It’s virtual this year, but the 2021 Homes for the Holidays tour is back, offering up six unique homes decorated for the season by area florists.
The popular and long-running tour is normally a three-day in-person event held in mid-November, but the COVD-19 pandemic forced a rethink, almost derailing it last year before a last-minute scramble resulted in four homes that could be seen virtually.
Last year’s hurried event gave organizers a good idea of what to expect in putting together a fuller virtual version of the tour, and that means this year’s tour — while still virtual — is bigger and better.
“We didn’t think we would have an event last year until three weeks before, so it was a bit of a scramble,” says Kristina Voth-Childs, communications co-ordinator for Hospice Care Ottawa, which organizes the tour. “Luckily this year we had some beautiful homes offered to us earlier on and we were able to secure florists to decorate them, even though it has been tough for local businesses.”
From Nov. 18 to Dec. 10, anyone making a donation to Hospice Care Ottawa will be given a link that grants them access to 3D tours that let you control how and where you “walk” through the homes, as well as videos by homeowners and the florists pointing out items of interest.
This is the 19th year for the tour, which is a key fundraiser for Hospice Care Ottawa. The hospice provides end-of-life care and services, at no charge, to those living with a life-limiting illness and their families. Over the years, the tour has raised more than $2.5 million to help with the 40 per cent of the hospice’s operating costs that are not provided by government. Despite the last-minute nature of the 2020 event, more than $57,000 was raised.
The six homes on this year’s tour range from contemporary new builds in Old Ottawa East and McKellar Heights to sprawling country homes and a revamped older home.
“It’s going to be a really nice variety, from ultra-modern to very traditional to rustic and contemporary,” says Sharon Lalonde, who has been the tour’s volunteer chair for several years. “These houses will just floor you.”
The homes are decorated by local florists to celebrate the holiday season, with both Christmas and Hanukkah represented. “It’s unbelievable some of the ideas that these florists come up with,” Lalonde says.
While the homes can’t be seen in person this year, she points out that there are advantages to an online tour. For one thing, visitors can explore the homes as many times as they want during the three weeks the tour will be active.
“They can walk through and they can stay in the room as long as they want and they can study the arrangements, whereas on the in-person tour you’re kind of moving along in a line,” says Lalonde.
It’s also not weather dependent and you don’t have to be in the city to take part, she notes. “I sold a ticket (last year) to my girlfriend in Sudan.”
Returning this year is the event’s popular PopUp Shop. This in-person portion of the tour is being held Nov. 19 to 21 at the Hellenic Event Centre instead of the usual Irish ambassador’s residence due to COVID distancing and capacity requirements, but the variety in local vendors remains, offering a unique array of gifts, decor, specialty foods and handmade items. A portion of the proceeds will go to Hospice Care Ottawa.
For more information on the 2021 Homes for the Holidays tour, visit hospicecareottawa.ca.
Here’s a look at the homes you’ll see:
Home #1: Decorated by Mill Street Florist
Key features: Perfect for year-round entertaining, this home was designed, built and decorated by the owners with an emphasis on aging in place. It boasts a 20-foot fireplace in the living room, chef’s kitchen, custom mouldings, locally sourced barn beams, marble and mahogany finishes and grand light fixtures.
Holiday decorating style: It’s a mix of rustic and modern, taking a cue from the home itself, says Mill Street’s Jessica Barrett. “It is a large home, so we made sure to be as dramatic as possible, keeping in scale with the size of the house.” Watch for the fireplace mantel — “You don’t often have such a large blank canvas to work with,” Barrett says — and the fun addition of whole pineapples to the dining room centrepiece.
Quotable: “You’ll be amazed at the design and decoration of that house,” says Lalonde.
Home #2: Decorated by Alta Vista Flowers
Key features: Also made for aging in place, this new build designed by Hobin Architecture includes an elevator from the underground garage, a basement gym that can be converted to a caregiver’s suite, open living spaces to accommodate the owners’ growing family of grandchildren, and plenty of modern conveniences. Key for the owners was being able to stay in their beloved neighbourhood while taking advantage of stunning river views.
Holiday decorating style: This home celebrates a Hanukkah theme. “It is a nice departure for us to do less traditional holiday theme colours in white, silver and blue with an accent of evergreens,” says Karen LeRoy of Alta Vista Flowers. “The colours capture the colours of winter.”
Quotable: “The familiarity of the ’hood was critical to our plans for a home that would allow us to enjoy nature coupled with convenience,” says the homeowner.
Home #3: Decorated by Ottawa Blooms
Key features: Continuing a theme of aging in place, this 1998 bungalow was designed as the forever home for the owners and was nominated for a design award the year after it was built. It features space for an elevator and a basement outfitted for live-in help if needed. The owners also have an eclectic art collection that was gathered in their extensive travels.
Holiday decorating style: Expect to see a lot of red and green.“Simple, but at the same time it’s modern,” says Machiko Iwakiri of Ottawa Blooms.
Quotable: “Looking from the outside does not do this home justice,” says Lalonde.
Home #4: Decorated by Stoneblossom Floral Gallery
Key features: This custom-built transitional modern home features the owner’s own design touches inside. It boasts a sophisticated kitchen with custom eucalyptus panels to hide appliances, expansive patio doors that open to the backyard and a staircase designed to be art. Already an award-winner for its powder room, the staircase and office are up for awards this fall.
Holiday decorating style: It’s an eclectic look that brings in both traditional and modern elements, says Lynette Deir-Mullen of Stoneblossom. Inspired by the decor and the artwork in the home, she’s used lots of yellow and red “with some obscure lines and colours.”
Quotable: “This is a stunning home with a second-floor outdoor room with a (see-through) fireplace,” says Lalonde.
Home #5: Decorated by Flowers Talk Tivoli
Key features: This Georgian-inspired home has been updated and refined in recent years. It sits on a rare urban double lot that includes a pool and a screened-in porch overlooking the back garden. It’s a traditional centre hall layout with elegantly classic touches throughout.
Holiday decorating style: This home is playfully traditional, with touches of whimsy and unexpected finds. There’s an artful use of greenery, plenty of red, green, eucalyptus and splashes of other colours that take their cue from the home’s decor. Watch for the added touch to the dining table napkins, the vibrant wreath in the kitchen and the island pendant additions.
Quotable: “A gorgeous home that’s all been rebuilt,” says Lalonde.
Home #6: Decorated by Riverwood Gardens
Key features: Soaring ceilings and expansive windows flood this sprawling, open-concept bungalow with light. The decor includes both modern and traditional elements. The kitchen is “to die for,” organizers say and, along with the other main living spaces, it was designed for everyday family living and large-scale entertaining.
Holiday decorating style: Riverwood’s Amber Tiede calls it a meeting in the middle, pairing her typically organic, from-the-garden, gathered style with the home’s more minimalist look. “It’s a thoughtful nod to the holidays without being overly in your face Christmas-y.” With a palette of more muted tones — teal, brown, aubergine purple, pewter, gold — the effect, particularly on the 12-foot tree, is an “understated shimmer.” Also watch for the dining table, which pairs the owner’s heirloom china with a modern treatment.
Quotable: “It is a beautiful bungalow with an above-grade basement, where it’s two full levels of living space. And they have a beautiful outdoor space as well,” says Lalonde.
