A star-spangled home tour

This year’s edition of the Corona del Mar High School Home Tour is

steeped in Americana. Tradition is the cornerstone for this event,

which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22.

The tour will feature six beautiful homes in Corona del Mar, a

morning reception and continental breakfast at Waterworks, lunch at

the Sherman Library & Gardens and an afternoon reception at The

Butera Home Collection. Proceeds from the tour benefit the

educational programs at Corona del Mar High School and Middle School.

Tour chair Janice Newfield guarantees that the tour will have

“something for everyone.”

“This year’s tour features homes that are very livable,” she said.

“Every home is unique in a warm and comfortable way. The styles may

be divergent, but their character is very American.”

Newfield has collected gems from old Corona del Mar, Cameo Shores,

Corona Highlands, Newport Coast’s Montecito, Newport Coast’s Tesoro,

and Spyglass Hill. According to Newfield, “the layout of the tour is

very friendly.”

“We hope our guests feel free to go at their own pace and enjoy a

day filled with fun and community pride,” she added.

Old Corona del Mar offers a renovated three-story house built in

1932. This wood-shingled charmer includes a hidden staircase, three

balconies with sweeping views of the harbor, nautical memorabilia and

an everything-old-is-new-again aura. Look for a cupboard from P. T.

Barnum’s yacht, a dumbwaiter and an antique chandelier from a hotel

in the south of France. Go slowly and appreciate the intricate

details that make this house very special.

Cameo Shores hosts a view home with an ultra-contemporary theme.

This “no-fuss” house has magnificent views. The back of the house is

a line of sliding glass doors that offer an unobstructed panorama of

Newport Harbor. Imagine entertaining in this beautiful setting at

sunset. Does it get much better?

The home in Corona Highlands boasts cheerful rooms colored in

bright tones. Reds, blues and yellows make this a “happy house” for a

family with young children. With its youthful palette and exuberant

patterns, this home is cheerfulness personified. The layout is open,

airy and uncluttered. Perfect for the owner’s lifestyle.

Newport Coast’s Montecito home has an Asian influence. The

Mediterranean exterior belies the interior’s eastern flavor. The

owners commissioned Sheldon Hart to create an environment suitable to

their impressive art collection, as well as create a friendly family

atmosphere. Note the owner’s passion for crimson accents. This house

is a balanced composition of passion and serenity.

How does your garden grow? The owners of Newport Coast’s Tesoro

home might say, “Very well, thank you.” When the owners are not

sailing to exotic locations around the world, they love to garden and

work in their yard. They grow a profusion of herbs, vegetables and

citrus in their garden and use the “fruits of their labor” for

cooking in the outdoor brick oven. Their planting mantra is “ it must

go in a vase or go on the table,” which means their outdoor rooms are

as practical as they are beautiful.

The yard hosts 45 rose bushes, all in apricot and gold tones. The

arbors have grapevines cascading over the rough-hewn wood. The

family’s many trips to Umbria, Italy have colored this Mediterranean

masterpiece. Antique tile, urns and art used inside and outside lend

an air of authenticity that brings this home and garden to life.

Spyglass offers a very traditional home with views of the ocean

that wrap around to an interior vista. The owner’s affirmation of

tried and true design gives this residence a formal-but-friendly

feeling. Don’t miss the family room. With all the bells and whistles

like a juke box, popcorn machine and bar for sodas and snacks, this

room is a teen dream come true.

Pascal Olhats of Cafe Jardin will present lunch at Sherman Library

& Gardens. The table centerpieces will carry out the red, white and

blue theme of the day with color-coordinated rosebuds in patriotic

boxes. Available for purchase at the gardens is “A Sea King’s Feast,”

an original cookbook with “secret” recipes from the school’s staff

and volunteers.

The $50 admission price includes the tour, lunch, morning and

afternoon receptions and a day that is dubbed “priceless.” The

drawing includes a $500 shopping spree to both Fashion Island and

South Coast Plaza.

The keepsake tour guide features original artwork by Polly

Stemler. Tickets can be purchased at the Corona del Mar High School

office, Sherman Gardens Gift Shop, Newport Hills Drugs, The Butera

Home Collection at Westcliff, the Fashion Island concierge, or by

calling (949) 451-8600.

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

Sundays.