A Showhouse Testimonial..."Yours Was the Best!"

“Your area was the "best in show". When we visited the House, most of the guests were enjoying the stately yet warm feeling of the design--would love to sit in the swing and have a cool one—

BUT the best was seeing the group standing at the corner post--"Is that bird in the nest up there real?" Great touch.
Once again yours was the best—congratulations!”

KT&CO, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

The Showhouse is Open and the Press is Impressed!

Cynthia Fisher and Eileen Devine during the Press Preview, May 9th

Here's what the press is saying about our transformed space:

“It’s a real spring tradition to get out, see top-notch designers at work, and take that inspiration home to your own home and garden.” --Main Line Media News

“The west balcony by Devine Designs of Wayne has a gorgeous painted floor that began as a tar covered surface, and has elegant curtains made of outdoor velvet…” --Southern Chester County Weeklies

“Designers’ Collaboration is a Show-Stopper. Don’t miss Sunset Swing, the west balcony, by Eileen Devine and Cynthia Fisher of Devine Designs of Wayne, Pa. The pair reroofed the space with rubber roofing and painted it to look like squares of white marble, black marble, turquoise and red granite for a look that pulls you in. Tall chocolate brown swings in the corner beg you to take a load off.” --Delaware News Journal

“Eileen Devine of Wayne, for instance, has the job of enhancing the west balcony. "When we first looked at it, we loved the architecture and big columns. Most houses have a living room, but not one of these."
--Daily Local News

Plan your visit today! The Showhouse closes on May 30th.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Mott

The Showhouse Grand Opening Gala!

Renovations to the Designer Showhouse Stonebridge were completed last week and more than 350 guests attended the Gala grand opening on Tuesday evening.




Cocktails were served on the front terrace and everyone enjoyed a leisurely tour of this grand old home.




The sunset view from The West Balcony was spectacular!

The showhouse is now officially open! Get your tickets today! For more information visit: www.oxfordart.org

The Show House Opens to the Public on Tuesday, May 11!!

We are excited to open and exhibit our space!

Stonebridge Estate
681 Webb Road, Chadd’s Ford, PA

(at the intersection of Webb Road and Route 1 just north of Brandywine River)

Open Daily 10-4pm
Open Wednesday and Friday evenings 4-7pm

Devine Designs, Inc. would like to thank all those who assisted with the design of

The West Balcony

Gordon Painting

Decorative Painting and Design Guidance for the Floor

Hancock Building

Professional Installation of the Rubber Flooring Material

Don Larkin

Inspired Framing, Mounting and Treatment of the Ceiling Medallion

Texada Landscaping

Garden Inspiration, Urns and Special Plants

John Previti and Golden Age Cabinets

Assistance with the Skirted Table Top

Sherwin Williams

Paint Palette to Mimic Marbles and Stones on the Flooring

Elliot Ferrier and Sanderson Textiles

Voysey Fabric and Ceiling Medallion Inspiration

Ann Armstrong, Artist

The Fox Sculpture

Kushner Draperies

Custom Window Treatments

Valley Forge Flowers

Ideas for Incorporating and Arranging Fresh Flowers

Kay Barnett

Assistance with the Creation of The Custom Porch Swings

Robert Adam, the great and talented English Architect who inspired us!

We've Been "Greened"!

Flowers and plants bring such warmth, color and enjoyment to any

décor! It was so uplifting when Texada Landscaping added these beautiful
displays to the West Balcony!

Sly Fox or Shy Fox?

Unique Fox Sculpture by artist Ann Armstrong celebrates this elusive and
clever creature. We placed him as though he is "lurking" in our ferns!

A Glimpse of the Balcony from Below

"Worms eye" view of the west balcony from below. The elegant velvet drapery
panels have been installed and the ceiling medallion is in place. We need
continued sun now!

Someone special with an important role!

Our "boy" garden statue holds business cards for 2 very important
craftsman on our project; William Gordon Painting and Keith Mclean of
Hancock Building. Without their help, we would not have realized the
detailed and elaborate balcony floor. They have our special thanks. Be
sure to take one of their cards as you visit our space!

Accessories have been introduced and are getting acquainted!

Accessories are so important....they are the "jewelry" to the room

design. We carefully selected pieces based on room scale and texture.
Combined with the other design elements, we have created an elegant outdoor
atmosphere.

Creating the look with urns and drapery!

Lisa Pond from Texada Landscaping assisted us with the selection of urns and
plants for the West Balcony. Here she is delivering our Adams' inspired
urns. They will receive special architectural topiary plants.

Drapery installer "Extraordinaire" Mike Healy installed our gorgeous sea
glass colored velvet panels. They are so elegant and rich. The fabric
softens the architecture. Hung from hooks and tied back with elaborate
tassels, they really make the space feel like a room. Thank you Mike and Kushner Drapery!

Calm Before the Storm...Installing the Ceiling Medallion on the West Balcony!

Just before the tornado hit the Chadds Ford area, Don Larkin was

able to expertly install the ceiling medallion on the West Balcony.

The Foliage Below Is Taking Shape...

The garden below the west balcony is beginning to take shape. The flowers

and garden accents are inviting touches that complement our room's
indoor/outdoor feeling.

Nothing Says Spring Like a Perfectly Hung Swing!

In this stage, the main seating area is established by a pair of

upholstered porch swings. A fabric draped table is planned between the
swings.

The rich chocolate color of the swings adds warmth in contrast to the
marble-painted floor and the cool, celadon ceiling.

The swings are so romantic. Installation was tedious and required

careful and expert handling by McDaniels. They were bolted in place
precisely and with great accuracy.

Toss pillows and a throw will be added to the swings for an extra punch of
color.

Here Come the Garden Statuaries!

Selected pieces of garden statuary and a stone demilune table were
installed today.

Getting Close with the Elaborate Foor Design!

Finishing up the elaborate floor pattern; the black and white marble

tiles were completed last. They add the contrast and depth to the overall
design.

The West Balcony Floor: Is it Marble?!

We are transforming a rubber roofing material into a work of art with some paint and faux marbling techniques. Artistic skills and special brushes go along long way to create the natural looking stone floor.

A Sneak Peak at the Show House Ceiling

Another artist, Don Larkin, is working wallpaper magic with an architectural

oval frame.

The frame will be installed on the ceiling of the West Balcony like an
oculus to a dark, night sky above.

A flock of swallows create movement.

Spring is in the Air at the Oxford Arts Alliance Decorator Showhouse!

Devine Designs Inc. has been working on their designs during the transition between winter and spring at the Oxford Art Alliance Designer Showhouse! The view from the West Balcony is starting to "POP". Spring is really in the air now!

Decorative Painting on the West Balcony Begins!

Bill Gordon from Gordon Painting of Narberth, measuring out the elaborate floor pattern at the showhouse

Inspiration for the Oxford Arts Alliance Decorator Showhouse!

Robert Adam was a noted architect of the late 18th century. His creative
genius was interpreting Ancient Roman and Greek forms together with
elaborate color schemes. We were inspired by his "scagliola" technique in
this image...a technique resembling inlays in marbles and semi-precious
stones.

Our floor uses this technique and we feature in our design:

Carrera marble (white squares)
Black/white marble
Turquoise
Jade
Persian Red Marble

Look What’s Happening: Oxford Arts Alliance Decorator Showhouse!

May 11 - 30, 2011

At historic Stonebridge Estate, 681 Webb Road, Chadd’s Ford, PA

(at the intersection of Webb Road and Route 1 just north of Brandywine River)

Devine Designs Incorporated will be presenting the West Balcony – 2^nd Floor

The West Balcony on the 2nd floor is architecturally historical and reminiscent of Southern American domestic architecture where porches were a summer living space and an important appendage to the grandest of homes. The generously sized Ionic Order columns, the molding, trim and balustrade railing give the space a sense of stateliness with a stylistic nod to all the periods found in charming Georgian Revival homes.

The design team was inspired to create a warm weather, outdoor retreat that is nostalgic, romantic, old-fashioned and abundantly comfortable, and at the same time “unexpected” and “chic.”

A loosely assembled combination of casually elegant furnishings was created and clearly arranged for relaxation and informality to soften the rigid architectural atmosphere. Porch swings, plants, flowers, tables laden with ferns and herbs create an intimate space to settle in with a favorite book. Show House guests will easily imagine spending a leisurely morning here with a cup of coffee and the Sunday papers.

The balcony by Devine Designs will be a box seat to relax and enjoy Brandywine sunsets, garden views, vistas and all the sounds of summer!

Views of the West Balcony and layout of the floor pattern

The focus of our design is given to the flooring with an elaborate pattern. Patterned floors existed historically in a wide variety of materials and designs. The design consists basically of 18” x 18” squares separated by diagonal bands with patterns and interlocking designs. There is a center medallion with a star motif. There is a rich quality achieved by such an elaborate floor. It will enhance the structural integrity of the space and add the feeling of luxury to the space. The detailed pattern will be executed by decorative painter, William Gordon

A pair of custom porch swings will be hung from the ceiling along
with the placement of architectural topiaries, plants and flowers down below!

Complimenting the West Balcony décor is a view of a charming Georgian garden designed by Texada Landscaping. The relaxing ambiance of the balcony extends into a garden filled with fragrant flowers, calming colors, and views of the creek and stone bridge that the house was named for.

The surface of the porch requires covering with rubber roofing material in preparation for professional painting. It will be generously donated and professionally installed by Hancock Building Associates, Inc. The rubber material will be prepped and professionally painted by skilled artist.

Skirted Table in Sanderson “Squirrel and Dove” fabric designed by C.F.A Voysey,
the famous English architect, textile designer and associate of William Morris

Bronze Fox Sculpture by artist Ann Armstrong

Credits:

Decorative Painting: WILLIAM GORDON PAINTING, NARBERTH, PA

Landscaping: TEXADA LANDSCAPING

Roofing Repair: HANCOCK BUILDING ASSOCIATES, INC.

The Showhouse runs May 11-30, 2011