PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman will be swept away to London in September for an interior designer’s dream vacation — through TV host Oprah Winfrey’s organization.
Kathy Durr of Port Angeles was scanning the Internet last month when she came across a form that allowed people to enter a Design Weekend In London Sweepstakes contest on oprah.com.
“I saw it and thought that would be fun, but I didn’t really think I’d win,” she said.
In fact, she forgot that she entered.
Then about two weeks ago, she received the phone message: She won!
“My husband heard it first and he just thought it was a scam,” she said.
She ended up searching out a phone number for O, The Oprah Magazine and spoke with an assistant editor who assured her that the prize was real.
She was instructed to send in affidavits for her and a guest, certifying their identities to receive the vacation to London, she said.
An e-mail from Jessica Silvester of O said the trip was worth $17,577.
Originally, Durr had planned to take her husband, Pat.
But he’s a schoolteacher, and the Sept. 17 trip date comes when school is in session.
Instead, her daughter, Shannon, 29, of Bellingham, will travel with her.
“We’ll be staying at The Dorchester and have a spa weekend and such, so it will be more of a girl trip anyway,” Durr said.
At The Dorchester, a five-star hotel in London’s Mayfair District, they’ll stay in a deluxe double guestroom, outfitted in style.
“I really love old buildings and this one is a building that has been recently redone,” Durr said.
“So this will be interesting for me.”
In addition to touring some of the swankiest locales in London, she will have afternoon tea at the Spatisserie with interior designer Martin Hulbert of Fox Linton Associates, who will take a look at photos of her home and gives tips on decor.
She’ll also receive a shopping trip throughout some design stores in London.
“It isn’t like I can afford any of that stuff, but it will be a lot of fun to look — and I might get some ideas,” she said.
She and Shannon will also get a special private tasting with chef Henry Brosi at The Dorchester.
Durr said she is still in a bit of shock, but is looking forward to the mother-daughter trip to England.
“It is kind of amazing that I was daydreaming one day at my computer,” she said, “and it just happened.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
