The Buffalo Junior League’s Decorator Show House tour is a semi-annual tradition spanning almost 50 years, and this year it features one of the first homes in Erie County to have electricity.
The George Urban Mansion, which has had electricity since it was built in the late 1860s, has more than 30 rooms, with a different designer creating a unique vision for each space.
It's the oldest space ever chosen for the house tour, and it's a major focus to preserve as much of the original woodwork and structural features as possible, Junior League member Megan Ortolani said.
"You'll notice as you come through the house, a lot of these original features are still here that you really don't see in homes anymore that were made in the 20th century," she said. "The woodwork, the plaster on the ceiling, so many small details that were put into the homes during that time."
Utilizing local art and furniture, Junior League member and kitchen designer Lauren Schulte says it’s interesting to see multiple sides of the house tour dynamic.
“I get to see the part where the designers come in; we work really hard," she said. "And then I was also, last time, on the proceeds committee, where we got to work and listen to the not-for-profits that wanted to bid and work on getting the grants for their businesses.”
The works featured in each room by local artists are all for sale, and the Decorator Show House is usually one that is also for sale, Ortolani said.
The Junior League expects more than 12,000 total people to tour the mansion over the next four weeks, with private tours available Mondays and Tuesdays.
