A Seamless Blend

Cashiers Designer Showhouse celebrates silver anniversary

By Dawn Liles

Photos by Colleen Kerrigan of Colleen Kerrigan Photographs

If you were one of the lucky visitors to this year’s Cashiers Designer Showhouse, no doubt your head is still spinning with delightful possibilities for your own home. 

The annual event is the largest fundraiser for Cashiers Historical Society (CHS), and this year’s lovely home in the Fieldstone neighborhood of High Hampton drew more than 2,000 people to Cashiers Village for 10 days of events, speakers and a Vendor Village, running from August 25 to September 4. 

This year marked the Showhouse’s 25^th year. With a who’s-who of past Showhouse chairs, current chairs Ellen Hughes and Carolyn Glisson had big shoes to fill. They did not back away from the challenge.  

“We are so thrilled by the success of this year’s Showhouse,” says Ellen. “Over 250 volunteers, plus 15 designers, gave of their time to benefit the Cashiers Historical Society.

Everything - from ticket sales, to transportation, to check in, to the shuttles, to the events and speakers, to the spaces designed by incredibly talented designers - went unbelievably smoothly.”

The 15 designers, who hail from all over the Southeast, worked tirelessly for months to create the unique and timeless, but of-the-moment rooms that visitors experienced and were inspired by. Many of the designers have lent their talents to past Showhouses. 

The house is a classic mountain retreat designed by builder Dillard-Jones. The four bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom house features a great room, a Carolina room (an outdoor, screened-in space that boasts indoor amenities), a utility room and pantry, an office, a loft and lookout and a back patio.

Showhouse host and Dillard-Jones founder Tom Dillard launched his company as a small family-owned and operated luxury custom home builder anchored in uncompromising quality and attention to detail. The Dillard-Jones team is devoted to providing world-class service, flawless craftmanship and uncompromising quality in every home build.

Incredibly, the vision of each designer blended seamlessly with the others’ ideas, creating a home that is inviting and inspirational as well as comfortable and livable. Some of the home’s many wow factors include the gorgeous primary bath with quartzite countertop; three fireplaces; high-end furnishings, fixtures and art; bedrooms with bolster pillows adorned with embroidered monograms, and a first-floor half bath with printed cork walls, one of the first installations of this new-to-market product. Colorful, cozy, oversized throw pillows, featured in nearly every room, add to the luxe feel of the home.  

Wall-to-wall sliding glass doors from the Carolina room to the dining room and from the great room to the back patio made the home feel even more spacious and added to the inviting open ambiance and sense of flow. 

Despite rainy weather for the Showhouse’s final dates, visitors continued to enjoy touring the home, discussing their favorite features with friends and mingling with other attendees. 

“It was a joy to watch visitors from near and far enjoy the special events, Vendor Village, and the Showhouse itself,” says Ellen. “Especially after the pandemic, we were thrilled to bring people together for such a beautiful, successful and rewarding ten days. It was a wonderful reminder of the passion and support we have here in Cashiers."

Cashiers Historical Society 

Proceeds from the Showhouse benefit CHS, which offers valuable programming on the history of the plateau to adults and students.  

The Cashiers Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the identity of Cashiers through recognition of its history in publications, awards and projects. The mission of CHS is to preserve the heritage of the entire Cashiers Valley through stewardship, advocacy and education, a mission accomplished through activities that encourage people to stop, look and listen.  

Located on Hwy 107, CHS has a main campus that houses four historic structures, a pavilion, beautiful trails and an heirloom garden and apple orchard. The historical society also provides annual heritage activities throughout the year to the larger Cashiers community, local schools and homeschool students. 

“For the most part, those programs are focused on the children and families of the plateau,” explains Sadler Roe, CHS board chair. “CHS provides programs with a historical bent for children at both Summit Charter School and Blue Ridge School. We also reach out to homeschoolers. These services are provided free of charge throughout the academic year and even during the summer. 

The summer, however, is focused primarily on adults. We sponsor three lectures that highlight the history of the plateau and western North Carolina. We also conduct a symposium each summer that takes an in-depth look at the history of the area. Recent symposiums have featured the importance of railroads to the development of the plateau, the importance of river cane to the Cherokee and their culture and the impact of the geology of the plateau on its people and its flora and fauna.”   

CHS buildings are open Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., mid-May through mid-October or by appointment. Trails and grounds are open year round daily from dawn to dusk.

2022 Cashiers Designer Showhouse Featured Designers

~ Douglas Hilton, DWH Interiors, Atlanta, GA Front Porch, Foyer & Powder Room

~ Susan Wojnar, Jason Bell and Samantha Feuer, Blackberry Farm Design, Walland, TN  Primary Bedroom
~ Stephanie Jarvis, Stephanie Jarvis Interiors, Jacksonville, FL  Primary Bath and Closets
~ Holly Laughridge, Old Edwards Inn, Highlands, NC  Great Room
~ Joan Anderson, Joan Anderson Interiors, Cashiers, NC   Carolina Room 

~ Lynn Monday, Lynn Monday Home, Cashiers, NC   Office
~ Nellie Howard Ossi, Mrs. Howard, Jacksonville, FL   Bedroom and Bath #4
~ Melanie Couch & Nancy Dyleski, Spruce Interiors, Highlands, NC   Loft and Lookout
~ Francie Hargrove, Francie Hargrove Interior Design, Cashiers, NC    Bedroom and Bath #2
~ Louise Johnson, Louise Johnson Interior Design, Spartanburg, SC  Back Patio
~ Susan Vernon, Tribus Interior Design, Cashiers, NC  Dining Room and Kitchen
~ Lisa Wester, Lisa Wester Interiors, Birmingham, AL   Utility Room and Pantry
~ Linda Pryor & Lauree Leath White, Atelier Maison, Ashville & Cashiers, NC   Bedroom & Bath #3

Visitors also enjoyed some incredible events throughout the 10 days, including:

Opening Night Party, which featured an immersive Asada experience and meal prepared by Gauchos 

Making the Classics Cool Again with designer Nellie Howard Ossi

Ten Tips to Create a Mountain Chic Garden Party with landscape architect Mary Palmer Dargan

Honoring Tradition.....Celebrating Innovation with Jason Bell, director of design, Blackberry Farm Design

Artist Demonstrations by Carroll W. Rivers, Laura Moser, Ann Strub, Penny Pollock, Sue Fazio and Karen Weihs

The History of Shrubs in “Sipping Vinegars” and How to Make them with Carlton Chamblin, Farm2cocktail

Entertaining at Home – an Exercise in Disaster & Delight with Keith Smythe Meacham, co-founder Reed Smythe & Company 

Sister Schubert, a Pan of Rolls that Changed the World for the Better with Patricia Barnes, “Sister Schubert”

A Day in the Dahlia Garden with Drew English, resident gardener, High Hampton Dahlia Garden

How Furnishings Can Impact Your Health with Laura Sullivan, Atelier Maison & Co. 

In addition, guests were treated to a curated Vendor Village housed in the Lewis Hall at the Village Green. 

Retailers included: A. Jones Company; Blairs Belts; Brenda Sulmonetti Artist; Cynthia Perryman Art; Dena Lyons; Dubarry International; Green Gator; Indo-Chic; Hingham Square Needlepoint; Jessie Mackay Art; La Cigale; Patrice Collection; Provence Antiques by Kathleen Morris; Rose & Harper; Susan’s Jewelry and Tropical Tapestry. 

Media Sponsors included Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Plateau Magazine.

Legacy Sponsors included McKee Properties, High Hampton and Hampton Realty 

Heritage Sponsors included The Chattooga Club, Crawford Construction, Ingles, Sherwin-Williams and Tribus Interior Design.

Historic Sponsors included ADAC, Caliber, Cashiers Tree Service, Dillard-Jones, Joan Anderson Interiors, Lehotsky & Sons, SPINX, TJ Bailey’s, Vivace and MHK Architecture.

Cultural Sponsors included A List Antiques, Althea Lighting + Living, Ann Lea Fine Art, Black Bear Lodge, Davis & Co Concierge, Design South Builders, First Citizens Bank, Highlander Roofing Services, Landmark Real Estate and Vacation Rentals, Murdock Accounting Solutions, PLATT Architecture, Construction and Interiors, Hotel Cashiers, Rusticks Furniture and Accessories, The Consignment Market and Man with the Van.