WITH UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS, WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE PROPERTIES FEATURED MOST RECENTLY ON THE CHRISTMAS IN ST. MICHAELS TOUR OF HOMES
Written by Katie Riley
Photography by Rolfe Hokanson
Every holiday season, during the second weekend in December, residents and visitors of St. Michaels look forward to the much-anticipated Tour of Homes sponsored by Christmas in St. Michaels. The tour includes seven homes and offers visitors the chance to peek inside some of the town’s most beautiful residences and inns. Due to COVID-19, the Tour of Homes will not take place this year, but Coastal Style was invited inside last year’s tour to photograph some of the town’s most stylish abodes, bedecked in their holiday finest. From a historic Victorian inn to a modern Cape Cod just steps from the water, the charm and style of St. Michaels is never more enchanting than at Christmas.
THE FRANA RESIDENCE
Tom and Karen Frana pull out all the stops to decorate their waterfront home on Deep Water Point Road for Christmas. The home’s entry greets visitors with a walkway of white, lit pines and a giant pair of nutcracker soldiers flanking the front door. Inside, the foyer welcomes with a huge, lit wreath, red-and-white poinsettias, garland-draped archways and a group of friendly snowmen.
No corner is left undecorated in the contemporary home, and each room maintains its own personality, with a dash of Christmas cheer. The centerpiece of the home, the open-air great room, dazzles with an oversized chandelier decorated with berries, greenery and hanging pine cones. Garland-wrapped columns surround the room, and tablescapes complete with candles, glass ornaments and fresh greens adorn each of the two sofa tables.
On the mantle, more greens, a set of Santas and sparkling cone trees complement the adjacent full-sized tree, decorated with glass ornaments. A wall of windows showcasing the property’s spectacular views, is hung with five red-ribboned wreaths.
A second tree decorated with clear and aqua coastal-themed ornaments, illuminates the dining room, and the chandelier is draped with red berries. The home’s sunroom features yet another full-sized tree, this one decorated with glass ornaments in blues and greens, to complement the abundance of coastal art hung throughout the home.
THE GEORGE BROOKS HOUSE
On the outskirts of town, on eight acres of land, lies the George Brooks House, a designated Historic Site by the Talbot County Historic Preservation Commission. As the only designated African American historically owned home, the house was originally built by slaves and later expanded to add the 1908 Gothic Revival Victorian house standing today. Now operating as a bed-and-breakfast by Will Workman and his family, the inn welcomes visitors who appreciate the home’s history and extensive gardens. The Workmans also own another inn in town, the Parsonage Inn, in the heart of St. Michaels’ Historic District.
The inn’s color palette is based on historic heritage colors by Sherwin Williams, and furnishings rely heavily on antiques combined with modern seating for comfort. Guest rooms feature four-poster beds, and some rooms have fireplaces.
Each year, around Thanksgiving, the inn comes alive, with colorful holiday décor dressing every room. Doorways and windows are hung with garland, and mantels are draped with candles and greens. Fresh arrangements by Debbie Bridges of Swan Cove Flowers in McDaniel brighten the dining room and parlor. Workman strives to keep the décor in line with the home’s unique heritage.
“We want the holiday décor to have the look and feel of the turn of the century, when the house was built,” Workman said.
The inn’s main Christmas tree was a part of Easton’s Festival of Trees, benefiting the Hospice of Talbot County. It underscored the inn’s nostalgic feel, with a full-sized tree decorated in an It’s a Wonderful Life theme, hung with miniature houses, bells, ribbon and black-and-white photos of the movie.
THE ROBINS-BREIMHURST RESIDENCE
Built in 1852, this home on Grace Street is a classic shingled waterman’s house, remodeled over the years to adapt to today’s living. Owners Sarah Robins and David Breimhurst purchased the home in 2015, when they left careers in media and moved to St. Michaels full-time
from Philadelphia.
“We were sailors and visited for years. Since moving here full-time, we have met so many great people and really fallen into the fabric of the town,” said Robins. The couple have experienced the holiday home tours as visitors and didn’t hesitate when asked about participating with their own home.
“I love getting a glimpse inside St. Michaels’ old houses and seeing how they dress up for Christmas, and it’s a wonderful fundraiser for the town,” Robins added.
With the help of Lucy Spiegel and Maggie Jarboe of the Talbot County Garden Club,
the couple dove right into the holiday decorating, using fresh flowers, berries and magnolias in every room. Spectacular centerpieces arranged throughout the home are the star attraction and perfectly complement the mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings found throughout. The home’s beautiful collection of hand-knotted rugs sets the stage for a classic red-and-white color scheme. In the foyer, a fresh garland festooned with plaid bows lines the staircase, while an entry bench holds a large basket of fresh magnolias. Just off the foyer, the dining room’s mix of antiques and books makes the perfect backdrop for a wreath decorated with oyster shells and two floral arrangements in red-and-white. The décor extends to the screened-in porch, where a full-sized tree is decorated with white lights and red-glass ornaments that echo the color scheme found throughout the home.
1 comment
Wow! The photos really showcase these properties. Very nice.