The Grande Dame of High Street - Home and Garden Tour Number 8

Home & Garden

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The 'Grande Dame' of High Street

She's stately, elegant, the 'grande dame' of High Street in Southampton - she's the Queen Anne Revival style of architecture and is known as, the Bowman House.

This spectacular Victorian home was built by Alfred Frederick Bowman in 1895. An astute businessman with a diversified portfolio, that included the local tannery, Bowman spared nothing when it came to ensuring his home was elegant and well-appointed. A two-storey, it features beautiful wrap-around, upper and main level verandas with carved gables.

Inside, exquisitely carved fretwork, large pocket doors, a sweeping staircase and inlaid hardwood flooring greet visitors as they enter the grand foyer. The large bay window in the formal living room features dramatic stained-glass and the hand-carved fireplace surround is a one-of-a-kind, as is almost everything in the home. The living room opens into a music room complete with a grand piano purchased in the 1930s and a formal dining room.

Everywhere you look are antiques. Exquisite tables, a buffet, beautiful mouldings, 18 inch carved basedboards ... all add to the elegance of the home. Even given its obvious appearance of a bygone era of Victorian wealth however, the home is also immediately warm and welcoming due, in large part to its current owner, Glory Anne Bowman.

Bowman's touch is everywhere throughout the home. Elegantly outfitted bedrooms that feature hand-painted wallpaper, canopy bed, warm Oriental-style carpets, thick down comforters and rich brocade window treatments recall a time of opulence but, at the same time, create intimately warm surroundings.

The Bowman House is part of the upcoming Christmas Home Tour beginning Friday, November 20th and the decorating is a culmination of many efforts: Bayberry's on High St., Shoreline Stone & Garden Centre, Martin's Home Hardware, Stephanie McArthur, Party Lite, the Cham-bettes and Southampton Red Hat volunteers, among others.

The Tour, a fundraiser hosted by the Saugeen Shores Chambettes and the Tara Curling Club, will feature 11 homes throughout the area, each uniquely decorated for the holiday season. Whether you're looking for decorating ideas or simply enjoy the beauty that Christmas brings to the year, this is the opportunity to see some of the most interesting homes in the area.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour and are available at the following local merchants:

Mills Home Hardware-Tara
Joannie's Fashions-Paisley
Nicholson Design-Owen Sound
Denomy's TV and Appliance-Chesley
Cathy's Flowers 'n' Treasures-Port Elgin
Bayberry's of High St-Southampton
Becker Shoes-Port Elgin
Square Deal Neil's TV & Appliance Centre-Southampton

The proceeds from the tour will go toward the Regional Integrated-Accessible Playground to built at Jubilee Park in Southampton, the "Let's Play Campaign" and the Tara Curling Club.

The Tour is this Friday and Saturday (20th & 21st) ... Friday 6 - 9 and all day Saturday.

 (L) Chambette Martha Bennett, Tracey of Shoreline Stone & Garden, Getty Horshoian and Red Hatter and neightbour, Jenny Amy, help dress the home in lighted garlands
 

Greenery was added in anticipation of the upcoming Tour
 

Home & Garden Home and Garden Tour Number 7 Hart's Home

Home & Garden Home & Garden Tour House Number 6 the Gill's Home

Home & Garden Home Tour Number Five - Westenberg House

Home & Garden Home Tour House Number Four - George House

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009