Peeking into the Finest Homes of Montclair

Sweetest little bakery. The owner sold her dreamy chocolate-chip scones in one of the dream kitchens.

Today I went on the Homes of Montclair tour--a fundraiser for Glenfield Middle School. The owners of gorgeous estates open their doors and people pay to go in on self-guided tours.

I wanted to go with my friends but it didn't pan out and then today Helen, a friend from boot camp, said she had an extra ticket. So I went! Awesome with a capital A. It was from 9:30 to 2:30 but I didn't get to my first house till around 1ish. Should have gone sooner! Only saw three houses and would have loved to see all seven. And: Each had specialty boutique shopping and vendors, set up on the porch, in the sun room, etc. OMG. They included my Montclair favorites: Thread, Rabbit Rabbit Home Decor, the Little Daisy Bake Shop, Le Baker's Dozen, Banyan Tree. So fabulous. Each had a carefully edited selection of merchandise onsite, from Little Daisy's mini whoopie pies in pretty white boxes to Banyan Tree's gorgeous "Pebble Pearl" earrings by Catherine Canino.

This writer may or may not have bought a box of four mini whoopies and a pair of pink Pebble Pearls. After all, it was a fundraiser for a good cause.

Makeup maven Bobbi Brown's home was on the tour. I've been there on another fundraiser tour in the past. I love her style. Especially:

• The kitchen. Wow. Gorgeous countertops, spotless coffee-making setup. Fridge with glass doors, the better to see whipped butter, baby carrots, eggs and other essentials. Also great sound system. Can dance/sing while scrambling eggs and buttering toast.
• The computers. In the family room, two sleek full-size Macs side by side with ultracool chairs to get comfy in while computing.
  
• The son's shoe shelves. Bobbi and husband, real estate developer Steven Plofker, have three sons. The one boy's bedroom I really remember had shelving against the wall that could hold maybe 16 or more pairs of shoes, each in its own cube....high-tops, low-tops, dress shoes, etc. It was absolutely striking. Sneakers as art rather than thrown on floor.
• The living room. Sweet surprise just inside the foyer: My wonderful yoga teacher, Joe Gandarillas. He works with his partner, Michael, at Michael Aiduss Interior Design, and turns out they did the reupholstering in Bobbi's living room, and also chose many of the wall colors and lighting fixtures. It looked so stylish. Exquisite, really. Joe explained that Bobbi likes menswear-inspired fabrics, and showed me the fine wool from Scotland on the chair and the new covers on the pillows. What paint colors are trendy? I asked Michael. I try not to focus on trends, Michael said. I talk to people and find out what they like, what's in their heads. These two men are amazing, from their down dogs to their design sense. They've opened a great new space on Forest Street. Contact maiduss@michaelaiduss.com [website under construction] or call 973.783.0787.
• Laundry room. Not one, not two, but four big red machines. I guess two were washers and two dryers? I definitely have laundry-room envy. The top of my dryer is starting to rust and our utility sink, next to the washer, is hideous.

Good night.

TCOY

1. Boot camp in the park. I'm getting stronger on the steps.
2. Walked Sug around block once.
3. Nap, felt good.
4. Watched "Freaky Friday" remake.