It was a beautiful afternoon for the 2012 Windsor Square Historic Home and Garden Tour in Phoenix AZ. A scattering of clouds and a soft breeze made walking around the Windsor Square neighborhood comfortable. Amy and I took our time looking at the wares offered by vendors and then set out on the actual home and garden tour.
Amy commented on the quality and uniqueness of the vendor items. I liked that it was much more craft than commercial. I hope Windsor keeps that trend going in the future.
The Windsor Home and Garden tour featured 12 homes with detailed historical descriptions offered in the well-conceived tour guidebook. Most of the homes allowed both interior and exterior tours to the public, yet several were garden tours only. Compared to the Coronado and Willo tours I found the Windsor to be less relaxed… not unfriendly mind you, just more rule oriented.
The homes selected for the 2012 Windsor Home and Garden tour were well chosen. Naturally, many of the homes were ranch style as that is the dominant architecture of the area. I believe the public was impressed at how much updating had been done to many of the homes. Plus, unusual construction detail like cove ceilings & milk bottle pass-throughs is always a conversation piece.
I was especially taken by the work done in several of the homes. The use of matching brick for a recent addition at 208 E. Colter added much to the continuity of this home; The second story addition of the home at 520 E Medlock looked a bit out of place from the street yet flowed effortlessly inside the home and almost every home has been updated to create more space and enhanced livability.
OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO TOUR OF THE 2012 WINDSOR SQUARE HOME & GARDEN TOUR
There were many great gardens on the tour. I appreciated the cactus and indigenous plant scape at the Pueblo style home on Colter. The various cacti and desert plants were a perfect match to the home’s architecture. I have give the Green Thumb award to the ranch home at 9 E. Colter. OMG… how do you get a lawn to look that green.
The hallmark of the tour was the Lufty house on N. 2nd. I am a big fan of period revivals and this Spanish Colonial was pretty darn special. The two-story home was both eye-catching and a great tour statement as evidenced by the long lines of people waiting to see what lay within the adobe walls. None were disappointed. I heard the most talk about the sweeping staircase and marvelous basement… if you can call the vast open beamed room a basement.
There is a rich history behind these walls and perhaps most amazing is that the home has stayed in the Lufty family since being built in 1939. Does anyone know of another home in Phoenix that can make that kind of statement? If you do, please let me know.
All in all the tour was a great one. I heard homeowners saying it was the best turnout ever and all seemed very pleased. They should… it was a very well executed event. Congrats to Stephanie, Noelle, Leslie, Liz, Blake, Jon, Tina, Kathy and all the volunteers who made the day special. I bet there are lots more historic home lovers out there due to your efforts.
Gene Urban
The Urban Team at Realty Executives
7600 N. 16th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-234-5777
For more information about owning a historic home or exceptional representation in the sale of your existing home, contact the Urban Team using the form below.
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