Just imagine you are a world traveler with several residences, including perhaps a New York apartment or a place in the mountains, a charming villa in the south of France, plus a three-story house on the Charleston harbor that you consider “home.” This is exactly the fantasy created by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League, Inc. (CSOL®) for its 2008 Symphony Designer Showhouse. According to project coordinators, the 2008 “Windows to the World” theme is a reflection of both the fictional homeowners and the property’s panoramic views of the Ashley River.

The stately yellow house, located at 108 Murray Boulevard, looks “Charleston traditional” on the outside and gives no hint of the contemporary floor plan that lies within. A team of thirteen talented designers worked closely to create an ambiance and flow that is apparent from the moment one walks in the door. They showed a great deal of international flair in transforming a total of 24 spaces throughout the 5,000 square foot house to carry out the 2008 theme.

From March 13th to April 13th, 2008 the public was invited to tour this stunning property as a benefit for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. They enjoyed viewing rooms with a British West Indies and Caribbean mood, others showcasing accents from Asia and Africa, and still more with charming reminders of time spent in European countries such as Italy and France. All of these influences are deftly blended with what might be called “Charleston casual,” making this home as warm and inviting as a walk on the beach.

The designers participating in the 2008 event were Rebecca Bryan, Britney Cooke, Daniel Berler, Katherine Sparks Elliott, Sandy Ericksen, Caitlin Griffin, Donna Horack, Warren Kessler, Maria Schendzelos, Jessica Schmidlapp, Judy Schmidlapp, Jolene Smith, Carolyn Stevenson, and Cathy Swider. Find out more information about an individual designer by clicking the name.

The Showhouse opened with a flourish Wednesday evening, March 12, 2008 at 6 p.m. with Mayor Pro Tem, Kathleen Wilson, (also a harpist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra), and David Stahl, Music Director of the CSO, presiding over the ribbon cutting ceremony. A brass quintet of John Freeman and Mike Smith, trumpets, Bill Zehfuss, trombone, Brandon Nichols, french horne and Chris Blaha, Tuba played on the piazza. Pianist Nancy Stedman provided additional music throughout the evening.

The Symphony Designer Showhouse was open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays, excluding Easter. Along with a treasure trove of design ideas, it offered al fresco dining in its Café Musique from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Boutique filled with artisan jewelry, accessories, and designer accents. In addition, visitors had the opportunity to purchase items in the house through the League’s Designer Sales.

We had a full schedule of wonderful Charleston musicians who donated their time and talent to perform a variety of musical selections. The musicians included:

Glen Brown, piano; CSO orchestra members: Asako Kremer (violin), Jan–Marie Joyce (viola), Lauren Paul and Damien Kremer (cello); Regina Helcher, flute, Judy McCoy, harp; Bob Notari, piano; Denny Donahue, piano; CSO violinist Nonoko Okado; Richard Show, flute; Nancy Stedman, piano; Tacy Edwards, CSO flute; Lorna Tedesco Barker, piano; CSO violinists Megan Allison and Alan Molina; CSO harpist Kathleen Wilson; CSOL scholar Audra McCall, violin; Ed Allman, Katrina Smith; CSOL scholar Lonnie Russell, piano; Norbert Lewandowski, CSO cello; Nicholas Bentz; CSO violinists Jill King and Francis Hsieh; Gretchen Frazier, violin; Nancy Hendricks, piano; Maggie Hendricks, violin; Greg Jones, piano; Adda Kridler, CSO violin; Charleston Chamber Players (CSO principals Mark Gainer, oboe; Jessica Hull Dambaugh, flute; Louise Dubin, cello; Coastal Chamber Musicians; Fitzhenry Family trio; Ellen Murray, piano; Jim Beltz, piano; Pam Dickson, flute and Jean McIntyre, bass; Christine Jennings, guitar; CSO Concert Master Yuryi Bekker, violin; Tom Bresnick, CSO bass; Greg Jones, piano; Joanne Killingsworth, piano; Amos Lawrence, CSO violin; CSO Horn & Tuba Quintet; Sadie DeWall, CSO viola; Tiffany Deierlein, piano; Diana Myers, harp; Ghadi Shayban, piano; Janet Elshazly, piano; Rex Connor, violin; and Ester Rose Williams, soprano.

For many years, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League has enjoyed a unique relationship with Charleston Home, which has featured the house and designers annually in its spring issue. Also, this year, Southern Accents has partnered with the CSOL® by sponsoring and featuring select rooms in the September/October issue of that popular design magazine.

For 31 years, the League’s Designer Showhouse has been the major fundraising event for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, involving scores of volunteers who serve on the planning committee and many more who work as docents in the house, waiters and waitresses in the café, and sales people in the boutique.

The CSOL thanks all those amazing volunteers and those who visited the 2008 Symphony Designer Showhouse for their contributions in making it a successful event.