Tall trees and gorgeous homes line the elegant avenues of Piedmont and the Oakland hills. Style and design aficionados walking these streets may yearn to peek behind the stately doors or big modern windows, and every spring they get the chance. The Children’s Support League’s Heart of the Home tour offers a look at all kinds of homes: traditional, modern, formal, and family.

This year, the tour’s uniting factor is great spaces for entertaining or gathering. For example, the successful entrepreneur who owns this Sea View Avenue dining room uses it to stage intimate dinners. “I chose a circular table because I like to see everyone at a dinner party. It makes for better conversation,” he says. “We might start with a centerpiece in the middle of the table, but I move it out of the way when we sit down so I can talk to everyone.”

Many of the homes on the tour feature amazing outdoor entertaining spaces, such as a Hillside Avenue home with a large front porch ideal for al fresco dining because of a wisteria-draped trellis that creates a dappled shade over the table. Located just off the kitchen, it’s the perfect spot for grilling up a casual meal for friends and family.

While both the Sea View and Hillside Avenue homes are traditional, the event also features modernist dwellings. A Hampton Court house blends classic and contemporary architectural styles. “The entire house is modeled on the traditional Chinese courtyard concept,” says Brian Laczko, the architect of record. “The living room and dining room are like the common courtyard, where the family comes together. Off that, there are wings for private spaces.”

Kitchens on Manchester Road in Oakland and Lakeview Avenue in Piedmont are used for informal, daily family gatherings. “We wanted it to be a comfortable place for our immediate family to relax in,” says the Lakeview homeowner. “Reconnecting the family in the evenings is crucial.”

This modern family kitchen on Manchester Drive in Oakland is the perfect colorful backdrop for family breakfasts or larger dinners for friends. A two-level island makes room for a small dining space and a generous prep area. “It’s the perfect place for someone to sit and visit while we prepare a meal,” the homeowner says.


An elegant dining room on Sea View Avenue is the scene for small dinner parties. The owner insists on a round table to spark conversation.



A trellis on Hillside Avenue makes a shaded area for casual outdoor meals.



The owner of this home collected ideas for her dream Lakeview Avenue kitchen for 16 years, so when the time came to remodel, she knew what she wanted. And during construction, she laid out the space and put it to the test. “We pretended to make a cake, heat leftovers, set the dining room table, set places at the island, cook at the stove, and prep dinner,” she says. “This led to the last fine-tuning of the plans.”



Although the living room in this Hampton Court home is a space for public gatherings, the designers played with traditional architecture in a modern setting. “The father was very clear that he wanted a comfortable spot to sit by the fire,” says one of the architects. “So we made him a modern inglenook [a niche in front of the fireplace].” It’s accented with a slate blue color and a comfy chair for the client.



The big table in the Hampton Court house makes room for large family dinners. Throughout the house, Asian art and antiques, such as the wall hanging featuring fragments of an old tapestry, reference the family’s heritage.


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When it comes to family-based entertaining, the residents of this home in the Oakland hills head downstairs where they have created a rec room inspired by an old-style soda fountain. It’s the perfect spot to hang out when the kids in the family have friends over, or before a family movie night. Needless to say, the bright-red milkshake blender is constantly whirring.



This Julia Morgan designed Sea View home is familiar to many generations of Piedmont residents. In fact, as a child, the owner of this elegant Tudor used to ride his bicycle past the house and admire it. “My family didn’t have much money. Back then, I never imagined that I would live in this house,” he says. The generous owner and the home’s ample size mean it’s the scene for many philanthropic parties.



The house contains a ballroom, which can hold up to 200 guests. Every year, it’s the scene for the owner’s annual award ceremony honoring local teachers. “We never considered making the ballroom anything else,” says the owner. “It’s part of the history of the house.”



A charming gate and a lovingly landscaped lawn welcome guests to this Hillside home. The historic house contains multiple entertaining spots, both inside and out.



Inside, this is where the family gathers. Interior designer William Anderson says creating a visually warm environment is essential for making an inviting room where people want to gather. “The wood beams and wainscoting could have made the living room feel cold,” he says. “We started by adding a colorful Oriental rug. We used that as the basis for the colors in the rest of the room. We further warmed it up by filling the space with pieces that are meaningful to the owners. For example, the room holds Asian pieces they’ve collected on their travels and an oil painting of boats reflecting their love of the water.”


Children’s Support League
20th Anniversary Heart of the Home Tour

Where: Piedmont and Oakland

When: Friday and Saturday, April 25–26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Details: Tour five homes and enjoy a gourmet lunch, an exclusive boutique, and a luxury raffle.

Tickets: $40 in advance ($50 including lunch), and $45 on the day of the tour ($58 including lunch). A limited number of $100 VIP tickets include special perks. Advance tickets can be purchased online, in person, or by mail. Visit the league’s website at wehelpkids.org for more information, to buy tickets, and find a list of retail ticket outlets.

Benefits: Children’s Support League of the East Bay (CSL) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization of 38 women dedicated to raising funds for programs that serve at-risk children. Since its founding in 1986, CSL has donated more than $1.94 million to charities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, including $207,800 granted to 26 charitable organizations in 2007.