Someone asked me recently "so what exactly is a House Tour?" The thought had never crossed my mind that anyone wouldn't know (perhaps that is a sign of how immersed I am in this idea/world??) So I wanted to take a few minutes to explain the distinction between a House Tour vs. say a Public House (like Hearst Castle).
To me, the definition of a House Tour is as follows:
* it includes (and is almost always, solely), private houses that would not normally be open to the public
* the houses are lived in, although sometimes they may have been staged for the tour
* it includes at least 3 houses
* it costs money, which most often goes towards a charity or fundraiser
* some house owners and tour organizers allow ticket holders to see the entire house, other owners/tours focus on one area (kitchens, gardens, family living areas decorated for the holidays etc)
* once-a-year some cities have a Decorators Showcase house that features a large mansion in which every room is decorated by a different interior designer
* the house is self-guided with docents present to answer questions and ensure guests respect the property
* once in a while a builder, developer or seller will include a property that is for sale in a tour
* the tour is open for a few days, except in the case of a Decorators Showcase house which is open for about a month
* most often, the houses are STUNNING!!!
A Public House Tour, like Hearst Castle normally meets the following criteria:
* it is normally one gigantic mansion (or garden)
* it is opened nearly 365 days a year
* guests are given tour options and need to select the one they most want to see which will focus on an area(s) of the house
* it costs money, which most often goes to the upkeep of the property
* they are rarely self-guided
* the properties are not normally (if ever) for sale
* the interiors are normally preserved to show a 'way-of-life' when the house was built or lived in
* they are often gorgeous too, but in perhaps a less-attainable way than the likes of Hearst Castle
I hope this helps clarify what a house tour is and isn't.
Warmly,
Catherine
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