A handful of Orient and East Marion residents opened their homes Saturday for Oysterponds Historical Society’s 31st annual holiday house tour.
The self-guided event featured new and old homes dressed in seasonal finery. It included six houses in Orient and two in East Marion, as well as four historic buildings.
More than 150 people attended, with all proceeds benefiting Oysterponds Historical Society.
“We had a phenomenal turnout at our events this weekend,” historical society executive director Elsbeth Dowd said in an email to patrons. “Thank you so much for all of your support. It was a joy to see so many wonderful people coming together to celebrate the holiday season at Oysterponds.”
Part-time Orient residents Ted and Margery Mayer went for a modern, minimalist design at their Orchard Street home. A highlight was a pair of faux reindeer heads purchased in Paris and displayed above the mantel.
“I wanted it to look a little bit more pulled back. A little bit Scandinavian and little less American traditional,” Ms. Mayer said. “I thought this was a great cause and I can’t think of anything better than giving back to the community.”
Mary Giordano of Shoreham was taken with the sweeping view outside the artfully decorated second-floor bedroom in Susie French’s home. A catwalk connects the loft to an outdoor porch, located just feet from Peconic Bay.
“It had a bedroom that overlooks the water and it was beautifully decorated,” Ms. Giordano said.
Another standout was the cozy living room at Cindy Schmidt’s East Marion home, with its roaring Rumford fireplace and miniature tree decorated with crimson ornaments and white accents.
“That tree has been with me for 35 years,” Ms. Schmidt said. “My theme for Christmas is very natural. I don’t do glitzy-shiny. It’s country-ish.”
See photos from the tour below.
