The Concord Holiday House Tour

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you all had a great weekend.  Mine was fantastic!  If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I have an affinity for Home and Showhouse Tours.  Saturday, I ventured out to one of my favorite towns, Concord with my friend Linda. We then met the original Sudbury Sweetheart, Mary to take in the Holiday Home Tour.  

Believe me, it did not disappoint.  

Not only did I get to see some gorgeous homes, but I also made some new friends along the way.  This is Tina from Tina Labadini Designs. 

Tina invented the Doggy Ditty which is a handy bag to hold all the necessities you need to walk a dog - phone, bags, etc.  The crossover strap doubles as a leash.

A great idea for a stocking stuffer for the dog lover in your life.  

Tina also carries 100% cotton flour sack towels that are so darling and well priced.

Next stop was a favorite store of mine, Sara Campbell.

The store was decked out in all its glory.  I approached the pretty lady on the right and asked if I could take a few photos to share with you.  To my surprise, Kellie told me that she reads my blog!  She could not have been lovelier and her fellow sales associate, Nancy was as well. 

As I oohed and aahed my way through the racks of exquisite clothing and accessories, Kellie told me a little about the background of the company that owns her store.  Sara Campbell is the designer, founder, and the CEO of her Boston-based corporation which has many locations.  Sara is also a well-known and admired philanthropist.

Sarah Campbell not only has divine merchandise but it also is equipped with comfortable seating for the impatient man in your life.  And the best part of all is it is well-stocked with fuel for the busy shopper.

It was a thrill to meet my sweet reader, Kellie and future reader, Nancy.

My two partners in crime, Mary, and Linda as we begin our tour. 

Concord was dressed in luscious shades of deep reds and greens.

It looked like a movie set.

Another prospective friend...

great figure but no personality.

Our next stop was the charming Hawthorne Inn.  The Inn is a mixture of chic furnishings and warm, welcoming color.  The ladies and I fell head-over-heels in love with the wallpaper used on the first floor.  

 I had the pleasure of meeting the owners, Mark and Toni.  

They could not have been nicer.

  

The tour specified that photos were not allowed. 

One of the docents allowed me to take this one.

The pics below are from the Inn's website.  

They also have photos of their stunning guest rooms online.

The Inn is positively pristine as well as spacious. 

If you travel to Massachusetts, I highly recommend stopping by for a night or two in Concord and staying at The Hawthorne Inn for a taste of genuine New England charm and hospitality. 

We hopped in the car and went off to visit our first antique home.

Between you and me, this house was my favorite.  
It also featured stunning wallpaper and had a great floor plan.

This home was beautifully decorated with a fabulous kitchen.

The Mister would have loved this barn!

When I got home, I told the Mister that he needed to find me a big rock and a sled.  Isn't this adorable?

This house was built in the 1970's and featured an open floor plan.  Lovely accessories from all over the world, as well as a magnificent fireplace, are the things that I remember most.  

You could tell that the luxurious kitchen and adjoining space are the heart of this engaging home.  Great place to have a party, too.

Next stop was the Barrett Farm House which is a public building and dates back to 1705.  The best part of this stop was this magnificently adorned door and the fact that we didn't have to slip on the awkward booties. 

  The thing that I remember the most about this particular antique home is the exquisite large dining room decorated in a tantalizing toile.  This home is located within walking distance of town.  The ladies and I chatted about how much fun it would be to be accessible to Concord.

Our last stop was lunch at The Colonial Inn which was very busy but managed to deliver stellar service and delicious food.

Until next time...

Last week, I ran into the Dollar Store and guess what I picked up!
I wouldn't dare buy one for Chili -  she would take off one of my fingers.  That girl is not too keen on accessories.
But Chowdah rocks 'em.