ShowHouse of Ideas to feature interior design tips

For the past month, men and women have scurried in and out of the home at 700 N. Pacific St. at all hours of the day and night.

They've carried out the old and carried in the new, sometimes more than once.

Their goal? Nothing short of picture perfect.

On Saturday, the work of Southeast Missouri interior designers at the 2005 Designer ShowHouse of Ideas will be unveiled to the public for the first time.

The ShowHouse tours, which will run through Oct. 9, are part of a fund raiser for the Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary.

"The home was lovely before, but these people have brought it back to life," said Marge Sullivan, director of volunteer services at Southeast.

This week, Katina Wahlers and husband Jonathan were still working on the second-floor bedroom that the auxiliary assigned them to design.

"It's been a very big challenge, but really good for the design community," said Wahlers, who along with her husband, owns Carriage Hill, in Perryville, Mo. "A lot of people in the Cape Girardeau area aren't exposed to the design community, so this was good exposure for us."

Sullivan said auxiliary volunteers spent much of their time organizing the event. Local designers and design students from Southeast Missouri State University are participating. The money raised will be used to purchase a patient simulator -- a coughing, groaning, heart-beating dummy for health-care workers and the hospital's College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

There will also be seminars at Crisp Hall with local designers discussing various decor-related issues, from kitchen upgrades to flower arranging to slipcovers. The seminars will run at various times throughout the day from Saturday through Oct. 9.

Sullivan says the auxiliary hopes to hold other designer ShowHouse events as future fund raisers.

"It's really a win-win situation," said Sullivan. "It gives the designers a chance to strut their stuff."

The Tudor-influenced home was built in 1911 and was last occupied by Gary and Wendy Rust. The house was acquired by the University Foundation in 2005.

Laurie Schneider chose the library of the home as her room to decorate and promptly made up a fake client profile.

"I don't just work in my own venue; I'm trying to make the client's vision come to life. So I needed a client to make her vision a reality," said Schneider.

Schneider's fake client was named Lucy, a woman who wanted to make the wood-paneled library of her home more feminine.

"I had a lot of fun playing with my imaginary client," said Schneider. "She was very easy to work with."

Schneider chose a zebra-striped rug, poppy-printed chairs and an antique writing desk for the room. The chairs, which she purchased on a recent buying trip, were the inspiration for the room.

"The whole experience has been positive," said Schneider. "It's an opportunity to showcase your talent for potential clients who can come through and see the finished product installed, not just in a portfolio."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

Want to go?

n What: 2005 Designer ShowHouse of Ideas

* Where: 700 N. Pacific St.

* When: Oct. 1 to 9 -- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Monday through Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday