Designs for history
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on April 22, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
The Herring-Hulse house sits in the heart of Goldsboro's Historic district and the renovation project on the house has just been completed. The Designer Home Showcase will open to the public Friday.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Brian Murray, Pottery Barn of Durham's lead designer, hangs up curtains in the dining room of the design home on Tuesday afternoon. Murray says he is going for a romantic feel and is using a mixture of textures to create his vision.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
The mantel of the fireplace is the focal point of the completed den designed by Ethan Allen of Cary in the Herring-Hulse designer showcase home.
Amy Bauer wants to welcome you into her home.
After a year of gutting, cleaning, painting and designing, Mrs. Bauer and 19 professional designers have transformed the four bedroom, four bathroom, 71-year-old house at 303 S. William St.
Mrs. Bauer headed up the Designer Showcase project. She believes in preserving the beauty and history of Goldsboro.
The Carolina blue door opens to the public in the Designer Home Showcase Friday.
The house is in the heart of Goldsboro's Historic District. It was built in 1944 by Roma and Marvin Herrington.
Betsy Hulse donated the house for the use of this project.
Tour tickets are $25, and tickets to the daily Victorian High Tea luncheon are $15. Tickets may be purchased for the tour and the lunch at the door.
The back lot will house vendor tents, selling wares for the home and individual.
The house will be open through May 2.
"It's an event, not just a tour," Mrs. Bauer said.
On May 2 the tours end early at 2 p.m. The grounds will be transformed for an exclusive Tour, Tasting and Tunes event. Tickets are $40 and only 100 are available. A caterer will serve hors d'oeuvres and guests can sample wine and craft beer at the tasting event.
The proceeds benefit the Wayne County Museum. The money will go toward staffing, upkeep and exhibits.
Director of the museum Brantley Partin is excited that the house has become a living piece of history.
"Every community says they're historic," he said. "We have to preserve the artifacts or you lose that history."
The designers tried to marry the history of the house with contemporary design, transporting the visitors to a different time.
Partin says he hopes that it will inspire other home owners to see what they can do with their own homes.
Nineteen designers tackled the rooms and grounds of the Herring-Hulse home. Local designers include Jernigans, Goldsboro Supply Builders, Ferguson's, the Cloth Barn and many others.
"Nobody told me no," Mrs. Bauer said.
Most of the work was done by volunteers and accomplished through in-kind donations.
The designers moved into the house on Tuesday. Mrs. Bauer orchestrated the move-in and staging of the house.
"It's been an incredible adventure," Mrs. Bauer said.