This past week I tagged along on one of the HH’s business trips {because HELLO, a free paid mini vacation?!}. In our downtime, we visited Filoli Mansion and its amazing gardens.
I had actually been there once before with my friend Harriet a few years back, and I loved it so much I thought I’d drag the HH along to look at the place again.
The house sits on 16 acres {but surrounded by a 654 estate} just outside of San Francisco in Woodside, CA. The original owner, William Bowers Bourn II {doesn’t that just seem like a name of someone who would build a mansion?} was the owner of a gold mine AND Spring Valley Water Company.
While this was just one of their homes, it is still pretty dang impressive…especially when you consider it was built around 1915.
Filoli was named after a credo William Bourn lived by: “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.” Filoli makes up the first two letters of each of those sentiments. Kind of cool, right?
In 1936, the Bourn’s moved on and sold the house to the Roth family. They added the gardens. In 1975, Mrs. Roth donated the entire estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
You can still explore the fully furnished house {which for the record is humongous}.
Seriously, the kitchen is bigger than any kitchen I’ve ever had.
Okay, enough history, let’s get onto the actual gardens.
The gardens are also pretty spectacular, especially this time of year.
All of the shrubs are PERFECTLY manicured.
The water features combined with flawless lawns are seriously pretty spectacular. I would have totally taken a stroll through the estate daily if I had lived here.
If you ever get a chance to check it out, it is totally worth the trip.
~Mavis
86 Canada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
*They are open seasonally, so make sure to check the their schedule before you go.
Lisa Millar says
What a spectacular place! Thanks for the slew of awesome photos!
The garden is amazing, but I have serious kitchen envy! Gorgeous old fashioned spaces are fabulous!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Beautiful gardens. Holy Cow!! Do you know what they do with the produce from the gardens?
Jillian says
Gorgeous! That kitchen is bigger than a couple of my houses!= lol
Kathy says
Would love to visit this place. It looks amazing. If you ever get to NE Ohio, you need to check out Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. The English Garden and the Japanese Garden are my favorites, so gorgeous and peaceful.
The house is simply amazing as well.
http://www.stanhywet.org/tours-attractions
Leslie says
I remember visiting many years ago. The Seiberling’s youngest daughter of the family still lived in the gate house at that time. What a gorgeous place!
Alison R. says
That kitchen is my dream kitchen!! What a beautiful place!
Thank you so much for sharing with all of us!!
mandy k says
Splendid kitchens. Were they right next to each other? My g grandma had a kitchen off her porch for washing and getting veges ready for canning, There was a stove and everything in there. Like a summer kitchen. The sink was really low and and super wide (it was the bomb). Do you think one of the kitchens in this home was a prep type kitchen? I just love both of the kitchens. Beautiful storage cupboards.
The gardens are so pretty!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, they were right next to each other. I wonder how many people worked in that area back in the day to need 2 kitchens.