“The bathroom was dark and dreary, very brown—so we used reflective surfaces to brighten it up,” said Gardner, pointing to a pair of floor candlesticks and an old metal luggage rack discovered at Sarasota Architectural Salvage. The vintage budget pieces were silver-leafed to complement faux finishing on the walls, and hold their own against Barbara Barry’s new crystal decanter and wine glass and couture fabrics (including new linen by Barclay Butera for Kravet, and silk from Lee Jofa). A showhouse visitor scooped up a pair of antique chandeliers Gardner found at Treasures on Fruitville, and the silver tray (sans luggage rack).

Terrance Leaser of Terrance Leaser Décor did a small but luxurious bedroom in black and neutral tones, the dark wenge bed from Copenhagen Imports, a surprise source to me because I thought of them as Scandinavian leather chairs. “We sold almost everything in the room,” Leaser said, “the bed, the armoire, Mongolian lamb pillows, even the wool pillows on the bed.” A great-looking C-shaped lamp (he said most designers wouldn’t admit it had come from an inexpensive source, American Signature on University Parkway) was stunning against high-end sheer curtains with burn-out black velvet leaves and the exquisite faux finishing by artist Laura Lazenby.

Bob Henry’s signature at every showhouse —drop-dead draperies—did not disappoint, the green and white panels seamed together with a distinctive French hem overlap. But one signature I didn’t recognize was “Capps,” which happens to be Tidmore’s middle name (also his mom’s maiden name). It seems Capps has hidden talents: He did the two acrylic paintings on fabric over the demilune tables, and created with Henry and the Tidmore-Henry team the striking mobile ($650) that grabs your attention as soon as you walk in the room. 

Also available locally are the Vanguard upholstered headboard and affordable Robb & Stucky brand furnishings in the master bedroom created by Joyce Miller Hart, one of the store’s top designers. Everything adorning designer Sally Trout’s cream and white library is available at Current, the store adjacent to her studio just brimming with treasures.

 Robb & Stucky master bedroom.

Sally Trout's cream and white library.

But perhaps the most memorable piece of furniture on display was at the second showcase home (which was designed by architect Tim Seibert in 1960). It was Rod Arad’s Voido indoor-outdoor rocker ($1,250). As designer Alison Bishop of Living Walls says, “It’s a perfect complement to the home’s mid-century Sarasota school of architecture style.”