“We approached several top Florida-based chefs with an invitation to share their favorite Florida strawberry recipe in support of this program. In return, the Association and the chefs themselves will publicize the program by distributing several thousand, high-quality, oversize postcards. Each of five postcards features one of the chefs along with photographs and his strawberry recipe. We are encouraging consumers and culinary professionals to visit our new culinary blog Strawberry Sue. The postcards will also be featured there,” said Sue Harrell, director of marketing for FSGA.

Chefs Advisory Board, clockwise: Chef Jason Gronlund, Chef Justin Timineri, Chef Judson McLester, Chef J. Hugh McEvoy and Chef Norman Van Aken

“We are overwhelmed with the response from some of our state’s superstar chefs. We hope to expand the program in the future. Greater production this year necessarily required enhanced marketing efforts to create awareness and increase sales. One of the ways we’re taking on the challenge is by reaching out to chefs and asking them to assist in showcasing our industry.

“Establishing relationships with executive chefs, research and product development experts and chef instructors who teach in accredited culinary academies are the best ways possible to spread the word about our special strawberries throughout the foodservice industry. We’re focusing on educating both seasoned chefs and the chefs of tomorrow about our industry from the farm to the table. Establishing and nurturing these valuable relationships is an integral program designed to develop new markets today and maintain them in the future,” Harrell concluded.

The participating chefs are -

• Jason Gronlund, Senior Director of Culinary R&D, Hard Rock Cafe International
• Judson McLester, Executive Chef/Ingredients Sales Manager, McIlhenny Company Tabasco^® Brand Products
• J. Hugh McEvoy, The Enlightened Chef™ culinary consultant, author
• Justin Patrick Timineri, CEC^® Executive Chef/Culinary Ambassador, State of Florida Department of Agriculture
• Norman Van Aken, Director of Restaurants, Miami Culinary Institute/TUYO, founder, NORMAN’s at The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes, cookbook author

States east of the Mississippi are target markets for fresh-crop Florida strawberries. The industry is also exporting Florida strawberries to buyers in Europe and Canada. Fresh Florida strawberries are available each year from Thanksgiving through Easter, given strong market demand and positive weather conditions during harvest.

###

Editor note: Interviews with FSGA executives may be arranged. FSGA is a voluntary, non-profit organization of Florida strawberry growers who support research, education and promotion.

February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month

“Strawberries dipped in chocolate or served straight up with a dollop of whipped cream are sure to please the special Valentine in your life,” said Sue Harrell, director of marketing for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA). “It’s a happy coincidence that Valentine’s Day, one of the most popular celebrations in the country, falls during the peak of our season,” she continued.

“Acreage this year is estimated at 11,000 – about 1,000 acres over last year. Florida’s cool nights and warm days have made the berries particularly sweet and the shipping quality is excellent,” said Ted Campbell, Executive Director of the Association.

Strawberry farmers begin harvesting in November and continue until the end of March. Marketing programs are giving consumers, chefs and caterers the knowledge and opportunity to purchase Florida’s flavorful, healthy and delicious berries in the winter when they least expect them.

“We’re celebrating February as Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month to call special attention to winter strawberries. We’re getting the word out this season to as many audiences as possible,” Harrell concluded.

States east of the Mississippi are target markets for Florida strawberries.

After experiencing two consecutive years of freezing temperatures and heavy rainfall, growers are optimistic that mild weather will continue through the harvest season.

Strawberry tips and facts:

• Eating eight strawberries a day has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve memory and heart health.
• When you’re on the run, take strawberries with you in a plastic container or sandwich bag.
• Strawberries taste best at room temperature.
• Strawberries are picked at full ripeness. Unlike some other fruits, they don’t ripen once they are harvested.
• A dash of balsamic vinegar, lemon or orange juice will bring out the flavor of strawberries.
• Strawberries are the only fruit that have seeds on the outside —about 200 of them. Each seed has the potential to become a new variety. Strawberry seeds are all those little bumpy spots on the surface of the berry.

More information about Florida strawberries including recipes, news, events and behind the scenes stories are available on the Strawberry Sue blog.

Related articles

• February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
• Florida strawberry growers host foodservice pros during harvest
• 2012 Chef Harvest Tour
• Florida winter strawberry season in full swing
• Florida Strawberries – a taste of summer all winter long!

“The goal of the tour was to educate the attendees from the ground up about Florida winter strawberries,” said Sue Harrell, director of marketing for FSGA and a strawberry grower. “This initiative supports the national movement by many chefs, product research and development professionals and foodservice distributors to buy local whenever possible.”

The Southeastern Regional Chapter members of RCA attending the tour included Kevin Anderson, Jamila Muhammad, Chef Jeff Cofer, Bobbie Huston, Sandy Gibilisco, Deanna Smith and Alexa Hart Bosshardt.

Sue Harrell and Mike Lott host Research Chefs Association members, Kevin Anderson, Jamila Muhammad, Chef Jeff Cofer, Bobbie Huston, Sandy Gibilisco, Deanna Smith and Alexa Hart Bosshardt for harvest tour.

Mike Lott, a Florida strawberry grower, invited RCA members for a personal tour on his farm. Guests picked strawberries while Lott educated them about the Florida strawberry industry, the growing cycle and his experiences as a farmer.

Lott showcased modern techniques for growing and marketing fresh market strawberries and shared information about the development of the industry’s latest promising variety – Winterstar – a hardy, sweet, early blossoming berry that is a cross between the popular Florida Radiance and Earlibrite varieties.

“The FSGA staff and Lott enjoyed hosting the chefs and researchers. They were extremely interested in learning all they could about our industry. We can now network with these culinary pros to educate our customers about the importance of Florida’s producers of fresh fruits and vegetables. Their questions indicated they are anxious to know more about how berries are grown and the people who grow them,” Harrell said.

“We’re focusing on educating seasoned chefs and the chefs of tomorrow about our industry from the farm to the table. Establishing and nurturing these relationships is an important program that will help maintain, develop and sustain new markets for our berries.”

Related articles

• Florida winter strawberry season in full swing
• Florida Strawberries – a taste of summer all winter long!
• February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
• Magazine Editors See Red

“Acreage this year is estimated at 11,000 – about 1,000 acres over last year. Florida’s cool nights and warm days have made the berries particularly sweet and the shipping quality is excellent,” said Ted Campbell, Executive Director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA).

“The size so far is medium to large and the berries are bright red, juicy and delicious. Demand for the ever-popular Festival variety is strong, but a newer, early variety—Radiance—is performing well. Volume will increase in mid-December. Baring a severe winter, we expect the season will run through March,” Campbell continued.

Florida strawberry grower hopeful for mild weather through the season. Harvesting is underway.

“Greater production this year necessarily requires enhanced marketing efforts to create awareness and increase sales. One of the ways we’re taking on the challenge is by reaching out to chefs in Florida and nearby geographical areas to showcase our industry,” said Sue Harrell, Director of Marketing for the Association.

“We will provide industry contacts to make sourcing our berries seamless. A Chefs Advisory Board comprised of high-profile chefs will help us communicate product attributes to consumers and foodservice professionals. Establishing relationships with executive chefs, research and product development experts and chef instructors teaching in accredited culinary academies is the best way possible to spread the word about our special strawberries. We’re focusing on educating both seasoned chefs and the chefs of tomorrow about our industry from the farm to the table. Establishing and nurturing these valuable relationships is an integral program designed to develop new markets today and maintaining them in the future.

“One of my favorite new ways to enjoy Florida strawberries for Super Bowl celebrations is to dip them in chocolate and decorate them to look like footballs. Log on to Strawberry Sue to learn more about the health benefits of strawberries and much more,” Harrell continued.

States east of the Mississippi are target markets for Florida strawberries. The industry is also exporting Florida strawberries to buyers in Europe and Canada.

After experiencing two consecutive years of freezing temperatures and heavy rainfall, growers are optimistic that mild weather will continue through the harvest season.

Editor note: Interviews with FSGA executives may be arranged. FSGA is a voluntary, non-profit organization of Florida strawberry growers who support research, education and promotion.

# # #

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association, a 501(c)5 non-profit organization located in Dover, is the parent company of the Florida Strawberry Patent Service and the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation.

Related articles

• Florida Strawberries – a taste of summer all winter long!
• February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month

HORSESHOE BAY, TX (11/2/11) — Michael G. Imber Architects, San Antonio, are the winners of the prestigious Architecture John Staub Award for their design of one of Escondido’s Golf & Lake Club amenity buildings, La Hacienda. The John Staub Award is recognized as one of the highest honors that demonstrate design excellence.

La Hacienda, a central gathering place for the Escondido community is located off the 9^th green and is set on a gentle rise overlooking the Tom Fazio golf course and Pecan Creek. It has become an integral part of the Escondido experience and lifestyle. With its rustic stone walls, ancient timbers, and expansive terrace, it has also served as an architectural focal point for the overall Escondido development.

La Hacienda sits across a beautiful lake at the Escondido Golf and Lake Club

“La Hacienda plays a prominent role in the Escondido experience, especially as we launch our new private equity club program – The Club Residences, which offers its members annual vacation stays in one of our European-inspired villas,” said George Punoose, General Manager of Escondido. “La Hacienda holds many pleasant memories for our members. We are delighted that Michael’s firm was recognized with this prestigious award for their design.

In 2011, the Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) launched the first John Staub Awards program to honor the legacy of John Staub and his extensive body of work. One of Staub’s most notable design projects was the private residence of the internationally known Ima Hogg estate – Bayou Bend.

The goal of the John Staub Awards is to recognize Texas’ designers and craftspeople who demonstrate excellence and sensitivity to classical and vernacular traditions. The awards will be presented annually.

Among many other recognitions, Michael G. Imber is the recipient of the 2010 and 2011 Palladio Award for outstanding achievement in traditional design and is the designer of the 2011 Southern Living Idea House built in Escondido in Horseshoe Bay. Imber’s work has been featured in many statewide and national publications. He can be reached at www.michaelgimber.com.

Information about Escondido Golf & Lake Club may be found at www.escondidotexas.com.

Related articles

• Idea House Touts Multiple, Memorable Outdoor Living Spaces
• 10 Inspired Ideas from Southern Living’s Idea House
• Escondido Golf & Lake Club Sales Approach $8 million

“We are very encouraged over the robust sales activity we’ve recently enjoyed,” said Escondido Golf & Lake Club Director of Membership and Real Estate Sales, Michael Tomnitz. “We’re seeing a huge turn-a-round in sales here. After experiencing two years of little to no activity, this dramatic surge is a signal that the high-end luxury market has come alive. Prospective buyers have committed. They understand this is the opportune time to purchase if they are desirous of becoming part of this privileged community. There is a limit of sites and properties available.”

Escondido Golf & Lake Club a private, gated, membership only enclave is situated along a cove with access to the open water of Lake LBJ, one of a handful of constant level lakes in Texas. It is a short drive from both Austin and San Antonio.

“With only 72 resident memberships remaining in this intimate community of 380 home sites, Escondido is vibrant and alive, yet never crowded,” said Escondido Marketing Director, Brandon L. Miller.

“We’ve just launched a new program, The Club Residences, that will allow participants a unique way to enjoy a private-club lifestyle in the Texas Hill Country. Equity members in The Club Residences will be able to select from a prestigious collection of estate homes in Escondido Golf & Lake Club to use during their vacation stays with family and friends. While staying in the Club Residences, members will enjoy the exclusive Escondido lifestyle and all of the Escondido Golf & Lake Club’s world-class amenities. Additional options for ownership in Escondido Golf & Lake Club include private, estate home sites and luxury homes,” Miller said.

It is expected that sales at Escondido Golf & Lake Club will continue at a robust pace as Horseshoe Bay and Escondido offer new programs and the community overall expands. Jamail’s, an upscale grocery store near Escondido Golf & Lake Club, will anchor a retail shopping center in Horseshoe Bay this spring. Scott & White Healthcare will break ground on November 16 for a specialty clinic and medical office building as phase one of a regional medical center. The new facility is located at the intersection of State Highway 281 and Highway 71.

For more information about real estate offerings and The Club Residences membership at Escondido contact Michael Tomnitz, Director of Membership and Real Estate Sales at 830-598-6311 or visit http://escondidotexas.com.

# # #

Escondido Golf & Lake Club a private, gated, membership only enclave is situated along a cove with access to the open water of Lake LBJ, one of a handful of constant level lakes in Texas. It is a short drive from both Austin and San Antonio.

“Stick to your knitting.”

For us, promoting food is what we know how to do and what we do best — period. We don’t work for attorneys, insurance companies, banks, real estate firms or software makers. Thacker Group clients are food related or one of the ancillary categories of beverages, travel and hospitality.

Over the 35 years we have worked in this business, we have established a roster of the best, most experienced professionals in their field. They join our team when needed in specializations such as photography, food styling, graphic design, copy writing, research, recipe development, social media strategies, website and video production.

Casual Texas lakeside living shines through in the 2011 Southern Living Idea House at Escondido in Horseshoe Bay, TX. The house is open for viewing through October 2.

Texas professionals were contracted to design, build, furnish, add artistic elements to the aspirational Idea House and do the landscaping.

San Antonio-based architect Michael G. Imber designed the home. David Mitchell, owner of Casa Highland Construction in Horseshoe Bay, was the builder and Marcus Mohon served as the interior designer. Decorative painter Nancy Coleman imbued fir panels with a patina that appears as if paint has peeled off to reveal weathered wood. This feature compliments the recycled barn wood on the ceiling. Coleman also hand painted the ceiling in the entry hall bathroom and added other artistic details throughout the house. Garden Design Studio with offices in Austin and Dallas did the landscape.

The Southern Living Idea House is a mix of whimsical, practical and elegant design features. The design principles used embody the timeless charm, classic architecture and authentic details befitting a historic Mediterranean villa. Native building materials reflect the Texas landscape and harmonize with the rugged, rustic Texas Hill Country locale.

Influences of southern Europe are abundant. Barrel tiles on the roof, imported from Italy, “will be here 200 years from now,” says builder David Mitchell.

Multiple stone arches inside and outside, could have been crafted centuries ago. The sandstone and limestone, all 600 tons of it, tell a Southern story.

“It’s important for this house to have a strong sense of how Texans live and reflect the materials from where we live,” Mitchell adds. The stone was quarried in Texas just 60 miles from the building site and the reclaimed barn wood was sourced from a Texas firm specializing in reclaimed wood.

Tours of the Southern Living Idea House are open to the public through October 2. The house is open Wednesdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Escondido Golf and Lake Club is approximately 50 miles northwest of Austin and 80 miles north of San Antonio.

Tickets to tour the Southern Living Idea House are $10 and may be purchased on site. Portions of the proceeds benefit the Scott & White Healthcare Foundation for the construction of medical facilities in the Texas Hill Country.

Sponsors of the project include: Sherwin-Williams, Trex Transcend Decking and Railing, Southern Living Plant Collection, IKEA, Greenleaf Nursery Company, GE Reveal, Lennox, Shaw Floors and Sunbrella.

For more information call 830-598-6311 or visit escondidotexas.com or Southern Living.

###

Media Note: Interviews with principals of the 2011 Southern Living Idea House project may be arranged.

Contact: Ann Thacker, The Thacker Group, 830-596-1949 office; 713-702-5528 cell; or ann@thackergroup.com.

Michael G. Imber, FAIA is the principal architect of Michael G. Imber, Architects, PLLC a modern classical design firm based in San Antonio, Texas. He has been recognized for a body of work that is strong in historic sentiment, yet modern in its execution. He has received numerous design awards including being named the winner of the 2011 and 2010 Palladio Award for outstanding achievement in traditional design. Michael’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as Coastal Living, New Old House, Texas Architect, Western Interiors, Southern Accents and Period Homes.

Mohon-Imber Interiors is a modern interior design firm based in Austin, Texas, was established in 1992 when architect Michael G. Imber and designer Marcus Mohon formed a partnership to create classic interiors for modern living. The partners collaborate to design interiors that complement the architecture and reflect the client’s lifestyle. Versatile in both residential and commercial settings, the firm’s projects range from urban high-rise-apartments to Mediterranean villas and country estates.

Casa Highland Construction built the 2011 Southern Living Idea House making it the fourth home built by the company in the prestigious private Golf and Lake residential community of Escondido. While he was still a practicing pharmacist, David Mitchell began to pursue his true passions, developing businesses and home building. He specializes in custom construction. Today, Mitchell devotes his expertise exclusively to home building. He has built homes in Texas; Telluride, Colorado; and Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Escondido’s private Golf & Lake Club is an exclusive, club membership nestled on several hundred acres of gentle rolling hills in a private luxury community with space for approximately 355 estate home sites, 51 Golf Casitas, 63 Villas and 40 Private Residence units, including custom and lavishly-furnished homes. Escondido is limited to 560 total memberships to ensure the club is vibrant and alive, yet never crowded. The landscape is bisected by Pecan Creek and is peppered with classic live oak and pecan trees. The architecture includes rustic-stone walls, accented with roughhewn wooden beams and hand-wrought iron with a subtle mix of Tuscan and Spanish influences. One of the highlights of Escondido is an esteemed 18-hole championship Tom Fazio-designed golf course.

Southern Living, published by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, is the nation’s seventh-largest monthly consumer magazine, reaching 15 million readers each month. Founded in 1966, Southern Living offers today’s busy Southerners achievable ideas for cultivating their own Southern style. Each month in the magazine and on southernliving.com, readers find ideas for cooking, gardening, gracious entertaining, decorating, regional travel and locally made products.

Bill Bauer, of The Garden Design Studio has designed and built gardens in Central Texas for 19 years. The Garden Design Studio is a Design/Build firm with offices in Austin and Dallas. Working mostly in central Texas, The Garden Design Studio has projects underway in Marble Falls, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. The Studio offers full service solutions for the exterior, including hardscape, pools, garden structures and plantings.

Scott & White Healthcare is a nonprofit collaborative health care system established in 1897 in Temple, TX. Among the leading health care systems encompassing one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty group practices, Scott & White provides personalized, comprehensive and the highest quality health care enhanced by medical education and research.

“The 2011 Southern Living Idea House is a mix of whimsical, practical and elegant design features that make this house a home,” said award-winning, San Antonio architect Michael G. Imber. The home has definite European leanings and the design principles used embody the timeless charm, classic architecture and authentic details that befit a historic Mediterranean villa. Native building materials reflect the Texas landscape and harmonize with the rugged, rustic Texas Hill Country locale.

Imber’s inspiration came from an unlikely place – the laundry room. Faced with the task of creating a Southern-style home infused with European charm, he first thought of the garden. From there, the concept of the whimsical flower room was conceived. It’s an airy space, part utility room, part potting shed, part storage space with practical places for things like boots, rainwear, coats and even pantry space for oversize pots and pans from the adjacent kitchen. An under-the-counter washer and dryer make it easy to wash a load of clothes while planting pansies to showcase in one of the home’s many outdoor living spaces.

On the door leading from the flower room to the kitchen, Imber designed an ogee arch, a Gothic design consisting of a pointed apex, formed by the intersection of two S curves. Visitors to the flower room immediately get the feeling that this isn’t a conventional house. The soft blue paint chosen for the flower room walls and washed on reclaimed barn timber on the ceiling is an unexpected surprise.

A dining terrace with a fireplace as the focal point extends off the dining room, an idea many homeowners can duplicate. It has built-in outdoor cooking equipment for the beginner or experienced home chef. A bench in the family room is upholstered in tufted linen and does double duty as a coffee table — a practical idea for any home.

Many walls and rooms in the home are curtained in a sheer fabric that invite elegance and romance, while allowing natural light to illuminate each room.

Tours of the Southern Living Idea House are open to the public through October 2. The house is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Escondido Golf & Lake Club is approximately 50 miles northwest from Austin and 80 miles north of San Antonio. Each year, the Idea House draws thousands of visitors from across the country.

The 2011 Southern Living Idea House is featured in the September issue, on sale now. The article notes 101 inspirational design ideas drawn from the Idea House. The ideas can also be found online.

San Antonio-based Michael G. Imber Architects designed the home and Austin-based Mohon-Imber Interiors furnished the inside of the main house and casita. Garden Design Studio with offices in Austin and Dallas planned the landscape.

Tickets to tour the Southern Living Idea House are $10 and may be purchased on site. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Scott & White Healthcare Foundation.

Sponsors of the project include: Sherwin-Williams, Trex Transcend® Decking and Railing, Southern Living Plant Collection, IKEA, Greenleaf Nursery Company, GE Reveal®, Lennox, Shaw Floors and Sunbrella.

The home’s European leanings embody the timeless charm, classic architecture and authentic details befitting a historic Mediterranean villa. Native building materials reflect the Texas landscape and harmonize with the Texas Hill Country locale. The living area of the main house is 4,662 square feet, with a total living area of 5,222 square feet including a detached casita and cabana. The home rambles around a series of terraces and courtyards, making the most of outdoor living.

The 2011 Idea Home was built by David Mitchell of Casa Highland Construction, Horseshoe Bay, TX. Michael G. Imber Architects from San Antonio designed the home and Mohon-Imber Interiors of Austin furnished the inside of the main house and casita. Garden Design Studio with offices in Austin and Dallas planned the landscape.

Tickets to tour the Southern Living Idea House are $10 and may be purchased on site. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Scott & White Healthcare Foundation.

Sponsors of the project include: Sherwin-Williams, Trex Transcend® Decking and Railing, Southern Living Plant Collection, IKEA, Greenleaf Nursery Company, GE Reveal®, Lennox, Shaw Floors and Sunbrella.

The home’s European leanings embody the timeless charm, classic architecture and authentic details befitting a historic Mediterranean villa. Native building materials reflect the Texas landscape and harmonize with the Texas Hill Country locale. The living area of the main house is 4,662 square feet, with a total living area of 5,222 square feet including a detached casita and cabana. The home rambles around a series of terraces and courtyards, making the most of outdoor living.

The 2011 Idea Home was built by David Mitchell of Casa Highland Construction, Horseshoe Bay, TX. Michael G. Imber Architects from San Antonio designed the home and Mohon-Imber Interiors of Austin furnished the inside of the main house and casita. Garden Design Studio with offices in Austin and Dallas planned the landscape.

Tickets to tour the Southern Living Idea House are $10 and may be purchased on site. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Scott & White Healthcare Foundation.

Sponsors of the project include: Sherwin-Williams, Trex Transcend® Decking and Railing, Southern Living Plant Collection, IKEA, Greenleaf Nursery Company, GE Reveal®, Lennox, Shaw Floors and Sunbrella.

For more information, call 830-598-6311 and learn more at www.escondidotexas.com and www.southernliving.com.

###

Media Note: Interviews with principals of the 2011 Southern Living Idea House project may be arranged. Contact: Ann Thacker, The Thacker Group, 830-596-1949 office; 713-702-5528 cell; or via email.

Michael G. Imber, FAIA is the principal architect of Michael G, Imber, Architects, PLLC a modern classical design firm based in San Antonio, Texas. He has been recognized for a body of work that is strong in historic sentiment, yet modern in its execution. He has received numerous design awards including being named the winner of the 2011 and 2010 Palladio Award for outstanding achievement in traditional design. Michael’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as Coastal Living, New Old House, Texas Architect, Western Interiors, Southern Accents and Period Homes.

Casa Highland Construction built the 2011 Southern Living Idea House making it the fourth home built by Casa Highland Construction in the prestigious private Golf & Lake residential community of Escondido. While he was still a practicing pharmacist, David Mitchell began to pursue his true passion — home building. He specializes in custom construction. Today, Mitchell devotes his expertise exclusively to home building. He has built homes in Texas; Telluride, Colorado; and Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Escondido’s private Golf & Lake Club is an exclusive club membership nestled on 484 acres of gentle rolling hills in a private luxury community with space for 509 residences, including custom and lavishly-furnished homes. Escondido is limited to 560 total memberships. The landscape is bisected by Pecan Creek and is peppered with classic Live Oak and Pecan trees. The architecture includes rustic-stone walls, accented with roughhewn wooden beams and hand-wrought iron with a subtle mix of Tuscan and Spanish influences. One of the highlights of Escondido is the esteemed Tom Fazio-designed golf course.

Southern Living, published 12 times a year by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, is the nation’s seventh-largest monthly consumer magazine, reaching nearly 15 million readers each month. Southern Living offers today’s busy Southern woman achievable ideas for cultivating her individual Southern style. Each month in the magazine and online, readers find ideas for cooking, gardening, gracious entertaining, decorating, regional travel and locally made products.

Scott & White Healthcare is a nonprofit collaborative health care system established in 1897 in Temple, TX. Among the leading health care systems encompassing one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty group practices, Scott & White provides personalized, comprehensive and the highest quality health care enhanced by medical education and research.

“Area specialists and artisans including the builder, architect, interior and outdoor garden designers joined forces to weave their complimentary styles into an unmistakably one-of-a-kind Texas Hill Country star,” said Frank Craige, Homes Programs Manager for Southern Living. “Visitors to the home will find inspiration in every corner of the home including a soft and inviting color scheme.”

The kitchen in the Southern Living Idea House features open shelving instead of upper cabinetry for an open and airy feel. (Photo courtesy Southern Living magazine)

Tours of the Southern Living Idea House are open to the public through October 2. The house is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Escondido Golf & Lake Club is approximately 50 miles northwest from Austin and 80 miles north of San Antonio. Each year, the Idea House draws thousands of visitors from across the country.

The 2011 Southern Living Idea House is featured in the September issue, on newsstands now. It features 101 design ideas drawn from the Idea House. Following are ten design concepts from the magazine:

1. Try the look of open shelving instead of upper cabinetry, for a sophisticated kitchen design that pays homage to genuine cottage style and allows an open and airy feel.
2. Replace a traditional back door with a Dutch door to bring the outside in from a patio or garden court.
3. Paint outside trim bright blue reminiscent of farmhouses in Provence to accent exterior doors and windows.
4. Consider breezy gauze draperies for effortless style leading from indoor to outdoor spaces.
5. Mix high-backed upholstered seating with low, slipcovered chairs to avoid the predictable formula of a table with matching chairs.
6. Add a native-Texas stonewall to a den or bedroom to create a sense of comfort and style.
7. Scrape and paint wainscot to resemble weathered-wood in formal or informal areas.
8. Replace traditional textured walls with a creamy plastered treatment to give a subtle feel consistent with historic Mediterranean homes.
9. Consider a two-tone sofa with a chocolate or other deep base and washable off-white cushions to make any home stylish and kid-friendly.
10. Introduce a small dose of pattern with a handmade touch by adding stenciled accent pillows to complement practical, solid upholstered furniture.

For more design ideas (101 in total) visit the Southern Living Idea House online.

The home’s European leanings embody the timeless charm, classic architecture and authentic details befitting a historic Mediterranean villa. Native building materials reflect the Texas landscape and harmonize with the Texas Hill Country locale. The living area of the main house is 4,662 square feet, with a total living area of 5,222 square feet including a detached casita and cabana. The home rambles around a series of terraces and courtyards, making the most of outdoor living.

The 2011 Idea Home was built by David Mitchell of Casa Highland Construction, Horseshoe Bay, TX. Michael G. Imber Architects from San Antonio designed the home and Mohon-Imber Interiors of Austin furnished the inside of the main house and casita. Garden Design Studio with offices in Austin and Dallas planned the landscape.

Tickets to tour the Southern Living Idea House are $10 and may be purchased on site. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Scott & White Healthcare Foundation.

Sponsors of the project include: Sherwin-Williams, Trex Transcend® Decking and Railing, Southern Living Plant Collection, IKEA, Greenleaf Nursery Company, GE Reveal®, Lennox, Shaw Floors and Sunbrella.

For more information, call 830-598-6311 or visit www.escondidotexas.com or www.southernliving.com

###

Media Note: Interviews with principals of the 2011 Southern Living Idea House project may be arranged.

Contact: Ann Thacker, The Thacker Group, 830-596-1949 office; 713-702-5528 cell; or ann@thackergroup.com.

Casa Highland Construction built the 2011 Southern Living Idea House making it the fourth home built by Casa Highland Construction in the prestigious private Golf & Lake residential community of Escondido. While he was still a practicing pharmacist, David Mitchell began to pursue his true passion — home building. He specializes in custom construction. Today, Mitchell devotes his expertise exclusively to home building. He has built homes in Texas; Telluride, Colorado; and Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Escondido’s private Golf & Lake Club is an exclusive club membership nestled on 484 acres of gentle rolling hills in a private luxury community with space for 509 residences, including custom and lavishly-furnished homes. Escondido is limited to 560 total memberships. The landscape is bisected by Pecan Creek and is peppered with classic Live Oak and Pecan trees. The architecture includes rustic-stone walls, accented with roughhewn wooden beams and hand-wrought iron with a subtle mix of Tuscan and Spanish influences. One of the highlights of Escondido is the esteemed Tom Fazio-designed golf course.

Southern Living, published 12 times a year by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, is the nation’s seventh-largest monthly consumer magazine, reaching nearly 15 million readers each month. Southern Living offers today’s busy Southern woman achievable ideas for cultivating her individual Southern style. Each month in the magazine and on southernliving.com, readers find ideas for cooking, gardening, gracious entertaining, decorating, regional travel and locally made products.

Scott & White Healthcare is a nonprofit collaborative health care system established in 1897 in Temple, TX. Among the leading health care systems encompassing one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty group practices, Scott & White provides personalized, comprehensive and the highest quality health care enhanced by medical education and research.