The home was built by the Gallagher family, who owned Gallagher Fruit Co. when the area was known as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.” One of Carol’s favorite pieces is a tile serving tray she keeps in the kitchen that shows the Gallagher’s pear packing label with their company name on it — a gift from her daughter-in-law, Rita.

It has become a favorite game room for all three of their grandchildren and a place for Tom to read since retiring as vice president of Argo Systems.

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Julia’s Screened Porch Video

From French Country to Modern Neutral

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“My favorite holiday is Halloween,” Amy said.

At the front door, a full-size witch guards the entrance with autumn vines swirling over the doorway. Amy’s black urns are filled with stacked pumpkins. A black cat ornament stands with his back arched in perpetual fright.

Inside, the living room mantel is decorated with orange candles and a whimsical “boo” sign. A glass candy jar is filled with colorful mini pumpkins and gourds.

On a credenza in the dining room, a haunted village is set up with a menagerie of zombies and gargoyles. Every year, Amy’s 9-year-old son looks forward to adding a new piece to the spooky scene.

“It’s a dollhouse without girls!” said Amy’s friend, Laurie Stewart, who, like Amy, has two boys.

And my personal favorite? Amy’s “skull under glass.” While she has seen similar skulls as part of a Martha Stewart collection, she bought this one last spring at the Dollar Store. But, knowing Amy, it should be no surprise that she added an extra special touch — clear plastic beads for sparkling eyeballs! Then she rested the skull on moss and covered it with a glass dome.

In my book, I’ll call that “sophisticated scary.” Thanks Amy for indulging in the unexpected Lookiloos call! Trick or treat!

To take a peek at the the Young’s house before and after their renovation, click here.

Also, take a look at how Amy transformed her old entertainment center into a bar.

Click here for other  fall decorating ideas.

She had wondered for years if this particular house was as beautiful on the inside as out. And when she first stepped inside, “I knew this was the one,” Mary said. “It was more stunning that I expected.”

Saltilo tile floors greeted her in the entryway with a sweeping staircase with curved wrought-iron railings. Two steps down took her to the grand formal living room with plenty of space for the baby grand piano and their whimsical orange and black “Halloween tree” that adorns the front window for the autumn Rose Garden Homes Tour in mid-October.

A rear addition had been added at one point to the 1938 home, opening up the kitchen to a new family room, with a master suite on top. The Martins have just completed a kitchen update.

Michael Martin is in the broadcast industry and has adorned his study and stairwell with his collection of electric guitars with signatures of major bands, including The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.

One of Mary’s favorite spots for a little solitude is the lovely balcony off the master bedroom where she often reads or enjoys a cup of coffee while overlooking the lush backyard and swimming pool.

To read about the courtyard makeover, click here:

Here’s the complete slideshow:

You know someone is really into the Rose Garden Homes Tour when they hold a pre-tour brunch and invite their friends for a Mimosa before the day of blue booties begins. And when you walk into her home, you think to yourself that this house should be on the home tour, too.

That was our morning at the home of one of our favorite lookiloos — Vicki Petulla. We have done a couple of stories about her home already. One featured the inside of the house, where her family of three has the kitchen table always at-the-ready for a party of 10 (A girl after my own heart.) We did a second photo shoot of her new backyard fireplace. But that still wasn’t enough for our readers. We received an email from one who wondered what Vicki was doing with her home for the holiday season. “Would LOVE to see how she decorates for fall/halloween/Christmas,” the reader wrote.

Well, we here at Lookiloos aim to please.

Vicki is a master at the vignette. She loves color and texture and layering. And she loves everything to be fresh, whether a pumpkin or a fallen branch. Anytime Vicki is willing to open her home to Lookiloos, we’re happy to step inside.

Here are the two stories we’ve written about Vicki and her lovely home, with lots more photos of her home in different seasons. (We’ll be showing more Rose Garden Homes Tour homes in the weeks to come.)

A Decorator’s Daughter

Vicki’s Backyard Transformation

Here’s the complete slideshow:

The best thing about home tours is finally getting into those homes you’ve always ogled. Well, lucky me, I got an advance peek of the homes on the Rose Garden Homes Tour coming up this weekend (Oct. 17-18) in San Jose and snapped this shot of the surprise behind a front gate.

This contemporary, Zen-like garden makes you want to sit back and watch the rocks grow. Or maybe read “Eat, Pray, Love” while listening to the gurgling fountain.  Wispy bamboo balances the travertine tiles. A Buddha is nestled in the greenery.  As lovely as it is now, it will be transformed for the home tour by floral designer Jose Ibarra, whom we love to feature on Lookiloos for his inspired holiday decor.

Behind this courtyard is a lovely, remodeled ranch home that carries the Asian inspiration inside. (It was also once the home of the Langendorf bread family.)

Another surprise on the tour is a last-minute addition –  a DeMattei Construction remodel in the neighborhood that features a Sunset Magazine idea house kitchen that is already staged to perfection. Sunset readers got the chance to vote online to choose the layout and finishes.

As for the other homes, they all have a story.

*The owner of a classic Monterey Colonial with a beautifully remodeled kitchen and new landscaping walks to the dining room window and looks out every time her grown children pull out of the driveway. She does it because that’s what the previous owner did, and does it out of gratitude and respect;

*The couple that owns a lovely Cape Cod with an enclosed porch bought it to be close to their children and grandchildren, and fell in love with the history of the house along the way — and that includes a family of pear growers;

*The woman who owns a two-story Mediterranean with wrought-iron detailing and a remodeled kitchen used to walk down the street as a teen-ager and dream that one day this home would be hers;

*A spectacular garden where the tea party will take place has a walking labynth, plus a lovely holiday boutique.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and benefit St. Martin of Tours School. If you want to see the third courtyard, and the gorgeous house behind it, you can attend the gala on Saturday (Oct. 17) night for $100 (which also gains you admittance to the rest of the home tour). For more information on tickets, go to www.rosegardenhomestour.com.

You might also enjoy these other stories, including a peak at the Sunset kitchen:
Sunset Magazine’s Ultimate Kitchen
Wabi Sabi: Where the Imperfect is Beautiful
Floral Chic Mother’s Day
Going Green on a Budget for St. Patrick’s Day
How to Make Paper Roses for Valentine’s Day

The kitchens range in style from Craftsman to modern, with the latest in storage solutions, trendy tile and innovative materials and lighting.

As a special bonus, the entire “Margarido house” will be on tour, a newly-constructed, LEED certified house that is eco-friendly in just about every way. Check out the recycled building materials and the rooftop garden.

Tickets for the tour that starts at 12:30 p.m. can be purchased in advance for $30. AFter Sept. 18, the price goes up to $40. For more information, click here.

The tour is a fundraiser for the Rockridge Community Planning Council that supports local parks and libraries and public art projects.
(photos courtesy of Kenneth Rice Photography.)

Being a do-it-yourself kind of family and trying to keep the project on budget, the Saidi’s did the demolition themselves. They ripped out the old concrete to make way for the new larger travertine patio. The foursome hauled broken concrete by the truck loads. Lisa freshened up an old shed by adding trim molding and shutters she made herself. “The mitre saw is my favorite tool” she said. My kinda girl!

Adding a bar-b-que area with bar seating completes the California outdoor living. The project was finished a little over budget and a little over due but it’s ready for the Labor Day weekend. “We’re having a Bar-b-que this weekend, you should come!” Lisa said. Oh how I wish I could go, but we’re headed to the grandparents for the weekend. I’m sure it will absolutely be the most unforgettable Bar-b-que of the season!

Whenever I visit my parents at their home in Carmel, I often go out of my way to walk past this extraordinary Carmel cottage compound. I’ve been doing it for years, walking, lingering, dreaming. If I could choose the quintessential Carmel cottage lifestyle, this would be it.

Sitting on more than a half acre, the property is lined by Monterey Cypress. Roses tumble over grapestake fences and arbors. Crunchy pebble pathways wind through fountains and fireplaces. Green shutters. Carmel stone walls. A peek of bay. Fairytales.

For years I have peeked through the fences and looked up the drive, fantasizing what may lay within. Last week, on another of a countless walk-bys, I couldn’t believe what I saw: a For Sale sign.

As a “professional” Lookiloo, I’ve talked to a number of people who have told me their stories of home — of how they had always walked by a favorite property, dreamed that if it ever went on the market they would buy it, and indeed, they did. Ah, dreams fulfilled.

But with this Carmel compound — and a pricetag over more than $5 million — I had to keep walking by. But being a “professional” Lookiloo also has its privileges. I called Sotheby’s Realtor Steve LaVaute, and asked for a private tour.

“See you in 10 minutes,” he said.

And so, after years of just imagining what lay inside, I walked through the door of the main house — a 2,100 square-foot structure that was actually the caretaker’s house on a much larger property that was subdivided years ago.

What struck me was how authentic this cottage — that looked to have been built in the 1920s — had remained. The footprint appeared to have been unchanged. The living room was small with French doors to a courtyard. A charming limestone fireplace remained as the focal point. The kitchen was as small as a butler’s pantry and the eating area not much bigger. A narrow, steep staircase led to two small bedrooms upstairs with a separate bath. It’s amazing that the house hasn’t suffered a massive addition. There is no gigantic master suite with a walk-in closet or expanded kitchen with double ovens.

It is, in every way, a classic Carmel cottage. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens — that take $1,500 a month to maintain, LaVaute told me — and seven separate sitting areas tucked in here and there. A separate, smaller cottage on the property is a studio guest suite, also with a stone fireplace.

And, hidden behind the wall of the guest house is what LaVaute calls a “secret dining room.” It’s a complete surprise, separated from the main house as it is. An open door revealed the space to be dark as a wine cellar, with stained concrete floors and a crystal chandelier, dimmed. A long, wooden refectory table is set for ten with candelabras fit for Liberace’s piano. “It’s for catered affairs,” LaVaute said.

In some ways, the whole place made me think of Marie Antoinette, and though she lived in splendor at Versaille, she had a peasant’s cottage built for her on the grounds. I wonder if it felt a little like this.

If you have $5 million to spend, email Steve at slavaute@gmail.com.

Here’s another fantasy house of mine:
Manderley Revisited in LaSelva Beach

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Before Silicon Valley was "Silicon Valley", Santa Clara Valley was known as the Valley of Hearts Delight. The Del Monte Packing plant was a vibrant part of the community at a time when fruit and fruit packing was its main industry. Santa Clara Valley was famous for its orchards and fertile farm land, rather than computer chips and processors. As the Valley "evolved", like many buildings, the Del Monte Packing plant closed.

Plant 51, a new loft and condominium community, bearing the name of the former fruit packing plant number, recently opened up in downtown San Jose. Unlike many of the condominium / loft complexes, that have sprouted in San Jose's urban core, the builder preserved the outer shell of the the plant and built homes within its original walls. Thus living at Plant 51 is like living in a piece of history – but rebuffed and shiny new. Builders worked for over 4 years to painstakingly restore the building, with the support of the Preservation Action Council.

The complex has a mix of units, from 1 and 2 bedroom flats to 1-2 bedroom lofts that span two or three floors. The layouts are spacious and open with some having patios that open up to the common space.

I was instantly in love with the 1400 square foot, 2 bedroom loft spanned on three floors. I was struck by the floor to ceiling windows on the main level. It would be the perfect viewing spot for San Jose's annual fireworks show. The kitchen and living room had many of the amenities you would expect with a new build – granite kitchen tops, stainless steel appliances and rich cabinetry. The loft I toured had original 1912 brick walls and exposed steel beams, making it feel like I was at the crossroads of new and old. The master bedroom was on the bottom floor, while the top floor housed either a guest room or office.

The indoor common areas were sleek and had a modern industrial feel, yet felt intimate. The center greenspace was lined with bamboo and other plants and featured a 15' long outdoor fire pit and a beautiful BBQ grill. I could envision myself hosting a swank cocktail party or pre-party for a San Jose Sharks game (which is about 100 steps away). The complex is built immediately adjacent to the train station, appealing to folks who want to live close to the Valley's transportation line. Expecting that many folks who live here would also be bike enthusiasts, the complex has its own "Bicycle Kitchen". Residents can store bikes indoors and have access to a host of tools to make repairs. Given that Guadalupe River Park is close by and that many people downtown bike to work, this is an ideal and smart feature not to miss!

The complex also features a state of the art gym and fitness studio called "The Boiler Room", complete with big screen tvs, so you can clearly watch the latest Hollywood gossip as you sweat!

What I appreciated the most about Plant 51 was that it felt like you lived downtown and in a neighborhood. The complex backs into Cahill Park that has a tot lot and a space for your dog to run free, yet is within walking distance to all that downtown has to offer.

I think that whether you are a baby boomer looking to downsize, a hipster who rides his bike to work or a small family you could easily call Plant 51 home.

Photos courtesy of Plant 51.

Related Posts:
Downtown San Jose Lofts – Where the Living IS easy
The 88: Downtown SJ's Penthouse Living

Eight miles away from the bustle of their home and garden shop in Aptos, up a winding country lane, is the two-acre sanctuary of John and Jerri Hammond.

Perhaps you would expect that the purveyors of “Outside In” on Soquel Drive would live in a fabulous space, both inside and out. And, indeed, they do. But until you breathe in the sea salt air, enjoy an elegant lunch on hand-painted pottery, and meander through the unique house and elegant garden, it’s hard to imagine it could be so stunning.

It didn’t start that way.

When the Hammonds bought the place in 1997, a year after they opened their shop, it was a wreck.

“It was red, but not even cute, barn red,” Jerri said. “It was late 1960s ranch house with no moldings. We called it funky, farmy, cottagy barny.”

But the setting was magnificent. Among apple orchards and redwood groves, the house had a beautiful view of the Monterey Bay, all the way to Moss Landing on a clear day.

The couple spent the next seven years remodeling with new siding and windows throughout, keeping the house open and full of light. But they didn’t obliterate the “funky, farmy, cottagy, barny” feel. Instead, they embraced it.

“It’s an eclectic house with a lot of color,” Jerri said. “It’s fun and it reflects the two of us.”

The house also reflects the industry they’re in, with elegant serviceware and linens. And they bring home foreign treasures for themselves on their buying trips abroad for Outside In.

“But when we come home we didn’t want to feel like we’re still at work,” Jerri said, explaining that their home has a much more ethnic feel than the store.

Instead of classic paintings and prints on the walls, Jerri said, “We use a lot of artifacts as art.”

The kitchen wall is covered with vintage entry arches from a “Cattle Fair” in Paris. (”It took a year to crate and we paid to get its own passport,” John said.)

A Spanish lamp came from a Paris flea market, a mirror was made from old ceiling panels, a French marching drum hangs from a wall.

Outside, the couple have their choice of entertaining spaces. Depending on the weather, they can sit on the front deck overlooking the bay surrounded by huge French urns, or enjoy the fully landscaped back yard. A huge trellis covers the back flagstone patio, where friends gather for summer dinners on a tile table from Morocco.

“We love to cook,” Jerri said. “We open the doors and have everyone go in and out.”

And Outside In.

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Backyard Oasis in San Jose
Emily Joubert Finds Home in Woodside

Here’s the complete slideshow: