When your home transforms into a tourist hotspot

Ever seen a charming mews house in London and thought, 'Living there must be incredible'?

You're not alone in that thought. But for those who actually call these homes their own, social media photography has redefined what it means to live in a picture-perfect place.

Alice Johnston, a longtime resident of Notting Hill—famous for its pastel-hued row houses and as the backdrop for the Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant movie—is one such person.

Johnston, a journalist, has mixed feelings about the Instagram-favorite neighborhood. Living on Portobello Road, one of London's most iconic streets, she's seen all kinds of wild antics in the quest for the perfect Instagram shot.

Once, she and a friend were strolling with his French bulldog when a tourist asked if they could 'borrow' the dog for a quick photo. The friend and the dog agreed, the Instagrammer posed with the pup in front of a vibrant blue door, and then handed over five pounds as a token of appreciation.

Private lives, public spaces

In that instance, everyone enjoyed the moment.

But living in a place that some view as a movie set can sometimes have a darker side.

“I once got woken up at 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday by a group of French teens taking photos outside,” Johnston recalls.

She recalls another incident: “I was getting dressed after a shower when I noticed an elderly man taking pictures of my windows with an iPad.”

Even though the shutters were closed, she was understandably shaken by the situation.

When private homes – and their inhabitants – become tourist destinations, conflicts can arise. In more rural areas, people might put up fences or barriers, but in densely populated cities with private homes on public streets, what are residents supposed to do?

Different communities have chosen different solutions. For example, in Hong Kong, a cluster of five interconnected housing estates, known as “the Monster Building,” became a selfie hotspot after being featured in several Hollywood movies, including “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

The massive structure is located in Quarry Bay, a relatively calm neighborhood on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, which most tourists tend to overlook.

Residents of this working-class neighborhood can't block off the building due to the presence of public businesses on the ground floors. As a result, some have taken matters into their own hands by posting signs urging visitors to show respect.

A sign, written in both English and Chinese and placed by the building's residents, reads: 'This is a private estate. Trespassers are strictly prohibited from all activities (including but not limited to photography, gatherings, drone use, and loud noise). We will not be held responsible for property damage or personal injury caused by any incidents.'

Despite the signs, many visitors ignore them or view them as mere suggestions, and a quick search on Instagram reveals plenty of recent photos taken at the site.

Johnston mentions that a pale-pink house near her residence has become such a popular spot for photos that the homeowners have given up on trying to keep people away. Instead, they've placed a donation box, encouraging visitors to contribute to charity in exchange for taking a photo.

When your home becomes a piece of history

Chuck Henderson's grandmother, Della, was passionate about architecture—so much so that she was able to commission a home in California from the renowned American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Mrs. Clinton Walker House in Carmel-by-the-Sea, also known as 'the Cabin on the Rocks,' was completed in 1951 and later passed into the hands of Henderson and his relatives after Walker's passing. Though no one resides there full-time, various family members and their guests take turns staying in the home.

Wright enthusiasts travel from around the world to see his masterpieces. While some, like the iconic Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania, are open year-round to the public, others remain private residences.

Homeowners of properties featured in architecture textbooks often find themselves adding the cost of security measures to other ongoing expenses, such as utilities and homeowners insurance.

“We installed security cameras after we experienced some vandalism about six or seven years ago,” Henderson recalls. But the vandalism wasn't graffiti, as one might expect.

He elaborates: “We have this large wooden remnant of a tree, placed as the centerpiece of the garden by the original landscape designer. Someone carved a notch in it. It was clean and precise, like someone used a chainsaw. Additionally, one of our doors—between the carport and the main house—features nautical cork discs in a rope net, and that counterweights the door. A few times, those cork discs have been stolen.”

However, Henderson and his family have the last laugh on the cork disc thieves—those discs weren’t designed by Wright and hold little to no value.

“People walk right past our 'private property, no trespassing' sign. We've had people dancing in our carport. Occasionally, a few people wander up unexpectedly, but as long as they don't cause trouble, we don't bother calling the police. We're surrounded by roads and don't have a lawn, but we've had a family of deer visit,” he says.

Reaching a compromise

Living in a frequently photographed location, some people choose to accept both the perks and the drawbacks that come with it.

Johnston tries to empathize with the visitors flocking to her hometown, recalling her own love for photographing historic districts like the Marais in Paris and Alfama in Lisbon.

In fact, she recently came across photos of herself as a teenager at the Notting Hill Carnival, long before she even moved to the city.

“I love to travel, so I try to be understanding when people visit the place where I live. I feel fortunate that it's cool enough for people to want to come here,” she says.

Henderson and his family have found a balance that allows design enthusiasts to explore their home while still preserving their privacy. They occasionally rent it out for photo shoots, like a campaign for eyewear brand Oliver Peoples.

Additionally, they open their doors to the public once a year, with proceeds benefiting the Carmel Heritage Society. In 2021, 657 people bought tickets and toured the property.

“For us, it's a real pleasure to share the house and see so many people excited about it,” Henderson shares. “It also allows us to set specific visiting times, so people have an option to come without us having to play the villain.”

However, it remains unclear whether anyone in the family had a change of heart about managing such a high-profile property. In 2023, Henderson and his relatives decided to sell the house.