The first-ever Decorators’ Show House to be held in Dublin will be a homecoming of sorts for interior designer Terri Slee, who has worked on the home for a quarter of a century.
Though the house, situated at 6045 Saint Boswell Ct., was in built in 1989, Slee has worked on the house on and off for 25 years.
“I’m always amazed, as many times as I’ve been there,” says Slee, owner of Dublin-based Terri Slee Interiors.
Slee isn’t the only one impressed with the 19,000-square-foot estate.
“It is a show house and has a ‘wow’ factor,” says Show House Co-Chairwoman Stephanie Stephenson.
Related: 20th Anniversary Decorators' Show House
The 21st Decorators’ Show House, held by the Columbus Museum of Art Women’s Board, will feature 15 designers working on 22 spaces, along with five landscapers. The house will be on display from April 21 to May 10. Proceeds benefit the museum. The events, held every other year, have raised $3.8 million for the museum. The first Decorators’ Show House was held in 1975.
This year’s event will include a shopping selection of unique gifts priced from $5 to $150. A café will also be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two other shops will also be open for the Show House: upscale garage sale Trifles and Treasures and a garden shop selling potted plants and small bushes.
The Georgian-style estate boasts three levels on 1.52 acres and includes seven bedrooms, seven full and three half-baths, a wine cellar, a swim spa, and a five-car garage. White columns give the entrance a majestic feel and draw the eye upward to the stained glass ceiling. Classical arched windows further contribute to the classic aesthetic.
The house is distinguished by beautiful architectural details, says Show House co-chairwoman Barbara Byrum.
“The house is different; the area’s different. And we’re getting great support from the City of Dublin,” Byrum says.
The homeowner dictates the final state of the house after the event concludes, Byrum says.
“We’re basically temporary owners, and when we leave, we leave it the way we found it,” she says.
Slee is designing the living room – a first for her in her 11 years of Show House participation. The space’s lighting and intimate size make the room shine, she says. While Slee originally did the home’s interior in a country English theme – think floral prints and color – this time around, she’s going in the opposite direction.
“It’s going to be very simple,” she says.
Slee is decorating the living room in a clean, neutral manner that she says lets the architecture speak. A sapphire blue cabinet will accent a room otherwise colored in greys and creams. She is painting the walls a silver grey. Windows are treated with simple silver grey blinds.
Upstairs, Rhonda Blue, owner of Columbus-based Blue Designs, is adding to a simple theme with a decidedly feminine flair. Blue, who is designing a bathroom and bedroom, has a bit of personal motivation. Once the event concludes, the bedroom materials will furnish her 8-year-old foster daughter’s own bedroom.
“She’s looking forward to seeing it,” Blue says.
Blue, who has participated in the last five Show Houses, is working with pre-existing off-white trim in both rooms. A pink and white palette has been established by existing bathroom finishes.
“We’ll just elaborate on that,” she says.
Blue is painting the bathroom one shade of pink and will do another shade in the bedroom. Bedroom furniture is white, and the room will be accented with a multi-colored striped fabric with lime green, purple, cream and pink. The fabric appears on the bed skirt and accent pillows. Blue has pulled from the fabric to form the room’s color palette.
Luckily, pink is her daughter’s favorite color.
Hours for the Show House are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Meet the Designer nights are Wednesdays from 5-8 p.m. Parking is provided at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from April 21 through May 8. Free shuttle service will be provided.
Sarah Sole is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
