Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
If you weren’t able to go on the Homes for the Holidays benefit tour this year, get some Christmas decorating ideas from Julie Alin and Steve Johnson from SCHEELS Home & Hardware. They showed Design & Living through the house they decorated for the benefit.
A portion of the money raised from this year’s Homes for the Holidays benefit will go to the Jeremiah Program, which is aiming to break the generational cycle of poverty by aiding moms and kids. Homes for the Holidays is sponsored by the NDSU alumnae of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
THE BENEFIT
Brenna Naseer, who works at SCHEELS Home & Hardware in marketing, is also the co-chair for the benefit. Naseer said, “Every year, we pick a local nonprofit
to support and share a portion of our proceeds with. The reason we chose the Jeremiah Program this year is because they are a women’s organization and we are a women’s organization. We wanted to support another group that is trying to empower women in the Fargo- Moorhead area.”
In the past, they’ve supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Great Plains Food Bank and sheltering churches such as Churches United for the Homeless.
The benefit money is raised from ticket sales and for a $20 ticket, people have access to tour all five houses.
Dining Room & Kitchen
Alin’s favorite thing about decorating the homes for the benefit was, giving the customers new ideas that they can use on their own home, on how simple it is to put together. We bring everything in and piece it together here. Just to show them new ways to do something they’ve been doing for years to keep it fresh.”
Since Homes for the Holidays has been held every year for 30 years, many memories have been made. Naseer said, “When I was a kid, my mom, who is also an Alpha Gamma Delta alumna, was the chair of this event when I was a little girl. She’d haul me around town doing things for Homes for the Holidays. And now I’m the chair. Shows you what a long- standing event this is for us.”
THE JEREMIAH PROGRAM
The Jeremiah Program was gifted land on Page Drive and they want to build an affordable housing building. There will be apartments for mothers who are working, in school and trying to raise their children. A child development center would also be on site.
LIVING ROOM
Anything goes when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Steve Johnson, design consultant at SCHEELS Home & Hardware said, “The garlands on the fireplaces aren’t sprawling all the way across. They look more natural. It looks like it’s almost growing there.”
GIVING DESIGN
“Typically, we have five homes on the tour each year, each decorated by a different store or designer,” Naseer said.
This year, there were three houses decorated by brick-and-mortar stores Burlap Rustic Chic Boutique, Holland’s Landscaping & Garden Center and SCHEELS Home & Hardware, and interior decorators Trever Hill Design and Christy Brawner Interiors.
HANGING FROM A BRANCH
To o er a unique take on a natural element, Alin shared a design tip that’s easy for anyone to implement. “Hang a branch above a cabinet and then hang pretty ornaments from it’s branches. Use pipe cleaners to fasten them on.”
KITCHEN
The décor gave the kitchen a classic wintery glow. “At Christmas time in these houses, we want to add the glitz and glam that says holiday,” said Alin.
TEA CLOTHS & CANDLES
Candles fit in every season. Alin said that was her favorite thing to decorate with year-round because of the warmth and light.
DINING ROOM
Proving that any color can be used to decorate for the holidays, Alin chose oranges and coppers to lead into the Christmas season while decorating the dining room.
SMALL DETAILS
Copper apples add a festive glow to the plates at the dinner table.
Master Bedroom
LOWER LEVEL LIVING SPACE
The lower level living space has a sports theme, even all the way down to the ornaments on the Christmas tree. “With the reclaimed wood wall and the fireplace, it’s a little more rustic down here, so we added galvanized things with copper and also rust decorations,” said Johnson.
GUEST ROOM
Retro Christmas decorations never go out of style. The guest room was decorated with reds, whites and greens.
Lower Level Powder Room
For more information, contact:
SCHEELS Home & Hardware
3202 13th Ave. S, Fargo
701-232-8903
Scheelshomeandhardware.com
Homesfortheholidaysfm.com
