Philharmonic Society Keeps House
The premiere of the 1992 Philharmonic House of Design was no ordinary open house, but a lavish black-tie affair held Friday in the Tuscan-style villa in Cowan Heights.
The Orange County Philharmonic Society staged the gala, which attracted 350 people to the elegant residence for a champagne reception and tour followed by dinner at Bistro 201 in Irvine. The $75-per-person event was an appreciation night for Philharmonic supporters.
Dream House
“This premiere gives special supporters of the Philharmonic their very first look at the house,” said Lyn Sandahl, house of design chairwoman.
After ogling the home’s scenic reflecting pool, enclosed courtyard and sweeping arches, guests entered a 24-foot-high foyer with a grand spiral staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests were asked to trade their shoes for blue paper footsies, the kind worn by surgeons, to keep from soiling the plush carpet.
“Where’s the operating room?” joked one tuxedo-clad gent.
The 8,300-square-foot villa has six bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths, a theater-sized media room and a luxurious master suite with a view of Catalina Island. And it’s for sale at $3.9 million.
Home Work
The villa was bare to the walls before 23 members of the American Society of Interior Designers/Orange County Chapter pooled their talents to decorate and furnish it. After much studying, they agreed on a neoclassic-style decor in taupe with muted shades of green and purple as accents.
“These are the newest colors, and it was a challenge for the designers to find fabrics and furnishings in this palette,” said Lynn Deal, chairwoman of the local ASID chapter.
Designers greeted guests in their completed rooms.
Lana Barth, designer in charge of the library/music area, furnished the room with two Art Deco-style chaise longues, plenty of sculpture and books.
In keeping with the musical theme, students from the society’s Musical Encounter program were in the library serenading guests on piano and violin.
After the tour, guests formed a caravan to Bistro 201, where they dined on a buffet dinner of exotic green salad, filet of salmon with green herb infusion, chicken with wild mushroom and walnut mousse, penne pasta with tomato and basil sauce, rosemary polenta and carrot and parsnip puree. Fresh fruit, lemon tarts, chocolate-dipped strawberries and truffles filled a dessert table.
For Love of Music
The 1992 Philharmonic House of Design remains open to the public for tours through May 3 at $15 per person. Proceeds from the project help fund the society’s music education program for children in Orange County.
“The program makes it possible for children to get involved in music,” said Eve Foussard, gala chairwoman. “When I was in the eighth grade I rode the bus by myself to a little town in Ohio to hear a concert of ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ I had never heard music like that before. It changed my life.”
Other guests were Richard and Sharon Boeke, Vicki Botka, Stewart and Patty Clark, Barry and Renate Collison, Warren and Marcia Coy, Jerry and Peggy Crosby, Milton and Jane Grier, Ed and Jo Ann Halvajian, Kevin and Judith Ivey, Susan Jerard, Howard and Judith Jelinek, Morris and Susan Krabbe, Mitzi Tonai, Erich and Patricia Vollmer and John and Angie Zarate.
