The American Society of Interior Designers (of which I’m a proud member) is the oldest, largest and leading professional organization for interior designers in the United States. Founded in 1975, the ASID is made up of a network of 48 chapters in the United States and Canada, as well as 325 student chapters, and its appellation is widely recognized as a mark of design excellence and professionalism.

Members of ASID must pass rigorous acceptance standards, are qualified by education, experience and examination, and must at all times adhere to a strict code of ethics and professional conduct. But above and beyond all else, ASID members are people who are dedicated to design in the service of people.

“ASID designers understand that design is more than a job. It’s a way of relating to the world,” says Paula Rubidoux, current Central California/Nevada Chapter President. “Members seek to support, foster, promote and advance the many ways that design and designers enhance the quality of life for all of us.”

And it is in this spirit of design excellence and community involvement that ASID plays host to an event that is eagerly anticipated in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Pasadena and Chicago called the ASID Showcase House. In fact it seems to happen in most of America’s cities where the cognoscenti have long realized that it is not only a chance to see “the best of the best” in interior design, but a great opportunity to support local charities and vendors alike. But sadly it has never happened here in Las Vegas, and it’s high time it becomes a part of our local scene as well. It would seem by now that “Sin City” has finally come of age and is ready to take its rightful place alongside other major cultural centers.

ASID showcase houses are always wildly popular events in the cities that host them—usually drawing attendance figures in the thousands—and there is no reason in the world to think that such an event wouldn’t meet with equal success here in Las Vegas, the unrivalled tourist mecca and entertainment capital of the world.

The appeal of the showcase house goes far beyond design professionals to the general public, who can’t seem to get enough these days of the process of design and what to do or not do with their own homes. To be able to see up close and personal (and not through the filter of HGTV) the true meaning of design excellence—and even meet face to face with various local designers who will be participating in this event—is a rare opportunity.

And while it is true that the goal of designers in a showcase house is to strive for their own distinctive take on the space on which they’re working, it is at the same time the goal of ASID to generate greater public awareness of the outreach programs that it promotes for the local community. The chosen charity for the Vegas valley’s chapter is the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity, which would receive a significant portion of the proceeds whenever we are able to host such an event here. This would be realized through corporate and individual sponsors, ticket sales, on-site fundraising events and an exciting auction open to the public where many of the furnishings would be available for purchase at designer cost.

ASID Industry Partners are a vital branch of the organization at any time, but are especially needed for an event such as this. They are encouraged to contribute products and services that will assist designers with fulfilling their mission of bringing “design to life” while showcasing the best of the best. And how fortunate we are to now have the fabulous World Market Center along with its sister entity the Las Vegas Design Center right here in our backyard from which to draw product and support for such an undertaking.

Sadly, what we don’t have at present is the actual showcase house itself. ASID is appealing to the local Real Estate community and its partners and affiliates to help us locate and secure a home that would be suitable for an event such as this. A showcase house requires at least 7,500 square feet (and really the larger the better), two staircases (front and back to assist with traffic flow) and an understanding and sympathetic homeowners association which helps to make life a lot easier for all concerned.

Additionally, the homeowner needs to understand that while this is an extremely prestigious event that will receive full-blown media coverage and all that such an event entails, it is charity-driven and therefore cannot be looked upon as a way to redo their home at the expense of ASID and its sponsors. However, using a house as a showcase vehicle has often led to a higher resale value for the homeowner, having been lauded in the local press for creativity and design excellence.

For the most part, furnishings are borrowed and/or donated by local vendors or supplied and paid for by the participating designers. These furnishings are for sale to the homeowner who has first choice before they are made available for sale to the public. However, permanent hard surfaces such as stone floors and granite countertops are not materials that can be freely given away unless initially authorized by the vendor. They would, however be available to the homeowner at greatly reduced prices.

The homeowner needs to fully understand the process of the showcase house, that designers will need to have access to the home for a period of several months, and that it’s probably best if the homeowner does not reside in the house during this time and for the duration of the show which generally runs for about a full month.

The ASID Showcase House is a great and exciting event for any city, and it’s time we here in Las Vegas have that experience. It provides a much needed opportunity for the community to participate on so many levels while benefiting those who need so much.

For more information on the ASID Showcase Home, contact Stephen Leon at solieldesign @cox.net or Paula Rubidoux at prubidoux@yates-silverman.com.