Show house fund-raising idea offers spotlight for area interior

The Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary and Southeast Missouri State University's Interior Design Program have joined forces to bring to the area a unique approach to home decorating.

The Designer ShowHouse of Ideas is the brainchild of Marge Sullivan, director of volunteer services at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Sullivan said she has been involved with fund-raising show houses in metropolitan areas, but this is the first time it has been done in Southeast Missouri.

Professional designers bid for the opportunity to decorate one room or area of a home, each successful bidder showcasing his or her own style.

The house to be transformed is the former home of Gary and Wendy Rust at 700 N. Pacific St., now owned by the University Foundation. The house is an eclectic style of architecture with strong Tudor characteristics. It features grand arched windows on the first, second and third floors and half-timbering under the eaves. It has a leaded-glass entry area and glass-enclosed conservatory, which were added in 1990 to enclose the original front porch.

Other interesting features include a paneled library, custom built-in storage units and a built-in aviary for birds in the kitchen.

The third floor of the home, which includes a large bedroom with leaded-glass windows and an executive bathroom suite, will be open for Bare Bones weekend only.

"We're counting on the fact that a lot of people have looked at it and said, 'I would like to see the inside of that,'" said Dr. Paula King, chairman of the Department of Human Environmental Studies at SEMO.

People who have admired the grand residence can take a "Bare Bones" tour Aug. 27 and 28. Interested visitors can walk through the empty residence as it is now and envision how they would decorate it if they owned it. Designers participating in the show house will display their concept boards featuring the colors and fabrics they plan to use.

"Then they are going to work their own magic," Sullivan said.

In October, the redecorated home will be again opened to visitors between Oct. 1 and 9.

During the Bare Bones and the ShowHouse tours, home enhancement seminars taught by professionals will be offered. The price of the seminars will be included in the price of the tickets. Visitors also will be able to stroll through Wendy Rust's gardens during the Bare Bones weekend, and tours will be offered during the ShowHouse days.

To benefit hospital auxiliary

Designers participating include Janet Guethle, Decor of Dexter and Jill Eichhorn, a designer and Southeast graduate student, who will design the foyer; Christina Herzog of Hutson's Fine Furniture, dining room; Laurie Schneider of Cape Girardeau, library; Dan Fritsche of The Design Parlor in Perryville, kitchen; Sharon Meyr Decorating of Jackson, upstairs hall (with a mural by Marty Riley of Marty's Paintbrush of Cape Girardeau); SEMO Residential Design II students, bedroom with window seat; Jonathan and Katina Wahlers of Carriage Hill in Perryville, bedroom with balcony; Connie Throop Designs of Sikeston, bedroom with fireplace; Robin Dial, designs&blinds.com of Sikeston, second-floor master bath; and Jill Chrusciel of Jackson, upstairs living room.

In addition to the class that will be designing one of the bedrooms, other design students will work with the professional designers on a volunteer basis.

"Without the participation of these talented designers, the project would not be possible," said Sullivan. "We feel so very fortunate to be able to showcase their skills, services and products in the ambience of this historic home."

Rounding out the design for the ShowHouse tours will be furniture and accessories provided by Patrick Furniture Mart and window treatments by RM Coco, both of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri Hospital's Wishing You Well gift shop will also sell some of its items and ShowHouse commemorative sun catchers at a small gift shop at the ShowHouse.

Major sponsors of the project are the Southeast Missourian and A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. of Cape Girardeau.

Proceeds from the tour will go to the hospital auxiliary, which raises money to provide Southeast with equipment and other medical enhancements, Sullivan said. Proceeds from the ShowHouse will be used to purchase a computerized patient simulator for the training of hospital professionals, caregivers and students in the hospital's College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Once the tours are over, the designs will be dismantled and the house will return to its Bare Bones status. King said the University Foundation has not announced any plans for how it will use the house after the ShowHouse.

For ticket information and more information about the Designer ShowHouse of Ideas, call Southeast's volunteer services at 651-5518. Groups of eight or more may book tours in advance at a discount price by calling the volunteer services number.