RSVP / ORANGE COUNTY : A Seasonal Affair to Remember : Arts benefit, which included tour of four Laguna Niguel homes, luncheon and fashion show, raises $35,000.
About 1,000 looky-loos visited the exclusive Bear Brand Ranch community in Laguna Niguel for a peek inside four distinctive homes decked out for the holidays.
Staged by the Chopin Chapter of the Guilds of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the 10th annual Christmas by the Sea event turned out to be an all-day affair Saturday that featured the holiday home tour and boutique, a luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point and fashion show. Guests paid $25 for the tour and $40 for the luncheon, raising about $35,000 for the center.
Knocking on Doors
“This is our treat. We do this once a year, and we want to spend the whole day” together, said Maria Sanz, event co-chairwoman.
After doing some holiday shopping at a boutique stocked with jewelry, handbags and crafts at Salt Creek Beach Park, guests boarded shuttles that took them to nearby Bear Brand Ranch. Once inside the gates, they ogled the massive custom homes situated on large lots and panoramic views of the surrounding canyons and ocean.
Bear Brand Ranch was chosen for this year’s tour because most homes have an ocean view--in keeping with the Christmas by the Sea theme--and the residents were willing to open their doors.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to get people to open up their houses. We had another neighborhood chosen but they absolutely would not let us in,” said Jill Scheetz, event co-chairwoman.
Scheetz and company found more than enough friendly residents at Bear Brand willing to participate. Committee members chose four homes for their distinctive architectural style and decor, and each was spruced up for the holidays by a local floral designer.
“They opened their doors to us,” Scheetz said. “These are friendly people wanting to support the arts.”
Open Houses
Donning blue hospital booties to protect the homes’ lush carpeting, guests roamed freely about each of the premises, peeking into bathrooms and boudoirs. At the 8,000-square-foot Italianate-style estate of Tom and Janet Brown, they admired a massive black marble fireplace in the living room, towering white columns supporting high ceilings and hand-painted Italian furniture.
“Decorating this home was challenging--and exciting,” said Rob Esterley, the Laguna Beach floral designer who created lavish garlands and decorations in taupe and gold for the home.
At Sam and Jean Inman’s Old World country manor, guests admired a large collection of antiques, including an 1800 Taylor & Farley melodeon in the living room. Floral designer John Hertrick used ivory topiaries in cast-iron urns, French ribbon and ivy mosses to decorate the home.
The French Normandy-style home of Jim and Sue Slusher featured a Ralph Lauren-Polo interior, an oversized living room with a grand piano and decorations of hydrangea, ivy, kale and berries intertwined with ribbon--the work of floral designer Anita Rohloff.
At the French country-style home of George and Tina McFarlin, guests got a look inside the huge formal dining room that was designed to seat 22 people, and the massive living room with a copper bar in the middle. The home was decorated by John Caster, owner of the Crystal Orchid in San Juan Capistrano.
About 130 guests took a break from the tour and met for lunch at the Ritz-Carlton, where they saw a fashion show featuring styles from Shebue in Laguna Beach.
Among the guests were: Barbara Kirkwood, chairwoman of the Chopin chapter; Nancy Bowman, Char Wachtel, Gisela Doniguian, Jane Hoefflin, Patty Forrest, Marie Thomas, Vesta Curry, Mary Elin Ellis, Diana Conner, Patsy Gamble, Brenda Arthur, Julia Molitz, Gini Savage, Joan Scott, Karen Chesley, Joanne Tagami, Judy Schlabach, Brenda Arthur, John Bare, Barbara DeMott and Harriet Van de Water.