December 4, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

House tour Saturday
by Paula M. Riley

This Saturday, Dec. 6, be sure to indulge in the area’s favorite holiday event, the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s annual Holiday House Tour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sneak a peek into four beautiful Chestnut Hill homes decorated for the holiday season.

Thanks to a dedicated volunteer committee, the CHCA staff and the generous support of the lead sponsors, Citibank and Myers Constructs, Inc., this year’s tour promises to captivate and surprise. Two dozen designers and florists, many participating for the first time on the tour, have shared their creativity and expertise in decorating the four featured homes, which include a classic center hall Colonial, a large Italianate villa, a Queen Anne style home and 20th-century Colonial Revival. Guests will enjoy the homes’ festive designs, preview the latest decorating trends and gather ideas for their own holiday decorating plans.

One of the wonderful homes is a two-story, side-gabled Colonial Revival that was built in the 1920s with many fine features: wood sills, pent eave, a pedimented ground floor portico and a dormer stretching the width of the building and an enclosed porch.  Architect John Lane Evans designed a one-story addition to the property in 1950.

Quietly situated a few steps from the best that Chestnut Hill has to offer, this home welcomes visitors with its delightful entranceway, winged with traditional living room and dining room on either side.  Comfortably suited for everyday living and gracious entertaining, House Tour committee designers and florists have decked the halls of this home with classic trimmings, festive carolers, warm music and exquisite collections. In season, passersby chant gardening tips to the owners, who take pride in making their exterior space glorious. Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour house sponsor, Myers Constructs, Inc., has worked with the owners over the years on various remodels in this home.

The home’s porch decorations will be designed by Maple Acres Farm, an onsite farm and market in Plymouth Meeting. Their talented florists and designers will draw upon the house’s traditional architecture, enhancing the porch with cedar garlands and wreath, adding fresh apples and fruits to enhance the historical flavor of the home.

Guests will then enter into the front foyer, decorated with holiday products from The Pottery Barn. These festive accessories will be throughout the foyer and its lovely staircase; other Pottery Barn products can be found in the kitchen.  These will be tastefully arranged by decorators Amy Ludwig and Suzanne Taylor.

The traditional theme will be enhanced by First Impressions of Lafayette Hill, a creative design, space planning and home staging service. Using fresh greens and an assortment of natural materials, holiday decorations and Christmas plants, the living room will be transformed into a festive room perfect for celebrations. A unique collection of antique Sernian Bisque “Musical Angels” and Byers Choice Christmas Carolers will be among the featured items not to be missed!

A holiday/Hannukah theme will be present throughout the dinner room and will include a festive table setting with accessorized sideboard and radiator covers designed by The French Lemon of Wayne. This will complement the textiles and silk floral arrangements in this room designed by the homeowner.

The Hill Tea Bar, leveraging its wonderful selection of flavorful teas and lovely decorating pieces, will decorate the cozy room off the kitchen.

As guests wander through this recently renovated home, they will enjoy high quality home audio services of Community Audio in Chestnut Hill. Classic wood speakers with amplification will broadcast Internet radio through the quaint home.

The final stop in this charming home is the back porch overlooking the garden, decorated with an outdoor bench, cooper fire pit and other items by The Hill Company.  Known for its high quality outdoor furniture and great selection of home and garden accessories, Hill Company will create a cozy corner to warm up by a fire and enjoy the holidays.   Maple Acres Farm will enhance this feeling by decorating the porch with handmade topiary, wreaths and garlands, creating a warm, contemporary look.

The house tour is the result of hard work by designers, merchants and many members of the community.  This year, a new sponsorship level was initiated. The Perfect Stitch, Culinary Design, Merrill Lynch and The Nottingham/Goodman Group are all new sponsors this year, and through their support and that of lead sponsors Citibank and Myers Constructs, Inc., everyone has a chance to enjoy this wonderful holiday tradition.

All Holiday House Tour guests will receive a keepsake guidebook with map and details of the homes, as well as descriptions of the designers’ and florists’ decorating efforts.  Many of Chestnut Hill restaurants and cafes offer a 10 percent discount with your Holiday House Tour wristband, so take the time to enjoy lunch, stroll the shops along Germantown Avenue and finish the day with dinner.

Tickets for the House Tour are $30 for CHCA members and $35 for non-members.  Make reservations in advance by calling Noreen Spota at 215-248-8810 or on the web at www.chestnuthill.org. 

On Saturday, wristbands, programs and tour maps can be picked up at Christ Ascension Lutheran Church at 8300 Germantown Ave. on the day of the tour.  Groups of 10 or more will receive a 10 percent ticket discount.  Gift certificates are also available.