Celebrate the Season with a Columbia Tradition

26th Annual Holiday Home Tour

Sponsored by the Women’s Symphony League, the 2009 Holiday Home Tour is your ticket to see some of the most beautiful, whimsical and creative holiday décor in Columbia. Each year, a select group of homeowners opens their doors to the community for this holiday tradition, and all proceeds benefit the Women’s Symphony League, a non-profit organization that aims to heighten the city’s cultural environment through education of the arts and preservation and use of the Missouri Theatre.

The tour takes place on Dec. 5 and 6 and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are required for entry into each home and may be purchased for $12 in advance or $15 at the door. The event begins in downtown Columbia at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts with a tour of the newly renovated venue. Then participants can venture to each of the featured homes.

The following pages offer a peek at the locations highlighted on this year’s tour. From elaborate trees to snoozing Santas, tour goers will 
find there’s a little something for everyone.

Happy Holidays from 
the Schlemeiers

Terry and Barbara Schlemeier, 601 W. Rollins Court

Nestled in the woods in the middle of Columbia, this home, built in 1989, was made to preserve as many trees as possible. The sense of rural isolation framed by the panoramic view from north-facing windows gives one the feeling of “gemutlichkeit,” which means, according to the Schlemeiers, “being comfortable in your own surroundings with the sense that everything is at peace.”

The home’s fireplaces and color schemes adapt beautifully to the Schlemeiers’ holiday decorations, which include two Christmas trees and multiple garlands of lavish greenery. A seasonal guest taking a much-deserved snooze in the hammock on the screened-in porch is a special holiday treat you won’t want to miss.

Merry Christmas from the Pitzer family

Kate and Matthew Pitzer Home, 3402 Cross Timber Court

A clever mix of modern conveniences, interesting art and a variety of salvaged materials characterize this high-tech “green home.” The modern farmhouse-style house is whimsically decorated by its young family, from the outside in.

Swags of greenery drape across the large front porch and set the tone for the décor that carries through the house. In the formal dining room, a Christmas tree is encrusted with antique ornaments and beads, some of which are family decorations that date back more than 100 years. Other trees stand throughout the home: a child’s tree, a Dr. Seuss feather tree and a tree that features a nativity scene and is adorned with gold balls and grapes.

Some decorations by Kent’s Floral Gallery

Joyeux Noël from the Baugher family

Jackie and David Baugher Home, 211 Bingham Road

Jackie and David Baugher purchased their home in the Grasslands in 2005 and moved in after an extensive 18-month renovation. This Georgian-style home was designed by the late local architect Harry Bill and completed in 1927.

The newly remodeled, four-level home — one of the first four houses built in the Grasslands — features a mix of old and new. An existing, preserved curved wall across the back of the house lends a unique perspective to the rooms within.

Indoor and outdoor wreaths decorate the home, and a Fraser Fir tree is featured in the living room. A themed children’s tree and a nativity scene evoke a holiday spirit. In keeping with Jackie’s French heritage, a “bûche de Noël,” or yule log, is part of the family’s holiday tradition.

Some decorations by Frameworks

Seasons Greetings from Diane and Jeanne

Dr. Jeanne Sebaugh and Diane Booth Home, 3609 Holly Hills Court

This single-story brick and redwood, wheelchair-accessible home was specifically designed for a 3-acre site on a ridge overlooking Hinkson Creek and the Hinkson Woods Conservation Area.

Highlights include the 20-foot-high marble fireplace and the unique design of the great room’s hardwood floor, which mirrors the tower’s hexagonal beams and skylight. Natural light and large windows bring the changing seasons into the home.

Original artwork and crafts from their numerous travels are artistically displayed throughout. Holiday decorations are family favorites and include spectacular indoor and outdoor tree lighting displays.

Indoor and outdoor lighting by Randy Fletcher of Brighter Days!