Modern Magic in Marin - Page 2

Another impressive moment was the remarkably cohesive renovation in one of the largest of the Terra Linda homes—a 1955 model on Bamboo Terrace with 1,850 square feet, Henrybuilt kitchen and Heath fireplace, and an expanded master bedroom opening up to the backyard pool. It was one of the tour highlights.

Doug Thompson is a Mill Valley-based architect who designed the remodel of his own smallish 1955 Terra Linda model on Las Ovejas Avenue, and he was one of several tour sponsors. He regaled visitors to his airy abode with tales of carefully chosen backyard plants quickly devoured by their three-year-old black Labrador Retriever. Several visitors liked what they saw anyway and requested cards from Thompson, with one asking pointedly, "Wine, beer, or cookies—what can I ply you with?"

The tour and its prize drawing were fundraisers for the CanDo! Foundation of the local Dixie School District, but that was not the main reason Maggie McCann volunteered as a tour docent.

"I don't even have a child in the school district, but I'm just so proud of the homeowners here and their commitment to the mid-century modern lifestyle," said McCann, current president of the Lucas Valley Homeowners Association. "We've had a great tour. It's been very successful."

"We had a fundraising goal of $90,000, and that's what we hit," confirmed Renee Adelmann, Dixie school parent and owner-manager with husband Barry of Modern-focused realty offices throughout the Bay Area.

The Adelmanns' Lucas Valley home on Pikes Peak Drive was the second largest on the tour, with 6 bedrooms (we're not kidding!) and 2,322 square feet. But the real treat lay behind in a creative, well-appointed backyard. Renee stood receiving guests, remarkably composed as she talked with some homeowners visiting from the San Mateo Highlands, whose 2017 tour they had been in.

On Monday, Renee spoke with considerable pride about people telling her their home was one of the three most impressive houses on tour, along with the two exceptional Terra Linda models.

"It sounds like a lot of people had a good time," she said with some relief. "It had a very good vibe."

The absence of opportunity to continue said vibe was perhaps one shortcoming of this and all home tours cited by some visitors who chatted with Eichler Network publisher Marty Arbunich.

"It's funny how home tours go," he commented after leading his own party of four through all 12 homes. "A thousand people share a common enjoyable experience, but when it's all over, you just drive off, and everything fades away. Wish there was a way to keep that buzz alive, just a little longer, bringing tour-goers together in the aftermath to share their experiences and good feelings."