Designers’ talents to be put in spotlight

From the basic "bones" of a home to the furnishings that fill it, there are hundreds of elements that go into making each residence a comfortable living environment.

Now, valley residents will be able to view how good architecture and design complement each other as the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers joins with the Las Vegas Parade of Homes to present the first ASID Showcase house in Nevada.

The custom home, which is being built within The Ridges village in Summerlin, will be featured during the tour of area luxury homes in April. To become the showcase house, several chapter members and allied designers from ASID will use their talents to decorate and furnish rooms within the 14,000-square-foot residence.

Stephen Leon, who is co-chairing the ASID project along with his wife, designer Barbara Woolf, said the custom home is an ideal residence to showcase.

"It's filled with design elements," he said.

Among the home's unique features are sliding glass walls that disappear, blurring the distinction between indoor and outdoor living; extensive stonework throughout the interior and exterior; soffitted and teak ceilings; a two-story waterfall; zebrawood cabinetry and custom glass accents. Dubbed The Falls by owners Mark and Rhonda Mona, owners of Monaco Development, the home also has numerous water features outside including a river that fills the swimming pool.

Rhonda Mona was very involved in the home's design process; Sheldon Colen of SCA Design was the architect.

Lisa Hester, executive director of the Las Vegas Parade of Homes, said 48 vendors will be showing their products throughout the home, including items such as upscale appliances and building products.

"We at Parade of Homes are trying to show what can go into a comprehensive custom home," Hester said. "The Parade of Homes needs to be a platform to educate as well as show cutting-edge technology, design and architecture in a natural setting."

Additionally, she hopes the joint effort will help extol the benefits of hiring an interior designer when building a custom home or decorating an existing home.

Leon said that designers view a home from the inside out, while architects view each project from the outside in. By joining forces, they are able to create homes that are infinitely more functional and comfortable to live in.

The designers will have about one month to complete their respective rooms once the showcase house is completed. Leon said he hopes area vendors, particularly those at the Las Vegas Design Center, will be amenable to lending various products to the show house. It's possible the furnishings and décor will be sold with the house, which is estimated to be worth about $14.5 million, or they can be sold independently.

Art displayed throughout the home will be presented by the Gallery at Summerlin.

Helping coordinate the effort from ASID are Bobbie Jo Kinsey, design coordinator; Paula Rubidoux, Beth Pope, event chairmen, and Diane Dumont, installation coordinator.

Leon, Woolf, Kinsey and Pope also will be designing rooms in the house. Other designers participating in the project are Lisa Bada, Diane Cabral, Laura Fullow, Renee Gangeness, Kevin Johnson, Karline Laschua, Carrie Lewis, Anne Miller, Alice Roussos and Laura Jane Spina.

In addition to being open to the public during the Parade of Homes, which is scheduled for April 18 through May 4, the home will serve as the site for a VIP preview party.

Tentatively, there will be 18 homes featured on the tour. Visitors to all the homes will be allowed to vote for their favorites in various categories.

Tickets to the home tour will be priced at $25 and can be purchased through ASID or Parade of Homes, with proceeds benefiting various charities.

For additional information, visit www.lvparadeof homes.com.