By Karolyn Gephart
Traditional Elegance meets Whimsical Charm is spot on for the Hilary and Gerry Murphy home showcased in the upcoming Heritage Gardeners Annual Christmas Home Tour. The event is on November 23 and 24 (Saturday and Sunday) in Friendswood.
The home on Melody Lane is 5,600 sq. ft. and was built in 1994. The Murphys moved there in 2020 from the Heights area in Houston. The house is beautiful, with a very tall, two-story family room that opens into the backyard with a pool view. The house is decorated in neutral cream colors with touches of blue.
A decorative Gingerbread Village is set up in the dining room, and the stair railing with a decorated tree at the entrance is full of wonderful holiday ideas for traditional and whimsical decorations. Hilary is joined in the preparations by a friend/decorator, Kelly Ceoreo.
The Murphys have three children, a five-and-a-half and two-and-a-half-year-old twins. Hilary opened a new storefront this month in Friendswood, Victory Home & Gifts in Stones Throw Shopping Center. The new store was part of the recent Shop Hop event. The store offers vintage home decor, seasonal finds, and fresh floral arrangements.
Tour tickets are available at Friendswood Chamber of Commerce, One Glance Jewelry Supply and Design, Friendswood Frame and Gallery, Silver Bee Boutique, Lary’s Designs, Marrone Market, Phoenix Cleaners, Two Friends Gifts, Wild Birds Unlimited of Pearland, Wild Birds Unlimited of Clear Lake, Friendswood Scoop Shop and Blue Goose Plant & House. Tickets are also available at the garden clubhouse at 112 W. Spreading Oaks.
The clubhouse and its gardens are also part of the tour. Tour tickets are good for both days.
The Saturday/ Sunday tour of homes is always held on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Heritage Gardeners was organized in 1966, and the tours began that year. They have been held consistently every year since. The event has become a Friendswood holiday tradition.
Along with the tours will be a Holiday Market of 60-plus vendors offering holiday gifts for friends and family of all ages, Santa’s Bakery Shop of items that can be purchased to serve immediately or saved for Thanksgiving, and exciting raffle items. The market and bakery will be open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. The location will be 112 W. Spreading Oaks in Friendswood.
To get a sneak peek of the homes and to find out what vendors will be selling, follow Heritage Gardeners on Facebook.
—photo by Michelle Thompson.
