1525 Slate Hill Rd., Camp Hill, PA 17011 www.symphonyhouse.org Dates & Times: Saturday May 19th—Sunday June 10th Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am–4pm Thursday, 10am–8pm Sunday, 11am-4pm For tickets, see page 72
Ticket Purchase & Pricing:
$15 admission, if purchased before May 19, $18 each May 19 and after Special pricing is available with advance booking for groups of 15 or more. For more information, email info@symphonyhouse.org.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.symphonyhouse.org or at the following locations:
Boscov’s: locations include Camp Hill; Colonial Park Mall; Park City Mall, Lancaster; Galleria Mall, York
Inspirations Bath & Kitchen Studio by Hajoca, Harrisburg Interiors Furniture & Design, Harrisburg
Mountz Jewelers: Camp Hill,
Carlisle, Colonial Park
R.F.Fager Co., Camp Hill
The Somerville Showroom, Camp Hill
Find a complete list of ticket outlets online.
Symphony Showhouse Special Events
Friday, May 18: Opening Celebration of Serenity on the Yellow Breeches. The event will be held at the West Shore Country Club and includes a signature cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, spectacular silent auction, fine dining, cash bar, and entertainment by Third Stream for your dancing pleasure.
Saturday, June 2: Fish for fun and learn lots about the ecology and conservation of precious limestone streams right on the property.
Sunday, June 3: Practice gentle yoga poses and a walking meditation by the banks of the Yellow Breeches.
Thursday, June 7: Enjoy fashions by The Plum while you take tea—and soup, dessert, and lots in between!
For a complete list of events, tickets to the special events and information visit www.symphonyhouse.org.
SHOPPING & DINING
Shop for delightful gifts and garden goodies at the Serendipity Boutique and Greenhouse on site. Or, visit the Yellow Breeches Café for delicious lunches, snacks, sweets and beverages during your visit.
2012 Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse Contributers Designers:
Maryanne Bistline, B2 Partners Closettec David’s Furniture & Interiors Decorating Den Interiors, Barbara Tabak Gantt’s Decorating Inspirations Bath & Kitchen Studio by Hajoca Interiors by Christine DeHart INTER!ORS Furniture & Design IWS Design Group, Inc. Lise Miller Mitrani at Home Patinas Penn’s Woods Painters R.F. Fager Company RM Kitchens Custom Cabinetry Margie Stapf The Garden Path The Somerville Showroom Landscapers: Ashcombe Farm & Greenhouses Country Collectibles Highland Gardens HMT Maintenance/Design J.R.’s Landscaping Levendusky Landscape Louis Landscaping Michael Lehman Garden Design & Sculpture PA Landscape Group Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County Pine Creek Structures Schultz’s Landscaping Shaffer Landscapes, Inc.