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Annual Christmas House Tour

As the days darken, it’s time to ramp up the holiday spirits, and plans are well underway for the annual Christmas House Tour.

As the days darken, it’s time to ramp up the holiday spirits, and plans are well underway for the annual Christmas House Tour.

The tour of specially decorated Christmas houses in Courtenay and Comox takes place Nov. 25 and 26. The houses range from heritage to contemporary and will feature great Christmas ideas for both inside and outside spaces.

This tour is becoming a Comox Valley tradition for groups of friends and families to relax for the day and enjoy a preview of the magic of Christmas.

The Christmas House Tour is a fundraiser for the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens Society, which operates the gardens on Anderton Road that are open to the general public for delight and relaxation every day from May to September.

The five design teams that have taken on project homes for the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens Society annual Christmas House Tour will surprise and delight with their fresh takes on Christmas décor.

“Christmas, in a design sense, is a time to indulge your creative side, because when the Christmas season is over, so is the Christmas décor,” says Lindsay McCotter, principal, of Re:SOLVE Space Planning.

She and fellow interior designer Katie Lee are set to transform a Comox Country Estate both inside and outside. Look for their version of comfort and glamour, warmth and sparkle with elements reflecting their Australian roots.

Jo Dumoulin is “hands on” as she gets to work on her own Foxxwood Classic. When Jo thinks about decorating for Christmas, she tends to think traditional and favours elements collected over time.

She describes her style as eclectic and quirky with a bit of mix and match. When she’s not renovating, Jo is the creative force driving Home thoughts from A Broad, a blog that features home decorating, room makeovers, tips and hints, located at www.jdumoulin.blogspot.com.

For their project house, sisters Maureen Crowder and Kathleen Hansen are bringing nature indoors for Christmas. Maureen, the owner of Blueberry and Chocolate Cottages, a vacation home rental business in the heart of downtown Courtenay, has a passion for beauty in the home and a wealth of interior design experience. Kathleen Hansen specializes in seasonal decorating. Their combined expertise is perfect for this Comox Character house. Already charming with coved ceilings and original fir flooring, Maureen and Kathleen are going “modern country” this Christmas.

Sharleen and husband, Dustin Kneeland, are no strangers when it comes to homes. Sharleen is the real estate website entrepreneur behind Waterfrontwest.com and Luxequest.com, websites devoted to showcasing water front and luxury properties throughout B.C. and Canada.

Dustin is the owner/operator of Mainstreet Renovations, specializing in kitchen and bath remodeling. Look for Sharleen’s creative work in lighting and unique sense of proportion and scale in decorative displays. Their project home is a West Coast contemporary design located in Crown Isle.

“Christmas decorating for clients,” says Tony McCloskey, “is like producing a story through the smells, textures, feelings and especially colours of Christmas.”

The Scoop Johnston Heritage House is the perfect place for such a Christmas story. Mixing a variety of styles and blending colours is not easy but the “mix master of style” is in his element! Tony’s background in interior design, floral design and retail merchandising has served him well at Red Living on Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay.

Times for the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens Christmas House Tour will be noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 25 and 26.

Tickets, which have directions on them, are available at Home and Garden Gate on Fifth Street in Courtenay and also Cumberland, Red Living on Cliffe Avenue and Blue Heron Books in Comox. Tickets are $20. For more information, phone Shirley at 250-339-5350.

— Anderton Therapeutic Gardens Society