River Oaks and Tanglewood’s Most Beautifully Decorated Holiday Homes: A Tradition That Dates Back to 1941 is Updated With Fresh New Looks

By Shelby Hodge // Dec 20, 2018

Photography Jeff Grass Photography

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Susie Miller employed boughs of pine, magnolia leaves and pine cones for this Tanglewood home.

In an added touch of luxe Susie Miller dressed both banisters for the season.

Briar Ridge Kappa Holiday tour, Susie Miller

A pheasant strides through the centerpiece of hydrangeas and pine in the wine cellar.

We love the playful touch of whimsical deer on the pool table and wreaths on the trophies. Susie Miller.

Detail of the Susie Miller mantle decor.

A special holiday touch with St. Nick in the corner.

Douglas fir branches and green apples are all that is needed for the festive table in the informal dining room decorated by Susie Miller

Decorative details speak of the season.

Detail of Susie Miller's decorative touch in the formal dining room.

Mark Anthony Florist favored a more traditional red and green Christmas theme in this River Oaks home.

Santas, pine and pine cones make for a classic table topping. By Mark Anthony Florist.

Faux greenery on the banisters is dressed in ribbons and Christmas ornaments. By Mark Anthony Florist.

Mark Anthony Florist created a classic holiday centerpiece with amaryliss, pomegranates, pine cones and antlers.

The tree is decorated all in gold by Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier Florist.

The green and white motive prevails around the fireplace. By Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier Florist

Pheasant feathers dress up the mantle in the game room. By Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier Florist

Paperwhites, hydrangeas, tulips and peonies dress the dining room table. By Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier Florist

Nature plays a role in the tabletop setting by Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier Florist

Events in Bloom dressed this River Oaks home in white and green, taking a less is more approach to holiday decorating.

White roses and hydrangeas with wintery greenery by Events in Bloom.

This beautiful mix by Events in Bloom is a showstopper in the study.

Berries on shelf by Events in Bloom.

The garden of the River Oaks home sprouts colorful cyclamen for the season.

Two luxe River Oaks and two glam Tanglewood homes are decked to the hilt this season as part of the biennial Kappa Holiday Pilgrimage Home Tour. At this point, you have missed seeing the homes in person because the tour was the first full weekend in December.

However, we present you exclusive photos from all four homes which offer inspiration — if you haven’t already decked the halls this year or for next year — with a fresh take on holiday decor.

Out with traditional red and green, in with a more subtle approach to Christmas decorating. Lucia Joklova of Park Flowers Atelier, Susie Miller, Events in Bloom and Mark Anthony Florist dressed the homes in whites and greens — hydrangeas, roses, boughs of fir and magnolia leaves. The occasional spray of holly berries and red amaryllis were merely the occasional nod to traditional holiday decorating.

The two-day home tour launched with a grand preview party at the River Oaks home of Terri and John Havens, which though not on the home tour was certainly beautifully decorated to the hilt for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation pilgrimage fundraiser. That home decor was designed by Kara Childress, whose own Tanglewood home was on the home tour thus showcasing her talents as an interior designer.

The tour was launched in 1941 with tickets priced at $1.00. The 2018 tour price was $20 with proceeds going to a variety of Houston charities.