If you’re looking for practical ways to decorate your home for the holidays, find inspiration on the 2017 Christmas in Carleton Place House Tour Dec. 2 & 3.
“This year’s lineup will definitely not disappoint,” says Jane Tunks, who organizes the annual tour and is a self-confessed Christmas nut. Ranging from a stone cottage to Victorian heritage homes, a mid-century design and a stone mansion, the eight homes and two bonus stops on this year’s tour will be fully decked out to put you in the spirit.
“Some homes will feature at least two trees, several homes will showcase multiple trees and every home will be chock-full of ideas for the holidays,” Tunks says. The homeowners will also be on hand to answer any questions and each home will offer hot apple cider and cookies.
The tour, which is now in its sixth year, is a fundraiser for the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Tickets are $25 and come with a ballot that gives you a chance to win one of seven prizes.
The tour runs Dec. 2 from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so that the homes can be seen lit up at night, and Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Here’s a peek at the homes on the tour. You can get details about tickets here (and see the end of this post for details on how to win tickets).
Old stone charm
This stone mansion overlooking the Mississippi River in Appleton is one of three built by the Teskey brothers in the mid-1800s. The wealthy industrialists hired the best stone craftsmen to build their homes and this one features high ceilings, five fireplaces, five staircases, a bake oven and a carriage house that has been converted to a gym/games room wing. The current owners are only the third to own the home.
Victorian elegance
Imagine buying a home for $100. That’s what this Victorian brick home sold for in 1868. It maintains most of its 150-year-old glory, with a few modern updates. The styling is perfectly complemented by antiques and original paintings. During the holidays, the home’s high ceilings allow the owners to showcase many themed Christmas trees. There are often upwards of 15 trees, including a 10-footer in the dining room.
Calm Cape Cod
A calming eclectic style defines this 1980s Cape Cod home. Recently updated with a new entry, hardwood flooring and a welcoming brick-faced bar in the family room, the designer kitchen is what originally attracted the owners, who bought two years ago. The decor also features nods to the husband’s Scottish roots, including a Scottish Santa and a kilted nutcracker at Christmas.
New kid on the block
Built in 2014, this open-concept bungalow attracted a downsizing couple with a bit of an addiction to collecting Santas. Their decorating theme gravitates towards traditional, with prominence given to lovingly handmade ornaments from children and grandchildren and vintage ornaments from their parents. They love to travel, often bringing home a Christmas-themed souvenir, and if it happens to be a Santa, that’s a bonus.
Georgian cottage
The “Auld Manse” is one of the earliest 19th-century brown limestone homes in Beckwith Township. Dating to the 1830s, the Georgian cottage-style home was built by the Scottish congregation of the Church of the Cross Keys for the first minister. As a festive glimpse of bygone days, a sleigh will greet you by the front entrance, which features a rare carved exterior fanlight. Surviving interior features include a ceiling with 24-foot pegged-log beams and stone arched fireplaces.
Mid-century memories
A custom six-bedroom home with mid-century design elements and a location by the Mississippi River attracted the current homeowners two years ago. Built in 1964 for one of the founders of Leigh Instruments (an early tech company in the region), the home is in the process of being updated. At Christmas, visitors are welcomed by a stunning Christmas tree in the front foyer landing, setting a festive tone for what lies ahead.
Blue belle
Another century home, this one was built in 1894 in the heart of Carleton Place. It features wide-plank pine flooring, a wood stove and stained glass. Its current homeowners, who moved in just last year, have gently uncovered this special jewel, while adding a mix of antiques and textiles from world travels. Christmas comes with colour schemes of blues, silver and touches of gold.
Victorian comfort
Extensive renovations to this 1910 Victorian brick home harken to its glory days, with touches such as a claw-foot tub, farmhouse sink, and flea market finds. If you love repurposed decor and Christmas, this home is for you, with its multiple Christmas trees and unique flair.
Want to win tickets to the Christmas in Carleton Place House Tour? For your chance to win, simply follow us on Facebook or sign up for our free newsletter, which you can do here or at the bottom of this page. We have two sets of two tickets to give away and winners will be chosen in a random draw Nov. 29.
