Happy (almost) Christmas! Sorry to take so long getting these 2018 Newburyport Holiday House Tour 2018 tour pics up. I ended up taking so many photos it’s taken forever to edit them down into a manageable tour. As I’ve often said, Newburyport, Massachusetts is my absolute favorite city. One of the things I love about the place is that the architecture is so varied – from little Colonials to majestic Federals and Victorians to sweet and stylish beach houses. And the Christmas tour always has it all.
Plum Island Waterfront
First up is this sweet little bungalow on Plum Island with the spectacular water view. This house was on the summertime Kitchen Tour a couple of years ago which I featured here. This is the home of interior decorator and stager Kate Daskalakis of KSD Designs.
The water views really are spectacular.
I loved the little touches like the vintage letters.
It’s very hard to tell, but in the photo above on the left at the bottom of the stairs was a gorgeous golden retriever who welcomed guests/guarded the house during the tour. She was sound asleep when I went through. So sweet.
A little peek-a-boo moment above.
Pond Street Victorian
Next up is a stately Queen Anne Style Victorian beauty known locally as “The Sunshine House” which was built around 1900.
Love the bright blue front door and the gas light lanterns.
This was definitely my favorite tablescape on the house tour.
It was also my favorite kitchen.
I just fell in love with the windows over the cabinets. What a great way to enhance the natural light in a space.
They have carved out a sweet little girl’s fairy snug under the stairs.
The first floor living room has been opened up to the front hall for a more modern open-plan space.
A Georgian on Federal Street
This classic brick Georgian was built in 1794 by shipping magnate William Bartlet who began his career as a cobbler and ended up the wealthiest man in town and owner of as many as 17 ships. In 1906 the house was purchased by the Archdiocese of Boston for use as a rectory and convent for St. Aloysius de Gonzaga, aka The French Church. The church was decommissioned in 2000 and has been converted to two condos, one of which was also on the tour. I’ll be showing that in a separate post. Meanwhile the Bartlet home has become a single-family home again.
The pale blue French Room was one of my favorites. Note the Chinese Chippendale style overmantel inspired by the works of Christopher Wren and Robert Adams.
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The sunroom featured a cute little kids table.
I loved the dining room as well. The photos don’t do it justice – it’s actually a little darker than my photos show. Kind of moody and atmospheric. There were comments from others in the room that they thought it was too dark, but I though it perfect.
Loved the simple wreath with the bold bow on the iron gate when leaving the property. I also love the red clapboard house across the street. As I mentioned up top – I just love the mix of architectural styles and colors in this town!
High Street Italianate
And now:
I loved these sparkly, spiky trees.
I can’t resist a peek-a-boo moment.
Gorgeous sink and I love the rough of the grass cloth against the refinement of the sink, which is available here.
Love this horse!
This window treatment was to die for. Not a surprise that homeowner, Brenda Geerlings, is an interior designer.
I absolutely thought that these built-ins below (there was another facing this one) which was in a space between the front hallway and kitchen, were original to the house. But am not sure I’m seeing them in the “before” photos, so who knows… They looked great though!
Editing to add in 2022: See this house and lots of great photos from the 2022 Kitchen Tour.
High Street Greek Revival aka The British Are Coming!
Nestled amongst the historic homes on High Street is this newly built 2011 Greek Revival home. The home is styled in a decidedly British fashion complete with a Grenadier guard at the door and some mod furnishings within. Yeah baby! The house was designed by architect Scott Brown and homeowner, architectural/interior designer Mindi Poston Gay of MPG Home Design.
Out behind the house there is even a British telephone box (no photos though because there were kids playing around it). They were serving tea earlier in the day apparently, but this was one of the last houses I visited just before the end of the tour.
High Street Bonus House
So, for a bonus, I wanted to show pics of this gorgeous 2012 built Georgian Revival style house which sits next to the British Greek Revival above. I always love a spare, all white house and this one always has me swooning when I drive by.
One of the most eye-catching features are the gas lanterns. The Greek Revival next door also has them. Such a wonderful old-world touch. These houses are right on the road, so these details are available for all to enjoy.
As a matter of fact, I literally forgot this house wasn’t on the tour and walked right into the driveway to get a better photo of the side and lantern. Hello, private property!
Look at the gorgeous three-masted weather vane over the garage!
More gas-light goodness.
More pics and details about this house are here.
Hello Linda, You are lucky to get to explore Newburyport in this fashion. I collect old photographs of old houses, and have many from the Newburyport area, so I know how rich it is architecturally.
–Jim
Hi Jim – It’s my favorite place!