Tour Saluda Cottages At Flat Rock Designer Showhouse

Historic Flat Rock has organized the 2010 Designer Showhouse at Saluda Cottages, a home that dates back to 1836 and is listed on the National Register. The Designer Showhouse, scheduled from Aug. 14-29, will open the doors of the home to visitors and allow them to explore 23 rooms over three floors that have been professionally decorated by 15 designers. The event is a benefit for Historic Flat Rock and its historic preservation initiatives.

The Showhouse is located at 1901 Little River Road just past the Flat Rock Playhouse. The hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 1 to 4 pm. Historic Flat Rock is encouraging people to buy their $25 tickets at either the Wrinkled Egg and the Book Exchange in Flat Rock or the Silver Fox and the Henderson County Visitors Center on Main Street in Hendersonville. There are only a limited number of tickets available at the door of the Showhouse.

If walking through the home builds up your appetite, don’t worry. The Showhouse will have its own eatery, Café Sans Souci, that will serve lunch every day. There is also a boutique where people can buy some of the items the designers have placed in the house.

“All of the proceeds from the Showhouse go to Historic Flat Rock. We are a historic preservation organization,” said Carol Andrews, who is handling publicity for the event. “Ticket sales have been fabulous. We’ve had ads in Atlanta, Charleston, Knoxville, and I’ve had calls as far east as Statesville. People are coming up from Charleston, from Atlanta, Augusta. We’ve sold probably close to $5,000 worth of tickets so far.”

The home, which is the property of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Boyd Jr., has rarely been open to the public. Andrews said the home was on a historic home tour years ago, so this is a rare opportunity for people to wander the rooms of one of Flat Rock’s oldest homes.

“It is a private residence and it is up for sale and it may never be opened to the public again,” Andrews said. “This is a chance to see an absolute beautiful home with a lot of history done by 15 designers who have done a splendid job. I mean the rooms are just gorgeous.”

As part of the Showhouse, Historic Flat Rock is hosting a special lunch at Kenmure Country Club featuring Jon Carloftis, a nationally recognized garden designer and author. That event will be Aug. 26 at 11 am. Carloftis has been featured on television programs like the Martha Stewart Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show and was invited by President Obama and Better Homes and Gardens to decorate Blair House for the Christmas holiday.

Tickets for the Carloftis luncheon are $50, and they can only be purchased through Historic Flat Rock by calling 698-0030. Andrews said people can also call her at 697-0208 and she will see that they get tickets.

 

 

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