Hues of orange pop against walls of original art fit for the pages of Architectural Digest in just one of seven private homes decorated for the holidays. Beaufort’s 11th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour, November 17-18, will be in the gated community of Islands of Beaufort.
Homes and the designers participating have never been so diverse in the event’s 11 years. Homeowners 
span the country, relaying a common thread evident in the character of each home. Designers new to the tour bring hip, jaw-dropping ideas with edgy surprises.
“Both the homes and the designers showcase scads of forward trends this year,” states gala co-chair, Elizabeth Dardes. Funky tablescapes, garden vignettes and international influences are all part of the mix by local designers Marjorie Gray and Maleia Everidge of Grayco, Laura Tucker of Laura Tucker Designs, Kathryn Stevens-Ellis of Terra Cotta Design and Provisions, Sally Hendricks of Outrageous Floral, designers Cheryl Smith and Judy Trombino of Cheryl Lynn Smith Interior Design, the team of Maggie Engstrom, Phyllis Chamides, Julie Terry and Amy Lang of Sweet Bay, and designer Jean Kendall. These creative minds generously donate their time and talent for the event. All the homes on the tour are located in the traditional neighborhood of Islands of Beaufort.
Co-chairs of the tour are Heather Burton and Stephanie Sexton, both parents of students at St. Peter’s Catholic School. Working closely with the chairs is Islands of Beaufort marketing director George Smedley. The team is hoping guests experience the one-of-a-kind Islands of Beaufort lifestyle as much as its impressive architecture and innovative ideas of the designers.
Tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s tour are $25 and may be purchased at area businesses as well as on site the days of the tour. Proceeds go to St. Peter’s Catholic School Tuition Assistance Fund, which lowers tuition costs for some families attending St. Peter’s.
Visit www.islandsofbeaufortSC.com for details and directions. With homes that are magazine ready, designers pulling from the hottest trends, and a party of unconventional design, this year’s event promises to remain beguiling while far surpassing the ordinary.
BEAUFORT’S FIRST SNOW BALL: The grand tour kicks off with a Snow Ball on Friday evening. Event planner Ashley Rhodes will magically transform St. Peter’s Walsh Palmetto Room into a winter wonderland with live music from Deas Guyz, a silent auction and catering from Granville’s. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased by calling 522-6510.
