The annual Homes of Distinction Tour celebrates a decade of elegance on Sept. 19, as hundreds of people will make their way through five carefully selected homes in downtown San Luis Obispo and Avila Beach.  

Presented by the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo, the self-guided tour will be open to the public on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Visitors will not only enjoy a relaxing tour through unique homes at their own pace, but proceeds from every ticket purchased will go towards fulfilling the primary purpose of the event: Rotary’s funding of thousands of dollars in college scholarships for local students, as well as contributing thousands of dollars to local charities.

Tickets are $25 each, granting access to all five homes. Keeping with tradition, the homes selected are unique. 

"Three of the homes are complete remodels from older homes," said Wilda Rosene, the event director. "Some have incorporated green techniques, including one that has water on demand."

The Ritter home

The Ritter home in San Luis Obispo was built as a family home in 1918 and later converted into apartments and forgotten.

The neglected house was rescued and carefully restored by the current owners.

From the use of local river stone at the entrance to handcrafted wainscoting and matching interior/exterior columns, the Ritter home is an inspiration for those considering restoration.

The Selma home

The Selma home on Augusta Street is tucked into a warm corner of town, with the inviting front yard exhibiting a lush collection of roses, citrus, ferns, and cottage flowers.

The English Tudor style home is marked by heavy wooden archways, gas fireplaces, elaborate tile work and cherry wood stairs, all adding up to a rustic atmosphere. 

The Avery home

The English Cottage-style Avery home on Fixlini Street in San Luis Obispo is an owner-remodeled home, bought in its original condition and taken down to the studs, carefully rebuilt to be the house it always should have been.

The home’s distinct features include the William and Morris wallpaper and original oak floors in the dining room, the cove and coffered ceilings throughout the house and the railings leading to the upstairs master suite, guest room, and sewing room.

The Vorie home

The Vorie home, an Italian country manor, is the fifth home in the tour.  From the weathered patina on the courtyard walls to the trompe l’oeil features and murals painted in stairwells and on doors, impeccable attention to detail makes for a stunning result. 

Travertine, granite, slate, glazed walls, ironwork, fireplaces, rich fabrics, and a warm color palette combine to create a luxurious and restful environment.

The Brunick home

Avila Beach is host to the other two homes on the tour. The Mediterranean-style Brunick home on Avila Valley Drive is immediately eye-catching. 

Visitors walk up the rose-lined drive, then cross the terra cotta-finished lower terrace to the broad central stairway flanked with ceramic urns.

A Roman pool, Classic Roman columns, pristine pieced cement fireplaces and marble floors add elegance to the dining and living spaces. A look inside the "garage" reveals the owner’s collection of cars and antique gas pumps displayed on a gleaming liquid granite floor.  

Tickets can be purchased on the Rotary Club website at www.slorotary.org, all First Bank and Founders Bank locations, Blakeslee and Blakeslee and the Chamber of Commerce offices in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande and Atascadero.

To purchase tickets by phone or for more information, contact Wilda Rosene at 546-8806 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For last-minute guests, tickets can also be purchased at any of the tour homes on the day of the event.