Home tours have been a good way to raise money for charities, schools, and the arts. Sometimes it's a single day tour of a group of homes or gardens, sometimes it's a single home that's open for a few weeks. (Our European friends don't always understand that the entrance fee benefits an organization, not the owner of the home.)
125 Lamara Way NE on Snell Isle in St. Petersburg, Florida is a designer show house to benefit the Florida Orchestra. Sponsored by the Florida Orchestra Guild, the home is open from 11 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4:30 pm on Sundays, and tickets are $15 at the door. This is a new home in an established neighborhood, designed in Mediterranean style by Hernan Molina, and decorated by various local decorators, including Decker Ross Interiors and Lasting Impressions. Tuscan colors of gold, green, russet and teal flow throughout as do faux finishes and murals. Old World furnishings co-exist with modern technology. Designed to fit in with the surroundings of a mature neighborhood, the home was also built to withstand 200 mile per hour hurricane winds.
The owners will move in as soon as this event is over, and the property is not for sale. If you want to see it, and get some ideas you can use, now is the time.
Other "Music Homes" are also open:
1231 Westway Drive, Lido Shores in Sarasota is open through Sunday, to benefitthe Florida West Coast Symphon.
A Tampa designer show house will be open May 5-28 to also benefit the Florida Orchestra. Details are yet to be announced.
Some one day neighborhood tours are also planned:
Pass-a-Grille Home Tour, March 18 1-5 pm. 5 homes.
Old Southeast Neighborhood Tour, March 24. 10 am - 4 pm. 7 homes and 2 gardens.
Homes Tour of Historic Indian Rocks Beach , March 24. 11 am to 4 pm.
