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| Hilltop Farm 3990 Mechanicsville Road Buckingham, PA |
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| Bucks County Designer House & Gardens What is the Bucks County Designer House? It is a fundraiser run by the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (V.I.A) to support Doylestown Hospital and V.I.A. Community Projects. A spacious home is made available by a homeowner and it is completely redecorated by interior designers and landscapers and then opened to the public for tours. What is the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown? The V.I.A. organization, with a membership of more than 400 women, is nationally recognized as the only women’s club in the country to own and operate a community hospital. The Designer House committee, consisting of more than 50 V.I.A. members, work for the greater part of a full year attending to the myriad details involved in organizing this fundraiser. Designer House Committee meetings are held monthly beginning in October through the month preceding the opening of the house. Who benefits from this project? Doylestown Hospital is the principle beneficiary. The V.I.A. also allocates some of the profits to V.I.A. community projects. How often is the Bucks County Designer House held? This year, 2008, is the 33rd Designer House. It has been held in the spring of every year since 1978. The original venture took place in 1971 at Wheelbarrow Hill in Holicong. How many people tour? In recent years 8,000 to 10,000 people visit the house during the four weeks that it is open. A majority of the visitors are from Eastern Pennsylvania and others visit from New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Delaware. How will the proceeds be divided this year? This is the third year of a four-year commitment by the V.I.A. to support the expansion of Doylestown Hospital’s Emergency Department. Additionally, thousands of dollars will be given back to the community through V.I.A. Community Projects. How can I be involved in the Designer House? The Designer House Committee is entirely composed of V.I.A. members. Information about joining the V.I.A. may be obtained by calling 215-345-2347 or by Contacting Us. How may I volunteer to be a host or hostess? Simply call 215-245-2191 or contact us to Volunteer. Many individuals and groups serve as hosts and hostesses at the house and staff the Designer House Boutique. There is always a need for additional volunteers; interested individuals; community service groups and organizations; and high school or college students. How is a property to be used as a Designer House found each year? Generally, realtors provide leads or a homeowner offers a property. A Designer House sub-committee makes the final selection after visiting and evaluating available properties. I would like to have my house considered as a Designer House. What is involved? The Designer House has sole possession of the property from early March until early June. Many houses chosen for the project are vacant when they are selected. If the owners are in residence, they remove all their possessions and vacate the house during this period. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to find alternate living and storage arrangements. The homeowner may stipulate that certain aspects of the house must remain in their original condition. Designers and Landscapers will use their discretion to make other decorative changes to the house. Permanent changes may be made with the owner’s permission. Prospective houses are always being sought–especially spacious houses with more than one staircase to ease traffic flow and with grounds to accommodate parked cars and scheduled events. Contact Us if you would like your house to be considered. What happens to the house when the event ends? The house reverts back to the owners, enhanced by new paint, wallpaper and many other improvements which have been made. Owners may choose to buy designer furnishings or landscaping at a reduced cost. If the house is for sale, the real estate agent continues to market the property. How are the interior designers and landscapers chosen? A large mailing is sent out inviting interior designers and landscapers in the area to preview the house and grounds on designated dates. Each designer submits a color board, sketch and written description for his/her first room choice, and also indicates two alternate choices. Each landscaper requests an area by listing, in order of preference, his/her three choices and submitting a plan. A sub-committee makes the final assignments. Experienced designers and landscapers may Contact Us to be considered. How much time is allotted to designers and landscapers to prepare their areas at the Designer House before it opens? Designers and Landscapers view the rooms and outdoor areas in the autumn to begin their design plans. They are invited back in early January to take measurements of the assigned spaces. Then, they will have approximately eight weeks from the time the committee takes possession of the house in early March to make all of the design changes before house opens in late April or early May. What responsibilities do Designers and Landscapers have? They are expected to provide design plans to the committee, and order/install all materials. They must seek permission from the homeowner for any permanent changes. Once the house tours end, the designers and landscapers remove all furniture and decorative items that have not sold or been purchased by the homeowner. How does the Designer House benefit designers and landscapers? It showcases their talents and introduces their “look” to the public. Designers are given the opportunity to sell the furniture and decorative items used in their rooms, and landscapers to sell the planted materials and garden accessories. Call (215) 345-2191 or Contact Us for additional Information. |
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| Benefits Doylestown Hospital and Village Improvement Association of Doylestown Community Projects |
