Westside Story – Lakewold Gardens Designer Showhouse

Story & Photos – Joseph Boyle

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit Lakewold Gardens on the occasion of their Designer Showhouse, which runs April 3 – 21, 2013.

Lakewold, managed by Stephanie Walsh, Executive Director, is located at 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499.  Phone: 253-584-4106.

I encourage you to consider visiting Lakewold for the following reasons:

This is an opportunity to visit one of our finest historical Gravelly Lake family estates, which dates back to 1908.

You can see creative decorating ideas produced by 14 prominent interior designers.  Each designer took charge of a different room inside the Wagner House.

There is a wide array of furnishings and accessories presented by the designers some of which might add to the ambience of your own home.

Walk 10 acres of gardens designed by Thomas Church, a landscape architect in the previous century.

Lastly, you will see some of your old friends and make new ones.

I met interior designer Michael Bowman, his wife Rachel Bowman along with their design associate, Tara Macklin.  They were responsible for two areas of the home, the entryway and the library.

They are affiliated with Lakewood’s Design Gallery located at 9532 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499 / Phone: 253-219-1616.

My third photo depicts Rachel, Michael and Tara sitting in the library in front of portraits of G. Corydon and Eulalie Wagner, the Lakewood citizens who developed Lakewold and what was to become known as Wagner House.  In about 1987 Mrs. Wagner donated her estate to a non-profit for the benefit of our community and our world at large.

The dates, times and ticket prices for the Designer Showhouse attached below.

Showhouse Hours

April 3rd-21st

Wednesdays 11 am-8 pm?Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 11 am-6 pm?Sundays 11 am-5 pm?The Gardens and Showhouse are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Showhouse Admission Prices

(includes entry to the gardens)

General Admission: $22 per person?Seniors (62+): $18 per person?Military (with ID): $18 per person?Members of Lakewold: $18 per person ?Students (with ID): $18 per person?Children (6-18): $18 per person?Pre-reserved/paid Groups of 10+ $18 per person ?Children (5 and under): Free

Net proceeds from this event benefit WA-ASID, Lakewold Gardens, and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

You do not need to be a gardener to enjoy this special space on our planet known as Lakewold and Wagner House.  A Designer Showhouse is a once in a decade opportunity; so if you have any interest, don’t miss out.

History – Lakewold*

The property first began in 1908 as a 5-acre home site for Emma Alexander, who transferred the property to her son Hubbard Alexander and his wife Ruth Alexander. At this point the gardens were already well known in the area. The Alexanders purchased an adjacent site in 1918. In 1925 the property was sold to Major Everett Griggs and his wife, Grace, who renamed the property “Lakewold,” a middle-English word meaning “lake-woods.” In 1938 the property was sold again to G. Corydon and Eulalie Wagner, who began collecting plants and engaged Thomas Church as a landscape architect.

In 1987 Mrs. Wagner donated the estate to a non-profit organization, the Friends of Lakewold, stating, “As we become more and more city creatures, living in manmade surroundings, perhaps gardens will become even more precious to us, letting us remember that we began in the garden.”

* Wikipedia – Source for History – Lakewold.