By Clyde Noel

Barbara McBride’s Palo Alto home will be one of five houses featured on the Mills College Club’s “Charming Cottages of Palo Alto House Tour,” Bottom, the renovated kitchen is adjacent to the busy family room.

The Palo Alto Area Mills College Club has scheduled its 14th annual “Charming Cottages of Palo Alto House Tour,” featuring five homes, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 15 and 16. The owners agreed to present their homes without staging and feature remodeling within their financial means to maintain the theme.

One of the cottages, owned by Barbara McBride, is located at 531 Hilbar Lane. McBride lived on University Avenue for 18 years before her 1989 move to Hilbar because it was smaller and more manageable.

“Once my three daughters graduated from college, the size of the house became perfect for me,” said McBride. “I love the layout. It’s about 1,500 square feet, and the bedrooms are in the back and out of the way.”

McBride ripped out the kitchen to the studs about 18 months ago during a complete remodel. It took five months to complete because the unique flooring took that long.

“The flooring is random wide-plank oak from New Hampshire and is said to be from heritage trees,” McBride said. “They claimed there were no knots in the planks, and I can’t see any.”

McBride said the cream cabinets and drawers are the best features in the kitchen.

“At my age, you don’t have to do all that stooping when you prepare your meals. You put your things in drawers, and you know where your stuff is,” she said.

A prominent kitchen feature is the cutting board that acts as an island and is positioned right behind the stove, close to the sink. The close-to-everything feature makes it enjoyable to prepare meals.

Within reach is the oak breakfast nook that seats three. Barbara said it gets good use because this is where she does her crossword puzzles before leaving for work.

“I administer the public art program for Mountain View, and I love it,” she said. “Working with a city that appreciates art and with a knowledgeable and active art committee is fabulous. Even the council is supportive of the arts.”

The family room is adjacent to the kitchen, at one time it was part of the garage. A plasma television accents the wall at the end of the room.

“I spend a lot of time here watching sporting events. I grew up in Boston and still watch all the Red Sox baseball games on the TV package of Major League baseball,” McBride said. “Hanging on the wall is my favorite player - a sketch in ink of Ted Williams waiting in the on-deck circle.”

A framed newspaper story from the New York Daily News with the headline “Hell Freezes Over,” chronicling the Red Sox’ winning the World Series last fall, is prominent on the opposite wall.

The living room, off the entrance, provides comfortable seating in an L-shaped arrangement. It features plantation shutters and a white fireplace with beige walls.

“I belong to two book clubs, and about the only time we use the living room is when the clubs meet at my place,” McBride said. “I guess that’s normal use for a living room.”

An oil painting by the Italian artist Picciotti overlooks the dining area.

“You have to live with your paintings, and I do. I enjoy the pastel colors and the subject,” McBride said. “I have other paintings throughout the house that I enjoy - including one

in the hall of George Washington.”

The house arrangement includes three bedrooms and two baths, but one of the guest rooms has been converted into an office. Much of McBride’s work for the visual arts committee is done in this office.

The master bedroom leads into the back yard. One item that stands out is an English boot rack, now used for books and family pictures.

As you step into the back yard, you immediately see a bronze cow with a cowbell around the neck. Albert Guibara created the sculpture for the city of Palo Alto; but it hung

outside his office so long, he put it up for sale and McBride purchased it.

In the side yard is another Guibara sculpture - a dog in bronze. Even the dog bone on the ground is made in contrasting bronze.

“I am not an interior decorator, but I put things where I like them,” McBride said of the backyard sculpture. The cow can be seen directly through the sliding doors in the master bedroom.

Tax-deductible tickets are $25 before April 8, $30 after April 8 or at the door.

For more information or tickets, call 325-2990.