BY LINDA WALL

Special to The Pilot

Episcopal Day School will host its annual Candlelight Tour of Homes Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 6 p.m.

This is the 32nd year for the tour, which features unique homes around the area, each decorated for the holiday season.

Some of the homes will include musical talent, while others spotlight the work of local artists or chefs.

Visitors to the home of Peter and Joanne Mace will feel like welcome guests when they step through the door of this inspiring makeover. The 13,000-square-foot home was originally a barn, and the couple has created a warm and charming family home with care and thoughtfulness throughout.

The Mace home sits atop a hill, offering expansive views from every part of the house.

Pineapple porch lights highlight the welcome nature of the hosts as visitors approach. Guests enter into the large foyer, which was a wash stall for the horses that originally inhabited the space. The space is now a striking entry to a lovely home filled with beautiful furnishings.

Peter and Joanne work as real estate developers, and they are passionate remodelers who believe in creative reuse of resources.

A two-story window in the living room is given a dramatic effect by the use of walnut timber framing. The walnut was salvaged from a tree toppled during a hurricane; the Maces had the wood milled and saved it for future use. Cedar closets were made using trees which had been removed from another property they own. Peter created the design and oversaw the renovation of the property.

There are many areas designed for entertaining in the home, especially the kitchen, which features commercial-grade appliances, a large island and plenty of room for guests. A two-sided stone fireplace divides the living room into two cozy areas.

Upstairs, the former hay loft has been transformed into a loft-style living area with a pool table. Adjacent to this space is a large recreation area for the kids, with a pingpong table and plenty of space for games. Joanne's office is in a snug nook off the rec room.

The master suite is located on the first floor of the house, and it features cedar closets, large windows and a beautiful master bathroom. The other bedrooms are upstairs, and each room has its own sitting area.

Each boy's bedroom decor depicts their hobbies and interests, from baseball and soccer to fishing and supporting Duke sports teams.

The guest room is a sunny welcoming room with a window seat wall and views on two sides.

All of the original square footage of the barn has been carefully utilized, and possibly the most surprising feature of the home is the main link to its original use.

A heated three-stall barn is attached to the house, and it can be easily accessed through the laundry room. A driveway connects the outside of the barn to the large wrap-around outdoor patio. The outdoor space offers long-distance views as well as access to all parts of the 11-acre property.

Joanne is a former floral designer, and she enjoys using fresh greenery to decorate for the holidays. She is also working with local designers at Room for Change for the decor.

The home is part of the Pine Barrens neighborhood, a private equestrian-friendly community off Camp Easter Road in Southern Pines. There are currently five homes in the development, and residents enjoy walking and riding trails, as well as beautiful scenery and three ponds, two of which are located on the Mace's property.

The Candlelight Tour will include five distinctive homes, from historic properties to new and contemporary designs.

Tickets for the tour are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at: The Country Bookshop, Cool Sweats, Nature's Own/195, Gulley's Garden Center, One Eleven Main, Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour, Elegant Nails and at the EDS school office.

For more information about Episcopal Day School or the Candlelight Tour of Homes, call (910) 692-3492.