This is the fifth and final post in a series of posts previewing the homes on The Georgia Club Foundation’s Christmas Tour of Homes, set for Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online or at the following locations: The Peoples Bank (Athens, Statham, Winder, Braselton), Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, University Parkway, Bogart), Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Barrow Chamber of Commerce, Heery’s, Too (Athens), The Georgia Club Clubhouse, Sales Office and Admin/Membership Office. Phone orders are accepted by calling Sarah Freeman at 770-725-4704.

The Home of Rick & Judy Manus: A Christmas Showcase

The home of Rick and Judy Manus is no stranger to the Christmas Tour of Homes, as it was one of the most talked about from the 2007 Tour. With its tasteful European flair and grandeur, the Manus home is sure to impress once again this year.

A black and white checkered marble floor and a plethora of beautiful Lana Mitchell oil paintings greet guests as they enter the foyer. To the left is the formal dining room featuring a white marble fireplace and Swarovski crystal chandelier.

Also on the main floor are the formal living room, master suite and spacious bathroom, gourmet kitchen and adjacent keeping room where guests can enjoy delicious goodies from Black Forest Bakery.

The other rooms on the upper level attest to Judy’s keen eye for design. The Peacock Room showcases her affinity for stylish feathers and rich purples while the guest suite carries guests away with wild animal prints and gold accents.

The lower level of the home has been the setting for many a gathering and offers room for endless creativity due to its spacious layout. A special Christmas surprise awaits guests in this impressive section of the Manus home.

It’s no secret that the Manus’ value family and togetherness, which makes their home the ideal place for close relatives to spend Christmas every year. Judy puts her heart and soul into decorating the house with uniquely different Christmas trees and diversely themed rooms, starting in early November. Her unique taste and visions for décor translate beautifully, offering a genuinely magical experience for all who visit her home at Christmastime.

This is the fourth in a series of posts previewing the homes on The Georgia Club Foundation’s Christmas Tour of Homes, set for Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online or at the following locations: The Peoples Bank (Athens, Statham, Winder, Braselton), Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, University Parkway, Bogart), Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Barrow Chamber of Commerce, Heery’s, Too (Athens), The Georgia Club Clubhouse, Sales Office and Admin/Membership Office. Phone orders are accepted by calling Sarah Freeman at 770-725-4704.

The Home of Lynn & Steve Baginski: A New Classic

The home of Stephen and Lynn Baginski will offer guests many surprises during this Christmas event. The charming exterior of this Oconee Springs home encloses courtyard living at its best. Walk through the front door and step into a haven of tranquility as water ripples from the flowing stream of the pool and spa. The perfect place for entertaining friends or simply enjoying a peaceful evening, the courtyard serves as the heart of the home.

Inside, the home is a marvel for interior décor. An eclectic pattern, the house features modern, antique, oriental, geometric and traditional design schemes. Uniting the design is a regal pairing of gold and browns which appears in each room. The home is a treasure chest for family heirlooms and keepsakes such as antique tables, photos and a hope chest located on the second level in the brown bedroom. For the Christmas season, the table will be set with 100-year-old china which belonged to Lynn’s grandmother, Eleanor.

The décor also displays the Baginski’s love for international travel. The home is sprinkled with European vestige such as jewel-toned cordials and wine glasses from Italy’s glassmaking island, Murano. Other treasures include Parisian watercolors and famous art books.

There is much to enjoy in the Baginski home, especially during the holiday season. Guests will be welcomed at the door by a bejeweled Santa, an eye-catching treat that will set the mood of the tour. A German candle pyramid will also be on display. In addition to an inside tree, the home will feature an outdoor Christmas tree, emphasizing the luxury of a courtyard home that brings the “outside in.”

This is the third in a series of posts previewing the homes on The Georgia Club Foundation’s Christmas Tour of Homes, set for Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online or at the following locations: The Peoples Bank (Athens, Statham, Winder, Braselton), Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, University Parkway, Bogart), Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Barrow Chamber of Commerce, Heery’s, Too (Athens), The Georgia Club Clubhouse, Sales Office and Admin/Membership Office. Phone orders are accepted by calling Sarah Freeman at 770-725-4704.

The Home of Barbara & Cicero Lucas: Southern Christmas Memories

The third home being featured is that of Barbara and Cicero Lucas. From the sweeping front porch to the hand-painted China and Georgia Bulldog collection inside, the Lucas home paints the picture of southern splendor and family keepsakes throughout.

Large magnolia trees surrounding the spacious porch and traditional wreaths hanging from velvet ribbon from every window present the original views seen of this beautiful southern home.

Once inside, the entry foyer showcases the first of several Christmas trees to be viewed throughout the home, as well as a collection of Snow Baby figurines in the curio cabinet.

Guests will be invited to view the upstairs guest bedrooms complete with several examples of the hand-painted China and lamps that Cicero’s mother lovingly created (more examples of her craftsmanship are on display in the downstairs dining room).

Traditional Southern entertaining always involves a good meal and fine surroundings, and the dining room sets the perfect stage for that. The presentation of fine China, needlepoint artwork, the silver tea set and the chandelier, which was a wedding present to Barbara and Cicero is elegant and nostalgic.

The great room is spacious and inviting with custom shelving and coffered ceiling, and has wonderful views through the covered back porch of the golf course.

The kitchen and breakfast nook is another inviting and welcoming space in the home and presents itself beautifully with custom window treatments, rich cabinet work and black granite countertops and backsplashes.

A very impressive collection of UGA football lore is on display, many of the items centered around Cicero’s football days with UGA from 1955 through 1958 when he played fullback and guard. Framed football jerseys, pictures, Jack Davis prints, a button collection, scrapbooks, and the Lucas’s collection of every football media guide since 1972 are showcased. Not surprisingly, this is where the couple’s Bulldog Christmas tree is proudly on display.

This is the second in a series of posts previewing the homes on The Georgia Club Foundation’s Christmas Tour of Homes, set for Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online or at the following locations: The Peoples Bank (Athens, Statham, Winder, Braselton), Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, University Parkway, Bogart), Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Barrow Chamber of Commerce, Heery’s, Too (Athens), The Georgia Club Clubhouse, Sales Office and Admin/Membership Office. Phone orders are accepted by calling Sarah Freeman at 770-725-4704.

The Home of Pam & David Shockley: Home for the Holidays

As one of the first homes you see upon entering The Georgia Club, the home of David and Pam Shockley boasts classic Southern Charm. Wide plantation shutters, a front porch swing and an intimate sitting area in the back entrance are reminiscent of the simple things in life. Dressed for the holidays with garland and Poinsettias, guests will be welcome to enjoy the season in a classic Christmas cottage.

While the exterior of the home invites you in, the inside proves all that is true of elegant comfort and Southern hospitality. The home is cozy, as an open floor plan evokes the feelings of family and togetherness. Light hardwood flooring illuminates the great room, which is perfectly balanced by the dark cherry kitchen cabinetry and sprawling dining room table.

The home is the essence of a Christmas morning as five trees represent all that is meaningful during the holiday season. The great room tree is a whimsical trimming of gold, red and pear green ornaments. The stairway tree is sentimental, as it displays special ornaments the Shockleys have collected on their travels such as a Tartan and Thistle ornament from Scotland and a Redwood ornament from Northern California. Three small trees adorn each bedroom featuring important themes to the Shockleys, including tradition, home and, of course, the Georgia Bulldogs. Other seasonal items include Lenox Winter Greetings china and an eye-catching Swarovski ornament collection.

The Shockley home is a warm, intimate cottage decorated in seasonal splendor. Cherished traditions create a classic Southern Christmas that celebrates the meaning of “home for the holidays.”

This is the first in a series of posts previewing the homes on The Georgia Club Foundation’s Christmas Tour of Homes, set for Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online or at the following locations: The Peoples Bank (Athens, Statham, Winder, Braselton), Oconee State Bank (Watkinsville, University Parkway, Bogart), Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Barrow Chamber of Commerce, Heery’s, Too (Athens), The Georgia Club Clubhouse, Sales Office and Admin/Membership Office. Phone orders are accepted by calling Sarah Freeman at 770-725-8107.

The Home of Cindy and Don Hanenburg: Homeland Celebrations

This delightfully charming Boulevard home in the North Hill Neighborhood is the perfect manifestation of Cindy and Don Hanenburg’s natural talent for hospitality. Full of personal touches from their Dutch heritage, this home has character in every corner that sets it apart from other homes.

After entering the home through the inviting front porch, guests will immediately notice why the Hanenburgs fell in love with this Gary & Olsson floor plan—the spacious layout of both the interior and exterior offers a safe haven for rest and relaxation. To the right, the formal dining room table will host a surprise planned by decorator Tracey Cook of Design, Etc. A close friend of Cindy’s painted the walls of the dining room in three layers of a warm brass tone to create a unique textural effect, a fitting backdrop for the special meals enjoyed by the family in the formal dining room.

A gorgeous clock curio watches over the foyer leading to the living room and kitchen area of the house. Guests can view the delightful baked goods from The Daily Deli as they take in the elegance and function of the kitchen. The spacious master suite displays a Thomas Kinkade Christmas painting and continues the rich red tones themed throughout the home.

Cindy and Don both love to decorate for Christmas, and are especially excited about opening up their home to the Tour of Homes guests. A candle and wreath in each front window of their abode creates a warm and inviting aura for all who pass by their home at Christmastime.

The Georgia Club Foundation and Tour Chairperson Susan VanHook are proud to announce the homes on the 3rd Annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, December 13 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Visitors will celebrate the festive season by touring five of The Georgia Club’s premier residential homes decorated for the holidays. We are grateful to the following homeowners for their great support of this Tour. Watch for more details coming soon.

Homes included on this year’s tour are:

The Home of the Manus Family – A Christmas Showcase
Each room in this gorgeous home is delightfully decorated with a different theme. A Christmas table set with beautiful family heirloom china is among other outstanding displays. This home was one of the most talked about from the 2007 Tour and is truly a Christmas fantasy for all ages!

The Home of Barbara & Cicero Lucas – Southern Christmas Memories
This Wexford Garden home shows off its true southern charm with a Christmas home setting displaying family hand-painted china, antique pieces, and a very southern use of Christmas greens. Bulldog fans will not want to miss the fabulous display of UGA memorabilia!

The Home of Cindy & Don Hanenburg – Homeland Celebrations
Touches of Dutch ancestry are sprinkled about this beautiful home decorated for the holidays. There is a wonderful display of Teddy Bears to delight all!

The Home of Lynn & Steve Baginski – A New Classic
This beautiful courtyard home blends old accents with new styles warmly decorated for Christmas. Tasteful displays featuring antiques with a touch of whimsical accessories create a classically-decorated Christmas home.

The Home of Pam & David Shockley – Home for the Holidays
A warm, intimate cottage that says “Welcome Home for the Holidays”. The front and back porches alone will put you in the Christmas spirit!

Proceeds from the event will benefit several local charities and service organizations. The 2009 beneficiaries will include Peace Place, Project Safe, Partners in Education Fund (Bethlehem Elementary, Haymon-Morris Middle, Rocky Branch Elementary and Malcolm Bridge Middle), local High School scholarship funds and The Georgia Club Foundation. For a full description of each beneficiary, please click here.

 The Christmas Tour of Homes also presents many advertising and sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising for this year’s Tour, please review the Sponsorship List and then fill out the Sponsor Form. Please mail any checks, forms or ads to The Georgia Club Foundation 854 Commons Park Suite 235 Statham, GA 30666-9902.

The Second Annual Christmas Tour of Homes is THIS SUNDAY, December 7. Tickets are still available for purchase at the following location: The Georgia Club (call 770-725-8100), North Georgia Bank (Watkinsville), Barrow & Oconee Chambers and The Peoples Bank (Winder/Statham/Athens). Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the Tour and will be sold in two time slots—arrival between Noon and 2:00 p.m. and arrival after 2:00 p.m. The Tour will conclude at 5:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!