A 53-year holiday tradition

The 1929 Lombardi House underwent a interior remodel in 2009 and is now a blend of historic design and modern trends.

The home, owned by husband and wife Robert Farkas and Jeri Jones, is one of four in northwest Glendale on the 53rd annual Hoover Tour of Homes. The tour is presented by the Hoover High School Parent Teacher Student Assn. and proceeds provide scholarship funds for Hoover students.

Farkas and Jones worked with interior designer Michael Berman, who has his own line of limestone and furniture, and designer Laurie Haefele assisted on the kitchen.

"Michael brought in art deco furnishing because that's the time the house was built — in 1929," Farkas said. "The home is a Spanish Colonial Revival. It's a historical property, and the original owner was Angela Lombardi."

The cork floor in the kitchen was replaced with a stained oak similar to the cabinetry throughout the house, Farkas said. They also changed the location of several doors to create a succession of arched doors that allows a view from one end of the house to the other.

"If you stand in the kitchen you can see through the dining room and into the living room," he said. "It's a nice look."

A display niche in the kitchen holds a collection of Russel Wright pottery.

"Russel Wright was the Martha Stewart of the 1950s," he said.

Farkas said he and his wife don't display a lot of knick-knacks, but prefer a clean, uncluttered and modern look.

Each home will have a special feature and the Lombardi house, on Cumberland Road, will have a complimentary tea with school dignitaries including past Hoover High School principals Kevin Welsh and Don Duncan, as well as current Principal Jennifer Earl.

Baked goods will be made by Hoover's culinary classes under the direction of Chef Roz (teacher Dawn Roznowski), said Annie Alwin, president of the Hoover PTA.

"They make the cookies from scratch," she said. "The tea is a very lovely event."

At the traditional Spanish home on North Central Avenue there will be a Country Kitchen featuring home-baked goods for purchase that have been donated by people in the community. The home on Pacific Avenue will have the Hoover High School Jazz ensemble performing while the house on Rohr Drive will have students caroling.

PTA is all about student advocacy, Alwin said, so the main thing the tour raises money for is scholarships.

Last year, in addition to numerous scholarships, funds were donated toward the purchase of a sound system for the Hoover campus, she said.