Designers deck halls at Perkins Stone Mansion
Mantels throughout the Perkins Stone Mansion are decorated, like this one designed by Lynne Dowling and Libby Upton, of Yellow Creek Trading Co. in Peninsula.
The dining room decorated by Lynne Dowling and Libby Upton features an antique tree and holiday place settings.
Winnie Leenaarts, of Pam’s Posies in Fairlawn, decorated a bedroom at the Perkins Stone Mansion with realistic artificial greenery, such as that shown on the mantel above, and a Santa Claus collection. Photos: Ken Crisafi
By Kathleen Folkerth
WEST AKRON — Local designers are working to spruce up one of Akron’s historic homes for the holidays and help local charities at the same time.
Home for the Holidays, a Truly Designer Event, is the theme for the nearly two-month-long exhibit at the Perkins Stone Mansion, headquarters for the Summit County Historical Society, and the Wash House. The exhibit runs from Nov. 2 to Dec. 22.
Janis Worley, a member of the historical society’s board, said the organization was inspired to revisit the exhibit after its successful collaboration with the Junior League of Akron on its Designer Showhouse project in 2006.
“We worked with so many organizations, it was exciting and fun,” Worley said. “We wanted to carry it on. It’s a way for us to participate in the community.”
For the second year, 10 area designers were asked to decorate rooms of the mansion in a Christmas theme. They were not limited to historic themes, although some, like Winnie Leenaarts, of Pam’s Posies in Fairlawn, tried to keep the design timely.
“I wanted to stay as close to the period as possible,” Leenaarts said.
In the bedroom she is designing, Leenaarts used artificial arrangements and a decorated tree. She also decorated the mantel in the room.
“I plan to do something unique on the bed and side tables,” she said. “And I have an interesting Santa collection I’d like to use.”
“There are no rules,” Worley said. “Designers can do whatever they want.”
She said one participating designer is using a wedding theme, while another is sticking with white, gold and silver to decorate a room. A folk art Christmas theme will be featured in another room, Worley said.
As they did last year, the participating
designers selected a charity or nonprofit organization
to spotlight. Visitors will vote on their favorite room,
and the room with the most
votes will be awarded 10 percent of the proceeds for
its designated organization.
Leenaarts said Pam’s Posies
owner Greg Ress suggested the Cystic Fibrosis Center
at Akron Children’s Hospital for its designated
charity.
Other participating designers
and their selected charitable organizations are:
• Pamela Bayer, of Pamela
Bayer Interiors, on behalf of MetroHealth Rehabilitation
Institute of Ohio and the Jesse Blake Foundation;
• Robin Brechbuhler, of
Brechbuhler Interior Design Ltd., on behalf of Happy
Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary;
• Janice Mosko, of Greenbriar
Florist, on behalf of Access Inc.;
• Jennifer McCool, of Jennifer
McCool Interior Design, on behalf of the Ian Healy Kidney
Fund;
• Cindy Pastoria, of Cindy
Pastoria Designs, on behalf of Akron Children’s
Hospital; • Jim Pesce,
of James Pesce Designs, on behalf of Mental Health America
of Summit County;
• Brian Reeder, of Reeder
Architects & Interior Design, on behalf of Kiwanis
K-Kids;
• Diane Blinn, of Stan Hywet
Hall & Gardens, on behalf of itself; and
• Lynne Dowling and Libby
Upton, of Yellow Creek Trading Co., on behalf of the
Alzheimer’s Association.
Worley said the society would
like to continue doing the exhibit each holiday season.
“We really want this to
become a holiday tradition,” she said. “It’s
a feel-good project.”
Home for the Holidays
will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1 to
4 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving week. Tickets,
which may be purchased at the door, are $7 for adults,
$5 for senior citizens and members of groups of 10 or
more, and $1 for children 12 and younger. Parking is
free. The Perkins Stone
Mansion is located at 465 S. Portage Path at Copley
Road. For details, call (330) 535-1120 or go to www.summithistory.org.
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