5 Questions: Margie Huggard

1. What makes Briarwood II in Osterville, the property chosen for the showhouse, particularly appropriate?

The property has a certain nostalgic flair. The homeowner’s great-grandmother first purchased the home and then her grandmother lived there. Years later it was sold. It was only about five years ago that the granddaughter and her husband bought the house again. It is a 1910 Shingle-style cape on a beautiful site on Nantucket Sound, across from the water.

2. Who are the designers involved, and what are a few of the visual treats design lovers should expect from them?

The designers are from Boston, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Cape Cod. Among other things, those who tour the house will surely be delighted by the talent of a master painter who has traveled all over the world and is bringing a new look to the 1910 kitchen. Visitors will be exposed to current design trends and will have the opportunity to see talented young designers using midcentury-to-contemporary styles with inspiring art.

3. The tagline for the showhouse is “Changing Lives Room by Room,” and it is a benefit for the nonprofit women’s service organization WE CAN. Will you tell us a bit about the kinds of programs the showhouse will help support?

WE CAN is a wonderful organization that empowers women on the Cape with accounting and legal services, as well as programs such as a mentoring group called Pathfinders. These women, who have undergone life-changing experiences like divorce, loss of a spouse, or loss of a job, are given a chance to get back on their feet with the support of WE CAN.

4. What was it like, bringing together so many creative people to work on the showhouse together?

Bringing creative people together and seeing the respect they have given to this project has been very powerful. Watching them bring the creative process to life—while not even knowing what their “room neighbor” might be doing—has been so rewarding! I have enjoyed working with each and every designer and his or her team. It has been a lot of fun, and we are very grateful for their expertise and generosity.

5. Is there anything else about the showhouse you’d like our readers to know?

This will most likely become an event that happens every two or three years. There were many designers who were interested but who we had to turn away—so at the very least there will definitely be a second Designer ShowHouse to benefit WE CAN.

Preparations for this year’s showhouse started more than a year ago, and there has been a lot of heart and soul put into every part of the process. So please come visit! There is a saying about attending design showhouses: “Even if you leave with only one new idea, it was worth it.”

For details about the showhouse visit wecan.org