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Decorator Showhouse
Sprinkle in an amazing collection of china plus a display of hundreds of antique mantel and floor clocks. Add a unique Garage Boutique that will offer collectibles and antiques for sale to the public. Mix it all together and what do you have? One of the crème de la crème of community events: the 5th biannual Decorator Showhouse to benefit Hospice of North Central Florida.
But this year’s showhouse event has a sweet new addition. Designing a Lifestyle is a special two-day follow-up event to help people create their own showhouses.
For nearly seven months, Hospice Alliance volunteers have been diligently planning and area decorators have been painstakingly selecting patterns, wall colors, window treatments and furniture in an effort to create a visual masterpiece.
On March 1, the results of their combined efforts will be unveiled at a special black-tie optional preview party at the 2002 Decorator Showhouse, which is owned by Dr. Farrell McNeely, a radiologist with North Florida Regional Medical Center and his wife, Dr. Sharon McNeely.
The preview event is just the first of a series of opportunities for the public to view the newly decorated home, the amazing collectibles inside and to browse items for sale at the Garage Boutique. Nestled on 20 acres of azaleas, camellias and towering trees, the traditional colonial-style home will be open for daily tours beginning March 2. There will also be special daily luncheons, two decorator brunches and finally a dinner at The Tower Club on March 16.
Then on March 21, a finger lickin’ barbecue by Rotary Foundation Fryers and an auction will kick off Designing a Lifestyle, which is co-sponsored by the Gainesville Woman’s Club.
Area experts and vendors will be on hand all-day March 22 and 23 to display items and give decorating tips. There will also be a Cooking 101 class for the novice chef and two Cajun and Italian cooking demonstrations each day.
But cooking up fun is not the only purpose of these events. The goal is to raise money for a variety of important community services provided by Hospice of North Central Florida.
Last year, HNCF utilized more than $990,000 to provide special services to the community such as patient/family care needs, community education, grief support, children’s services and volunteer services. Helping Hospice of North Central Florida raise funds to provide these important community services was the main reason the McNeely’s offered their home as the 2002 Decorator Showhouse.
“I wanted to do something for hospice because Hospice of North Central Florida helped me take care of my mother during her illness,” Sharon McNeely said. “I see this as a win – win situation for everybody involved as it helps the decorators showcase their skills, helps us decorate our home and, more importantly, helps hospice provide services to the community.”
For ticket prices or to request an invitation, call the ticket chairman at 372-2287 or Hospice of North Central Florida at 379-6202.
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