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Weekend house tours take you inside Designers’ Digs.

By Carol Tisch

Digg: a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. Designer Digs: 10 interior designers in Sarasota and Manatee counties open their homes for people to discover and share on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Can you dig it? Here’s your chance to see how designers actually design their own homes. For the first time ever, the Florida West Coast Chapter of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) has strayed from the single house “Show House” to an ambitious new weekend tour of 10 designers’ homes spanning Osprey to Bradenton. Think of it as reality HGTV. All the designers will be on hand to answer questions; you walk through as many homes as you like— peek in the closets, the pantries, check out their collections—all for a $20 ticket. Even better, partial proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity Sarasota.

Kurt Lucas' dining room.

Because Sarasota Magazine is a Main Event Sponsor (along with Benjamin Moore Paints), I was lucky enough to preview some of the homes—and it was a potpourri of styles, indeed. You cannot miss Kurt Lucas’ downtown condo. He’s the new president of our local ASID chapter, and the idea man who came up with the concept for Designer Digs. Kurt’s house is over-the-top dramatic, but like most designers he works in myriad different styles, from clean contemporary to elegant classics.

Janice Robinson's bathroom.

Janice Robinson’s home in the Oaks in Osprey is brimming with personality, albeit a tad more subdued. I was blown away by the creativity in her stunning master bath, as you can see.

Mark Dalton's living room.

There’s a story behind every home on the tour, and designer Mark Dalton even published a book about the design concept for his digs called Chic on the Cheap, Ringling Park. Mark’s idea was to furnish an entire home tastefully and “cheaply” with products from big box stores like IKEA. (The retailer loved the book and endorsement so much, they posted a write up on their Web site).

You can download maps and home descriptions at www.asidfwc.com; and here’s the list of designers and home locations so you can plan ahead:

CAMERON COX – 7052 Hawks Harbor Circle, Bradenton, FL 34207

JAN BULLARD – 1217 N. Riverside Drive, Sarasota, FL 34234

JOYCE & JEFF HART – 96 S. Washington Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236 M

MARCIA KLEVICKIS NORRIS – 1221 N. Palm Ave. 106-107, Sarasota 34236

KURT LUCAS – 1330 Main St. #3, Sarasota, FL 34236

MARK DALTON – 2451 Davis Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34237

EMILY CONKLIN – 8046 Victoria Falls Circle, Sarasota 34243

CARRIE RILEY – 14406 Sundial Place, Sarasota, FL 34202

LYNNE ROSS - 1614 Southbay Drive, Osprey FL 34239

Tickets available on line at www.asidfwc.com and also at: Home Resource in Sarasota, Sarasota Paint Company, Manatee Paint Company, Florida Builder Appliances Sarasota, Robb & Stucky Sarasota and Tampa locations.

Get your blue booties ready for some serious walking, and have fun. One lucky guest’s name will be drawn for a prize of a two-hour consultation with their designer of choice, winner to be notified the week following the tour.

Posted: 3/10/2009 1:01:18 PM | 0 comments

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