They are working like crazy right now, tidying, sprucing and finishing, to ensure their creations will look good. Two well known local architects, a professional interior decorator and a builder with a passion for fittings and mouldings, among others, are all working in preparation for this year's Coastal Home Tour and Tea. The big fundraising event for the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society has a theme: builders, decorators and architects.
On this fourth such annual event to be held on Sunday, June 1, you can cruise the Lower Coast between Hopkins Landing and Roberts Creek from noon to 4 p.m. visiting eight homes on the way, be shown around by the hosts, and be inspired.
"People are opening up their private homes," said event organizer Patricia Hetherington. "It's a gift."
Although she will not reveal which homes will go on display - you must first buy a ticket for $25 before being given a tour map - Hetherington will say that each residence is a bit different in tone, reflecting the eight different personalities that occupy them. Usually, the houses have an attractive garden and some unique design features, making the experience more fun than watching HGTV. They are not necessarily grand or expensive houses; in fact, they range from a smaller decorated condo up to a larger estate-style home.
For example, one of the homes has been completely renovated by a self-taught builder who works in design partnership with his wife. The 15-year-old family home in Gibsons is a model for smart use of finishing touches, and it employs mouldings and baseboards, crowns and casings. The home is painted in warm Tuscan colours of red and gold against a neutral background. Hetherington notes that the spirit of the tour is more relaxed than similar tours offered in Vancouver where rooms are sometimes cordoned off to the public.
"It's a chance to slow down and savour the beauty of these homes," she said.
If you've toured before, be assured that there will be no repeats. The chosen eight are all new to the tour. At any time between noon and 3:45 p.m. during your self-guided tour, you can drop in to Rose Pointe Ocean House in Hopkins for tea and dessert. Hetherington has designed this part of the event herself - the floral bouquets and china dishes will sit elegantly on the tea table dressed in white linen. The table is laden with refreshments under a white tent in the garden of a home with a spectacular view of Howe Sound. This year, the tea house will offer a silent auction that includes such items as a two-hour consultation with Emitini, a local decorator.
The tour is not recommended for young kids, car pooling is advisable, and it takes place rain or shine. Tickets cost $25, and only 200 are available. Buy your tickets at Zocalo, Quality Farms, B&K Landscaping and Casey's Country Gardens.
