HOME Spotlight
NEW LIFE & LOVE FOR O L D B E AU T Y BY JANE WHITING PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW PERRY
As a meaningful memento of homes featured in the annual fundraising tour, Homes for the Holidays, participating homeowners are presented with a beautiful photo book of their decorated houses. In the book for last year’s tour is a luxuriously transformed home that was dressed to holiday perfection by Mill Street Florist. Naturally, the homeowner is pleased with the stunning images of her newlymodernized home and its elegant holiday décor. But more importantly, she is committed to supporting Hospice Care Ottawa both as a volunteer and by opening the doors of two of her homes in recent years. Last year the generous woman and her husband welcomed tour goers into their freshly renovated Rockcliffe Park residence. She applauds the tour’s organization, as well as the hard-working volunteers and florists who dedicate their considerable time and talent to the cause.
“The tour of homes makes so much sense, because it’s all about helping to support people moving on from their earthly home to an eternal home in a home-like environment,” she says, noting her personal experience with the palliative care of her father and sister at the May Court Hospice. Jessica Barrett, owner of Mill Street Florist, has a great relationship with the homeowners and was requested by them to decorate their homes for both tours. The florist has been involved with the fundraiser for many years, and is decorating a customrenovated bungalow in Manotick for the 2019 tour, taking place November 15–17. “The homeowners have been clients for a long time, but we did things a little differently for the holiday tour to incorporate more of a modern look,” explains Jessica. “The house is so beautiful that we didn’t want to overpower it with busy flower arrangements, so we kept it simple and natural.”
HOLIDAY 2019 o ttawaathome.ca 17