Media, PA News: Everybody's Home Page

Designer Show House in Swarthmore Benefits Community Arts Center

May 02

Designer Show House in Swarthmore Benefits Community Arts Center

RELEASE – The Community Arts Center showcases the art of fine design at its 2014 Designer Show House, Harvard House, presented by Main Line Today Magazine.

The historical property, built in 1905 and located at 718 Harvard Avenue in Swarthmore, has been transformed into a modern show-stopper by a select group of the area’s top interior designers, decorators and landscape designers.  Proceeds from the Preview Party and from House tours will benefit Wallingford’s Community Arts Center.

Preview Party:  Friday, May 2nd, 7-10pm; tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling the Community Arts Center at 610-566-1713.  The evening includes a first look at the house, food by Jeffrey Miller Catering, and live music by the Don Jones Band.

Public Tours:  Saturday, May 3rd – Sunday, June 1st;  Hours are Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-5pm, Thursdays from 10am-7pm, and Sundays from 12pm-5pm; tickets are $25 per person; seniors and groups of 20+ receive a discounted price of $20 per person.

Ticket and parking information:

  • Free parking is available at the Show House location.  
  • Tickets are available at the door, at Community Arts Center (414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA 19086), or online at http://cacdesignerhouse.org/directions/tickets/. For online sales, customers must print out receipt and bring to tour as confirmation. Community Arts Center will not mail out paper tickets for online sales. All group sales must be made by phone at 610-566-1713.  
Community Arts Center’s Designer Show House, Harvard House, at 718 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, features original interior accents like hardwood floors and custom woodwork.

Community Arts Center’s Designer Show House, Harvard House, at 718 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, features original interior accents like hardwood floors and custom woodwork. Public tours begin on Saturday May 3rd.

Located in the bucolic town of Swarthmore, Harvard House embodies well over a century of history.  The home incorporates elements of country French and Queen Anne style architecture, displaying ornate original features and accents.  A formal foyer leads to spacious living areas on three floors, including additions that have been designed to retain the original architectural integrity. The home’s expansive front lawn and Victorian covered porch welcomes visitors to the lovely property.

Area decorating and design experts and CAC artists contributing their individual visions for the interior rooms and outdoor spaces include Jennifer Assetto, Deborah Bettcher, Cider Mill Landscapes, Janice Clark, CAC Exhibition Committee, Lisa Cope, Steven Cox, Andrew Johnson, Pamela Kenney, JoAnna Lyon, April Margera, Edmund McGarvey, Roger Naylor, Carol Scanlon, Scott Arboretum Designers, Terrain, Kaiser Thompson, and Melissa Zimmerman.  Spaces will be reinvented, remodeled and refurnished, providing design inspiration for renovations in any home. The family dog will also get a special home makeover with custom dog houses built by Jim Shea and Steve McCusker.

Photos of Harvard House, driving directions, design team information, and tips for visiting can be found at http://cacdesignerhouse.org/.

Harvard House is presented by Main Line Today Magazine and sponsored by Fig, Jeffrey Miller Catering, Wilson Oil, Crozer-Keystone Health System, and Heron Crest Studios.

The Designer Show House is a signature fundraiser for Community Arts Center, a non-profit visual arts education organization. All proceeds benefit programming, exhibitions, concerts, and outreach efforts which include Empty Bowls, ART to go, and the Chester community murals program. 

About the Community Arts Center

The Community Arts Center believes the arts are essential to human development and the well-being of society. We are dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for artists at all levels of their creative journey, encouraging participation in the arts through advocacy, education, and outreach, and serving as a vital creative resource for the community. 

The Community Arts Center was founded in 1948 by a group of local artists. Throughout its long and successful history the Arts Center has continually pursued excellence in all areas of its programming, expanding course offering and other programs to meet the needs of its community.