Little secrets are tucked away in every corner of the 2018 Bucks County Designer House and even under it. The expansive Bucks County Property holds two homes, barns, sheds, atriums and garden spaces galore. All of this comes together to blur the line between outdoor and indoor living.
The property, known as Cedaridge Farm, was transformed by a team of designers and landscapers for the Doylestown Village Improvement Associations annual fundraiser, which benefits Doylestown Health.
The designers took care to add little Bucks County touches throughout the property and to save the ones already there. The property boasts everything from paintings created by local artists, to locally salvaged items to a completely custom Mercer tile bathroom.
We took a tour of the property with Board Members Barbara Ann Price and Joy Levy who shared a few of the surprises to be seen in the 43rd Bucks County Designer House and Gardens.
Outside
The gardens outside harken back to the time when the property was founded. Back in 1791, it was a Mennonite Dairy Farm and fruit tree orchard. The grounds show off several little gardens and a flowing waterfall hidden behind one of the properties outbuildings. The waterfall can be enjoyed from a newly placed stone patio. This little oasis can be found near the café specially created for the duration of the tour.
Guest Home
This year’s property boasts two homes instead of one, giving more designers a shot at showing off their talents. From the first steps into the guest house, a room designed by Susan Taylor of Black-eyed Susan sets the tone with a set of dramatic mid-century light fixtures, and a room boldly decorated in gold and turquoise. Other designers captured the spirit of the house as well, like the bathroom designer Tim Tesno. He created his masterpiece around the already existing Mercer tiles and brought in the outside with bird prints and drapes.
The Barns
Each of the Barns was transformed into boutique space for vendors to sell home goods, hats, chandeliers, scarfs and even locally made soaps. The main barn was also converted into a café space with an indoor seating area and space overlooking the waterfall.
Underground
One of the greatest secrets of the main house is tucked away under the home. Liza Miller Ltd. took a rustic basement and converted it into what appears to be a secret European hideaway. The designer named the creation the Budapest Beer Cellar and decorate the space with imported crates and bottles, lighting the room with hanging bulbs, and transformed the concrete floor into a tiled beauty that is really a painted optical illusion.
Main House
The most obvious draw to the main house is the two bright solariums on either side of the home. Both of the conservatories make the most of their views of the property, showing off the work of the homes’ renowned owner Derek Fell. He is a gardening expert, author, and photographer. He along with his wife Carolyn helped create the outdoor oasis. But one touch of whimsy that really brings the home to life is the room titled Books, Poker, Puzzles and Chess, designed by Linda Daly, ASID Interior Design, with decorative painting by Carol Nagal. The room is decorated with all things fun, vintage board games are hung throughout the room as artwork, and little games are set out on the table looking ready to be played.
The back porch of the home is also worth a stop, decorated like a bedroom and overlooking the backyard. It’s decorated as a bedroom rather than a sitting porch, as a nod to a time when people slept on the porch to catch the breeze, before air conditioning.
To visit
Tours of the home will be open to the public April 29 to May 27, 2018. Tickets are $35 at the door, seniors 62 and older are $30. The home is located at 93 Stover Park Road in Pipersville. For more information visit http://www.buckscountydesignerhouse.org/
The Bucks County Designer House & Gardens Fundraiser
This month-long event is the largest fundraiser held by the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown, a non-profit women's organization which founded Doylestown Hospital. Proceeds will benefit Doylestown Health and the organization's mission.
Doylestown Hospital was recognized by Leapfrog on December 7, 2017, as a Top Hospital for the second consecutive year, one of only 45 general hospitals in the U.S. to earn the recognition in 2017. The award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive. Doylestown Hospital also recently received an “A” grade in patient safety from Leapfrog.
The 2018 Designer House will designate most of its proceeds to support the Center for Heart and Vascular Care at Doylestown Health Heart Institute which is embarking on a transformative capital renovation and expansion. Groundbreaking for this expansion was held in September 2017. Event proceeds will also support the Central Bucks County community through donations for those in need, organizational grants, teen and women scholarships and support for the historic James-Lorah Memorial Home in Doylestown.
The event attracts thousands of visitors from Central Bucks County and surrounding areas.
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