Fund-Raisers Have Designs on Aging Hacienda
More than 200 people took a “sneak peek” at Casa la Cuesta in Tustin Hills on Sunday to see the 62-year-old estate before it undergoes a dramatic make-over by interior designers.
The house was selected by the Women’s Committees of the Orange County Philharmonic Society and the Orange County Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for their annual House of Design.
After more than 20 volunteer designers decorate the home, it will open for tours April 17 to May 16.
The tours are expected to raise about $100,000 for youth education programs of the philharmonic and ASID.
Open House
“This is a chance to see the house in its skeleton stages,” said Elaine Delman, event chairwoman. “When people come back for the tour, they’ll see this marvelous transformation.”
Built in 1931, the Spanish hacienda was recently vacated by owners Roger and Kathy Hobbs and put up for sale for $3.95 million. In addition to a 7,000- square-foot main house, the estate has a guest house with a theater, gentlemen’s retreat and cabana on two acres.
At the preview, a lunch of roast beef and turkey sandwiches and homemade cookies was served by the pool with a view that reached all the way to Catalina.
Guests walked through the rooms and studied the designers’ sketches, fabric samples and a few pieces of furniture that will be used in the make-over.
Each designer chose a room and received a color palette of spice tones such as deep gold and adobe, so the decors won’t clash.
“We took the colors from the ceiling,” said Deanna Rousseau, pointing to the hand-painted wooden ceiling in the spacious living room.
Home Work
For the designers, working on the house is no small feat. Not only do they have to work from a predetermined palette, they must consider the architectural features of the home. In addition, they must work long hours without pay and try to find donors for their materials.
“The economy this year makes it a special challenge to get donations and work creatively with what they receive,” said Lana Barth, event co-chairwoman. “The designers also have to deal with the age of the house and keep with its integrity.”
Designer Bill Kiefer will decorate the adjoining outdoor veranda and dining area.
“I’m an animal lover, and my inspiration was the parrot,” he said, pointing to a squawking bird in a massive iron cage that comes with the house. The veranda will have an animal motif. Overstuffed sofas will be covered in animal prints on natural canvas and a painted canvas of a jungle scene will be on the chimney above the outdoor fireplace.
“We’re calling this a safari retreat. We’re using cottons and natural canvas. We’re trying to show people you can use animal prints without using skins.”
The home will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and until 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tickets are $13 per person in advance. For reservations, call 840-7542.
Touring the casa were Susan Beechner, Richard and Sharon Boeke, Dugald and Dottie Campbell, Mona Clark, Patricia Clark, Jerry and Peggy Crosby, Jane Grier, Joni Harvey, Judith Jelinek, Merilyn Sandahl, Mary Shaffer and Yutaka and Mitzi Tonai.
