Designer Show House Open for Tours in Cape May

CAPE MAY — The sixth annual Designer Show House is the Fairthorne Cottage at 115 Ocean Street where an historic Bed & Breakfast inn meets 21st century design.
Both Gothic and Stick Style architectural elements are evident at the Fairthorne Cottage, which is actually a combination of two separate houses. The rear house was built in 1830 and was moved from Lafayette Street, while the front of the house was added in 1880.
According to the Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts, Enos Williams is credited as the architect and builder. Striking architectural elements at the cottage include the exterior tower in the front of the property, double parlors, and completely restored fireplaces.
Named after Frederick Fairthorne, one of the original owners of the property along with his business partner, John C. Bullitt (Cape May’s mega-developer of the Victorian period), the three-story bed and breakfast in the heart of Cape May’s historic district.
It is owned by MAC Board President Diane Hutchinson and her husband, Ed. The upper floor of the cottage will remain fully operational and continue to serve as a retreat for guests during its time as the Designer Show House.
The first floor and grounds of the house have been renovated and transformed by designers and will be open for tours.
This year’s Designer Show House’s contractors, designers, and suppliers have given the B&B a new floor plan, a completely redesigned kitchen with new cabinetry, fresh coats of paint, new wallpaper, and improved outdoor living spaces. There are 10 designer spaces, which include an enclosed front porch, powder room, living room, dining room, and kitchen, among others.
Among the designers is Gretchen Kubiak, who is originally from West Cape May. She created Black & Poole in Philadelphia, PA as an Interior Design Collaborative and high-end furniture fabricator and retailer. Kubiak designed the dining room, den/office area, and den/office bathroom.
Other designers are: Carole Roach, ASID, of Barlow Tyrie, Inc in Moorestown, who designed the entry foyer and porch areas.
Jane Spickofsky, owner/designer of the Inside Advantage in Avalon, designed the foyer.
Rita Cipolla, designer/owner of Accessories Plus in Sewell designed the hallway powder room.
Mark D. Little, co-owner and senior designer for Design Home Interiors in Montgomeryville, Pa, designed the parlor.
Janis A. Schmidt, owner of Dragonfly Interiors LLC in Cape May and member of IDS/Interior Design Society, designed the living room. Schmidt maintains Cape May’s only full-service interior design studio.
The team from Asbury Kitchen & Bath of Ocean City designed the kitchen.
The team from Coastal Designs in Northfield designed the outdoor spaces and made-over the existing gazebo. The gazebo was renewed when Coastal Designs replaced the roof and light fixture and coated the wood with paint.
This year’s Cape May Designer Show House will be open for daily self-guided tours from June 25 through Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays to Fridays, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each visitor will receive a full-color program book with information about the designers, products and vendors.
Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12). Tours of the Designer Show House can be combined with lunch and dinner packages and special events.
See the Designer Show House decked out in holiday style through Cape May’s Christmas season, Nov. 19 to Jan. 2, 2011. During the holiday season, tours are available daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and plus Thursday and Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Proceeds benefit the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Cape May’s heritage. MAC also fosters the performing arts.
For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404, 800-275-4278 or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org