Four beautifully decorated homes were featured during the 2nd Annual Covenant Academy Candlelight Tour of Homes held Saturday night.
Guests enjoyed dashing from home to home taking in the unique decorating style of each homeowner.
Jean Williams’ extravagantly decorated home located at 430 North Spring Street showcased 18 fully decorated trees between 4 feet and 13 feet in height. Approximately 14 smaller trees filled the home making a total of 32 showcased throughout the home built in the early 1900s. It once served as the Farm Bureau office and the Stained Glass Tea Room before Williams turned it back into a private residence in 1995.
Each room in Williams’ home took on its own theme. Williams’ dining room brought back memories of yesteryear as toys throughout the decades including dolls, marbles and a spin top were displayed on either side of the 13-foot Christmas tree. The oldest toy on display was a cast-iron Popeye which sat atop a motorcycle. Williams estimated the Popeye to have been cast in the early part of the 1930s.
A ceiling-high tree in the kitchen was decorated with replicas of cupcakes and antique kitchen utensils, many of which had belonged to Williams’ mother. A peacock made  of apples, a pineapple and magnolia leaves sat in one corner of the room. A pantry showcasing Williams’ collection of Christmas-themed memorabilia picked up at flea markets and yard sales was on the other side of the large eat-in kitchen. A pair of red pie birds are a couple of Williams’ favorite finds. The whimsical pie birds are used to vent steam from a pie.
Older ovens had problems with uniform heating, and the pie bird prevented boil-over in pie cooking. Williams said finding a set of two identical pie birds is a rarity.
The fairytale room is the room Williams decorated for the girl she never had, being the mother and grandmother of boys. The bed in the room is covered with a crocheted canopy. The main tree in the room is decorated with Williams’ own high top boots and baby shoes she wore as a child.
The music room featured a unique scene with a saxophone playing Santa standing underneath a light post. “Snow” fell all around Santa as he played in his winter wonderland.
Mike and Sarah Netherton’s home located at 837 Golf Club Road decked the halls with fresh magnolia leaves and live greenery in much of the decor. The dining room table featured a magnolia and red berry centerpiece.
The stairs leading to the second floor of the home featured a magnolia garland made by Sarah’s father, Terry Hines, who owns a local nursery.
The den showcased brightly colored stockings hanging on a mantle which had greenery, red berries and three red cone shaped trees flanking a photo of the family which includes children David, Lydia, Susanna and Abigail.
The ceiling-height Christmas tree stood in a corner near the fireplace and was filled with ornaments in the bright reds and greens featured throughout the room. Ornaments on the tree included framed photos of the children, Santas and snowmen.
The mantle in the basement showcased another magnolia and greenery garland entertwined with red berries. The room also held a unique African handmade nativity set.
DJ and Tiffany Gannon’s home located at 80 Kings Ridge Drive was beautifully lit with small lighted trees flanking the front door and wreaths hanging on each window of the two-story home. Inside, the staircase leading to the second floor was decorated with garland, tulle and Christmas ornaments.
The living room featured a brightly colored Christmas tree with gold being the dominant color used in decorations for the dining room. A beautifully decorated tree stood in the corner and featured gold feathers, ornaments, reindeer, crosses and live magnolia leaves in the design. The dining table featured a garland table runner entwined with gold, bronze and brown ornaments and candleholders.
The den in the Gannon home had a more rustic winter theme as showshoes were displayed in the alongside a an antique chest which displayed antlers wrapped around pinecones and berries. A tree simply decorated with clear lights was in the corner and had a wooden sleigh leaning against its trunk.
The Gannon’s home was built in 1964 and has been completely remodeled for them and their children, three-year-old Boone and one-year-old Austie to enjoy.
Covenant Fellowship preacher Dean Northcutt and his wife, Sara, opened their lovely home for the tour. The home, located at 436 Lynn Road in Morrison, featured several ceramic and porcelain items made by Sara’s mother including a white and gold nativity displayed in a place of honor in the couple’s living room.
“My mother won many awards for her ceramics and porcelain. She was very talented and before her time,” said Sara.
The living room held a large white tree elegantly decorated with red and white ornaments. The tree topper was a large red top hat which had a red and white ribbon flowing down the tree. Smaller versions of the hats were displayed throughout the tree.
The dining area featured a hutch filled with the couple’s collection of carolers intermingled throughout a lighted, snow-covered Christmas village. One set of carolers was made by Sara’s mother and shows four girls and two boys singing while bundled up for winter in their brightly colored clothing, complete with muffs for the girls.
A more rustic tree showcased in the dining area featured burlap hats and red and white gingham colored ribbon alongside woodland animal ornaments such as porcupines and owls. The hats on this tree were a homage to Sara’s father, who loved to fish.
A different ceramic nativity set, also made by Sara’s mother, was displayed on a table overlooking the couple’s back yard. The nativity featured Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, angels, a cow, donkey and camel in a village displayed on burlap.
The sunroom was the perfect spot for a large live cedar tree which was decorated with brightly colored lights. The rustic tree featured snowmen underneath beside a bucket holding several “snow balls.”
Organizers deemed the fundraiser a success with carloads of people enjoying the evening and gaining decorating ideas for their own homes.