2009 Harrisburg Symphony Society Showhouse Preview

The Harrisburg Symphony Society 2009 Showhouse and Outdoor Design will reveal transformed, revitalized spaces as The Susquehanna River Retreat opens for tours May 16 through June 7.

Located in the village of Heckton, a small river community just north of Fort Hunter, the showhouse was originally built on the bank of the Susquehanna River in 1732 by Benjamin Chambers, the founder of Chambersburg. The stone structure was moved across what is now known as River Road in 1929 to its current address, 5529 River Road, where frame additions expanded the home.

Susquehanna Valley interior and landscape designers share their passion for design and their support for the cultural arts by donating their time and talents in this show-stopping culmination of creative ideas.

In conceptualizing a design for a project such as a showhouse, where there are no homeowners to interview about their preferences and how they will be using the area, interior designers will often create imaginary clients who will reside in their rooms, because if you ask any designer, they will tell you their clients are their inspiration. The result: A colorful cast of characters all conceptually cohabitating under the roof of one spectacular showhouse full of design, decor and landscaping ideas to inspire those who come to visit. Enjoy our exclusive sneak peek, and plan your visit...

Bedroom #4

The transitional nature of this room which is neither public nor private gave designer Jen Mulledy of Restyle a unique idea to create an easily accessible oasis filled with sunny oranges, warm browns, cool grays and blues. "Its proximity to the kitchen makes it the perfect getaway for a morning coffee, and being near the bedrooms, it is an easy place to wind down for the night," says Mulledy. She adds, mixed themes and periods give the room a "gathered-over-generations" sentiment while the contrast of nature and invention, traditional and avant-garde, create interest.

Restyle | 717.478.8781
www.designrestyle.com

Still fresh from a spa weekend getaway with my husband my thoughts aren't ready to turn to much else. We had been needing this trip for a long time and it was well worth the wait. Much to my long anticipated delight we spent one night at the brand-spanking-newly renovated Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, PA. I don't have space enough to go into detail of the luxury of the experience of the spa, dining, and accommodations, but I must briefly gush of the architecture and interior design.

For the past twenty years on occasion I would have the opportunity to ride by the vast empty buildings of the once grand hotel. Face pressed to the window as we came around the bend I would beg, "Drive slow!" in order to take in as much of the architecture as I could soak up. I had never seen it in operation, only vacant and abandoned. Its cries to be restored broke my heart because I did not have the means to revive this hidden treasure.

But others who did heard the cries as well. And today, after a $120million renovation, its doors are once again on their hinges, freshly painted, and open to the public. The interiors are all I had imagined them to be with grand winding staircases, ballrooms, chandeliers, fireplaces, and a first-of-its-kind spring fed indoor pool with a surrounding balcony where string quartets would serenade swimmers. Grandeur fully restored to its original elegance and beyond anything I had ever experienced. And yet...

I was comfortable. Nothing felt as if it couldn't be touched or sat on. There was no air of walking into a museum. The colors were bright and modern, the mix of different periods of comfy, inviting furniture well executed in their coordination and placement. My interior designer mind was not working to change things for the better. I was completely relaxed and content.

We can't wait to go back. But after the drive home, crawling into my own bed in the room designed just for my husband and me felt like we were still on vacation. Timeless, good design relaxes the mind, inspires the spirit, and pleasures the senses. On a smaller scale our own homes can and should be this "luxurious," providing us the getaway we need everyday.

Luxury awaits, call Jen to turn your home into your own personalized resort. Restyle: designing Central Pennsylvania's innovative interiors.

You put a lot of work into your home keeping it clean, repaired, and comfortable for all who live there. But what does your home do for you? Aside from shelter, what extra benefits do you get out of your space? Does your home nurture the time you spend with your family? Does it provide ample occasion to be together but still give you a place to be alone? Does it inspire creativity or provide relaxation? You may not realize how much your home has to offer you. The proper placement of your furnishings, the right lighting, even the color of your walls can affect how you and your family interact with each other and what you accomplish in your own space.

Every home needs at least one room that fits everyone who lives there comfortably and offers options in their activities, a place to be together while doing your own thing. Keep the computer in the living room, along with a stereo and lots of comfy seating and light for reading. Another way of keeping the family together is to open up your kitchen to the rest of the house. The notion of hiding what happens in the kitchen has become antiquated. With the popularity of cooking shows and the elegance of equipment and cabinetry the kitchen is fast becoming the showplace of the home. Most walls can be easily removed with little cost and repair and the resulting functionality of a "great room" is invaluable.

Create space for personal needs as well. With the right organization small closets can become scrapbooking areas, a bathroom can be a relaxing spa, and an uncluttered basement can transform into an envied home theater. Relaxation and rejuvenation are some of the most important needs our homes can fulfill. Don't overlook your bedroom when considering remodeling or redecorating your home, make it a priority. Be sure to design for you and your family, not for the occasional company. When your home is planned around your needs and comforts your guests will feel comfortable in it too.

Jen Mulledy is the owner of "Restyle", designing Central Pennsylvania's innovative interiors. Schedule an in-home consultation for a functionality assessment and discover what your home could be better providing for you and your family.

The holidays are a great time for experimenting with decorating our homes in a way we might not consider any other time of year. We're more inclined to push past the boundaries we normally set for ourselves. The inspiration of the season brings out the designer within. But why not use that creativity the rest of the year?

What is it about your holiday decorations that inspire you? Is it the ornament that's been passed down through generations that invokes nostalgia, the glow of the lights that warm the season, or the shiny baubles that bring a touch of fun into an otherwise regular day? Driving through your neighborhood or browsing the stores what makes you stop and take notice? The colors? The motion? The imagination?

When the holidays are over and it's time to put away the decorations don't pack up your creativity. Put your inhibitions away instead. Use the same inspirations from your holiday decorating in your post-holiday home. Once the Christmas tree is tossed bring the outdoors in with a water feature or silkscreen prints of plants or leaves. Keep the whimsy with something a bit avant-garde such as a small mirrored table or bright metal tray in your otherwise conventional living space. Experiment with lighting: use softer or maybe brighter bulbs, add some up-lighting, or change the old ceiling fan to a fun and fancy chandelier. Surround yourself with color. Painting is the most cost effective way of transforming your space. While remembering the bright colors of the holidays and standing within your now seemingly drab walls it's the perfect time to pick a new color for your home.

Draw on the momentum of holiday decorating and introduce its inspiration into your everyday life. Your home will awaken with a new vibrancy you may not have otherwise attempted.

Restyle's lead designer and owner, Jen Mulledy, studied architecture at the University of Maryland and has been part of the design industry for over 10 years. As a local homeowner she sees the need for fresh ideas in central Pennsylvania's current design market and has created Restyle with the intent to incorporate innovation, originality, and individuality with the customer's personal style and needs. Restyle hopes to be a driving force in the area's economy, pursuit of continued relevance, and exploration of technology, design, and imagination.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

I usually get a phone call or an email with that question, "What do you do?" The first thing we do is set up an appointment for an in home consultation so I can sit down with the client and talk to them about their wants, their dreams and their desires, see the space, take some pictures take some measurements. It is an informational gathering session.

Restyle's Jen Mulledy says that when hiring an interior decorator, remember that everyone is going to have their own ideas but most importantly you want to make sure your decorator is thinking about what you want not necessarily what they want.

A design board is often presented by the decorator. Room measurements and pictures are taken and then turned into a floor plan to show where furniture is going to go. The floor plan is also going to show the traffic flow and function in each space.

Not everyone is able to read floor plans so I like to do a perspective drawing if each space so the client can get a better understanding of the furniture layout and how it is going to feel when they are in that room.

Some of the other things you are going to see on a design board are some furniture ideas, some rug ideas and I like to have fabric with me to really give you a good feel of what you might see in your space.

All projects can vary in the involvement of your designer and so that is where your cost is going to come in. A designer can simply give you the idea to get started and you can implement the design yourself or a designer can oversee the whole project.

There are other ways working with a designer can save you money. Many times a designer will be offered a professional discount at furniture stores and I like to pass that discount onto my customers. Generally design work is done on an hourly basis. I talk to my clients ahead of time about how many hours I believe it will take and we agree to a set amount.

Jen's advice for someone thinking of hiring a decorator but hasn't taken that first step yet? Don't be afraid to make that first call. You'll be surprised at how affordable and money saving it can be.

Get more information on Jen Mulledy and Restyle at designrestyle.com.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

Another shopping trip with Restyle! This time Better PA joins lead designer and owner of Restyle Jen Mulledy at Blue Mountain Thrift Store in Annville. The selection you find in a thrift store is a little different than what you would find in an antique mall. You'll see more vintage and gently used furniture. There is still a lot of interesting pieces to be found.

What is great about shopping in a thrift store isn't just the bargains. A lot of people these days are concentrating on being green and are interested in sustainable design and this is really a proactive way of practicing that. So shopping in a thrift store is kind of like recycling. You're not only helping the environment by reducing trash but you are helping the economy by being financially savvy, and of course you are helping those in need by supporting the charity benefiting from the thrift store's proceeds.

Just like at the antique mall you want to look for good quality and durability and really inspect for damage. Look real closely because all sales are final.

You can also find some great artwork at thrift stores.

In this restyle spray paint was the secret. Black is the safest bet to bring any piece back to life as I've used on the small bureau and a metallic gold on the coffee table really livens things up. By matching these classic pieces with some contemporary slipper chairs and finishing off with some beautiful accessories we have a look that is straight out of a designer magazine.

See more of Jen's fabulous designs at www.designrestyle.com.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

Ever hear people talk about their great finds while antique shopping and think to yourself, "I wish I had an eye for that?" Today on Better PA we are back with Restyle and this time we are combining design therapy with retail therapy. We are going shopping! Antique shopping to be exact- in beautiful Annville Lebanon County.

Antique malls are great places to find unique furnishings to inspire your design or accessorize with interesting pieces to add flare to your current space. You will find more than antiques in an antique store. There is vintage furniture, gently used furniture and lots of other little things to make your space more interesting.

It is very fashionable these days to mix traditional or classic furniture with contemporary or modern styles. A lot of the furniture recently produced is designed to reflect the pieces produced in the 60s or 70s. While it is very easy to purchase a new chair at a furniture store, there is nothing quite like finding an authentic piece, personalizing it with your own fabric or finish and saving money at the same time.

You definitely need to look for quality and durability in the construction of the piece. A little bit of wear and tear is just going to add to the character. Don't bother with pieces requiring major repairs.

Check the tags on pieces in an antique store. Some are on consignment meaning that the item is given a time limit to be in the store and at the end of the time limit, if that item did not sell the seller needs to remove it from the store. That can be a great bargaining tool to get a better price.

For more designer restyles visit www.designrestyle.com. This segment was filmed at the Annville Antique Station in Annville, Pennsylvania. For more information on the Annville Antique Station, visit www.annvilleantiques.com.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

Today we are doing a home office for him, a Gentleman's Retreat.

Before we restyled this room it was a nice room with neutral walls and well thought out furnishings. But the goal was to make it more functional and more comfortable.

The homeowner wanted his home office to be luxurious and comfortable but also functional because it is an office.

We started with something personal to him to individualize his space. We've displayed his prized possessions to remind him why he does what he does.

We added a larger desk than he had before and a more comfortable desk chair which is very important.

In this Gentleman's Retreat there is a large flat screen television. However, it is not all for play. It is also a computer monitor. You can do work from the comfortable seating area or play games and watch movies.

Remember that a piece of furniture does not always need to be used for its originally intended purpose. The stand the TV sits upon is actually the base of a china cabinet. It was the perfect height and length with storage capabilities for the electronic equipment.

The colors in this room are calming and soothing. They are a mix of neutrals rather than bringing in a bright color but the contrasts keep things interesting. We also mixed styles of furniture. We have a classic used leather couch with Danish modern furniture and contemporary lighting and accessories. And of course it wouldn't be a Gentleman's Retreat without an antler table!

We kept things organized and neat by hiding the client's "mess" in his closet behind a fashionable curtain.

Comfortable enough for his wife to join him on the couch for a movie, but by invitation only. One request from his wife was to not put a mini-fridge in the office because she was afraid she'd never see him again.

See more creations from Restyle at www.designrestyle.com

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

We are back at Restyle for a little design therapy.

Jen I always love coming here you have so many great ideas. What are you showing us today?

Today I want to show you a restyle of a tween room.

A tween is the age between 10 and 13 when they are outgrowing their childish years but not quite a teenager.

Her room was very colorful and very cluttered. Looks like any little girl's room I know, they've got a lot of stuff. We need a place for all her things but she wants a grown up designer room to hang out in that she's not going to out grow.

Everything is put away. We have storage like crazy!

It is a very grown up room and she just feels like a movie star.

Modern but chic was the goal for this room. The bold red with dark brown color choices set the tone, keeping the furniture choices simple with clean lines was important so as not to overwhelm the room. The champagne linens and curtains and lots of different lighting brighten the room. Just a touch of bling with the polished metal tables and crystal chandeliers make things just girly enough.

The star of this room is the storage. We are able to put away her clothes, games, toys, art supplies, everything in the storage.

We added these built in cabinets and nearly tripled the storage she had before and at the same time we gained floor space and in doing so made room for this beautiful designer lounge area where she can hang out or curl up with a book...or do homework! Let's hope so!

See more of Jen Mulledy's creations at designrestyle.com.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

Jen it's nice to see you again. It's nice to see you Melanie.

I love coming to your clients homes, they are always amazing, much like, I think, the room we are about to see today, am I correct? I can't wait to show you a home theater today. But before we go see it, I want to show you what it looked like before.

It's a basement! Yes, it's a basement. White walls, bare floor.

You're going to turn this into a home entertainment room? I already have. Let's check it out.

So here we are Melanie, in the home theater. This is an amazingly comfortable looking theater. I'm glad you say that because I feel that some think that theaters are too formal and maybe that's not something they can do at their home. But I wanted to keep the home in home theater.

So we've tucked all the technology inside this cabinet here, This piece is interesting because we searched and searched for a piece that would work here and we ended up finding this upstairs in the clients home.

Now Jen I can totally see my husband actually volunteering to sit and watch a chick flick in this kind of theater. The colors are appealing to everyone. We used a retro palate with dark orange and celery green.

So everyone is comfortable. Now Jen, what is this? This is a rock wall. The kids in this house can climb the wall and it keeps the parents from having to.

Well as you saw in the before shots, these walls had paneling from the typical 60s 70s style home. The paneling is still there. We just covered it with upholstery material which was the most cost effective way to not have to deal with the mess of tearing down paneling and installing drywall.

Thanks Jen, I am completely inspired. That's great. I've got my blanket, my popcorn and your clients home theater. I'm ready to hang out for a while. Why don't you come back and see more rooms? I will do that. And we can see more rooms on your website.

Absolutely, and design ideas at designrestyle.com. Thanks.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.

Melanie Gardner & Jen Mulledy

It's time for a little design therapy. Today we are speaking with the lead designer and owner of Restyle Jen Mulledy. Jen is showing us the home of one of her clients and a room she has redecorated. Hi Jen, good to see you. Hi Melanie welcome. Let's go see it!

So Jen , what are we looking at today? Today I want to show you a room that I transitioned from a nursery into a toddler room and hopefully a room that this little boy will be able to grow up in for a few years. We know children grow up and change practically overnight and their personalities change so much. You're a mom, I'm a mom, we both know that, so is this something that can be done easily? We certainly don't want to change the room as many times as these little kids change so we're going to try to incorporate as much of their personality as possible. Before we go see the room I want to show you what it looked like before.

You can see it is a typical nursery.

What's nice about this room is that the youngster will remember the mural on the wall. Children like familiarity as well.

You're going to see in the new room what we did with that.

Alright- Let's see it!

So Melanie, here's the room, what do you think? This is amazing! Do you recognize anything from the nursery? The green circles are on the wall! We kept a bit of the mural and added to it.

We added some great storage in here.

We have these soft cubes to store his toys in here and he can reach everything and knows exactly where they are.

We have this window treatment that goes all the way around the room and covers the closet door.

This piece of furniture is actually a buffet and is currently being used as a changing table. You have to think sometimes about what you want the furniture to be rather than what it is called or is normally used for.

Jen this is amazing. We are looking forward to seeing more of your designer creations in the future. Thank you Melanie.

And you can see more from Jen of Restyle at designrestyle.com.

You can watch this video and others in our Media Room.