Somehow my review of the Astors Beechwood Mansion Victorian Christmas tour (Newport RI) we went on a few weeks ago wasn't posted here. I'll try again (I do remember writing it!): See link below for details of the tour. No advanced tickets are required just show up 15 mins before the time to buy your tickets. The tour consisted of 20 minutes that you can tour the various rooms on your own. In each room was a costumed guide that recounted information about the people, furniture, history, etc. Each person kept in character as they answered questions. The various guides in each room had fascinating stories but we felt rushed to see all the rooms as it had been quite a long time since we visited the mansion. Each room was decorated with Christmas related decorations. Next all were invited to the ballroom where the costumed guides put on a show for 40 minutes. The show consisted of piano playing, singing Christmas carols, dancing, playing popular parlor games of the time, etc. (all keeping with the time period of the house). Various audience members participated in all the events except the initial Christmas carols. So if you are shy avoid sitting in the front rows and you won't be asked to participate! Some comments: The Christmas decorations were much simplier than the Newport Mansions decorated for XMas. We did feel rushed touring the rooms in the initial 20 minutes portion. I think if we had more time for this it would have been better. The Xmas songs and performances by the guides were very good (voices/music etc.) The price of an adult ticket was $20 for this hour long event (so kind of steep for a for-profit enterprise!). I would say if you are more interested in decorations touring the 3 Newport Mansions for $25 total (Breakers, Marble House and Elms) would be the thing to do. So while the tour wasn't totally bad, it wasn't the best either (average). Here is a link that might be useful: Astors Beecwood Christmas Tour - Newport RI

There are so many house tours this time of year. Once you start looking for them they are all over the place. I've never been inside Gore Place. I've been to plant sales before. Thanks Cady! Here is another one: Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities will be holding its Holiday House Tour "Christmas at the Faulkner Mansion" atop Belvidere Hill in Historic Lowell, Massachusetts on Sunday,December 10th 2006. The House Tour is Noon  4PM. A Twilight Tour and Cocktail Reception will be held at the mansion,sponsored by RicardoÂs Café Trattoria, from 5:30PM  8PM. For further information, please call 978-452-1421 or visit our website www.ccab.org/mvcc. Proceeds benefit needy families who receive services from Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities.

Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us for a virtual tour. I so enjoy the tours in our area and can only imagine what work it is to have everything as beautiful as you did. Everything was so pretty with such attention to all the little details. Your colors of red and green in the upholstery are great. I would never have thought of using those colors but they work great with the wall colors you chose. You have surely earned some relaxation.

If you don't have xmas collections of your own, I hope you have a christmas tree shoppe near by or some other low cost high selection tchotchke store near you. Or hit up family and friends to share theirs. The holiday houses I've been in are crammed with xmas stuff....something in every room, and I agree with alex that more is more. For the table, a nice grouping of something ... anything...will be great, provided you have height with it. So a row of cone-shaped white or gold trees of various heights....or a passel of candles in various candle holders of matching material like all silver or all glass ... or a tall xmas decoration on a cake plate to get some height. Typically there are xmas type place settings as well with red glasses or whatever....ribbons around the wine glass stems, christmasy napkin rings.... Rather than put a bow on the upholstered chairs, I would put a bow on the top backs of each of the wooden chairs. Take a fat ribbon and start on the top left of the chair back...ribbon goes down and under, across the slats on the backside of the chair and up the other side in the front. Criss cross both ends and staple to the center back of the ribbon on the back and let the tails hang...that gives you a base to attach a large bow to. And of course all this needs to be color coordinated so it gives an even larger impression for your large room.