Homes for the Holidays
KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The 20th anniversary event highlights the historic Point neighborhood
story by JEANNE REYNOLDS photos by PAUL NURNBERG home photos by SANDY DIMKE
The holidays are filled with traditions, from food to music to decorating. And a growing number of Beaufort area residents and visitors add another annual tradition to their list: the Homes for the Holidays tour presented by St. Peter’s Catholic School.
“It’s the kickoff of the holiday season,” said Debbie Dabney, who co-chairs the event with fellow St. Peter’s parishioners Sharon Stewart, Mary Cunningham, Pam Johnson, and Mary Ann Furjanic. “A lot of people make it an annual event while visiting family for Thanksgiving and even plan their trips around the tour dates.”
Attend once, and you’ll quickly see why. Each year, the tour features half a dozen homes in a different neighborhood, professionally decorated for the holidays by local designers. This year’s 20th anniversary tour will be a special celebration, with stops at six homes plus the original St. Peter’s Church in Beaufort’s most fabled historic neighborhood, The Point.
“The homes are spectacular, and seeing them decorated for the holidays is a real treat,” Pam said. “The homeowners get into the spirit of it and enjoy seeing what the designers come up with.”
The designers volunteer their services and loan their materials for the tour, often combining them with the homeowners’ family heirlooms to create unique holiday themes for each house, from a traditional Lowcountry Christmas to Hanukkah festivities. Participating designers include Maggie Engstrom of Sweet Bay, Anita Boose of Urban Nest, Ann Higgins of Scout Southern Market, Annie Ballance of The Ballance Group, Courtney Tangalos and Gillian Csernica of Tidal Creek Haven, Nancy Hall of Cabana22 on Bay, and the Palmetto Garden Club led by Trisha Henrikson.
It’s a win-win for the designers too, Mary pointed out. “Very often people on the tour see something they like, and the docents can tell them where to buy it. And the stores will have people come in looking for items they saw on the tour, from a scented candle to literally everything on a home’s front porch.”
In addition to the combined efforts of the committee, homeowners, and designers, the two-day event requires months of preparation and the help of more than 100 volunteers, including docents, elves, house angels, and cookie-baking parents. There’s even an “archangel” responsible for coordinating the efforts of the angels.
The partnership that makes the Homes for the Holidays tour a success extends to other local businesses that serve as essential ticket outlets. In fact, 40 percent of tickets are sold by area businesses and the parish office, according to Mary Ann. The Chocolate Tree, Sweet Bay, Scout Southern Market, The Kitchen, Dataw Island Pro Shop, and Markel’s Card & Gift Shop in Bluffton all serve as convenient locations to supplement church office and online ticket sales.
The event committee expects a sold-out crowd this year, with tickets limited to 1,000 for each day of the tour to manage crowds. Other COVID-19 precautions include selling separate tickets for each of the two tour dates — Saturday, November 20 or Sunday, November 21 — a change from previous years when purchasers could attend either (or both) days. Hours are extended from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day to allow crowds to further spread out, and face masks will be required throughout the tour.
Proceeds from the tour go to St. Peter’s Catholic School, a private prekindergarten to sixth-grade school in Beaufort. Debbie said that the tour raised more than $80,000 for the school in 2019 (the last year it was held due to the pandemic) and that school enrollment nearly doubled this year.
“I love how this event brings the community together,” Sharon said. “And it supports such a worthy cause, helping educate our youth.”
The event’s impact goes far beyond the holiday season, Debbie agreed.
“Supporting this event means you’re touching a child’s life for a lifetime.”
For more information about the Homes for the Holidays tour, visit the website at www.beauforthomesfortheholidays.com or call (843)522-6503. Tickets are available online, at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church Office, or at these area businesses: The Chocolate Tree, Sweet Bay, Scout Southern Market, The Kitchen, Dataw Island Pro Shop, and Markel’s (Bluffton).
Homes for the Holidays Tour Highlights
St. Peter’s Historic Church
Designer: Palmetto Garden Club
Home sponsor: The Greco Group
The first Catholic Church in Beaufort, this fine example of early Classical Revival style was built in 1846 by Irish immigrant Michael O’Connor at his own expense. The heart pine structure — mortised and tenoned to allow a tall, wide-open space — was restored in 2012–2013. It’s decorated by the Palmetto Garden Club in a simple and traditional Christmas design, featuring fresh greenery, wreaths, candles, and flowers.
Bassett Home
Designer: Scout Southern Market — Ann Higgins
Home sponsor: Sutton Construction Company
This 1909 Lowcountry home is sometimes referred to as The Pat Conroy House because it’s where he wrote The Water Is Wide. Extensive renovations in 1999–2000 included a kitchen reconstruction and an addition to the second floor. Holiday decor from Scout Southern Market will include a mix of fresh evergreen and local foliage inside and out. Tip: Look for a whimsical nod to Pat Conroy in the kitchen decorations.
Johnston Home
Designer: Tidal Creek Haven
Gillian Csernica and Courtney Tangalos
Home sponsor: Live Oak Builders
Known as The James Rhett House, this 1886 home was originally only four rooms and was extensively renovated in 2000. It features elaborate crown molding and dual verandas with a relaxing view of the Beaufort River, complemented by the century-old oaks, camellias, and azaleas. Tidal Creek Haven designers will create a European holiday showcase with greenery, natural elements, and traditional Christmas decor.
Young Home
Designer: Urban Nest – Anita Boose
Home sponsor: Your Beaufort State Farm Agents
Andy Corriveau and Amy Bowman
You’ll easily see why this 1886 Victorian home is referred to as The Periwinkle House. It was built by E.A. Scheper along with two identical homes in the same area. The home features mahogany pocket doors, original heart pine mantles and floors, and beautiful artwork. Urban Nest’s designers will draw on natural elements, including dried botanicals and other locally influenced foliage, to create a historically inspired Lowcountry Christmas decor.
Harnett Home
Designer: Cabana22 on Bay — Nancy Hall
Home sponsor: Lowcountry Insurance
This Beaufort River home was rebuilt after a lightning strike in 2010. Its treasures include the owner’s collection of regional maps from 1591 to 1734 and a collection of Gullah dolls by African American artist Barbara Russell of Port Royal. Designer Nancy Hall will create a coastal holiday treasures theme with greenery, touches of blue to celebrate Hanukkah, and the owners’ shell collection. The dining room will feature a menorah, silver bowls full of shells, and a table set for a traditional Hanukkah dinner.
Wiener Home
Designer: Sweet Bay — Maggie Engstrom
Home sponsor: The Cunningham Team — Merrill Lynch
Garden sponsor: Buds and Blooms
The original George Moss Stoney house was built in 1798 in the Federal style, remodeled in 1838 in the Greek style, and renovated several times since. Careful use of color showcases the home’s antique flavor, complemented by porch views of the Beaufort River and English gardens. Designer Maggie Engstrom and her team will combine touches of glamour and whimsy in a rich Lowcountry setting, pulling out the colors of the rooms.
Robson Home
Designer: The Ballance Group — Annie Ballance
Home sponsor: Grayco Hardware and Homes
The original home on this site was built in 1795 in the classic Beaufort style and converted to a tavern in 1927. The business closed in 1961, and the building was torn down ten years later. The current home, built in 2011, features wrap-around porches with panoramic views of the intracoastal waterway, an original Julia Anderson mural, and a stunning wood-beamed cupola. Designer Annie Ballance will create a Lowcountry look using oyster shells for ornaments along with birds, pine cones, and Spanish moss, with elaborate garlands inside and out.
