Comfort and Joy Abound on 'Home for the Holidays' Tour

Three homes in Westfield and one in Mountainside captured the splendor of the season to the delight of those who visited them on Coldwell Banker's second annual 'Home for the Holidays' House Tour.

In addition to lighted Christmas trees and menorahs, homes were filled with the sound of music courtesy of talented musicians and singers including, pianists Prestine Allen, Tom Colao, and Kate MacPherson, soprano Shannon E. Hunt, tenor Craig Sanphy, and the Continuo Arts Foundation's Continuos.

The festive home tour benefitted The Continuo Arts Foundation, a charitable organization that furthers artistic advancement by providing local, national and international performance opportunities for gifted artists, musicians, and composers in addition to fostering musical appreciation through education and exposure.

In the event program, which provided an interesting history of each of the homes, the Foundation's president and executive director Candace Wicke, DMA, thanked all those who made the event possible, including the homeowners who graciously opened their residences.

Stockings were hung by the chimney with care and poinsettias were perfectly appointed thanks to the watchful eyes of stagers Suzy Minken, of BestInShowing.com and Michelle Rosen and Hilary Hefner of MORe Staging as well as designers Barbara McElheny and Barbara Vincentsen.

Westfield-based decorators Paula S. Adams and Mimi and Hill Interiors lent their magic touches to homes on Little Court and Kimball Avenue respectively.

For homeowner Miriam Silver, the Mimi of Mimi and Hill, renovating and decorating her 1938 Colonial was not only a labor of love but also a marriage of beauty and practicality. A mother of four, Silver said living in the home for years before remodeling it gave her extensive insight. Sometimes the functional supersedes the aesthetic, she said referring to spacious artroom where her daughters' projects are rendered and lovingly preserved. 

Tour chairperson Sherrie Natko personally greeted guests at the Center Hall Colonial on view on Winyah Avenue. The Westfield realtor reminded visitors that their tickets grant them special seating at The Continuo Arts Foundation's traditional holiday concert 'Christmas Time in the City' on Sunday, Dec. 16.

The concert, free and open to the public, is the Foundation's gift to the community. Guests are asked to bring along gently-used shoes for donation to Soles for Souls. 

For more information, visit www.continuoarts.com or call 908-264-5324.