CONTRIBUTED

The 31st annual Episcopal Day School Candlelight Tour of Homes, featuring a variety of Pinehurst and Southern Pines homes resplendent with holiday dcor, will be held Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 6 p.m.

Talented local musicians and singers will be providing entertainment throughout the tour.

Not to be missed is the stately Georgian home of Kathy and David Conner, located in Forest Creek Golf Club. The Conner home was built in 2004 by local builder Jose Camina, assisted in architectural and interior design by Ralph Lassiter of CPAA of Chapel Hill. Together they designed and built a home grand enough for royalty but perfectly suited for the active family that calls it home.

The Conner home sits gracefully on the fairway of the third hole of the Forest Creek Golf Club North Course. Beautiful, expansive views of the course are visible throughout the home -- a golfer's dream. Rocking chairs on the back porches provide a quiet place to enjoy the beauty of the pines.

The dramatic entry to the Grand Room features a towering 24-foot coffered ceiling, and a second-story balcony that overlooks the many treasures collected during the family's travels in Africa. A large, framed ceremonial gown from the Maasai Indians indigenous to Kenya and Tanzania is on display. A library with an eclectic mix of dark woods, rich leathers and deep red walls sits off the foyer, inviting guests to sit awhile and read in a warm, cozy atmosphere.

The master bedroom, decorated in rich textured fabrics and exotic animal prints with neutral walls and accents of reds, is a sanctuary from the owners' hectic schedule. The spa-like master bathroom retreat includes a raised garden tub and steam shower for the ultimate in relaxation.

The elegant kitchen with dark cherry cabinets and chestnut brown granite is the perfect gathering place for casual family meals. The burnished copper textured walls were hand-painted by local artist Robin Morgan. A spiral, wrought-iron descending staircase connects the kitchen to an impressive 2000 bottle wine cellar complete with a tasting table. A photo Kathy took on her travels through Italy inspired an Italian countryside mural painted by artist Robin Morgan, on one wall of the cellar.

The theater room is the ideal place for the Conner children to entertain friends. The large wrap-around sofa provides comfortable seating for the children to watch their favorite movie on a large projection screen. A massive table from the South American Nabu Indian tribe was once used to grind ceremonial herbs and now holds snacks for the ultimate cinema experience. A state-of-the-art home gym rounds out this exquisite home.

During the holiday season, a soaring Christmas tree will be on display in the Grand Room with a small children's tree in the upstairs balcony.

New to the tour this year is the EDS "Gingerbread Land" which can be visited at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church parish hall from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. only. EDS students will treat ticket holders to music and art. Sixteen hand-made gingerbread houses made by the students will be on display.

Other homes on the tour are at Pinewild Country Club, National Golf Club, Fairwoods on 7, and Old Town in the Village of Pinehurst.

Tickets for the 31st annual Candlelight Tour of Homes are available for $20 at the door or in advance from any Episcopal Day School student, the school office, At Home, The Country Book Shop, Gulley's Garden Center, Nature's Own/195 Restaurant, Cool Sweats, and Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour.

Group sales are available online at www.episcopalday.org.

For more information, call Episcopal Day School at (910) 692-3492.