Every year the lovely southern town of Madison, Georgia hosts a Holiday Tour of Homes. The town puts on its holiday finery and welcomes visitors from near and far.
The home tour features several private homes, historic house museums and churches. It’s a festive event with hundreds of cheerful visitors taking in the charms of this unique town. Madison is steeped in history boasting more than 100 antebellum homes and buildings. It’s rare to find houses of this era in Georgia because most were destroyed by General Sherman’s “March to the Sea” at the end of the Civil War. Home tours are a great opportunity to admire these treasured historic houses. Many thanks to the generous citizens of Madison who graciously open their homes for these tours!
Madison is a quick 20-minute drive for me so I can easily enjoy all these home tours. In today’s post, I’d like to share a few highlights from the 2019 and 2018 Madison Holiday Tour of Homes. I’ll also call out a few clever ideas that you might want to incorporate into your own holiday décor.
A row of flickering white candles, tucked beside the Madison Jasmine-covered porch rails, invited guests to enter the Barnett-Stokes-Ball House for a Candlelight Tour.
With Georgia’s wonderful mild winters, porch-living is a year round possibility. The front porch, at the Porch House, exuded holiday spirit.
At the Massey House, the front porch was packed with charming little details such as this display of horse and sleigh bells.
Given that most historic homes relied on fireplaces for heat, there was no shortage of beautifully decorated mantels on the tour. This stunning fireplace and mantel, decked out in magnolia foliage, were spotted at the Richter-Wingate House.
A nice, light touch was used with the holiday decorations in this gorgeous living room in the Barnett-Stokes-Ball House.
Here’s a great decorating idea spotted at the Hilltop House: string together pecans into a pretty, natural garland.
Formal dining rooms are another feature of these lovely historic homes. Tables sparkled with china, crystal and silver. Pretty table linens and gorgeous floral arrangements completed the picture. This stunningly elegant setting was spotted at the Broyles House.
The dining room at the Barnett-Stokes-Ball House was spectacular.
Candles and greenery added a welcoming glow to the beautifully set table. 
Notice the thoughtful little details in this pleasing place setting at the McLeod House. Simple white flowers, unusually shaped dinnerware, a few feathers tucked into the napkin ring and a clove-studded orange.
Here’s a less formal, fun place setting spotted on the kitchen island at the McLeod House.
As you can imagine, the kitchens in these historic homes are not original. Several homes had fairly recent renovations or additions with modern kitchens. Here’s a glimpse of the kitchen at the Brick Cottage. I love how the trio of wreaths is perfectly fitted to the window which in turn frames the gorgeous back garden.
Not all the houses on the tours are historic. The Massey House, for instance, was built in 2005. The warm glow of copper and vintage finds, complemented with greenery and a hand-crafted Santa, graced their kitchen counter.
A great decorating technique I spotted at several homes was to sprinkle groupings and collections throughout the formal and informal living spaces. Here’s an example, also from the Massey House, showcasing a collection of handcrafted Santas on a side table.
This collection of nutcrackers (including one of the biggest nutcrackers I’ve ever seen) add punch and personality to the formal living room at the Porch House.
While the nutcrackers were stunning, this old-timey portable TV displayed in the same cabinet, was really eye-catching. I heard several folks admiring it. Not only is it pretty, but it lights up, the winter scene rotates and it plays holiday music. I’m already trying to find one for myself!
Here’s a great way to display a collection of Christmas ornaments—arrange them in a vintage wooden dough bowl and display as a centerpiece—as they did at the Richter-Wingate House.
Bedrooms, playrooms, and even bathrooms, all received a touch of holiday spirit. For instance, this pretty little display featuring vintage quilts was a delightful surprise in one of the bedrooms at the Newsome Farmhouse.
A simple, old-fashioned garland added a festive touch to this grand bedframe at Heritage Hall.
This chalkboard sign, in the playroom at the Barnett-Stokes-Ball House, added some humorous fun. I wonder if little Evie will get the “real live horse” she requested.
Here in the bathroom at the Brick Cottage, a jar of special soaps got an extra boost with a single holiday motif.
But the best part of this bathroom, and my favorite décor detail, was this bathing snowman!
More Info
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the Madison Holiday Tour of Homes. There was so much more to see than what I’ve been able to include in this post. If you’re ever in the Georgia area during May or December, please try to take in a Madison House Tour. These house tours are typically fundraisers so it’s a great way to support a good cause. You can find more info on the Visit Madison GA website. Again, special thanks to all the homeowners who graciously share their homes.
You may also like these posts regarding Madison’s Spring Tour of Homes:
. Madison’s House Beautiful
. Madison in May – 15 Favorite Fotos
Today’s Takeaways
1. House tours are typically fundraisers so you can support a good cause while enjoying yourself.
2. Consider attending a house tour to see some fresh ideas and get inspired.
3. Holiday house tours are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
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