Meet the skillful and creative artists who took part in last year’s successful Collingwood Holiday House Tour, artfully transforming several spectacular homes in the area into masterful showcases for the holiday season. This annual event raises money for local charities.

all dressed upFOR THE HOLIDAYS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOHDAN CHREPTAK

Mary NorrisCherché House of DesignW H AT M A K ES C H R I ST M AS

S P EC I A L FO R YO U ? It goes without saying, having your family and friends together, plus the turkey trimmings and wine!HOW DO YOU DECORATE YOUR

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS? I’m a traditionalist at heart and generally go “over the top.” To tell you the truth, it’s what my kids always look forward to.

Andrea RamacieriDesigns By AndreaA N Y S P EC I A L H O L I DAY

FA M I LY T RA D I T I O N S?

Christmas Eve starts with a traditional fish dinner in honour of my Italian grandparents, followed by a gathering of friends and family, carol singing (all the children participate) and feeding the reindeer. Midnight mass is attended by those who can stay awake. On Christmas morning, we open stockings and gifts, drink coffee and eat Nonna’s cookies. W H I T E C H R I ST M AS O R

SA N DY B E AC H C H R I ST M AS?

Being a traditionalist, I would have to say white Christmas, but a sandy beach celebration is something I look forward to trying at least once! Continued on page 66

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Cathy LanePanache Design WorksD ESC R I B E YO U R

T Y P I CA L C H R I ST M AS

DAY: We never have a typical Christmas day, because the Panache warehouse and workshop is on our property, and the girls and I have been surrounded by Christmas for six months. When the big day finally comes, we’re really happy to get on the road to visit family and friends. My sister usually hosts the family and cooks an amazing meal. D O YO U H AV E A

FAVO U R I T E H O L I DAY

FO O D? My favourite holiday food is whatever my sister makes. She’s an incredible cook and always has something new and exciting on the table. You never know what she’s going to do - never fish (thank God!), but even if she takes the traditional route, she makes it amazing, and never light in the calorie department!Continued on page 68

sandynattress@gmail.com www.dagsandwillow.ca60 Pine St., Collingwood 705-444-9100

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Dags_MtnLife Nov2012 vC2 hr.pdf 11/14/12 2:35:11 PM

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FURNISHINGS FROM ELIZABETH INTERIORS

Heather Cook & Herma Vegter-PetrieLeuk Bij HermasH OW D O YO U D ECO RAT E YO U R C H R I ST M AS T R E E ? Herma: I love to decorate our tree (and it has to be a very large tree… for a very large family!!) with joy and love in beautiful whites, creams and silvery pewters in all kinds of textures and shapes. Tons of fun!D O YO U H AV E O N E C H R I ST M AS M E M O RY T H AT R E A L LY STA N DS O U T ? Herma: A wonderful memory was of a snowy Ottawa Christmas Eve after a joyful family church service, driving through the quiet blanketed snow-covered streets seeing all the twinkling lights. It was such an inspiring scene… and one I will always treasure.FAVO U R I T E G I F T TO G I V E ? Heather: I like to give handmade personalized gifts. FAVO U R I T E G I F T TO R EC E I V E ? Heather: I love unwrapping art supplies. Continued on page 70

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Jo Redman & Anna WatsonRedman & Watson Interior and Architectural DesignW H AT ’S YO U R FAVO U R I T E T H I N G TO D O AT C H R I ST M AS? Traditions are what make Christmas special and something to look forward to each year. Jo takes her boys to the Christmas tree farm to find and cut down the perfect tree, followed by homemade hot chocolate and tree decorating. My daughter Caley was born on December 24th, so every year we gather to celebrate her birthday, decorate the Christmas tree and roast chestnuts. Christmas day traditions include eggs Benedict for breakfast and skating on the pond.I S C H R I ST M AS A B I G C E L E B RAT I O N I N YO U R H O M E ? For us, Christmas is about family time. Jo has a big noisy Italian family that loves to cook and eat together. My family is smaller, but as it’s often the only occasion we’re all together, it’s always a special time of year for me. Continued on page 72

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Sharon AllanVan Allan Design CentreT RA D I T I O N A L O R

M O D E R N C H R I ST M AS? By all means traditional! From ornaments the children made in grade school, Aunt Hazel’s vintage cardboard and glitter churches, the nutcracker collection my daughter adds to each year, to the few remaining blown glass ornaments my parents picked up in Germany. The more stories and memories the better!D O YO U BA K E

S P EC I A L G O O D I ES

AT C H R I ST M AS? Nowadays it’s the gingerbread cookies that appear at Christmas, based on my mom’s recipe that uses pepper for a bite. When the children were little, it was a house that everyone would help build, that looked like it was nibbled on by mice after the kids would sneak Smarties and gumdrops.Continued on page 74

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Smart wiring and home automationWhole home audio/videoHome lighting control systemsElectronic shade and drapery controlSecurity systems and monitoring

Connecting you and your home

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info@thornbur ybui ldersandtrades.com

www.thornburybuildersandtrades.com

“There is Strength in Unity”

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Rhonda Green & colleagues Patti Hodgkinson & Marie-Therese BenoitGreentree Gardens & EmporiumW H AT ’S O N E O F YO U R FAVO U R I T E C H R I ST M AS

M E M O R I ES? My favourite Christmas memory is returning home on December 25th, 1986 with our new baby daughter Ashley.H OW W I L L YO U S P E N D C H R I ST M AS DAY? Christmas Day is always a brunch, and I watch my favourite movie, A Christmas Story, with my family. Continued on page 76

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Katherine Arcaro & colleague Polly TaylorFAD Farrow Arcaro DesignT E L L U S A BO U T YO U R FAVO U R I T E C H R I ST M AS : Katherine: No hydro, no water, and snow up to the rooftop of our Victorian farmhouse in Markdale. Just hung out in our small mudroom by candlelight, with my mom trying her best to cook turkey on the old wood stove. Christmas dinner was served on our fold-up card table in the dark, but it was the best ever! I’ll never forget it!W H AT ’S T H E B EST P R ES E N T YO U EV E R R EC E I V E D? Katherine: I’m still waiting! (Just kidding!) I think it’s when I give my husband a Christmas gift list and I get everything on it!W H AT ’S YO U R FAVO U R I T E H O L I DAY T RA D I T I O N : Polly: We always have a chocolate fondue on Christmas Eve. My kids just love it, it’s so much fun. Continued on page 78

cool breezes, blue skies, fall leavesmums, pumpkins and autumn wreaths

...it doesn’t get any more “fall” than this.

11555 Hwy 26 W Collingwood 705.444.2146

greentreeGARDENS & EMPORIUM

Holiday Open HouseThe fresh holiday greenery will have just arrived and the store is full of sparkle. We will have our warm cranberry cider ready and a table full of tasty treats. Greentree has 2 greenhouses filled with artists that this year include: one of a kind art, fine table linens, jewellery, hand crafted soaps, live edge furniture, personalized bunting and much much more!

Saturday November 16th 10-5Sunday November 17th 10-4 Please join us...We look forward to seeing you!

705.446.1168

LoftPlanning.com

KRISTINE LOFTBES BAA MCIP RPPPrincipal

Land Use Planning | Project Management

HappyHolidays

King’s Court, Thornbury . www.floorcrafters.ca . 519.599.5055

HARDWOOD . NATURAL STONE . GRANITE . FRAMELESS GLASS

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Here are a few of the talented decorators and designers who will be uniquely styling six beautiful homes for this year’s Collingwood Holiday House Tour. From left to right:

Lucia CrupiLucia Crupi DesignsOutdoor Floral/Landscape Design

Stacey KinneyTerase Art & HomeDecorator/Interior Design B.I.D.

Holly StoneStone Home DesignInterior Decorating for a Peak’s Bay home

Bill BrennanTerase Art & HomeDecorator & Art Dealer

Denise D’AngiccoGeorgian ChristmasChristmas Decoration Supplier

Marcy StewartMs. DesignDecorator

Teri Keleher Sakura InteriorsHoliday Décor for a home on Pine Street OH

PHOTO BY BONNIE FOX

519.599.3337blacktuskdev.ca

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