Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Behind the scenes of the tour...

What was it like having more than 1,500 people walk through your house over the weekend? my friend asked me last night.

Our front deck

This weekend our house was on the CSL House Tour. People paid $45 to $85 to tour five Piedmont and Oakland houses, including ours, and the money goes to local children in need. With sponsorship they hope to net $200,000. My prep here and here.  

Not sure what it was like having all those people go through my house ....I ended up spending those two days driving in circles round the house, taking kids to soccer and baseball games.  Also we had decamped to a friend's house as I realised it was going to be tricky to stay home and keep it clean.

I had momentary visions of being at the house on both days pontificating to anyone who would listen about my design ethos and hopes for mankind. No, I decided, no one needs to hear my senseless drivel. Also people had paid their money and should be able to say what they like about my house.

Funnily enough, in the local coffee shop I heard snippets... "But how does she read at night without a bedside lamp?" (We have wee clip-ons) "Where is all their stuff?" (Mudroom, crudroom). Apparently the women cheered when they learned Tallulah, who has three brothers, had a "Private!" sign on her door to keep them out.

Our bedroom table sans reading lamps

I did watch though as the 12 docents turned up and they were led through the house and given background about us and the house - surreal.  The Meadows florists placed their flowers inside and Urban FarmGirls set up succulents for sale in our backyard.


Urban FarmGirls set up in our backyard

Random bits:
* Patrick, owner of The Meadows florists bought in interesting low key arrangements rather than grand extravaganzas: "Flowers should look like they are here all the time."


Succulents in the boys' bathroom

Tallulah and Teddy smelling the roses in her bathroom

*Our friend Sandy, who hosted us at their house for three days, taught eight-year-old Cy how to wink. Everyone needs Huckleberry Finn skills like whistling and winking.

Cy and Sandy practising their winking

*At Sandy's house, our new puppy, Teddy (2.5lbs) chased Buster the big Labrador all round the house. Clearly Teddy doesn't realise he's a short arse.

Hi

 * Everything ends up perf if you do a BBQ on Sunday night.

Friends Lisa and Mike

The High Schooler, 14, who spent the weekend out of our way and down the pool, finally returned: "It was a good weekend" he opined:  "I got a tan, Cy learned to whistle, Teddy got his first friend and we raised money for charity" Can't say better than that.


Photo: Lisa Algert





38 comments:

  1. No you can't say it better than that, a perfect weekend indeed. It would have been fun to have a hidden camera and watch/listen to people go through your fabulous house. I would have never noticed the missing lamp. I have hanging pendants on the side of the bed because I hate clutter. Saying this, there are stacks of unread magazines there right now.
    LOVED "Clearly Teddy doesn't realise he's a short arse." - just like some people :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What wonderful words from that High Schooler.....and well done you for joining in with the whole enterprise.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really applaud you for putting your life on hold like that!

    Love the florist's advice on how flowers should look! So true.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wondered how it had gone. Love how The High Schooler summed it up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like a great weekend. And best of all {in my twisted mind}: at the end of the weekend your home was CLEAN! Mine is always a wreck come Monday morn!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am sure everyone thought your house was amazing! Lovely photos:)
    ~Anne

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I moved to the States 22 years ago (argh) I was bemused by this house viewing thing. Still am to be honest. Hordes of people paying money to see where and how other people live? Still, if it raises money for a good cause, well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What bemused me when we arrived here was that people would do house tours just when you went to their place for dinner! I'm nosy so I thought I'd hit the motherlode! (Back in London noone would ever do that...)

      Delete
  8. Your house is an inspiration to the visitors on how to decorate and make the house effecient.

    I'm reminded of touring houses that Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built.

    Your friends are very kind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Edgar, Frank Lloyd Wright is one of my favourites - I've not seen Falling Water yet though. Did you read the book "Loving Frank" about his personal life, really good.

      Delete
    2. My friends are so kind, I forgot to mention Teddy the pupster pooped and peed all over their house, so we were the guests from hell...

      Delete
  9. Sounds like an amazing event! COngrats on a job well done! xo style, she wrote

    ReplyDelete
  10. you have the best header photo! totally out of this world! ;)
    so pop over and decorate my house!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Elegant house. In comparison, our place is so utilitarian that I think we live on the shore of the Styx.

    A good, well-summarized weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm terribly impressed. Mostly because your house is worth viewing and pay will pay good money to poke their noses round it.

    I'd be worried people would be sussing out what could be nicked.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A great way to raise funds for the charity - I hope it was a huge success. It must have been lovely to return home - great photos.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like a fun weekend (and for such a wonderful cause) Little Teddy is so cute and that's the cutest wink! Don't you love those succulents? So funny to hear those little snippets - people crack me up..

    leslie

    ReplyDelete
  15. "Flowers should look like they are here all the time." - I love this advice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Kathleen, nice to meet you. I usually just buy bunches of tulips as i am useless at arranging them

      Delete
  16. you are a brave soul! sounds like a success!

    ReplyDelete
  17. what a lovely event for a good cause! love the urban farm girls!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just beautiful, Jody.
    I did comment on the previous post but it disappeared into the ether. I've always admired your taste and these last two posts have been fabulous. Still love that cute dawg x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no! I wonder what happened to it? Thanks for letting me know! I always love getting your comments.

      Delete
  19. I think the High Schooler summed it up perfectly. Sounds like an AMAZING weekend. I think I'd be ok with having 1500 people tour my house if it looked like yours...

    ReplyDelete
  20. By the way, is my new masthead too huge? it looks a bit in yer face on Google Chrome - what about the other browers like Firefox and Internet Explorer?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ha! Sounds like it all went perfectly! Loved how the High Schooler put it :) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  22. You are brave lady! Now I want to know more about your house. And I can smell those gorgeous roses all the way over the Atlantic.

    ReplyDelete
  23. These are such gorgeous photographs; I'm so glad to hear that the tour went well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. It sounds wonderful! You seem very relaxed considering--I saw one guy freaking out while people were touring his house at the LACMA art + architecture last year and I'm not sure I blame him. Hope you're having a great week!

    xo Mary Jo

    ReplyDelete
  25. i'm going to be renting my apt soon so I will get back to you on that one... haha!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Every time I see photos of your house I love it more, Jody. The photo with the two dogs is just too adorable!
    Ada

    ReplyDelete
  27. ahhh, I wish I was at this tour...your home is just so gorgeous! I get media passes for the home tours in Austin, so I try to cover all of them. It takes so much from owners to prepare for home tours, most leave their homes during the day of the tour... I guess fretting what people would say but I just can't imagine anybody saying something awful about your super-adorable home which by the way reflects you so much Jody! Cheerful, spunky but always classy!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, I can't even imagine doing that I am such a private person. However, I would have LOVED to have been one of the people on the tour as I am also a very curious/nosey person!! Your home is gorgeous as well, which makes it much easier to invite people through...!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of Cy's (our eight year old) friends said: "Will they be looking through your underwear drawer?" No, thank goodness, I would have to refund their money for that!

      Delete
    2. Hahahahaha....I can always count on you to crack me up!

      Delete
  29. Boy, you're brave. Over here, you'd come home to an empty gaff!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gosh, it can't be easy getting the house ready for the masses. I love this post. I think it's great that you're so involved in community work and you're surrounded by wonderful friends. I love the little snippets about your life!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...