Saturday, November 20, 2010

Holiday Home Tour

Holiday Home Tour 2010 009

Today I spent the day with some girlfriends touring 6 beautiful homes here in Greensboro, NC  that were all part of a Holiday Home Tour to raise funds for the choir at Caldwell Academy and they were decorated for the holidays.  Here are some of the highlights from the tour.    We  first toured 4 homes and then of course we had to fortify ourselves with lunch and beverages at a a place called Lindley Park Filling Station.  Very cute and small restaurant with wonderful food.  I had half of a sandwich called the Madison Avenue… Smoked Turkey, Granny Smith Apples, Honey Walnut Cream Cheese on a Croissant and half of the The Filling Station salad…Dried Cranberries, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Walnuts over Spring Mix with their House made Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Every bite as delicious as it sounds.  I can’t wait to go back.  You know I couldn’t not talk about the food!

 Holiday Home Tour 2010 002

Anyway, back to the home tour.  My favorite of the 6 we toured ended up being the first one we toured.   This home was in the Lake Jeanette area and  It had an “Old World” look to it

Holiday Home Tour 2010 016

This was the kitchen where they had a large gingerbread house display on the counter.

Holiday Home Tour 2010 023

I thought this was a different idea.  Copper buckets were hung by the fireplace instead of stockings and then the initial for each child hung off of those buckets.  

Holiday Home Tour 2010 007

This home had a pretty staircase.  We liked the burlap ribbon that was part of the garland.

Holiday Home Tour 2010 004

This home also had a pretty table set in the dining room.  Silver and gold were mixed together. 

Holiday Home Tour 2010 031

This was a grand old home built in I believe they said 1927 and was located near Greensboro Country Club in the Old Irving Park area. We are talking old money here.  Old Southern money and very grand.  They told us the owners moved out for 2 years while the home was renovated.  Can you imagine that?!

  Holiday Home Tour 2010 038

The kitchen in this home was beautiful.  I loved the big farmhouse sink and they had an AGA oven.  The owner told us it stays warm at all times.  I always wanted to see one in person. 

Holiday Home Tour 2010 039

I loved this outdoor fireplace area on their back patio. 

 Holiday Home Tour 2010 046

This beautiful home was in the Sunset Hills area.  Loved the side porches on this home.

  Holiday Home Tour 2010 047

  This one had a renovated kitchen and it was beautiful. 

Holiday Home Tour 2010 048

This was the view out the kitchen window.  There was even a waterfall off to the right side.

Holiday Home Tour 2010 060

This is the last home we toured.  We did tour two others but my photos of those two home did not turn out very well.   (We had to take our shoes off to tour all of the homes and the basket in the photo above is filled with little booties.)

Holiday Home Tour 2010 067

This home had a “bridge” that was also decorated with garland.  This home also had a grand piano in the foyer as you came in the front doors.  Why I didn’t take a photo of that…I don’ know!

  Holiday Home Tour 2010 076  

Even the kid’s bedrooms in this house had decorated Christmas trees in them.  This girls bedroom was decorated with purple and black.  The colors really looked great together.

     Holiday Home Tour 2010 082

And this girl’s room was decorated in soft pinks and soft greens. 

Here is what I noticed that most of the homes had in common decorating wise: 

~Wreaths hung with ribbon over mirrors

~Lots of fresh greenery in vases

~Magnolia leaves in garlands and wreaths

~silver and gold mixed together

~Lot’s of Mark Jacobs Santa Fairies

~Glass domes with ornaments, cookies, and more Santa Fairies under them.

~Big bows used as tree toppers with glittery stems poking out of the tops

~Lot’s of glitter

~Candles that smelled wonderful

~wreaths suspended by ribbon hung on windows inside the house

~Apothecary Jars filled with candy.

~Burlap ribbon used in the garlands

Holiday Home Tour 2010 041

I have to admit that as much as I hate seeing so many Christmas things in the stores already and it’s not yet Thanksgiving, the tour today put me in the holiday mood.  We might even hang our outdoor Christmas light tomorrow because the weather is supposed to be so nice.  But I promise we won’t be turning them on till after Thanksgiving!

17 comments:

Melanie said...

What I noticed is that the houses had cabinets like I had in Florida. Makes me homesick for that house:(

Beautiful homes and I loved the outdoor fireplace. Most of all, I wanted to eat the lunch you had. YUM!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I love going on these holiday home tours. I don't think they are doing them around here anymore since the economy has gotten so bad with realestate here. My great aunt and uncle (Dad's aunt) lived in one of those beautiful old homes at the country club park area.

Verde Farm said...

What a post!!! I am getting ready to read it all again and look more closely at the pictures. I love everything you shared and thanks for the great trends list. I love the staircase garland. I also LOVE that kitchen in the home that was remodeled for two years...no, I can not imagine but WOW. Love it and looks like so much fun :)
Amy

Anonymous said...

Lovely homes and that staircase is so beautiful. Oh to have the time and the money to decorate like these houses. The older I get I can hardly even find the energy to want to put up a small tree.

DI

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

That must be fun, Lisa! Your lunch sounded really yummy, also! : ) There are a few areas here on Long Island that do that, but nothing right nearby. I think it's pretty nice that the homeowners do this and allow people into their homes. All those kitchens were gorgeous!

Lynn said...

Wow, very pretty! I love the arched window in the kitchen of the second home! Thanks for sharing:@)

Flavia Galasso said...

Tahnk you for sharing..... tehy're beautifull...you're right.... I feel the Xmas atmosphere...have a nice Sunday, ciao Flavia

southerninspiration said...

I'm with you that I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving..and even though I'm not ready for Christmas, this does put me in a festive mood! I wish I could have seen those beautiful houses!
Suzanne

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

These homes are so lovely and decorated so pretty for the Holidays. Great tour.

hugs
Sissie

Jane said...

I love Christmas home tours. My mom and I always go to one in my hometown in Kansas. There are a lot of very old homes in town and they pick 5 or 6 to tour each year.
You took some great photos! Thanks for the list of what's "hot" for decorating right now. I was planning on hanging a wreath over a mirror on my mantel so I can cross that one off the list :)
Have a great week.
Jane

chow and chatter said...

wow wow amazing homes thanks for taking us along

The Daily Connoisseur said...

GORGEOUS. What a beautiful and festive house...

Emily said...

Those homes are amazing.A Christmas tree in the bedroom?!! Wow!

The home with the redone kitchen was beautiful! It let in so much light!

gina said...

Is this still happening? I live in Gboro didn't hear a word about it. Love home tours! Love Lindley Park Filling Station too!! Did you get the Sweet Potato Chips...YUM!!!

Karen said...

Inspiration galore! That sounds like a really fun day and the fact that it supports a good cause makes it even better.

Mikelle Smith said...

oh my... love the old southern money house. i will take it!

Mage said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.