Broadhurst Featured As Bucks County's 47th Designer House

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Broadhurst, the 47th Bucks County Designer House & Gardens, opens its doors beginning on Sunday, Sept. 18. And the public is in for a real treat.

Located on six acres at 2942 Holicong Road in Buckingham Township, the gracious Bucks County farmhouse dates to the late 1800s. Seamlessly expanded over the years, Broadhurst features six fireplaces, Venetian plaster walls and wide plank/random width pine floors throughout.

With a grand living room, a magnificent library and a light-filled conservatory overlooking the bucolic property and pool, Broadhurst is the perfect spot for both elegant gatherings and quiet family evenings.

The house, located just to the north of the Holicong Middle School, was once owned by Philadelphia TV journalist Don Polec, who was known for his humorous takes on people and happenings around the Delaware Valley.

This year, 25 designers have worked their magic on the house, transforming already beautiful historic spaces into a stunning palate of color, texture and modern comfort.

“It’s a wonderful way to spend a fall morning or afternoon in Bucks County,” said Pat Urban, the marketing chair for the Designer House. “The house itself is very unique. And what the designers have done is amazing. It all flows nicely. I think everyone will enjoy it.”

Stepping into the house through its elegant entrance, visitors are welcomed by a timeless foyer surrounded by the fusion of ancient Chinese and 17th century French nature scenes. Look around and you’ll see the mural artistry of designer Lucy Bernstein of the Painterly in Holland.

After passing through the elegant entrance, visitors will find themselves immersed in sophisticated comfort in A Room For All Seasons.

Here, designers Lisa Lazarus from Lisa Lazarus Interiors in Rydal and Robert Belchic of Design Style Studios, also in Rydal, have taken an eclectic approach to designing the room inspired by the colorations of the original hand-painted fireplace.

The goal was to create a sophisticated space with respect to the age and architecture of the house; yet updated and comfortable for modern living, said Lazarus.

“People are going to see a lot of interesting spaces, but also comfortable space - a place that they could live in and maybe even envision for their own home and be inspired by it,” said Lazarus.

Adds Belchic, “What’s unusual about this house is that even though it’s old, it’s been very well maintained. And that is going to create a great experience for the people coming. They will see more of a livable house then they normally do.”

Inside the library, designers David Carpenter and Guillaume Gentet of La Decoratique Decor by Guillaume Gentet in Holicong have taken a once somber space and infused it with joy, playfulness, color and light connected to nature and to creation itself; a celebration of learning.

“Everybody thinks of a library as a man’s room - masculine and dark. But the ones who actually read the books are the women,” said Gentet. “We wanted to show people that a library can be elegant and feminine, welcoming, fresh and bright.”

“It used to be a very dark and gloomy area - not necessarily a place you’d want to spend a lot of time,” said Urban. “This is much more welcoming. You can see yourself spending time in this room. It has a much more lighter, welcoming feel.”

More than 20 design areas are located throughout the house and gardens.

Upstairs, designer Kimberley Lux of Lux Interiors in Fountainville created Summerby’s Master Bedroom and The Sophisticated Evening, a dressing room for the ladies of the house.

Designer Julia Thomas from the Gallerie in Dublin transformed the master bath into an airier space with a new tub and a new shower and adorning it with statement cabinetry offset by rich, feathered Moonar marble.

And don’t miss the guest room designed by Milou Mackenzie of VM Mackenzie of Bethlehem; the home office by designer Lori Mason of Lori’s Funky Junk Decor in Lahaska; the Sky Parlor designed by Home Tonic in Mechanicsville; and the Artist’s Studio designed by Jane Ramsey of Simons Fine Art.

After touring the house, visitors can explore the gardens landscaped by Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Riverscape Construction, Bountiful Acres, Ann Landscape Design and BCDH&G.

They can also shop at the Designer House and Gardens Boutiques including the Saddlery and Boutique at Fox Heath (Furlong); L’Aromapothicaire (Jamison); and Robin Eggs and Chicken Legs in Warrington.

Public tours begin on Sunday, Sept. 18 and continue daily through Sunday, October 16. Timed entry tickets are being sold online to ensure a safe and uncrowded visit. Tickets are $35 each, plus $1.75 to cover ticketing fees and may be purchased online at BucksCountyDesignerHouse.org.

Hours are Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m.

There is no parking available at the Designer House site. All access to the house is via shuttle from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 5194 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Doylestown 18902.

Proceeds support Doylestown Health and the charitable missions of the Village Improvement Association of Bucks County.