Nothing spells spring in Bucks County like the awe-inspiring Bucks County Designer House & Gardens presented by the Village Improvement Association (VIA), which is returning for its 48th year from April 28 to May 26.
With the help of 35 interior designers, 14 landscapers, and a small army of VIA volunteers, this year’s show-stopping dream home will take place at Sycamore Lane Farm, a 45-acre Hilltown property recently renovated by its owners, Gina and Scott Rubel.
Visitors will explore at their own pace, the main house encompassing three stories of rooms creatively staged by the participating designers who have worked on their unique presentations for months.
Home gardeners looking for inspiration will see beautiful, meticulously designed gardens in their colorful spring glory.
Throughout the home and gardens there will be opportunities to interact with the professional designers and landscapers who can be found in their designed spaces.
Many of the décor elements — from potted plants and shrubs to light fixtures, window treatments, tablecloths, art, and furniture — will be for purchase.
The shopping continues outside the main house, in a bank barn, where visitors will find a collection of 14 boutiques featuring art, antiques, stylish wearables, and assorted home decor.
To make it a morning or afternoon, visitors can enjoy refreshments at the on-site café in the hospitality center. An array of food options including salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts will be available for purchase. Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery will have wines available to enjoy with lunch, and Owowcow Creamery will offer a new Designer House signature flavor of ice cream.
“Visitors can wander around at their leisure, seeing the house and outbuildings, having lunch at the café, and visiting the boutiques,” says Sara Moyer, a Designer House advisory committee member. “It’s a destination.”
Visitors to Sycamore Lane Farm will also get a glimpse into fascinating Bucks County history as it was once home to renowned illustrator John Falter, who painted 129 Saturday Evening Post covers in the artist’s studio. Falter, who lived there from 1938 until 1953, entertained such famous people as James A. Michener, Pearl S. Buck, Katharine Hepburn, and Oscar Hammerstein II.
Expected to draw thousands of visitors over the course of the month, the Designer House is the VIA’s largest yearly fundraiser. The VIA, a nonprofit women’s organization that founded and governs Doylestown Hospital, will use the proceeds from this year’s event to support the hospital’s VIA Maternity Center where approximately 1,300 babies are born each year.
For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit Buckscountydesignerhouse.org or call 215-345-2191.
This article first appeared in the March/April 2024 edition of Prime Time Magazine.
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