Design & Decor
Building Hope
Working together for a common cause, 13 local designers united to work their magic on the 2008 Touched By Cancer Foundation’s Designer Show Home.
BY
Brooke Pearl
PHOTOGRAPHY
James Maidhof

When you arrive at 9327 W. 155th Terrace in Wilshire Farms, you’ll find more than a beautiful show home inside and out. Roughly 35 companies/competitors put differences aside to donate time and money to this home that represents a solid foundation of hope, love and support for those who have been touched by cancer.

Lambie-Geer Homes built the 2008 Designer Show Home, dedicating it in memory of staff member Mindy Linden’s mom, Marilyn Williams, who lost her battle to cancer this year. “We like to give back to the community, with projects like the TBCF’s Designer Show Home and the Hope House,” says Jim Lambie. “We wanted to come up with something unique and different that we could show to the public and make a profit for the Foundation.” Throughout the home, the English manor feel is evident in the dark hardwood floors covered in area rugs, a variety of caged light fixtures, arched walkways and a warm, traditional color palette.

“I chose a theme, Color our World with Hope, since hope is the cornerstone of the Foundation,” says Becky Mosby, the design chair. “We wanted to do something that was a little more Country English, and the designers put their own twist on it. Every year gets better, and it just feels good to do something for somebody else. Everyone pitched in, and it’s so neat to be part of such a big project.”

The 1 ½-story home includes 4,103 square feet of open and inviting living space, each room casually flowing into one another. The entry, flanked by the formal dining room on one side and the worldly, English-equestrian-themed master suite and olive-colored study on the other, welcomes guests into the great room, with a seating area and a fireplace topped with a faux-painted mantel and hutch to display accessories. The room’s archway leads into the hearth room with additional seating, fireplace and a flat-screen TV that can be seen from the kitchen.

Just a few steps away is the breakfast room, with style- and color-appropriate table and chairs, bar top, two wine refrigerators and direct access to the covered porch and patio, which includes a stone fireplace, couch and dining table, and a water fountain. The kitchen features a large island with bookcase ends, red textured walls with brown glaze, granite countertops, custom cabinetry and a porcelain tile backsplash behind the range — the same tile used on the fireplace mantel in the hearth room. From the kitchen, you’ll find the computer nook and laundry room, while a dash of flair is brought in by the powder bath in the hallway — it’s not
everyday you see a sunset, iridescent glass sink surrounded by red onyx tiles and walls layered in handmade cayenne pepper red paper from India with an amber metallic glaze (by Francesca Caracci).

Upstairs, decorated in tapestry-gold paint and nature-themed photographs, is home to a reading area; two guest bedrooms; a little girl’s room with princess-like treatments; and a playroom with a mural painted by students in Cathy Kline’s art class: Melissa Young, 13; Chandler Grace Templeton, 11; Madison Minor, 9; and Olivia Forrester, 9. One guest room stands out in a red, gold and green color palette with a writing desk and chair and access to a Jack-and-Jill bathroom that takes you into the little girl’s room. The other spare bedroom has a different creative view: three floral wall art pieces are used as a headboard, complementing the Dijon-colored walls, and silk damask draperies and bedding.

The TBCF Designer Show Home has been open to the public since the beginning of September. It was completed on time and under budget, with dedicated, professional volunteers bringing it to life with the mission of raising cancer awareness and instilling hope in those who need it.

In the words of the Foundation’s founder, Lori Lober, “It’s like a dream come true.”

www.touchedbycancerfoundation.org

Designers’ Tips
Many designers took part in this impressive collection of interior spaces. Each room was dedicated to someone in their life who’s been touched by cancer. Here’s a tip from each designer on how he or she created a special space within the Show Home.

Powder Room: Ruth Finet
“Be bold — don’t be afraid of color. Not everything has to be neutral; any room can have texture, shimmer, color and intensity from the colors you select. It can be powerful but not overwhelming in a small space. It can also be glamorous and earthy at the same time.”

Laundry Room and Computer Niche: Arlene Ladegaard
“We wanted to make the space seem warm and lived in, a cozy and uncluttered place for the computer area that’s out of the way. To personalize it, purchase or make your own bulletin board to put above the computer for notes and schedules. To make one, buy decorative molding and fill it in with a bulletin board then either stain the wood to match or paint it a fun accent color.”

Great Room: Gail Golden
“Use personal treasures and family favorites to create a warm, inviting and eclectic room.”

Study: Becky Mosby
“Mix colors, textures and patterns. I used lots of textures on the chair and walls and added an original oil painting to make it an area that was cozy for reading.”

Girl’s Bedroom: Cathy Kline
“I repurposed a variety of lovely things by giving them a facelift. Romantically carved pieces of used furniture were distressed and painted, either glazed or enameled, and the antique bed got a double dose by painting the head and foot boards with bucolic farm scenes.”

Upstairs Hallway: Kimberly Stern
“Original photography adorning the walls is inspired by the quietude of nature and beautiful architectural elements, and the hand-painted trunk, chest and stylish lamps perfectly complement this unexpected stopping-off point in the home.”

Master Bedroom and Bathroom: Alan Karlin
“Pick a fabric or rug that has colors you like in it and start the room from there, that way you know what colors will go together.”

Kitchen, Breakfast and Hearth Room: Beverly Odom, co-chair of Designer Show Home
“Accessories are a key component, expressing a client's personality. The hearth room, breakfast nook and kitchen had several opportunities with  bookcases, cabinets and shelving to display diverse accessories. Paisley-motif draperies, herringbone tweed and leather upholstery, and the smaller tables, such as the rustic bench serving as a cocktail table and a leather-tufted jockey bench as an end table, tell a story about the English client.” 

Covered Porch and Patio: Donna Canfield and Seasonal Concepts
“A growing trend is moving the interior of a home to the outdoors. Patios and decks should complement the home’s colors and styles. People are beginning to realize that an outdoor living space is more than it used to be with a picnic table and chairs, offering a cozy environment and accommodating dining and entertaining areas.” 

Guest Bedroom: Tiffanie Piker
“Mixing old with new adds a flame of warmth to any project. If your home is a reflection of who you are, it will always be in style — your style.”

Dining Room: Patty Stanley
“Don’t be afraid to blend styles to create a more interesting and chic design. By mixing it up, you can have an elegant design that will still have the comfort and feel of home.”

Guest Bedroom: Julie Casey
“Create a bed-and-breakfast feel — a home away from home — by bringing in lots of texture into the bedding and give someone plenty of places to sit and relax within a small space.”