Newburyport Holiday House Tour 2013

Okay, so most of us have our holiday decorations packed away and are a tad sick of the whole thing, but since this is the Feast of the Epiphany, aka Twelfth Night, I thought I could squeeze in my visit to the Newburyport Holiday House Tour from a few weeks ago.

I only made it to a handful of houses, but they were pretty great.

This first is from a new home that was built in the Georgian style. (Sadly I didn't think to take a photo of the exterior.) While it had some nice holiday decorations, I particularly liked the decorative details:

 Love the pattern thrown by this pendant light.

 The sitting room wall's were faux painted to resemble stone. Hard to capture on camera, but it looked very nice in person.

 The open floor plan at the back of the house stretches from the kitchen to the living room. Loved these chandeliers.

And I particularly liked this little doggy vignette!

The next house is a gorgeous 1792 Federal house.

 The details are just killer aren't they? I loved how their cute little wreath decorations didn't obscure the amazing carved staircase. The original builder was a ship owner, so his ship's carpenters may have worked on the house in their off time. This was the case with the very similar period and detailed King Caesar House in Duxbury, MA.

 The kitchen was part of an addition I would imagine. I love the window seat and also the millwork around the roman shades in the windows - very nice touch.

Ahh, the gorgeous details like these floors!

And a traditional little good bye on the exit door.


This next house is a Georgian Gambrel circa 1790. The house boasts some original and historically important 18th c detail like the original hinges on the doors and in the original kitchen fireplace.

 The original kitchen shows the beautiful mill work.

 The new kitchen features custom tiger maple cabinetry. This new kitchen is quite small for the size of the house and while it boasts all the modern conveniences, doesn't overshadow the original architecture.

 The back of the house features a double height family room that overlooks the pool behind the house.

 I loved the charm of this bathroom.

 The front hall features a Zuber wallcovering "Les Monuments de Paris"

The rear addition of the house (below) features a large in-law suite. 

My favorite house (and of many others from the buzz) was this amazing Italianate Victorian house built in 1850.  Recently renovated, the homeowners introduced all the latest smart technologies and maintained the essence of Victorian decorative style, without being dark or overbearing as can happen in that style. 

The color palette of the house is creamy white, the most gorgeous pale gray and a touch of pink. The house is feminine without being cloying.The mercury glass bell jar chandelier over the kitchen table was custom designed by the homeowners as was much of the lighting in the house.

It was hard to capture the gray wall, but you can see it a little in the photo below. The fireplace is double sided with the other side facing the deck. 

 The gray/cream palette continues on the floor with the beautiful rug which is reflected in the mirrored cubes which serve as coffee tables in the sitting area.

The refrigerator surround was designed by the homeowners. 

The gorgeous transom windows over the doorways are decked for the season. 

 The dining room boasts its original pressed tin ceiling.

The formal front parlor is all in white with OTT silk window treatments that work will in the paired down Victorian space.

The family room across the front hall from the formal parlor feaures a gorgeous vintage Turkish patchwork rug in pinks and creams, which was highlighted by the floral arrangements on the marble coffee table. 

The first floor powder room features silver foil wallpaper and a belle epoque sink. 

All in all, I would say the Newburyport Holiday House Tour, which benefits the Custom House Maritime Museum, really outdid itself this year. If you're in the are, make a point to attend next year's tour, which is usually the 2nd Saturday in December.