The 43rd Symphony Designers’ Showhouse, located at 47 W. 53rd St., in Kansas City, Mo, will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Thursday. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Showhouse will open on Saturday, April 21, through Sunday, May 20, and offers the latest in interior and landscape design, entertainment food, and shopping and hosts special events featuring celebrity chefs, designers, food and music. Tickets are $13/advance or $15/door and events are free with admission, excluding Mother’s Day Brunch.
The KCSA is proud to showcase the newest design products and techniques of several national, as well as local, home and design specialty companies. Well over $50,000 in sponsor products and services will be showcased in a professionally designed home setting. That does not take into consideration the value that the Designers contribute, including design services, techniques, upgrades and products valued at about $100,000. The Showhouse benefits the Kansas City Symphony and its youth programs.
The Showhouse is the country’s longest-running, continuous fundraising showhouse project and features the work of approximately 50 Designers in 29 design areas. Several designers focused on “green” design including efficient bath fixtures, Sherwin William’s low VOC paints, Master Marble’s recycled glass counter tops, (in conjunction with Ripple Glass recycling and the Boulevard Brewing Company), creative wall paint techniques and wallpaper, innovative and efficient window coverings, decorative painted floors, a wide variety of specialty lighting and utilized re-purposed items throughout their design spaces.
“The goal this year is to showcase the latest and most innovative design products on the market and to allow these professional Designers to implement creative design techniques that people may not be able to see anywhere else, in a real home setting.” States KCSA President Marilyn Raines. “The project differs from many others due to the remodeling nature of the project, as opposed to ‘dressing’ the rooms and spaces in the house.”
Johnson County Community College interior design students transformed a third floor entertainment space. Phyllia,Kogan Designs, undertook the transformation of the kitchen on a minimal budget creating a “Showhouse-Quality” kitchen. First Alert Talking CO/Smoke Alarms and Kwikset’s keyless, push button security locks are also featured with Hunter Douglas custom window coverings throughout the house and wall coverings from the upscale, innovative Kenneth James line, as are faucets and fixtures by Moen, who are major sponsors. Sub-Q-Concrete, created a masterpiece on the basement floor utilizing a paint/design technique that makes everyone look twice and feel compelled to reach down and touch it. The space will house the Cafe, where lunch and snacks will be served, as well as the Boutique, featuring merchandise from over 40 local and regional vendors and authors. By The Blade, created an elaborate design idea board that blew away the Designer Selection Committee members. They, along with other landscape designers, are transforming the yards to add curb appeal to the historic Showhouse, which is to be on market for just over a million dollars.
KCSA has won the Gold Book Award of Excellence from the League of American Orchestras, for the Showhouse project and produced a how-to video for the project and sell it on their website: www.showhouse.org.
In the spring of 2013, The Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers (AMSOV), will hold its national convention in Kansas City, for the first time. Members from KCSA are instrumental in planning the event and the 44th Symphony Designers’ Showhouse will be the site of some group events.The Kansas City Symphony’s auxiliaries are responsible for a percentage of the Symphony’s budget. AMSOV currently includes a link on the 2013 Conference website to the Kansas City Showhouse.
The English Tudor Revival Style house, built in 1909, is located in the Simpson-Yeomans Country Side Historic District and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story home is handicap accessible on the basement level, where the Cafe and Boutique will be located. The Showhouse will be listed in the 2012 New York Times House Tour, Garden Tour and Show House Roundup for the third consecutive year.
Special events, excluding Mother’s Day Brunch, are free with admission. The Showhouse is available for lease for private parties and corporate events and the KCSA is looking for next year’s Showhouse. Please visit showhouse.org for additional information regarding: Designers, Boutique, Cafe, Mother’s Day Brunch, Live Music and Thursday Night Events at www.showhouse.org or call the information line: 816.968.9711.
Unique events:
Thursday, April 26, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – The Barbeque Queens: Karen Adler and Judith Fertig
“How to plant Italian, Mexican, and French herbs and cook with them on the grill.”
Thursday, May 3, 6-8 p.m. – Pastry Party – Gluten-Free Pastries & Assorted Coffees
Music by Peggy Scanlon
Thursday, May 3, 6-8 p.m. – Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican food, drink & entertainment
Saturday, May 5, 1:00-2:30 p.m. – Johnson County Young Matrons cookbook signing and sampling
Thursday, May 10, 4:30 –6:30 p.m. A Taste of Kansas City with the Friends of CCVIErma Peterson, CCVI (Childrenʼs Center for Visually Impaired) cookbook and samples to taste
Thursday, May 10, 6-8 p.m. Grilling with the Cerritos – The Frank Cherrito Family Prepare Italian Sausages/Knockwurst on The Grill – Assorted Beers
Music TBA
Saturday, May 12, 1-2:30 p.m. – Easy Summer Entertaining with Vintage FlairBeata Foreman (Baskets by B) and Kim Dye (Vintage Market)
Thursday, May 17, 6-8 p.m. – Catered Cocktail Buffet – Susan Prestia, Allied ASID & Phyllis Kogan, Interior Designs
Music by: Tiffany Miller Vocalist
Saturday, May 19 – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturday Morning in the Kitchen with Ann – Prepare Spring Salads with Ann – Mini-Cooking Class, Demo & Sampling – Space Limited. Ann Lund, is a vocational cook, teacher, & author of four cookbooks.
I went with a group of women and had a fantastic time. The house was beautiful and decorated gorgeous. Do you have the dates for 2013? Thanks and I definitely will go again.