Symphony Designer Showcase: ‘Music at the Manse’

BY SUSAN SHINN
SALISBURY POST

Designer showcase homes are great events at which visitors can see beautiful room displays, pick up that perfect accessory and glean decorating ideas for their own homes.

This year’s Symphony Designer Showcase, sponsored by the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Guild, is no exception.

The showcase kicked off Thursday with a patrons’ evening and dinner. The showcase, which takes place at First Presbyterian Church Manse, 305 W. Innes St., will be open to the public through March 24.

Designers from Rowan County, as well as Charlotte and Greensboro, have used their talents to transform the manse into a real “showcase showplace.”

Those attending Thursday night’s event were impressed.

“You knew the potential was there,” said Diane Fisher, who attends First Presbyterian Church with her husband, Luke, and their children. “There’s so much life in it. It’s so charming.”

Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to see on your tour of the showcase.

• The Entry Foyer, The East Room, The West Room. The manse has two large front rooms, dubbed the East Room and the West Room for this tour. The tour rooms are tied together by an immense, square foyer. All three rooms have been appointed by interior artist Chad Morgan of Salisbury. The East Room brings together antiques with contemporary art. Morgan faux-painted the fireplace in this room to resemble white marble. A turquoise settee complements an Empire sofa in the West Room, owned by Maxwell Chambers. The West Room has more of a masculine look — a gentlemen’s quarters. There are dark, inviting leather chairs here. Above the faux wood fireplace is a collection of prints of portraits of the Royal Family dating to 1937.

Morgan notes, “Everything in these rooms, except for the rugs, I got in Rowan County.”

• The Dining Room and Walk-thru. The two rooms were designed by Diana Spencer and Kay Harviel of Rowan Decorating Center. The musical theme throughout the house is especially prevalent here, with many antique instruments displayed. The in-laid table is set for six with elegant place settings of black and gold, which matches the room’s dramatic, elegant color scheme. There are even brass musical instrument picks set into the black napkins. This room also has a fireplace, along with a built-in breakfront. Harviel pointed out a gold wall sconce, which was once a part of a leg from a grand piano.

The lighting fixture in this room was donated by Earl Riddle of Davidson Electric and Plumbing in Mocksville. When he came with Spencer to see the home, he decided to donate more fixtures for the entire home.

“I just wanted it all to flow,” he said.

The walk-thru continues the bold colors in the dining room, with anaglypta (textured) wallcovering which has been painted black and sponged lightly with gold. Fruit and flower themes are found here.

A window frame, which is set into the larger window, was found in the attic, Harviel said. “We are sure it’s original to the house.”

Rowan Decorating also did window treatments in both rooms.

• The Grand Staircase Hallway and Landing. The area was done by Maurene Welch Isley of Spencer. The focal point of this area is a chest. Look for neat accessories such as the moss-colored swag and pillows, along with crocodile-embossed leather suitcases and musical instruments.
• The Pastor’s Study. With its black faux marble fireplace, burgundy leather furniture and tapestry window treatments, this room has a warm feel. Designer Sherry Beck of Salisbury said she wanted the room to look as if the pastor had just left. Several books are open on the desk. A chess set sits by the fireplace. The focal point of the room is a large portrait above the fireplace of the disciple James, painted by Glenn Yost of Salisbury. Beck also appointed the Front Porch area.
• The Upstairs Hallway and Bath. Frances S. McGill of Salisbury brought a modern look to the upstairs hallway, showcasing the talents of contemporary artists. A gallery of original paintings by Joe LaFone and Sarah Rakes hangs here. The theme for this area is “Art as Form and Function.” Contemporary furniture is also here. A contemporary red chest with silver, bullet-shaped pulls is a special-order market piece.

The Chinoiserie Bath has an Oriental feel, with both Chinese and Japanese pieces. The ceiling has been painted sterling silver, and the silver walls were hand painted with cranes. A hand carved rosewood panel serves as the window treatment. The gray silk shower curtain is accented with feathers. An antique lacquer tray holds bath soaps.

• The Contemporary Study. A more modern look can also be found in the Contemporary Study, designed by Kay Rogers Horton of KRH Contract in Mount Ulla. A collection of black and white photographs by Salisbury photographer Wayne Wrights highlights this room. Note the textured, painted ceiling and olive walls. A reproduction of an Oriental altar table serves as a writing desk, and sleek black leather furniture can be found in the conversation area.
• The Children’s Room. Whimsical carousel animals float along the walls in this sunny room. Each animal was painted by Cynthia Mackey of Salisbury, the owner of CoverWalls, a decorative faux-finishing company. Each animal took about three hours to complete. The walls are also painted in alternating shades of yellow stripes, one solid, one combed for a textured effect. Also in this room is the bassinet which Showcase committee member Suzanne Casey slept in and which she also used for her own children. The colorful pillows on the settee, along with the window treatments, were made by Phyllis Cain.
• The Morning Room. This small room located between the Children’s Room and the Master Bedroom is appointed by Carol Sayers of Salisbury. This room also receives much light, so it has been painted in a rich red tone. A comfortable light gold sofa, pheasant-themed curtains and pillows along with landscape paintings complete this area.
• The Master Bedroom. White tulips and yellow daffodils are the finishing touches in this beautiful and peaceful bedroom, decorated by Linda Dukelow, Carole Blair and Linda Beason of Texture Products Inc. of Salisbury. The trio chose blue and yellow as their theme colors.

“It’s just peaceful and makes you feel good,” Beason said.

The bed coverlet is blue with a blue and yellow print center piece. This material extended to the covered headboard and bed crown. The room also has upholstery pieces in yellow and blue, yellow and green plaid. The women have added their own family photographs to personalize the bedroom.

One photograph shows Dukelow’s mother as an infant in 1915. Another is a photo of Dukelow and Blair with Michael Jordan at Michael Jordan’s Restaurant in Chapel Hill, where they have done design work.

• The Master Bath. Belk at Salisbury Mall has decorated this bathroom with a wide variety of towels, rugs and decorative items.
• The Guest Bedroom. The color palette changes yet again in the Guest Bedroom. The intent of this room is an English retreat, said Ann Newton Spooner of Charlotte. Light chocolate walls add a warm touch. A massive four-poster English bed is the focal point of this room. A brown suede and tapestry loveseat is situated at the foot of the bed. One one wall is a reproduction of a tapestry made in 1494. Impressionist paintings by Clyde Overcash hang on two other walls. Leather suitcases and riding accouterments complete the room’s aristocratic effect.
• The Powder Room. This tiny bathroom on the first floor is chock full of memorabilia. The anaglypta wallcovering has a copper finish. Art nouveau bronze accessories, mirrors, prints and plants which combine for a romantic, rich look.
• A Room With A View. Rowan Museum has decorated the sunroom with white wicker furniture, a glass-top cafe table, and salmon and sage accessories. A variety of accessories is available for sale in this room. From the sunroom, visitors can tour the Utzman-Chambers House and receive a 50 percent discount on admission.
• The Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry. Susan Newbill of Greensboro faced a formidable task in transforming the Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry. These sunny, yellow rooms now look as if the cook has just stepped out. Newbill, who owns Gone to Pot Pottery and Interiors, has placed her own pottery along with live flowers in the Butler’s Pantry.

“This is where you can pot plants or just piddle around,” she said.

Back in the kitchen, Newbill used pieces of pottery to create mosaic backsplashes throughout the room. Metal covers help camouflage the kitchen cabinets. A mural by Greensboro artist Mark Spagenberg helps convey the room’s theme of bread.

n Window Treatments. One person who has been involved throughout the house is Phyllis Cain, owner of Interiors by Cain of Salisbury, who made many — but not all — of the window treatments. (See the showcase program for specific room credits.)

Although each room was different, Cain was successful in working with designers to create window treatments to complement each area.

“I work with a lot of designers in the area,” she said. “I know how to read their minds by now.”

Cain said that working in designer houses is an investment which does pay off over time.

“Sometimes you don’t feel the results until later,” she said. “But people don’t forget you when they see something they like.” 

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Contact Susan Shinn at 704-797-4289 or sshinn@salisburypost.com .