Tour of Homes an Island tradition
Tradition is defined as a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society. It's something that is maintained in the present but has origins in the past and can be ancient or evolved in more recent years.
Every year when I go to the Community Center's Tour of Homes, I notice two things – the weather is always spectacular and the attendees are always happy and smiling. The event is so Anna Maria that even after 18 years, it continues to remain a fresh and exciting day.
I've decided to call this year's tour the "sweet house tour." The six homes, five in Holmes Beach and one in Anna Maria, were not the dramatic, eye popping waterfront homes featured in the past, but rather homes that really capture the essence of Anna Maria, homes that most people can picture themselves living or vacationing in. Some of the properties were used seasonally by the owners and/or as seasonal rentals, but they all represented the understated and casual nature of Island living.
Beachy cottage and going native are two of the phrases one of the owners put on his property and with good reason. The comfortable home mixed a variety of decorating styles enhanced by the beadboard and whitewashed cottage style ceilings. The canal front home in Key Royale was appropriately a haven for hundreds of mermaids as well as other tropical pieces of art.
The furnishings in the homes represented a relaxed lifestyle with an abundance of serviceable sea grass and wicker furniture mixed in with painted cabinets and antique pieces. And the colors were dramatic with tangerine, yellow, blue and pastels reflecting the sea and sand.
Several of the homes were new construction, showcasing the talent and quality of our local builders and architects. One was a single level home which still met the FEMA flood plain restrictions and contained nine-foot ceilings. One had an incredible acid etched piece of artwork in the concrete door step as well as on the interior flooring. A couple had enviable swim up bars in their pools with little tiki huts for shade. It seemed that almost every bathroom had a fabulous walk in shower, and of course, all the kitchens were state of the art.
Although all of the homes were unique and nicely done, my absolute favorite was the one in Anna Maria. The Tour of Homes booklet described it as a pastel jewel, and indeed jewel is a perfect description. Although the home is not large by many of today's standards, what it lackd in space it more than made up in function and charm. The main level let the outside in through sets of French doors from the great room onto a cozy courtyard and pool sanctuary. After I saw the second level secluded master bedroom suite, I was having a problem tearing myself away.
The annual Tour of Homes is one of the best advertisements we have for Island real estate. If you were never on Anna Maria Island before and attended this year's tour, you would have come away with a good idea of what Island living is all about.
Although traditions revolve around holidays, anniversaries and social norms, our Anna Maria tradition is just as important to Island residents and visitors every March. If the Tour of Homes is not part of your tradition, you're missing one of the Island's defining events.
