Photos courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Part 3 of our 3 Part Series: AroundMainLine.com takes you for an exclusive, online tour of the 2008 PSPCA designer show house.

Dear AML Readers:

Every Dog Has Its Day
Designer Jim Fulton of Philadelphia's Fury Design (www.furydesigninc.com) with his French Bulldog Henry

This is AML’s third and final installment of our three-part series highlighting the PSPCA’s 2008 Doghaus. This has been such a rewarding experience for the entire AroundMainLine.com team. Animal causes are of great importance to me personally; over the past few years, I have been deeply disturbed by the number of animal-cruelty incidents exposed by the local and national media. As you may know, Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of dog-fighting of any city in America. This is really not the forum to ask why…but we should all be thinking about what we can do to protect these animals from such unimaginable circumstances.

Contributing to the PSPCA is a great first step — right now, you can donate just twenty-five dollars and get the chance to tour an incredible designer show house to boot. Doghaus waits for you to walk through its doors, which close after November 9th. So, here is your final chance to visit the Edgcumbe House in Chestnut Hill. Make sure you pencil some time into your busy schedule—you will not be disappointed!

In closing, I want to extend a very special thanks to the PSPCA’s Heather Redfern and Nick Chapman. Nick is in charge of special events and was my initial Doghaus contact. He has been exceptional— prompt with follow up, friendly and helpful to my staff, and an overall joy to work with. Heather, who is the PSPCA’s Director of Outreach Programs, has assisted in this series and fostered a new, exciting relationship between AML and the PSPCA. Heather is both professional and enthusiastic with her guidance and advice to AML. No wonder the PSPCA does such fantastic work; they hire amazing people who are committed to their mission. Heather and Nick—thank you both!

All in all, I am more than impressed with the volunteers, designers and board members affiliated with Doghaus. We look forward to working with this prestigious association again in the very near future.

Much Obliged,
AML CEO & Publisher

Background

The Movers and Shakers
L to R: Doghaus Co-Chair & Co-Founder Lynn Lehocky, NBC10's Dawn Timmeney, PSPCA CEO Howard Nelson, Doghaus Co-Chair, Co-Founder and Designer Rebecca Paul, PSPCA President Beau Sperry

As we know, the incredible animal welfare work done day-in and day-out by the PSPCA is costly but of utmost importance in protecting these beloved creatures. Five years ago, PSPCA Board Member Lynn Lehocky decided the foundation (that relies solely on private funds) needed a new, creative avenue to drive the donations and revenue that sustain the nonprofit. So, Lehocky, along with co-founder Rebecca Paul, came up with the fantastic idea of hosting a designer showcase house that would generate respectable profits and celebrate the talent of cutting edge designers. Thus, Doghaus was born.

“When I first became a board member, I looked at our primary donor base, which was women, and tried to think of something that would appeal to this important group of supporters. And, with the help of my friends who were not board members at the time but who were both designers, decided this was a concept that would work. So, in 2003, we scrambled for nine months—we found this amazing house in Washington Square—and then we were off,” Lehocky said. “In addition to giving people a great afternoon out, which Edgcumbe offers, we hope that this event brings front-of-mind the needs and responsibilities that the SPCA takes on each and every day. That is very important for this organization,” Lehocky added.

The focus was to present Doghaus showcases every other year, but in 2007, because of some administrative changes, the third show house was pushed back to ’08. But, Lehocky feels it was well worth the wait and says this year’s Doghaus is the best collaborative effort to date. “I think it’s our best house yet! I found this house in such an ironic way too. My brother’s girlfriend had recently done a title on this house and she gave me a call because she thought Edgcumbe was an ideal fit for what we were looking for. We met with the owners who were receptive from day one…and it’s been great. The house is spectacular, as everyone who visits will see! Every room the designers have embraced is on a very grand scale, which matches the structure of the house and the elegance of this property. All the designers have done such a great job and have more than risen to the occasion. We are really pleased and can’t wait for Doghaus 2010!” And neither can AML. Without further ado, the final look at the Edgcumbe House.

My Space
Designer: Morrie Breyer
Breyer Studio
www.breyerstudio.com
Pipersville, PA
Ideal Client: One who sits, stays, and heels on command!

Doing it My Way
Morrie Breyer in His Signature Room
Entitled “My Space”

Morrie Breyer’s self-titled My Space, which is a corner room at the end of the long, elegant third-floor hallway (see below) is certainly a room that will bring a smile to your face. Shimmering silver accents and a palette of black, white and pink play up a fun, attractive room. Not to be missed among several subtle accents is a painted bead and dog stencil (in lieu of beaded curtains) on the wall from a pair of decorative painters—playing homage to Doghaus. Breyer makes the space likeable, mixing a very cheeky nod to Marsha Brady with a modern 2008 studio apartment.

And when we met the designer on opening night, he was beaming ‘cheek-to-cheek’ over a room he cleverly crafted with exquisite detail. “I have done a number of show houses and rooms and I decided to do this one for myself. It feels good to embrace and celebrate strict decoration. I played on the period of the house with the beveled mirror but quiet honestly I always like to mix periods. This room is not boring! In fact, over on the dresser are small boxes of objects from a French artist that are all concocted out of table scraps,” Breyer added. (The couple over at the table peering into the box quickly shut it, to Breyer’s amusement). The curious cartoon dog prints add a perfect touch of whimsy to a space full of eclectic sophistication.

Third Floor Hall
Designer: Renee Norris-Jones & Dwight Shirley
Philadelphia, PA
Best Inspiration: Architectural elements and open spaces

The Lap of Leather Luxury
Renee Norris-Jones’ Third Floor Hall

Renee Norris-Jones welcomed the challenge of working on Edgcumbe’s long, narrow third floor hallway, formerly the estate’s servant quarters. A lone space that was for the seen and not heard actually inspired Norris-Jones to use a luxurious approach, starting with a leather floor. “The wood is not as rich and beautiful as the rest of the house so with a small space we knew we were tasked with making this area come across as ‘pow’… having an impact. And, what is more luxurious than leather? So, it seemed appropriate to use the leather as the basis of the floor and a long hallway that leads to so many great rooms should be enjoyed just as much as the rooms it is leading to. It was hand-stitched by me and, believe it or not, it’s very durable. So, the owners, who have children, don’t have to worry about ruining it when they move back in,” Norris-Jones added.

With warm caramel tones and a secluded little seating area that would make the best enclave to snuggle up and read a book (in private), the hallway is simple and sleek and a space that this designer embraced. “This is a space that is somewhat of a destination — but should not be distracting. So it takes a certain approach. We wanted to balance the impact here with an important area that did not compete with the third floor rooms but complimented their luxury and detail as well,” Norris-Jones said. And the third-floor hallway does just that, giving you enough stimulation and intrigue without interrupting your journey to explore all the rooms that await.

A Serene Salon
Designer: Carrie Leskowitz
Carrie Leskowitz Interiors
www.carrieleskowitzinteriors.com
Fort Washington, PA
Can’t Live Without: Passion

Real Simple: A Majestic Mediterranean Trip Inspires Great Design
Carrie Leskowitz Interiors

Carrie Leskowitz’s family had the luxury of vacationing in the Mediterranean this summer and it was that exact experience that inspired her sumptuous third-floor salon in Edgcumbe. Leskowitz is a Doghaus rookie (albeit an accomplished designer since 2000), but you’d never know with her fabulous nook on the third floor attracting a crowd of curious visitors who are quite complimentary of the space. The room is neutral in palette with dramatic, strategic pops of colors and rich textures. “I was very inspired by the incredible fabrics and colors that we saw in Turkey and Greece so I translated that into this great space. The pillows, the window treatments…I wanted to have a calming effect so that the client would view this room as a great respite after a long day. But, we also added a dash of drama so it keeps it interesting,” Leskowitz explained. The neutral couch juxtaposed with decadent, oval crystal chandelier makes the salon a tempting private place where one could envision enjoying a glass of wine after a long day.

Guest Bedroom/Third Floor
Designer: Chris McCloud & Design 6 with Sarah Todd
Narberth, PA
www.design-6.com
Signature Color: Green-meaning “eco-design” & the color pallet

Going Green
Chris McCloud & Sarah Todd

Don’t be mistaken when you enter the third floor bedroom designed by Chris McCloud and Sarah Todd of Design-6 and see two rubber tire swings hanging from the ceiling. This is not a children’s playroom but an incredibly sophisticated and socially-responsible bedroom. There is so much more than what meets the eye, as AML quickly learned. “We wanted to recreate a backyard oasis in this room and do it as eco-friendly as possible. The carpet is recycled carpet fibers, the swings are recycled tires, the paint from Benjamin Moore is part of their eco-line, the stools are from a locally-farmed hemlock tree,” McCloud explained. Surrounding the television is a live, tropical planting on the wall; the picture frames on the wall are from recycled barn wood. And every other detail, accessory and piece of furniture in the room has a story and a past.

McCloud and Todd are based on the Main Line (Narberth), and incorporate an eco-friendly, environmentally creative concept to all of their designs, as this guest bedroom of the Edgcumbe House illustrates. You will have to check out McCloud and Todd’s ingenious nod to recyclable materials for yourself!

The Edgcumbe House is located at 8860 Norwood Avenue in the heart of Chestnut Hill. The 2008 PSPCA Doghaus will be open to the public October 11-November 9. Tour hours are 10.am.-4 p.m. weekdays and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Individual tickets, which include a complimentary catalog, are $25 and can be purchased at the door. All proceeds directly benefit PSPCA adoption programs. Visit www.pspca.org.