Kick off the season of giving with Sandpipers 24th Annual Holiday Home Tour
Sandpipers 24th Annual Holiday Home Tour is certainly cause to celebrate the holidays—a very good cause. Gather with friends December 2-4, 2016 for the festivities, which will unveil some of the most decked-out homes in Manhattan Beach. As a philanthropic group, Sandpipers has big designs on giving with this year’s line-up of beach-beautiful abodes. The Sandpipers have hand-selected three Manhattan Beach homes, plus a Saturday-only bonus home, for the fundraising tour.
For the theme—a resounding “Beach Chic Christmas”—event director Tasha Gates chose these houses especially for their beach-luxe quality, with each one exquisitely decorated by a volunteer professional designer, and all certain to inspire. “The tour is my favorite event we do each year because it’s such a fun event for everyone involved and it’s a great cause,” Gates states. “Each home this year has a story behind why it was selected, and we are so grateful for these wonderful families opening their homes to the Sandpipers organization and our generous community.”
The first home on the tour, the coastal-chic Walk Street Stunner, as it’s called, is located on 5th Street in Manhattan Beach. Built by local architect Doug Leach, known for his fabulous So-Cal lifestyle homes, the residence pairs beautifully with shore-inspired holiday creations by Tabula Rasa, Deep Roots Florist and Decora Plants, all in a “White Christmas” theme. Tour stop number two is the Hill Section Luxe home. The 5,000-square-foot contemporary residence is coastal sophistication at its best, designed by Chateau 310, with elegant holiday decor courtesy of a collaboration between Gum Tree, Growing Wild, Deep Roots Florist and Decora Plants.
Next is the Tree Section Charmer: a classic Cape Cod that is quintessential to this part of Manhattan Beach. Having undergone a total transformation in 2014, a dynamic group of designers have highlighted the home’s charming, seasonal appeal: Lauren Alexander of Dacha in Manhattan Beach, Lilypad of Hermosa and, once again, Deep Roots Florist and Decora Flowers. The East Manhattan bonus home, meanwhile, is as previously stated, open for viewing only on Saturday of the event. Known as the East Side Resort, this Cape Cod beauty will be worth the wait, with its holiday decor designed by Floret Cadet and Lavish Gift + Home.
Also not to be missed is the Sandpipers’ Holiday Market, featuring local artisans and designers. Located at the Neptunian Woman’s Club at 920 Highland Avenue in Manhattan Beach, shoppers can stock up on holiday gifts while sipping festive libations. Meanwhile, hop from house to house via complimentary shuttle service (sponsored by Nick Alexander BMW), which offers pick-ups at each tour home as well as at the Neptunian Woman’s Club. Wrap up the inspiring weekend at the Annual Happy Hour on Sunday from 12-5pm on the rooftop at 200 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. Here, enjoy scrumptious food, beer and wine from top local restaurants.
One delights in seeing the beautiful homes shimmering with sparkling lights during Sandpipers’ seasonal extravaganza, which is rooted in the organization’s support of local charities. “Last year, we raised $83,000 for local charities, all supporting the communities in the South Bay,” Gates shares. “This year our goal is to raise $100,000. Our community is amazingly supportive and all of our participants, homes, florists and designers really dig deep to pull this event off so beautifully and successfully.”
Among the more than 60 local charities that Sandpipers support are Failure to Thrive, assisting malnourished babies and children at Harbor UCLA Hospital; Rainbow House for abused women and children in San Pedro; college scholarships for deserving high school students from low-income households; Holiday “Baskets,” a program that delivers wrapped gifts to over 100 families who have fallen on hard times; Back to School Shopping that dispenses more than $200 worth of clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies to 80 less-fortunate children every year; and Sugarplum Tree, which grants the holiday wishes of more than 1,600 children in the Los Angeles foster care system. It is Sandpipers that coordinates the collection and delivery of these gifts—oftentimes the only presents the children associated with these and other charitable initiatives will receive for the holidays.
To enjoy the tour, purchase tickets at https://sandpipershht2016.eventbrite.com. Peruse the variety of local stores or learn how to get involved with Sandpipers via Sandpipers.org. Either way, this event is a fantastic way to get in the holiday spirit while supporting a great cause.
Photography Courtesy of Paul Jonason