By Susanne Mikler
For many years the annual holiday house tours was a girls weekend getaway event. We would pile into our townhouse (girls do not travel light!) and the kitchen would fill up with snacks and drinks while everyone staked out their space for the next few days. It was a frenzy that included dining in, dining out, shopping, spa time, gossip (natch) and touring the beautiful homes decked out for the holidays. However, once retirement occurred, we were not around for the annual tour which takes place in late November. I missed it.
This year, when our schedule brought us back to Georgian Bay for a couple of weeks, it was by sheer luck that the tours were happening and I could go again. The girls weekend wasn’t going to take place, but I invited a local friend to spend the day with me. She had never been on a holiday house tour before, but her and her husband are building a new home in the area and this was a great opportunity for her to scope out decorating ideas.
Every year the organizers of the tour offer seasonal attractions such as workshops, fashion shows, raffles and a holiday market. This years venue was the Alpine Ski Club off Arrowhead Road in Blue Mountains. With tons of parking and a gorgeous new clubhouse, the Alpine was the ideal setting. The program started at 9 am, but we set off at 10 am and arrived to a jam packed and bustling ski club.
The club was decorated in full holiday splendour and the aromas from the market added to the festive mood. People were everywhere! The market spanned two floors and vendors of all varieties were ready to greet us. The registration table was busy too as the event was a sell out. What a tremendous opportunity to showcase local businesses and artisans while supporting a wonderful charity. The work and effort poured into the project are evident throughout and everyone is touched by the Christmas spirit.
There are seven local homes decorated by local designers and decked out by retailers. We are given a wrist bracelet at check in and this is our entry to the homes. The tour is entirely self-guided and the homes down from Creemore to Thornbury. We decide to start furthest away in Creemore. With the market being super busy at the ski club we chose to return later in the day when we circle back through.
The first home in Creemore is an updated century home. As we pull up, it is clearly Christmas here! The garlands and lights and greenery and decorations are splendid. We admire the outdoor decor but the showstopper inside was amazing. We enter the side door into the kitchen which is an updated space that exudes classy comfort. The adjacent living room is filled with an eclectic mix of old and new. And it works beautifully.
The owner of the home, and designer (Dovetail Interiors) Trish is on hand in the great room. Trish lets us know that the house belonged to the school bus driver who drove her to school each day! This light filled addition to the original home boasts abundant natural light, a fireplace, cozy furnishings and a wet bar. You can easily imagine yourself curling up with the fire glowing as the wintry weather swirls outside. From here we are ushered into a modern breezeway and then into the outdoor space. The outdoor space is equally well decorated and the fire pit with a crackling blaze is the icing. We are officially on the tour and the bar is set very high.
From Creemore we head to the next home on our list in Nottawa. The rural settings add to the festive mood. The outdoor curb appeal sets the stage for the wonders inside. The next home in Collingwood is a waterfront property where the designer incorporates the homeowners Santa collection in her decorating theme. In this home the table is set for a large family dinner party; it’s exquisite.
The final homes are in Blue Mountains and Thornbury. The homes are newer and nothing short of spectacular! The properties are beautifully decorated and one of the homes boasted a grand piano with a live player! Even the children got in on the fun. In one home they hid 3 elves on the shelf and dared you to find them. There was whimsy, tradition, modern and classical touches. In all, a festive feast for the senses.
To add even more delights, some of the homes offered local treats such as egg nog, cider, cookies and even no bake peanut butter balls from Press Market. The addition of these tasty goodies made the homes smell like the holidays.
We finished up back at the ski club where we spent an hour perusing the interesting wares. The selection was incredible and there was something for everyone and every budget. The artisans were more than pleased to talk about their products and shared information happily. A few of the vendors had kids helping out and that was so special. Kids exude the magic of the season in such an honest and pure way – it’s joyful!
Everyone got a chance to vote on their favourite home. A completely tough decision as each was unique and interesting in its own way. And with that, another tour is wrapped up. So until next year, Merry Christmas, and may the joys of the season fill your hearts.
Susanne Mikler
