Ready to spend a weekend touring some of the most beautiful homes in Willow Glen? This Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., five gorgeous homes will be on show in one of San Jose's most beautiful neighborhoods, including a classic Spanish bungalow and a new, single-story ranch with a Tuscan flair. And we Lookiloos will be there to meet you! We're setting up at the tea, in the gardens of a historic Georgian mansion, with a camera and microphone to talk to you! Are you ready for your close up? We'll be interviewing tour-goers about their favorite spots on the tour — I'm excited about the outdoor kitchens — and posting them on Lookiloos.

Tickets on Saturday and Sunday may be purchased for $35.00 on the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota Avenues, in front of Chase Bank (formerly Washington Mutual). See you there!

Lookiloos received so much reaction to our story about the 60th anniversary of Big Sur’s Nepenthe restaurant that we decided to give you more! More photos that is. If you haven’t heard of Nepenthe, it’s a fabulous example of mid-century modern architecture in 1949, perched on the cliffs of California’s coast. Lookiloos also took readers to the lesser known, but fascinating log cabin just above the restaurant — a cabin that Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth bought for a love nest away from Hollywood in 1944, a cabin that is still home to the granchildren of the couple who founded Nepenthe in 1949.

So, here, please enjoy a whole slideshow of photos from Nepenthe as well as more shots of the log cabin inside and out. And if you ever find yourself heading down Highway One, make sure to stop. It’s just south of Ventana Inn and the Post Ranch. (On the coast side, of course.)

Nepenthe
48510 Highway #1
Big Sur, California 93920
(831) 667-2345

(Historic photos are courtesy of Nepenthe. Cabin photos by Julia Prodis Sulek for www.lookiloos.com.)

Can you say "hyperventilate"? My friend Dhelia and I drove up to the annual White Elephant Sale that benefits the Oakland Museum of California on Sunday, and boy, did we score.

The best thing about it is that it was a last-minute trip and I had basically no expectations. I had heard that it was a fabulous rummage sale, but with little to no budget for spending, I didn't expect to buy a thing. But, when you go on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. and by 2:30 they're putting up signs that say "75 percent off" — watch out people!

When we walked into the giant warehouse in an industrial district off Highway 880 and paintings lined the walls in a whole quadrant of the space, we felt practically paralyzed. Dhelia had long-wanted a modern art painting for her living room, to mix up her collection of plein aire landscapes and add a bit of an edge to her formal room. And, there it was — a large abstract piece in purples and golds with a reckless scribble of black. To me, it said Dhelia — feminine with the purple, elegant with the gold, and a bit daring with the black. Price? $300. By 3 p.m? $150. SOLD!

I found a little pastel female portrait — a study of a Manet — but it was original and lovely. The sticker said $6. I got it for $3.

I browsed through the 96,000 square-foot warehouse, filled with everything from furniture and linens, to sports gear and china, and came upon champagne glasses with hollow stems. I had broken more than half of my wedding crystal and these seven fun glasses for — get this — $4, were perfect.

A few minutes later, all the glassware that fit into a brown paper bag could be had for $1. I piled in another eight, almost matching flutes. 

When we went back to the art area, and Dhelia was ready to buy her painting, I couldn't help but hope for a special find. And there was another large abstract — with purples and sands. It reminded me of the estuary near the river beach in Carmel. But I wasn't here to spent $500, much less $150. Dhelia suggested we take a closer look. The saleswoman pulled it off the wall and said, "I can't believe this. It couldn't be right." (Now this was music to my ears.) This was a four-by-five-foot painting. Including the late afternoon discount, the price? $25. Not $2,500. Not $250. Plain and simple $25. "Are you sure?'' I asked.

"That's what it says," she said. So, lickety split, I said, "sold!" We high-tailed it out of there before anyone could say it was a mistake. 

We barely fit it into the station wagon. But once home, we put it on practically the only wall it would fit on — on the screened porch. Like Dhelia's piece, it added a little edge to my traditional space. We're still moving it around a bit, but I'm thrilled with my cool piece and great bargain. When we asked my husband how much he thought I paid for it, he had the nerve to say $25. Can you believe it? Man, can husbands take the wind out of your sails — or sales. He'll learn to love it.

Next year, we're there!

Related Stories:
Standing By My Vintage Female Portrait
Julia's Screened Porch

After a family-filled Thanksgiving, I set off on a drive of scenic solitude along the Big Sur coastline, with the Carmel Pinecone's list of open houses on the passenger seat. Being a Lookiloo, it's still hard to admit that even on the most beautiful stretch of roadway in the world, I'm still looking at the houses peaking through the Monterey Cypress.

My destination was a 1950 house, the ad said, on a "low promontory just feet from the rocky shoreline." Along the way, I'd catch glimpses of grand modern architecture.

But I had a feeling this wouldn't be so grand, and therefore it was more appealing to me. Indeed, as I took a sharp right turn off the highway and down a graceful driveway, I came upon little more than a shack _ maybe 1,000 square feet. The front door takes you into the galley kitchen with linoleum counters, then opens up into the living room with windows straight across. No matter how small, there was no withholding the view.

Looking out the picture windows, I felt as though I were watching a movie on the big screen of waves crashing into giant rocks and reefs. The house appeared to be untouched since the day it was built, only tempest tossed. But realtor John Saar of John Saar Properties told me an artist had lived here with her husband until they died. She had set up her easel in the north-facing bedroom/studio with tall vertical windows, the kind you might see in an old Paris loft. The metal casings were all corroded by the salt.

This place was meant for an artist, or a writer — someone who appreciated the beauty and loneliness of the place. Someone who didn't have to tear it down and put up another modern mansion.

But I don't know any writers or artists who could afford it. They're asking $5.8 million for the views. Someone who has that kind of money wouldn't appreciate this little old place. So it will be torn down. It's a shame really. Because it's perfect.

A perfect drizzly day for the Hillsborough Antiques Show. I went with a few girlfriends to the San Mateo Events Center and roamed through 175,000 square-feet of antiques dealers. If only I had a mission. Without one, though, I still found myself drawn to a few special things: diamond and peridot drop earrings for $3,700 (the dealer said he could do better and I said, "don’t even bother"); a contemporary Chinese white ceramic end table for $450 (could have added that modern element I’ve been looking for in my living room); and a 110-year-old portrait of a Saint Bernard sitting in a field for $1,450.

Oh well, fun to look! I wasn’t moved enough to splurge, though. What about those deals I was looking for? Aren’t we in a recession? The Hillsborough show has quite a reputation and I have a number of friends who make the three-times-a-year show. The next one is scheduled for Feb. 13-15. Put it on your calendar and hope for a rainy day.

If you see these photos and have to buy what I couldn’t you can contact Lorraine Rose Petersen at (707) 829-2151 for the dog portrait, or if you like the ceramic end table, contact Larry Martin at Robolo in San Francisco at larry@robolo.com.

It was a gorgeous weekend here in Northern California.  We were able to squeeze in one more Indian Summer celebration, which means – barbecues! Like many of you our BBQ is used year round, we even BBQ our Thanksgiving turkey.   I think that was the theme for this weekend’s round up.  California living is definitely about spending a lot of it outside, which makes a functional yard a key feature to any home.

I had the chance to check out a few open houses this weekend, but by far the best back yard had to be the outdoor sanctuary at 2874 Rustic Drive in San Jose. 

It had great backyard furniture and a swing, which made it easy to see yourself hosting a summer or fall party.  The koi pond/fountain was soothing and the grass lush.  Pavers topped the whole thing off making it picture perfect for an afternoon of lounging and reading.  The yard made great use of a small space for both relaxing alone and entertaining a large crowd.   If the realtors passed out lemonade at the open house, I would have sat down all afternoon.

Updated 6/25/09: The post has been updated to reflect the latest open house listing.

   This past weekend I was lucky enough to be able to attend the St. Martin’s Autumn Home Tour. While all the homes had wonderful style and beauty, my favorite stop was the final stop, the garden. The Martz Garden was hosting an afternoon tea and lunch. The yard, from the lush lawn to the towering cypress trees, was an amazing expanse of greenery.

   Paul Rokovich Designs was the designer. I loved what he had designed around the pool. It made me feel like I had entered a resort where lounging is the only requirement. Oh to take a vacation in your own backyard, now that would be perfect.

   After the tour was over, I came home to reassess my own home and yard. I suppose that is what a home tour should do. Make you want to step it a bit. Inspire you to create that ultimate space where family and friends gather. And with the Holidays slowing creeping up on us that is what I intend to do.

   Thanks to all the designers, shops and parents of St.Martin’s who donated time and goods to put on this parade of homes. You have all inspired me.

In our book, one of life’s guilty pleasures is an afternoon of being a lookiloo in sumptuous homes.  What could be better than that?  Getting to do it for free!

Lookiloos is proud to be partnering with the Rose Garden Home Tour benefiting the St. Martin’s Elementary School.  We are happy to spread the word about this worthy cause and to give access to our fellow lookiloos to see these homes live and in person. 

We have 2 tickets to the Rose Garden Home Tour which takes place this weekend.  Leave a comment here or emails us at info@lookiloos.com and tell us what you are looking forward to seeing on the tour.   We will draw the winner at random and have the tickets waiting for you at the beginning of the home tour.  All entries must be submitted by 8 a.m. Saturday, October 18th.  We will award tickets at 10 a.m. via email.

Be sure to check us out at the Tea House on Sunday between noon and 2 p.m., where we will be doing short video interviews.  After lunch, we hope you’ll be willing to share your favorite part of the tour with us.  We’ll have a recap of the entire show on Monday too.

Good Luck!

The Lookiloos Team

Typically home tours are all about the Persian rugs, the antiques, crown molding and the designer window coverings, the Build It Green Home Tour featured that and so much more.  I spent the morning comparing the homes in Santa Clara county and found that my fellow lookiloos and I talked more about the "bones" of the house than what we could find adorning it. 

There were a total of 14 homes on the tour, 2 stood out for their sheer difference in approach.  Both homes were in located in the upscale Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose off the 280 freeway, within walking distance to the trendy Willow Glen main street, Lincoln Avenue.

The first home on sunny Cherry Avenue was built by Lorrie Broderick, for whom this was her second venture as a developer.  She purchased the plans for the home online and set out to find ways to make her investment  more green.   I am not quite sure what I expected when I walked in, but the home was gorgeous and modern and frankly, blew my expectations for what "green" meant.  It  quickly inspired me to think about how I could replicate many of the amenities Lorrie installed in my own home.

The bathrooms had Watersense ultra low flush and dual flush toilets and occupancy sensors. They also featured Energy Star bathroom fans, which meant that these fans used 65% less energy, reducing rot, mold and other moisture problems.  The house is well insulated and built with high-performance windows, thus the three story home only has air conditioning on the top floor.

Most interesting to me as a parent was the backyard.  Willow Glen being a family friendly neighborhood, Lorrie assumed that the buyers of her home would most likely have a family with small children.  Rather than pouring a full concrete backyard, she saved part of the yard in case a family wanted to put in a jungle gym.  She put down recycled rubber mulch on the right side of the yard which matched the real mulch on the left side.  Purchased at costco.com, she said this recycled material ensured that there would be no mold, slight cushioning for those inevitable falls and no splinters for little toes.  Great idea. 

Overall the home had big and small touches for easy green living.  Lorrie was able to recycle 90% of construction waste, used spray foam insulation and low VOC interior paint.

In contrast, the home on Hicks Avenue, called Villa Terra,  is architect’s Noel Cross’ dream home. Hidden from the main street by a garden of native California landscaping, this home can be described as a modern day "adobe".  The exterior walls are PISE (pneumatically impacted stabilized earth) – a type of rammed earth construction, where a moistened mix of earth and concrete were sprayed through a hose under pressure against form work.  When the form work is removed then the walls are done.  The results are old world rustic.  The house stays cool and is warmed with radiant floor heating.   The ceiling is insulated with recycled blue jean materials.   The house also featured both a passive solar heating system and a 5.5kW photovoltaic system, where any extra energy generated can be sent back to the power grid for a credit on their monthly bill.

What stood out to me was how much of the home’s materials were reclaimed, that is to say came from other tear down remodeling projects.  Cross used ceiling beams from Eli Thomas store from the old Town and Country Village shopping center, bought two sinks for $15.00 from Whole House Salvage Yard and lockers from the "Robe Room" from the O’Connor Mansion from Notre Dame High School.  The side patio is made up of used bricks reclaimed from 15 different homes. 

Overall, the home was absolutely spectacular.  The home was expansive, yet inviting.  I could easily see myself cooking Thanksgiving dinner in their large kitchen or hosting a dinner party that spilled out onto the brick terrace. 

Green can certainly be gorgeous and Villa Terra on Hicks Avenue certainly drove that point home.

Kari and Kijsa at the Designing for Life Blog are hosting a fun blog carnival where bloggers are posting up their favorite rooms.  My fellow Lookiloos Desiree and Julia have posted videos about their favorite spaces here and here.  I haven’t done so yet so I thought this is my chance to give you all a sneak peek.  Check out the other peeks into other’s homes here.   Better yet, join the fun and post one of your own!

Here are my answers to the questions they posed:

1. Where it is in your home…
These photos are from my dining room.  There are two things I LOVE about the dining room.  First, the plates I bought from Pottery Barn.  They are all my favorite colors and just match the house perfectly.  Plus it was CHEAP wall art! 

Secondly, I love the view from sitting in my dining room and looking into the foyer and living room.  I love bright colors, so I have painted each room a different color.  When you sit in my dining room, you see all the colors and how they blend together.  Note the different shades of yellow.  The floral pictures were hard won at my children’s school auction.

2. Your favorite style (eclectic, Traditional, Cottage, retro, unfinished, Shabby Chic…).
My style is eclectic, colorful, California casual, child friendly,unique, Matisse-like, sometimes abstract.

3. A favorite item in the room (a story about it too, if you want!!)
I love the round window in my living room that you can sort of see above the red Asian media cabinet. It is an unusual feature you would not expect.