The curving drive up Third Avenue from Burlingame into Hillsborough is worth the trip in itself to the Dickens House design tour. There’s a bit of Beverly Hills all the way along the route, starting with some glamorous Mediterranean and mid-century apartment houses then winding up past an eclectic mix of custom homes built through the decades.

    This year’s Dickens House, which benefits St. Matthews Episcopal Day School in San Mateo, is a nouveau French Chateau. Inside, it quickly appears that the gaggle of decorators were given clear marching orders: sleek and elegant.

From the living room with the zebra skin rug to the modern art on the dining room walls (both rooms done by interior designer Emily Taylor), the effect is lovely.

    Another favorite is the master bedroom, serene and soft green with French doors leading to the garden (decorated by Anne Fifer).

    In vignettes inside and outside is my personal favorite _ McGuire furniture. The 60-year-old San Francisco company keeps it coming on strong, with its pieces made of rattan, bamboo and sometimes extruded aluminum. I grew up in a South Pacific-style bungalow, and my parents have a McGuire set in the dining room. (see my previous post.) A surprise is the McGuire lighting, which includes bases of rock crystal and silver plate designed by Robert Kuo. Stephan Blachowski, a sales rep from McGuire, gave me a personal tour of his company’s furnishings. What a treat!

    The Dickens House at 333 Uplands Drive in Hillsborough will be transformed into a holiday boutique Oct. 18-Nov.2, where a $30 ticket will grant you access. Until then, you can still tour the decorated house Sept. 18 through Sept.22, 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 at the door. If you pay $40, you’ll get a pass into the upcoming holiday boutique as well.