Designer House makes debut in Chesterfield
By Joan Tupponce

A French country home in Founders Bridge is the site of this year's Richmond Symphony Designer House. The house opens for tours on September 11.

One hundred and four months. That's how long the women of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra League have been working on the 2006 Richmond Symphony Designer House. The league presents a Designer House every two years. This year's French country home in Founders Bridge is the league's 12th Designer House.

"We have to coordinate hundreds of volunteers," explained Linda Morse Bourgeois, a league member. "Our volunteers do everything from selling tickets to serving as hostesses in the house. We use approximately 40 volunteers a day. There's a lot of work that goes into it."

No one knows that more than Rich Napier of Napier Signature Homes. The home was custom-designed and built exclusively as a showplace by Napier. After the event, it will be listed for $1.8 million.

"I was a corporate sponsor for the 2004 Designer House," he explained. "I met with the ladies of the league and posed the idea of building something for them. The next thing I knew we were building a house for them to use. It's been a lot of fun."

The Designer House features the latest technology as well as state-of-the-art materials and architectural features. The first floor of the 7,600-square-foot home features a coffered ceiling, dining room, expansive family room, gourmet kitchen and morning room and master suite with master bath. The second floor includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office and a media room. The third floor offers over 600 feet of bonus area.

The Chesterfield home also features a basement with an exercise room, bath, great room with fireplace and billiard area and a wine cellar.

"We took the design from a house we had done earlier that won a gold award during the Parade of Homes, and we modified it," Napier said. "We did get involved with the designers who are working on the interior, and we made some changes based on their input."

Visitors who tour the home will walk through 16 design areas highlighting the work of distinguished designers. This year's designers are David Allen Ballas Interiors, David Barden Home, Daydreams Interiors, Fringe, Inc., Goode Time Paints, Janice Hall, Jean Freeman Cauble Interior Design, Mosaic Interiors, Oliver Design Associates, Renmark & Associates, Sheppard Street Antiques, Silver Spoon, U Neeek Walls, Williams & Sherrill and Ellen Zinder. The house will highlight the latest trends in colors, fabrics, furniture and accessory collections from around the world.

"I think you will see a lot of chocolate this year," Bourgeois hinted.

This year is the first year that the Designer House is located in Chesterfield.

"That makes a big statement about where people are building their homes," Bourgeois said.

Napier agrees. "Building it in Chesterfield was a topic of discussion," he said. "Most of their projects have been in the city."

Bourgeois hopes the event will attract national media attention.

"I'd love to see our local designers get national exposure," she said. "It cost them a lot to do this."

The Designer House will include a Preview Gala, Designer Diner and 2006 Designer House Boutique stocked with all sorts of treasures.

"It's going to be beautiful," concluded Napier.

Be Inspired The 2006 Richmond Symphony Designer House will make its debut at an elegant Gala Opening Night Party on Friday, September 8. Public viewing runs from September 11 through October 8, plus the weekends of October 14 and 15 and October 21 and 22. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the door for $15 per person. Tickets purchased prior to September 11 are $12. For additional information, call 379-3444.