I can't believe the Detroit Junior League Designer Showhouse opens next Saturday, May 7th!
To provide a little background, designers donate their time and materials to create the biennial Show Houses, spending months overhauling old homes and restoring them to glory. Tours of the houses then benefit the Junior League's charitable efforts.
The 2016 Show House is a 1927 Tudor originally designed for Packard vice president Colonel Jesse G. Vincent. This waterfront Grosse Pointe Park house has no shortage of 1920s details and lake views, but the buzz all centers around the canal from Lake St. Clair leading directly to a private dry dock in the house's basment.
Was this used for Prohibition bootlegging? The Junior League's website states coyly, "While we can neither confirm nor deny stories of rum running, we can point out there is a basement tavern room complete with a bar located just steps away from the boathouse."
Our space was originally the "Day Maid's Lavatory," where the servants would change into their uniforms. As it is just steps away from the basement dry dock, the room was originally designed with an (unfortunate) pirate motif. While this was probably festive back in the day, the maritime pattered wallpaper was peeling before our eyes. Really in need of a makeover!
We kept the nautical theme, but added some romance and renamed this room the "Sea Nymph Vanity."
We went about designing the room in the same way we design our garments; with re-purposed materials, bespoke techniques, and of course, couture dresses and jewelry! This room is a treasure trove that showcases our work.
I hope you get to see the room in person! I'll be posting all this week about how we accomplished this magical transformation, highlighting all of the special materials and details the room contains.
The House is open May 7 – May 22, 2016:
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 3 pm
Tues, Wed & Thurs: 10 am – 3 pm & 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: Noon – 5 pm
Get your tickets here!
Enjoy, mermaids and merman! ♥
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