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2017 Home & Garden Tour committee members include, from left in front, Valerie Nair Galvez, Donnie Nair, Patty Manuras, and Judy Mulford. From left in back are Carla Stein, Carla Mager, Clyde Freeman, Richard Weinberg, Donna Jordan, Barbara Smith, Sally Galati, Susan Everett, Marlene Hazen, Deana McMillion, Valeria Powdrell, and Sally Brooks.
Home & Garden Tour turns 20 Yo u j u st p or e d ov e r p i c t ur e s of t h e B o e r s e ma ’ s ho me, d i d n ’ t you? Ma yb e you p au s e d be c a u s e yo u’re i n se a r c h of i n sp i r a t i on f or yo u r o wn h o me , o r yo u’re j ust d r a w n t o b e a ut i f ul t h i n g s . A n d ma y be , l i ke mo st h um a n s, you’ r e i n t r i g ue d b y t h e liv e s a n d habi tats of ot h e r s. Wh a t e v e r your mo t iv a t io n t o l i nger i n t h i s p or t i on of C a r p i n t e r i a M a g a z in e , it is exactl y wh a t m a k e s t h e C a r p i n t e r i a B e a u t if u l H o me & Garde n T our w i l d l y suc c e ssf ul ye ar a f t e r y e a r . R eti re d r e a l e st a t e a g e n t D on n ie N a ir c o o ke d up the c on c e p t f or t h e t our i n 1 9 9 6 wit h h e r f r ie n d Li bby We i n b e r g. N a i r r e c a l l s, “ I w a s w e ll a wa r e t h a t mo st peop l e w h o c om e t o op e n ho u s e s a r e n o t buyi n g a h om e . I sa i d , ‘ L e t ’ s m a k e s o me mo n e y o n the l o o ky l ous.’ ” An d t h e y d i d . T h e t our , w h i c h c e le b r a t e d it s 20th year l a st sp r i n g , h a s r a i se d t e ns o f t h o u s a n ds o f do l l a r s f or l oc a l b e a ut i f i c a t i on p r o je c t s . T h e Wo rl d’s Sa f e st Be a c h m ur a l b y J o h n W u llb r a n dt , the pi ng p on g t a b l e a t t h e e n d of Lin de n A v e n u e , the to mol t i l e a r t on t h e c or n e r of 8 t h S t r e e t a n d Li n den A v e n ue – t h e se a r e a f e w of t h e wa y s t h a t Nai r’s “l ook y l ous” h a v e i m p r ov e d Ca r pin t e r ia ’ s do w n to wn . Tour success year after year relies on a tested formula. An event committee annually chooses a new batch of homes, among which are a beach house, a home in the foothills, a “little gem,” a remodeled tract house and a wild card. Beach houses behind gates are the biggest draw, Nair says. Gran d h om e s m a y b e sh ows t o p pe r s , bu t Carpi n te r i a Be a ut i f ul i s c om m i t t e d t o v a r ie t y . T h e
“lit t le g e m” t y pic a lly o f f e r s in v e n tive small space s o lu t io n s , a n d t h e r e mo de l ig n it e s ideas for tick et h o lde r s ’ n e x t h o me impr o v e me n t project . M ost impo r t a n t ly , t h e r a n g e o f s iz e s a nd st yles reflects t h e t o wn it s e lf , a p la c e wh e r e u n iq ue people create u n iq u e liv in g s p a c e s . “T h e ide a is to showcase the div e r s it y o f Ca r pin t e r ia , ” N a ir s a y s . H u n dr e ds o f v o lu n t e e r h o u r s g o into mak ing the a n n u a l e v e n t a ppe a r e f f o r t le s s between 11 a.m. a n d 5 p. m. o n t h e la s t S a t u r da y o f A pril. A nd the e v e n t h in g e s o n t h e g e n e r o s it y o f five homeowners willin g t o o p e n t h e ir pr iv a t e s p a c es t o the public. S o me b e g in pr e p a r in g f o r t h e b ig day mont hs a h e a d. I mp r e s s in g a s t e a dy s t r e am of t ourists in o n e ’ s h o me c a n b e da u n t in g , but N air says t h a t h o me o wn e r s u n a n imo u s ly r eport a posit ive e x pe r ie n c e a n d t h a n k h e r f o r be in g included. A c o c kt a il a n d din n e r pa r t y t h e night bef ore t he e v e n t s e r v e s a s a min i- t o u r f o r h o meowners who wo u ld o t h e r wis e mis s a n o p po r t u n it y t o check out t h e o t h e r h o u s e s f e a t u r e d. N a ir s ays that many of t h e pa r t ic ipa n t s e n d u p in v o lv e d in Carpint eria B e a u t if u l, a n d mo s t c o mmit t e e members have had t h e ir h o me s o n t h e t o u r o v e r t h e last t wo decades. T we n t y y e a r s a f t e r N a ir a n d W e in berg concocted t h e ir p la n , t h e t o u r h a s s h in e d a s potlight on over 1 0 0 Ca r p in t e r ia h o me s . W e in b e r g retired f rom t he e v e n t a bo u t 1 0 y e a r s a g o , b u t N air remains at t h e h e lm. R e c e n t ly , s h e s po ke t o a prospective h o me o wn e r f o r t h e t o u r wh o t o ld her, “ It’s always be e n my dr e a m t o b e o n t h e Home & Garden Tour.” ♦ – LeA BoYD
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