I am continually pleasantly surprised by the nexus of Huntington Harbour to my old hometown, Dana Point.
Aside from harbors connected by a single street (Edinger eventually turns into Golden Lantern), I didn’t anticipate these two, relatively small communities having so much in common.
From restaurants like a red Harbour House Café, Taco Surf, a Hennessey’s Tavern (although it’s in Seal Beach, it’s close enough to count,) a newspaper editor (Dennis Kaiser used to be the editor of the Dana Point News), and now the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, which boasts a huge group of supporters in Huntington Harbour, has selected Dana Point as the location for this year’s House of Design.
(Last year it was an estate in Coto de Caza.)
The House of Design home is a newly constructed, 7,500 square foot “Mediterranean Modern” style private residence that 19 interior designers volunteered their time and talent to.
Each transformed a designated room or area in the house. Original artworks will also be on display.
It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon if you are looking for an interior designer, need some fresh ideas for your own home, or just want to nose around to see the latest in luxury home décor and get the chance to spend time in a multimillion dollar setting, all while supporting a good cause.
The House of Design event is a major fundraiser for the Philharmonic Society Youth Music Education Programs.
The participating designers are an award-winning bunch frequently featured in leading design magazines: Joyce Elizabeth Byrd, Tawnya Coleman, Megan Crane, Jamie Donovan, Robert Easterly, Lynn Esola, Gary Finley, Ana Maria Martinez-Stumpo, Lisa McDennon, Audra Miller, Wendy Ann Miller, Debbie Nassetta, Frank Pitman, Cindy Smetana, Beverly Stadler, Michael L. Streit, Jeanine Veldhuis, Beth Whitlinger, and Anne Michaelsen Yahn.
Go for the house, but stay for the view. The location is quite special…it’s in “The Strand” oceanfront development on the Dana Point headlands (it’s the actual “point” in Dana Point, which is speculated to serve as a navigation landmark for migrating whales).
Custom home sites sit alongside trails, the Dana Point Headlands Nature Interpretive Center, Strand Vista Park, protected environmentally sensitive habitat zones, and overlook the gorgeous Strand beach.
It’s a spectacular location with a limited number of impressive homes, some finished, others in various phases of construction, and available home sites to envision building your dream home.
The event runs from June 3-29, Tuesdays through Sundays with “Meet the Designer” evenings on Thursdays.
Parking is free in the Strand Vista Park lot at the end of Selva Road at Pacific Coast Highway, with shuttles provided for the short trip through the gates to the House of Design’s front door.
General Admission tickets are $40, or purchase the House Pass for $50 which grants unlimited entry.
Madeline Fields of the Philharmonic Society says the best way to order tickets is online at www.philharmonicsociety.org/hod or you can stop by her office in the Huntington Harbour Mall at 16889 Algonquin St., but suggests you call first to make sure someone will be there: (714)840-7542.
Lara Anderson is a resident of Huntington Harbour, former mayor of Dana Point, and a Broker/Agent with Coldwell Banker Beachside Realtors. She can be reached at (949) 677-4099 or email: LA@LaraAnderson.com.
