Saratoga News

The San Jose Symphony Auxiliary's 19th annual Designer Showcase features tours through this 6,000-square-foot, custom-designed house.

Symphony Showcase features 25 rooms decorated to the hilt

By Shari Kaplan

The San Jose Symphony Auxiliary's 19th annual Designer Showcase, which opens May 11, features tours through a 6,000-square-foot, custom-designed house located in San Jose's Almaden Valley.

The two-story house includes more than 25 rooms by numerous local interior designers and decorators, including many Saratoga businesses. The emphasis of this year's show is on the beauty and history of the house and its Almaden Valley environs, where cinnabar (now called quicksilver or mercury) was mined from nearby hills.

Included among the rooms or areas being decorated for the tour are the library, landing, staircase, kitchen, several bedrooms and bathrooms, dining room and children's rooms.

Visitors passing through the master bedroom will notice decor by Myrna Baldwin of Baldwin Interiors. The sunken living room, complete with marble fireplace, is decked out by Stan and Andrea Mussman of Mussman Design Associates. The nearby kitchen and pantry are accented by Jeanette Grundstrom of Chair & Chintz and Sherri Lane of Sherri Lane and Associates. Even the laundry room receives a decorator's touch, thanks to the Butter Paddle's Pat Brown and Suzie Gouner.

Fashion shows are scheduled throughout the run of the showcase during luncheons held at the Almaden Valley Country Club. Shops and boutiques from Los Gatos and San Jose will show off custom hats, Italian knitwear, special-occasion dresses, accessories, bridal gowns and shoes.

As an opening gala, a "Fiesta Elegancia de los Rancho San Vicente y Almaden" takes place May 9 at the Almaden Valley Country Club, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m., followed by cocktails and dinner. Cost is $75 per person, reservations required. Rancho San Vicente comprises more than 4,000 acres of land granted by Mexican Governor Alvarado to Jose de Los Reyes Berryessa in 1842. Included in the grant were many of New Almaden's mercury mines.

Among the San Jose Symphony executive board members from Saratoga are Ann Hexamer, recording secretary; Anne Louden, newsletter editor; Marilyn Lattanzio, first vice president; and Bonnie Radding, corresponding secretary. Other residents and auxiliary members assisting with the Showcase are Florence Barker, Karen Bonke, Nancy Daniher, Mary Hogan, Marie Low, Lois O'Haren, Elizabeth Russell and Liz Spottswood.

Symphony Showcase 1996 runs May 11 through June 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on Thursday nights. Admission is $15, with proceeds benefiting the San Jose Symphony; group rates and after-hours parties are available. Visitors may park and ride a shuttle bus at the lot at Almaden Expressway and Camden Avenue. For more information, call 354-0773.