Home tours spark holiday decorating tips
Throughout Butler County, homeowners will open their houses to the community as part of tours to kickoff and celebrate the holiday season.
From these homes will come many holiday decorating ideas. One is a do-it-yourself approach, said Roeshel Summerville, owner of Suite Thyme, an Airbnb in Butler, which will be among those showcased.
“Crank the Christmas carols,” said Roeshel Summerville, a 13-year DIY blogger who journals the transformation of her home and the building she purchased in 2017.
Her passion for decorating and enjoyment of creative freedom drove the renovations in her space and holiday decorating.
“My favorite holiday DIY is creating Christmas gift baskets, but I also enjoy decorating and the glow of a Christmas tree,” she said. “I love making my spaces warm, inviting and festive.”
Although she loves all her DIY Christmas decorations, her favorite space is the landing area.
“It's a comfy cozy reading nook, perfect for curling up with a good book, a mug of hot cocoa and some Christmas cookies,” she said. “It has a holiday woodland theme with Christmas lights, small pine trees, mistletoe and light up deer.”
Summerville's business is one of the seven structures featured in the Butler County Symphony Association's 30th annual Holiday Tour of Homes on Sunday.
The tour includes five homes, the Maridon Museum and First English Lutheran Church, which each location offering diversity, said Heather Heofel, board member and tour organizer.
People can make a holiday-filled day at the Butler County Symphony Association major fund-raising event and attend its Holiday Traditions concert the same day.
“It's special to be able to have someone welcome you into their home, see their decorations and learn about traditions,” Heofel said.
Visitors get to share in the warm and inviting atmosphere of the holidays.
From prized possessions to Christmas lights, personality shines through the way people decorate their homes and stories surrounding their themes, Heofel said.
Do-it-yourself decorating is the staple in Summerville's home at 229 N. Washington Street.Enjoy holiday touches at every turn to spark creativity for decorating your own home-sweet-holiday home. Suite Thyme opened its doors in August, Summerville said. Downstairs houses her wellness studio.Summerville's home was on the tour a few years ago. Now, she decided to showcase her business.The creative freedom allowed her to be more bold in her ideas, she said.Summerville said she hopes to inspire others to come up with Christmas decorating ideas and spread holiday cheer.“Overall, I love decorating,” she said.
Shelby Spinneweber's Suite Retreat Bed & Biscotti, at 224 N. Washington Street, partnered with local downtown Butler businesses to decorate.Her holiday decorating theme this year is “Send me an Angel.”Mystique Moon Antiques, Cummings Candy and Coffeehouse, All About Reclaimed and Then and Again an Emporium were among the businesses who filled the home with angelic decor.Steve Reed's home at 240 Vogel Road features different themes: Penn State University, bridges and monkeys. Reed's alma mater is Penn State, his occupation is in the bridge construction industry; and he is fascinated with monkeys.
The home of Christina, a bassoonist and symphony board member, and Michael Savannah at 107 Fairlane Drive is decorated with a tree in each room that reflects a different theme and relates to the family for a personal touch.The living room has a musical theme that carries from the Christmas tree in the front window to the angels surrounding the Nativity on the mantel.The basement follows a Pittsburgh Sports theme. Be sure to see the trees displayed on the screened porch.In their daughter's room, horses are the spotlight because she is pursuing a degree in Equine Business Management and Training from the University of Findlay.The second bedroom is decorated in white and roses, the office and music room keeps true to a music theme with blues and whites, and the master bedroom has a more natural, woodsy theme.
People can play to the colors in each of their home's rooms to create a different theme in each, which can liven up decorations, said Heofel, whose own home was featured previously on the tour.Sprinkle your Christmas tree with personality, she said.Multiple Christmas trees throughout a house is an alternative decorating method for people who do not want to go all out in their home, she said.Take curb appeal into consideration with natural light and windows. A window setting is a glimpse into the decorations in a home, Heofel said.“For me, I love seeing people's creativity come alive,” she said.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tour; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. luncheon; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. basket raffle Saturday. Basket raffle and luncheon are at First English Lutheran Church.COST: $20 presale; $25 day of; $8 luncheonPROCEEDS: Benefits the Butler County Symphony AssociationTICKETS: Available at the symphony office, 259 S. Main Street; May's Music Shoppe; The Thinking Cap; Meridian Gift Shop; and Truly Yours at the Clearview Mall.HOMES:Maridon Museum, 322 N. McKean St.First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St.Steve Reed, 240 Vogel Road, parking at BC3Christina and Michael Savannah, 107 Fairlane DriveShelby Spinneweber, 224 N. Washington St.Roeshel Summerville, 229 N. Washington St.Thomas and Penny Wippenbeck, 235 Timothy Run LaneZelienople Historical Society's 27th Annual Christmas Home TourWHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. SaturdayWHAT: Zelienople area homes decorated in a variety of styles will be opened for guests during the self-drive event. The tour begins at 9 a.m. when maps and brochures are distributed. The starting point and luncheon location will be outlined in the greeting letter given to paid ticket holders.TICKETS: $25, includes the tour and a catered luncheon featuring door prizes and a quilt raffle drawing.
