Eichlers of Orange Open Doors - Page 2

Singer's surging career with health care company McKesson Corporation has required some flexibility since her and Chris' second child was born in 2012, the year they bought an A-framed Jones & Emmons model in Fairhills.

From that point on "we lived in four houses in six years, and two of them were Eichlers," Singer said with a resigned smile. "I don't think I'll ever go back to turn-of-the-century homes. This suits us better."

After selling their first Fairhills Eichler to move to Walnut Creek for five years, the couple was finally able to renew their love affair with the Eichlers of Orange. They would have loved to get their first Eichler back, Singer says, but the local restaurateurs to whom they sold it told them, "We heard you're coming back—you can't have it back."

Rebuffed, the determined couple pressed on, and soon found the four-bedroom Anshen and Allen design that they will be putting on tour—with its remodeled kitchen, of course. Since Imboden designed the remodel, Singer said with another smile, "Robert's making sure we get the kitchen done before it [the tour] starts."

"Our approach to selecting the homes for the tour was to include an assortment of properties representative of the various Eichler plans," Imboden explained. "But it was also to include some diversity in terms of homes that are both very well preserved, as well as some that have been sensitively adapted to meet the changes in lifestyles that have occurred over the past half century.

"The [tour] booklet will include information about each of the homes featured on the tour, but also some information about Joe Eichler and the architectural firms responsible for them."

Tour tickets cost $60, with discounts available for students and Orange Eichler owners. Activities for children will be provided on May 19. Purchase of a $150 ticket includes the tour, booklet, and admission to a cocktail reception May 18 that will feature a panel discussion by Imboden and authors Alan Hess and Tom Zoellner. Tour hours are 10am to 4pm each day.

Proceeds of the tour will benefit 'Preserve Orange County,' a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

For more information or to purchase tickets to 'Preserve Orange County Eichler Home Tour,' click here.