No Place Like Home -- Karen Wight

You know how I feel about home tours: I love ‘em. So mark your

calendar for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thurs., May 2, so you can enjoy the

Newport Harbor High School Home and Garden Tour.

Chairman Jayne Lally has given me the “scoop” on this year’s

selections -- and just when I thought the tour couldn’t get any better

(ahem), she’s put her personal style (and a lot of heart) into an amazing

cross-section of neighborhoods and presentations.

Jayne’s addition to the tour includes a tram that will run from Bob

Henry Park down to Bayshores, where ticket holders will be able to peruse

three incredible homes.

The Bayshores homes include a traditional English cottage with a brick

exterior and meandering gardens. The interior is a collection of English

furniture and French antiques.

Another Bayshores home is a traditional house with Oriental flair.

Over time and travels, the owners have collected unusual pieces of Asian

art, furniture, doors, clothing and shoes that they have creatively

incorporated into their home design and displays.

The third house in Bayshores is a designer’s dream. The master bedroom

hosts a beautiful marble frieze above the fireplace, a Venetian

chandelier in the dining room, and an office paneled in hand-waxed pine.

A Mediterranean treasure in Dover Shores shares its garden and an art

display from Cannery Painters and offers breakfast from Sun Flour Bakery.

A second Dover Shores home has a magnificent waterfront setting on the

Back Bay. The house is laden with custom details and intriguing

collections. The backyard has an infinity-edged pool that blends

seamlessly with the water that surrounds it. This house is the perfect

combination of whimsy and warmth.

Newport Heights is offering a home with a Hawaiian theme. The owners

of this gem have left no stoned unturned -- or any Christmas tree

undecorated. Yes, Christmas tree. The tree is a year-round focal point

decorated for every holiday. The theme for tour day will be “A Wild

Mother’s Day.”

A view home in Cliffhaven contributes a spectacular property that

includes 9,308 square feet of livable space. The house has three full

floors with 11-foot ceilings (the living room boasts 12 feet); eight and

one half baths; seven fireplaces; ten televisions; two dishwashers; two

washing machines; three clothes dryers; six refrigerators and a

handicapped accessible elevator. Whew.

The luncheon venue rests in a well-kept secret called Bay Knolls near

Cherry Tree Lake. Plum’s will provide lunch.

A reception at the Butera Home Collection in Westcliff Court will

provide a perfect ending to the day.

A big thank you goes to the homeowners, donors and volunteers. Strada

Properties gets “high fives” for its generous support as the tour’s

presenting sponsor.

So now you need tickets, right? Tickets are $45 and are available

through the Butera Home Collection in Westcliff Court, Atrium Court

Concierge in Fashion Island, Nikki Twiggs and through the Home Tour

hotline at (949) 451-4701.

See you there.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs Sundays.