February 18, 2008

Susan D. Brandenburg
11-B Ponte Vedra Court
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904) 543-0730 or 962-5131(cell)
email:  susanscribe@comcast.net

Glenda Wilson Wann, ASID, Glenda Wann Interiors
4540 Southside Blvd., Suite 504
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone (904) 642-0522
Sales@glendawanninteriors.com

Glenda Wann Interiors – Behind the Scenes at the 2008 Symphony Showhouse

For more than three decades, the Guild of the Jacksonville Symphony Association has hosted the Symphony Designers Showhouse as a fundraiser to help keep the marvelous music of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra playing.  The Showhouse provides an exciting annual opportunity for the public to tour a beautiful home and discover the newest, most unique home furnishing ideas presented by the First Coast’s top designers.

During those same decades, Interior Designer Glenda W. Wann, ASID, has always considered the Showhouse a delightful rite of spring, volunteering nearly every year in some capacity and participating as a room designer in nine of the Showhouses.

“I’ve always had a passion for the Showhouses,” says Wann, who has missed only one in 33 years of residing in Jacksonville – the year following her daughter’s birth.

This year, as Designer Chairman for the Jacksonville Symphony Guild’s 2008 Designer Showhouse & Gardens, presented by Bank of America, Wann is participating again in the history she has helped to create.

“Over the years, a pattern has evolved in the design process for the Guild’s biggest fundraiser,” she said, “and with the unveiling of this magnificent 32nd Showhouse, it seems a good time to share just a bit of the phenomenal behind the scenes work that involves hundreds of volunteers for months prior to the event.”

As Designer Chairman, Wann notes, she was responsible initially (“beginning in late June 2007”) for inviting area designers to preview the construction site of the English Country Manor Home being built by Collier Classic Homes in Pablo Creek Reserve; requesting that they then submit proposals which included their first, second and third room choices; and forming a Designer Selection Committee to review proposals and finalize room assignments.

One of 20 of the area’s top designers assigned a room this year, Juliana Catlin, FASID, is doing the Drawing Room.  She notes that the English Country Manor Home fits beautifully into the “open hearth, casual family style of Florida living.”  Catlin, former National President of the American Society of Interior Designers, said she considers this year’s Showhouse to be “by far the highest quality Showhouse that I have ever seen being built.  No expense has been spared and all of the designers are picking up on that quest for the highest quality.”

The process this year, Catlin noted, has been particularly peaceful and fun.  “Glenda Wann is a good team builder and a true professional,” Catlin commented.  “I’ve greatly enjoyed watching Glenda as she built this group of diverse designers into a cohesive team. She has a way of always helping people see the bigger vision.”

The bigger vision, Wann constantly reiterates, is to create something cohesively beautiful in order to raise money for the Jacksonville Symphony Guild and its music education programs, and to have fun doing it.

“Designers put their heart and soul into this annual project, as well as substantial capital outlay,” Wann said, “and this year we have assembled the best-of-the-best designers in NE Florida.  The collaborative outcome will be absolutely breathtaking.”

Wann acts a liaison between the designers and the builder, Elwood Collier, regarding special requests for finishes/details for each room.  She keeps designers aware of pending deadlines for room descriptions, credits & appreciation, correct names & appellations for the Showhouse program. She also attends meetings, working with various Symphony Guild committee chairpersons to establish scheduling needs for the many devoted volunteer docents manning each room, and consults on traffic flow throughout the house.

“The docents are absolutely wonderful, as are all of the volunteers!” declared Wann.  “It is an honor to work with these talented Guild members who make this event happen year after year.  You would be shocked to learn how many hours they put into the planning of every detail!”

Laura Mathewson, President of the Symphony Guild, has worked closely with Wann this year.  “Glenda is a joy to work with,” said Mathewson.  “She has helped to bring on board a fabulous group of interior designers to participate in the Showhouse.”

In her “spare time” Wann puts the finishing touches on her own assigned room, The Conservatory, and all the while, continues to devote her talent and energy to serving her loyal clientele.

“We were new to the area back in 1988 and found a home in Epping Forest that Glenda had decorated.  We liked her style,” recalls Eleanor Luhrs of Ponte Vedra Beach.  “Our home in Epping was the beginning and we’ve been with Glenda ever since.”  Two homes, two yachts and two decades later, John and Eleanor Luhrs look to Glenda Wann for all of their decorating needs.

Eleanor Luhrs attends the Symphony Showhouse each year in search of the newest “bits and pieces” in decorating ideas and loves to share those with Wann.  “I can see where Glenda will be the perfect Showhouse Designer Chairperson,” said Luhrs.  “She’s always been a good organizer.”

Building lasting relationships and creating comfortable casual elegance and beauty in homes from California to New York and throughout the First Coast for more than thirty years, Wann’s winning ways have brought her a level of respect in the design community that translates to smooth sailing for the 2008 symphony Showhouse.

“We are thankful to Glenda for her willingness to step forward this year with a unifying, diplomatic, professional spirit,” said Elwood Collier, who, with his wife, Donna, has built three prior Showhouses.  “It takes a talent like hers to bring out the best in people.”

And, speaking of aspiring to bring out the best, Wann notes that this year the Guild has added the exciting new dimension of eight lush individually designed gardens to the grounds of the unique three million dollar English Country Manor Home.

Also, the April 19th through May 11th run of the Jacksonville Symphony Guild’s 2008 Designer Showhouse & Gardens, presented by Bank of America, coincides with THE PLAYERS Golf Championship (TPC) this year, which will bring in additional traffic and, hopefully, additional monies to keep the music alive and well.

“This couldn’t come at a better time for the symphony,” said Naomi Lumley, Sales Manager for Palencia Homes, which was the site of the 2004 Showhouse.  “With Elwood Collier building the home and Glenda Wann the Design Chairman, this year’s Symphony Showhouse promises to be the best ever.  It will put Pablo Creek Reserve on the map!”