More Showhouse

Living the Good Life

A spacious showhouse features colors and textures to create casual comfort in an elegant surrounding.

Always comfortable, distinctly American and casually elegant has been the hallmark philosophy of designer Alexander Julian, and it was abundantly apparent throughout the Good Life House¬a benefit showhouse with proceeds supporting The Breast Health Institute, a Philadelphia, PA-based organization committed to breast cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research. The 3,770-square-foot Neoclassic home featured the debut of the Alexander Julian Home Colours Collection of wall coverings and fabrics by Sunworthy Wallcoverings, Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The showhouse was built by Toll Brothers, Inc. and sponsored by Home magazine. Spacious Living Located in Berwyn, PA, at The Greens at Waynesborough community, the showhouse features open-plan architecture with a two-story entrance foyer, a children's wing, second-floor master suite, bathroom spa and a home office/den. Nine-foot ceilings throughout the first floor add to the home's spacious feeling. The entry foyer-featuring an oak staircase-leads to the formal living and dining rooms. The gourmet kitchen and breakfast area located at the rear of the home include a built-in desk, pantry and separate morning room with ample windows and skylights. The family room has a vaulted ceiling with skylights, arch-top windows and a brick-faced fireplace. A rear staircase leads to the home's four upstairs bedrooms and features a curved balcony overlooking the family room. The master bedroom suite includes a coffered ceiling, large bath with whirlpool tub, private sitting area and a bonus room that can be used as an exercise area or a second study. The second bedroom has its own private full bathroom, while the two remaining bedrooms share the home's third full bath. Color Selection Julian's favorite design motifs of argyle diamonds, wing-tip shoe patterns, paisleys and stripes were incorporated in an array of colors and textures for the home's walls. Other influences such as tortoise shell, bomber jacket leather and natural wicker also were evident throughout the house as were staples from Julian's menswear designs. The home's color selections featured the non-traditional use of accent tones such as hyacinth and ochre and some surprising color mixes such as royal blue, forest green, teal and raspberry. Six color groups were established: Classic Julian (putty, ink, cabernet); Vintage Spring (moss, blue smoke, wisteria); Haberdashery (tobacco, slate blue, expresso); Neutrals (oyster, chamois, haze); Havana (grass green, denim, brick); and Brights (orchid, marine blue, hyacinth).

Texture abounds in the showhouse's family room, which features a crackle-like pattern on the sloped ceiling, basket-weave look on the walls, a brick-faced fireplace and linen and leather upholstery on the furnishings. Wall and ceiling covering by Sunworthy; furniture by Universal and lamp by Robert Abbey.