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The Reserve Showhouse is stylized with a brick and wood exterior. The five-bedroom, five-and-one-half-bath home has 7,280 square feet of livable space and the property sits on nearly 1.5 acres

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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

An open floor plan and attention to detail, right down to the beamed ceilings, are part of the Showhouse home. Nancy Pendergrast of Summerour Interiors collaborated with Beth Webb of Beth Webb Interiors to create a Belgian Retreat interior for the home's family of five.

SALEM — The Reserve at Lake Keowee, a Greenwood Communities and Resorts property, will open the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles 2008 Designer Showhouse for public tours Thursday.

Tours of the Showhouse will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, through July 27.

Greenwood is donating 100 percent of the Showhouse tour proceeds to the Oconee Medical Center Hospice of the Foothills in Seneca.

Tickets at $12 each can be obtained at The Arts Company in Seneca (864-882-0840), on-line at www.thereserveshowhouse.com, or at The Reserve, 868-4000.

“The 2008 Designer Showhouse exceeds The Reserve’s high standards of excellence,” said Chuck Pigg, Greenwood Vice President and The Reserve at Lake Keowee Community Manager. “It is stunning, yet livable for the entire family, and photos do not compare to the actual experience of seeing the home in-person. It is a masterpiece and The Reserve is proud to take part in its creation.

“And in the end, the real beneficiary is the charity. We are proud to be able to offer 100 percent of the proceeds from the tour ticket sales to a wonderful, committed institution,” he continued.

A wonder to behold

Designed by renowned architect Keith Summerour, owner of Summerour Architects, the 2008 Designer Showhouse is stylized with a brick and wood exterior, open floor plan and attention to detail in the beautiful, beamed ceilings. The five-bedroom, five-and-one-half-bath home has 7,280 square feet of livable space and the property sits on nearly 1.5 acres that features a sandy beach and covered boat dock. Additionally, Nancy Pendergrast of Summerour Interiors collaborated with Beth Webb of Beth Webb Interiors to create a Belgian Retreat interior for the Showhouse’s family of five.

As an added feature to the Showhouse tours, the Seneca-based Blue Ridge Arts Center, is holding a special exhibit of local artists’ works in a model home located in the community’s Village center. Open the last three weeks of July, Thursday–Sunday, the exhibit will encompass the work of 21 artists and include 2-D art: acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings and photography and 3-D pieces: ceramics, woodwork, jewelry and pottery.

Bess Ciupak, executive director of Blue Ridge Arts Council, whose own watercolor paintings will be on display during the exhibit, said The Reserve at Lake Keowee show was a great opportunity for the Council to feature local artists.

“The model home is going to be a wonderful blank canvas to show our artists’ work,” said Ciupak. “The home is beautiful with open windows to bring in plenty of light. Showhouse tour guests will be the perfect audience for our work, and I think it’s an opportunity for us to educate the community and make the public aware of the quality of art available in this area.”

Tours of the art exhibit will occur at the same time as Showhouse tours.

Ciupak said the philanthropic aspect of the Showhouse event appealed to the Blue Ridge Arts Council’s own sense of charity.

“The fact that the Showhouse has struck a deal with the Hospice is wonderful, because they are an incredible organization that does so much for the community. We are a non-profit that is always seeking contributions; however, there is a level of importance for our area’s non-profits and Hospice is at the top of this community’s priorities. If we can contribute in any way to get more people to the Showhouse, we are honored to be a part of it,” she said.

In addition to viewing the Showhouse and the Arts and Artisans Exhibit, guests will have the opportunity to enter a special prize package drawing, worth $2,500, that includes a complimentary three-day, two-night stay at The Reserve at Lake Keowee for four people, full use of the amenities, including one round of golf per person in the party, two lunches and one dinner at the winner’s choice of Reserve restaurants and one full-day boat rental. Guests can enter their name in the drawing at the Reserve Village Showhouse registration desk prior to their tour.

Tours will coincide with The Village grand opening — The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s amenity center that includes a 200-slip marina, market, post office and community clubhouse. Guests will enjoy other special activities, including a ‘Watercraft Showcase’ on Saturdays and Sundays during the last three weeks of July, where guests can enjoy one-on-one sessions with boat vendors showcasing their products and an ‘Afternoon Delight’ of live musical entertainment both Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the last three weeks of July.