holiday homes tour kansas city

Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour

Thank you from the 72nd annual kappa kappa gamma holiday homes tour.

The Kappa Homes Tour has been a holiday tradition for more than 70 years! Started in 1951, the Tour has raised more than $2 million for local charitable organizations and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. We’ve survived changing times, economic crises, and a global pandemic. Thank you for your continued support.

Stay connected with this website and our Facebook and Instagram for updates and information on the Tour and our fantastic Kansas City beneficiaries, Sheffield Place and Hope House .

We work diligently to manage costs and streamline expenses while delivering an exceptional Tour experience each year. It is an expensive and time intensive endeavor, requiring hundreds of hours of volunteer time by Kappa alumnae and friends. Donations raised ahead of the Tour offset operating costs, allowing more revenue to go directly to our beneficiaries.

If this is your first time on the Tour, pick a home as your starting place or the Holiday Boutique. Once you arrive, you will get a Tour Guide with a map and other helpful information about the homes and the beneficiaries. Enjoy your Tour!

With Gratitude | Katherine Fowler, Kristen Brought, and Angela Kreps | 2023 Kappa Holiday Homes Tour Board Co-Chairs

2023 Tour Dates and Schedule

Kappa Homes Tour and Holiday Boutique hours

Tuesday, December 5th | Cocktails & Candlelight | 5pm-9pm

Wednesday, December 6th | Tour 12pm-8pm | Boutique 11am-8pm

Thursday, December 7th | Tour 10am-6pm | Boutique 10am-3pm

Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. See the Tickets page for more information.

We adheres to CDC and local government guidelines at the time of the event, including masking or other safety protocols. By attending the 2023 Kappa Holiday Homes Tour, you:

Acknowledge the contagious nature of viruses, including Covid-19 and variants.

Voluntarily assume all risk that you may be exposed to or infected with any virus or viruses.

Agree to release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless the Kappa Holiday Homes Tour and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Kansas City Alumnae Association and its officers, agents, and representatives, as well as the homeowners with homes on the Tour, from any and all claims arising out of or related to exposure to any virus or viruses, including but not limited to claims for personal injury, illness, disability, death, economic loss, and expenses of any kind.

2023 Beneficiaries

Our beneficiaries, Hope House , Sheffield Place , and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation , rely on funds from organizations like the Kappa Holiday Homes Tour to maintain day-to-day operations and fund special programs. Through ticket sales, Holiday Boutique purchases, and Owl Friend donations, we aid their missions to support our local communities.

In 2023, Hope House celebrates its 40th anniversary since opening in 1983.

Hope House's mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence by providing safe refuge and supportive services that educate and empower those impacted by domestic violence.

Hope House will advocate social change that protects and engenders a person's right to live a life free of abuse.

Sheffield Place opened its doors in February 1991 as a community response to the growing population of homeless mothers and their children in the Kansas City area.

What makes Sheffield Place unique among homeless serving organizations is the commitment to serving families with multiple barriers to success.

Sheffield Place has assisted more than 1600 families in making the difficult journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation provides educational scholarships for undergraduate and graduate women, equipping women with resources to spark change and uphold shared values.

Truth | Connection | Respect | Optimism | Knowledge | Trailblazing

Twice in the last decade the Foundation recognized the Kansas City Kappa Alumnae Association for the highest level of giving to the Foundation.

The Fleur - Napa Valley

Official Wine Partner of the Kappa Holiday Homes Tour 2023

2023 sponsors

Thank you to Capital Federal, a 20-year Gold Key Sponsor of the Kappa Holiday Homes Tour, providing ongoing support of charitable causes in Kansas City. We deeply appreciate our sponsors and donors who enable us to commit to financial obligations. Without them, and our volunteers, the Tour would not be possible.

Sapphire Sponsor - Hartline Construction

owl friends

Kristen and andrew brought | katherine and ryan fowler, $500 -$1000, mary atterbury | valerie chaloud | ellen merriman | kristi miller, amelia mcintyre | angela galamba | barbara k. nelson | barclay ross | carol k. clark | carolyn langdon | christine fisher | corliss chandler miller | cynthia andrews | debra parmet | dianne hogerty | ellen harker | erik bergrud & kimberlee ried | erin toughey | gina thornton | ginny shakelford | harriet brazil | helen hamshaw hatridge | jean d wagner | jennifer fales | jennifer hart | jennifer whiteside | julie larsen | kay lutjen patterson | libby gessley | lisa wetzler | mary cordill | nan vail | patricia meads | ris ë strasser | roxann r. holland | roxie jerde | sandy johnson | susan sight, becky butcher bublitz | beth bahner | carole vaughn | cela sullivan | cheryl wetzler | cornelia walkins fuson long | courtney howell vialle | eleanor brown | holly pauling smith | jennifer j. crow | jill perfect | karen williams | kay johnson | kim shaw | margaret bruce | mary kay zawatzki | nancy l. jackson | pat colloton | robbi h. grogan | susan archer, tour recipient selection.

The purpose of the Kappa Holiday Homes Tour is to provide support to charitable organizations. Each year organizations who provide aid for the betterment of the overall welfare of the Kansas City community are nominated by Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae for evaluation. One or more are chosen as recipients of Kappa Holiday Homes Tour proceeds. The 2023 beneficiaries chosen from the Kansas City community are Hope House and Sheffield Place .

Applications are now open for 2024 Tour Recipients . The deadline for 2024 applications is February 29, 2024 . Contact our Tour Proceeds Committee Chair, for more information about Tour proceeds.

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Each year, four of Kansas City's finest homes are on display, decorated for the holidays by outstanding local florists. The tour has raised over $2 million for area non-profits and the Kappa Foundation since its inception. Stay tuned for the details  for the December 2023 Kappa Holiday Homes Tour by visiting:  http://www.kappahomestour.com/

2023 Tour Recipient Search Underway

Do you know an agency that could benefit from our Kappa Holiday Homes Tour proceeds? The Tour Proceeds Committee, chaired by Susan McQueeny-Scholes, is now accepting applications for the 2023 Holiday Homes Tour recipients . Each agency must have a Kappa sponsor who is in good standing and be in the field of providing aid for the betterment of the overall welfare of our community. Contact Susan for more information or to obtain an application at [email protected] . The application deadline is Monday, May 15, 2023 . To view and download the application form click here .

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Kappa Kappa Gamma – Holiday Homes Tour

The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s  Kappa Holiday Homes Tour  is set for December 4th and 5th. Four beautiful area homes in  Prairie Village, Mission Hills and Kansas City will open their doors for the 61st annual event. Guests will enjoy holiday-themed floral designs in each home from local florists and a Gift and Gourmet Shop at Homestead Country Club.  A Preview Luncheon  will be held on December 4th at Indian Hills Country Club with Kyle Hatley from The Kansas City Repertory Theatre as the featured speaker. Jennifer Whiteside will serve as shop chairman, Gina Thornton is the homes chairman and Linda Hosler will serve as marketing and underwriting chairman. Proceeds will benefit The Children’s Place, Jackson County CASA, Sheffield Place, and the Kappa Foundation.

Also featured in the October 27th issue of The Independent

• The Whole Person – Carnival! Night of Independence Gala
• Spotlight On Centurions – Lydia Allen
• UMKC’s Crescendo – Laurel Weir
• Spotlight On Centurions – Matthew Schulte
• 2018 Lyric Opera Ball – Ben Bliss

Lindsey and Ian Denny are serving as chairmen of The Whole Person’s CARNIVAL! Night of Independence Gala. The September 28th event will be held at Harrah’s North Kansas City. A…

Lydia Allen spent seven years in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she studied at Butler University and worked for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Four years ago, she moved back to Kansas City. Lydia…

Soprano Laurel Weir is a native of Canton, Ohio. She is the face of UMKC’s Crescendo, a scholarship fundraising event for the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, which will…

Matthew Schulte describes his job (coordinator – marketing) this way: he is part of the team that handles giveaways, special events, theme nights, promotions, and advertising for the Kansas City…

Established in 1899, The Independent is Kansas City’s longest-running magazine. Unique in its field, it is the only publication to focus primarily on the cultural, philanthropic and social aspects of Our Town.

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Want some Christmas cheer around Kansas City? Check out our historic mansions and houses

Throughout the Kansas City area, historic homes dating back nearly 200 years are opulently decorated for the holidays, demonstrating how the Christmas season was celebrated in years gone by. These venues show off their festive décor with tours, events, and performances during December.

This story was first published in KCUR's Adventure newsletter. You can  sign up to receive stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday.

You probably know the iconic holiday song “Deck the Halls,” but you might not realize it began with a melody of an old Welsh tune from the 16th century.

The melody was first published as “Nos Galan” in 1862, with Welsh lyrics that celebrated the New Year, rather than Christmas. The English lyrics that are known today come from Scottish songwriter and author Thomas Oliphant and once contained the line “Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel.” The American version in 1877 erased any mention of drinking, although that still may be a Christmastime tradition in many homes.

Around Kansas City, you can find some remarkable decking-of-halls this time of year: mansions that sparkle like tinsel hung from a tree; Victorian homes that look like they were transported from the North Pole ; historic buildings that take us back in time to when the song was originally published.

As the song states, “Tis the season to be jolly,” and an adventure around the metro to visit these magnificent homes will put anyone in the holiday mood. Not only can you see garlands strung across marble fireplaces and Christmas trees gleaming in bay windows, but many of these homes have special seasonal programming for all ages – from Victorian-era libations to Kansas City’s fairy princess tradition.

So, follow me in merry measure, while I tell of yuletide treasure.

Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate

A version of the Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate has been on this land since roughly 1827, with the original home built in 1856 and restored in 1890.

The Independence, Missouri, residence is categorized as a Victorian, which simply means it was built during the reign of Queen Victoria (1830-1910). There are many different styles of Victorians, but they have a few constants like rounded towers, gabled roofs and bright paint colors.

The imposing Bingham-Waggoner estate – which sits on 19 acres of land and boasts over 26 rooms – is an example of the Italianate architecture style . Inspired by Italian villas, this style is characterized by its symmetrical layout, four-sided slanted roofs, and eaves supported by decorative brackets.

This was the home of artist George Caleb Bingham , and where he painted " Order #11 ” as an act of defiance to the Union Army’s command that all residents be removed from Jackson, Cass, Bates, and northern Vernon counties in 1863.

Bingham lived in the house until 1870, and in 1879, the home was purchased by the Waggoner family, who operated a flour mill. Their brand of flour, Queen of the Pantry, became world-famous for its quality. A member of the Waggoner family resided in the home up until 1976. After this, it became a museum owned and operated by the Bingham-Waggoner Historical Society to preserve the history and to further showcase the city of Independence as the " Queen City of the Trails ."

For the last 50 years, the Bingham-Waggoner estate has brought holiday cheer to the metro. Every room of the mansion is decorated, from the butler's pantry and servants' quarters to the hand-carved staircase and main dining room – like Santa’s elves worked overtime.

On guided tours, you’ll find an exquisite display of Christmas trees, over 50 of them! White ribbons and lights cascading through the branches like shooting stars. Period decorations from the 1860-70s adorn tabletops. The staircase is wrapped in garland, pearls, ribbons, and ornaments. It truly is breathtaking to spend an afternoon here.

The holiday season is further celebrated by two events the Bingham-Waggoner Estate holds in December. On Friday, Dec. 1, enjoy the mansion’s Twilight Gala beginning at 5 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 16, you can have “Cookies and Cocoa with Mrs. Claus” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Guided Tours: Monday to Wednesday starting at 12-2 p.m. (Call ahead.) Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. with guided tours every hour (last one at 3).

Alexander Majors House

Alexander Majors is mostly known for the creation of the Pony Express, where riders would deliver mail from St. Joseph all the way to California. They were able to travel over 1,900 miles in just 10 days, which was 11 days faster than any other courier service at the time. Riders like “Buffalo Bill” Cody made the Pony Express a legend, but Alexander was more than that.

Majors was really the modern-day equivalent of FedEx or UPS, and became Kansas City’s first millionaire. In 1856, he built his estate in Kansas City, characterized by four large white columns and a second-story balcony where he could overlook a 300-acre farm and manage his shipping company. The home is built in the Greek Revival style as a symbol of his wealth and power.

However, the invention of the telegraph was the beginning of his end. The Pony Express went out of business in 1861, and the rest of Majors’ shipping company would soon follow suit thanks to the ever-expanding railroad. Alexander Majors died, broke, in Chicago in 1900, but his legacy remains strong in Kansas City.

The home remained in the Majors family through his great-granddaughter, Louisa Johnston, who lived there until 1979. Before she passed away, she set up the Majors Historical Trust, which maintains the estate and celebrates the contributions of Alexander Majors.

The estate now consists of a two-story mansion, an event barn, and a few other outbuildings. The home itself is mostly closing down for the season on Nov. 21, but you can get a special Christmas tour on Saturday, Dec. 9 . Learn about how Christmas was celebrated in the 19th century, tour the home and barn to see the decorations, enjoy fun crafts and games, and meet Santa from 10 a.m. until noon.

At the barn, you can take part in the event " Drink Your History: Victorian Christmas Libations ” on Friday, Dec. 15, where you can try cocktails such as wassail and English milk punch . If you have little ones, then the Hearthside Fireside Story Time on Saturday, Dec. 16, might be more for you.

Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (House closed for the season on Nov. 21, but the barn special events are active.)

John Wornall House

Built in 1958 by John B. Wornall , this home is another example of the Greek Revival style of architecture with red brick, symmetrical windows, and four large white columns that frame the entryway.

Wornall and his family were not ordinary farmers. His father, Richard Wornall, brought the family from Kentucky when John was 21, and purchased 500 acres that now cover the area from 59th to 67th Street and Main to State Line.

With enslaved laborers, Wornall made a fortune from growing corn, oats, and wheat on this land. From there, Wornall and his family built an empire that would span generations and lead John to the legislature as a Missouri State Senator in 1870.

Sitting on the road now that bears the family name, the home was used as a field hospital by both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Battle of Westport , sometimes referred to as the Gettysburg of the West. Wornall himself was not present at the battle, having fled after the Union’s Order #11 , which commanded Missouri residents across the region to evacuate.

However, his wife, Eliza, and their young son hid in the basement while much of the battle raged, and then later provided care to the injured when it was used as a field hospital.

The Wornall Estate remained in the family until 1962 and was later sold to the Jackson County Historical Society, which decorates the home for the holidays, with garland filling the mantle places.

The Wornall House partners with the Alexander Majors House for their events.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Guided tours on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; Sundays, 1-4 p.m.

Vaile Mansion

It takes the volunteers of the Vaile Mansion in Independence an entire month to decorate the home. Closed after Halloween and open again by Thanksgiving, Vaile Mansion transforms into Santa's home away from home.

Built in 1881 by Harvey Vaile and his wife Sofia, and modeled after a building in Normandy, France , it’s designed to bring some European culture to the Midwest. A perfect example of the Second Empire style of Victorian housing, its distinguishable tower rises above the center. Dormer windows , which have little peaks as their own structure, are a definitive feature of this style.

The mansion features 31 rooms, nine marble fireplaces, painted ceilings, a 6,000-gallon water tank, and an absolutely huge wine cellar capable of holding up to 48,000 gallons. To call it ornate is an understatement.

Harvey Vaile made his money as an investor in the Erie Canal and the owner of the Star Mail Route, which ran official U.S. mail from Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Once recognized as a member of high society, two things began Vaile’s unraveling.

The first was the rather risqué painting above his and his wife’s bed that featured a topless woman. Rumors ran rampant that this painting was Mrs. Vaile, even though the couple denied it. However, the damage was done to their reputation. Even after the painting received a lacy-painted coverup, the couple’s social status began to fall.

Second, Vaile was tried for defrauding the government as part of his Star Mail routes. He was acquitted of both charges.

After the Vailes’ deaths — Sofia in 1883 and Harvey in 1895 — the mansion has had an interesting history. It’s acted as a nursing home, sanitorium, the center of operations for a water bottling company, and finally, since 1983, a museum run by the Vaile Victorian Society.

For the holiday season, you get a full European Victorian Christmas that begins with decorated garland wrapped around the porch rails and leads to double doors with mounted wreaths. Once inside, white crystal chandeliers (two of which were meant for the White House) bathe the inside with clear light, like it’s reflected off snow.

Each and every surface is decorated, incorporating time-period antiques and more garlands — strung with white and gold flowers, pink ribbons and strings of pearls — hanging from doorways, tabletops, and many, many mirrors.

Several trees glitter as the centerpieces, with large red orbs hanging like apples. It’s especially fitting because the tradition of Christmas trees comes from 15th century Germany, where they were first used to celebrate the feast day of Adam and Eve.

You can take in the decorations on a tour, or at the mansion’s Champagne and Chandeliers event on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Hours: Nov. 25 through Dec. 30. Closed Dec. 23-25. Open Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Corinthian Hall at Kansas City Museum

Corinthian Hall is the centerpiece of the estate of R.A. Long . The grounds contain numerous outbuildings under renovation or construction such as the carriage house, the future Jewel House —which reimagines the original conservatory on the property — and the future James Turrell’s Skyspace – a chamber with an opening in the ceiling so that visitors can gaze at the sky.

Corinthian Hall finished construction in 1910 in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture , which is characterized by stone construction, large columns, and a “hierarchy of interior spaces.” The 70-room, 35,000-square-foot mansion now houses the Kansas City Museum. After years of effort, Corinthian Hall has been fully restored and ready to make holiday dreams come true with beautiful and unique decorations.

The Kansas City Museum has partnered with Kansas City’s own Nell Hills interior designers to decorate this year. Last year featured a 10-foot-tall blue spruce in the grand hall. The color palette, according to Nell Hills , is “glittering gold, frosted white, and touches of deep red to add depth to the design,” and they delivered.

The tree towers over other decorations and draws the eye up to the ornamental ceiling designs. Another impressive tree looms over the billiards room. Backlit by white light, the ornaments seem to glow as each contains a Christmas wish.

Next, the grand staircase gets the Santa’s elves treatment: 216 feet of flocked garland tie in colorful ornaments and red, white, and gold ribbons.

The Kansas City Museum is also planning some amazing programs this holiday season . On Saturday, Dec. 2, learn cookie decorating with Kellen Whaley .

One of the most popular yearly programs, and a Kansas City tradition, is the Fairy Princess . This tradition — an alternative photo opp to Santa, with a Louis XVI French salon-style setting — goes back to 1935, originally held at Kline’s Department Store on Main Street. After the store went out of business, the Kansas City Museum revived the princess in 1987.

Held this year from Dec. 7-10, check their website for more details.

Finally, for the adults who want to live a little, don’t miss the history of bourbon balls (with a free tasting). Held in the café, Bootleg Bourbon Balls owner Lisa Fitch will offer samples of their Noggy or Nice and Jacked-Up Apple flavors.

Hours: Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Cruise-Scroggs Mansion

Built in the Queen Anne Style of Victorian homes , the Cruise-Scroggs Mansion is home to the Strawberry Hill Museum. Run by the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society, it celebrates the diverse backgrounds that make Kansas City, Kansas, so great.

Constructed in 1887 by John and Margaret Scroggs , the mansion has a second-floor balcony, decorative lattice, and at one time had stained and leaded glass windows. John Scroggs , a lawyer, was a pioneer of the Wyandotte County Bar Association. The home served as a statement of his success and was built at the time on a place called Splitlog’s Hill.

From the height of the hill, Mr. and Mrs. Scroggs had an impressive view of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Later, the mansion was used as an orphanage by the Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King until 1988.

For the holidays, the home is decorated with extensive garland, lights, and Christmas trees. They offer nighttime tours so that you can see the home in a way that accentuates the decorations. You can pair that with a wine tasting or a traditional dinner featuring the Croatian treat povitica and other delicacies.

The Strawberry Hill Museum currently represents 14 different ethnic regions, and this holiday display will put nine of those on display. Each exhibit features an “artifact” native to the region – like the Croatian   Licitar, which are festively decorated cookies that can be molded in a variety of shapes like hearts, birds and dolls, and then hung from a tree.

From Denmark, enjoy a Christmas plate from Bing & Grondahl from the 1890s. Cobalt blue and white, the plate features a girl looking out the window onto a snowy landscape with a Christmas tree in the corner.

Want a chance to meet St. Nick ? Have breakfast with him on Saturday, Dec. 2. The museum also offers cooking classes where you can learn to make foods from around the world such as sarma (a Croatian cabbage roll), apple strudel, or pierogi (Polish half-moon dumplings.) Check their website for dates and times.

The Strawberry Hill Museum is run by the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society.

Hours: Tours are Saturday and Sunday every hour beginning at noon and running until the last tour at 3 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online the day before your visit.

Northeast News

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Seven Historic Homes open for Holiday Homes Tour

• December 6, 2023

Michael Bushnell Reporter

After a three year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood is hosting its Holiday Homes Tour this Saturday, December 9th from 11am to 4pm. This year, seven historic homes will be open on the tour along with some bonus tour stops that aren’t listed in the official tour brochure.

Featured in this year’s tour are five homes within walking distance of each other just off the intersection of Pendleton and Garfield Avenues on the north side of Lexington Avenue.

Included in that group of homes are the stunning Flavel B. Tiffany Castle at 100 Garfield, the August P. Marty home at 1841 Pendleton Ave., and the Philip E. Chapel residence at 1840 Pendleton Avenue built in 1888.

A restoration success story in and of itself, the Chapel home fell victim to a fire that destroyed portions of the back side of the house in early 2019. When on tour in 2019, tour guests got to see the home immediately after the fire and all the ensuing damage. Now, according to Tour Co-chair Emily Reeves, guests will get to see the painstaking restoration work that the homeowners have completed. “The house has such a compelling story,” Reeves said. “We’re just really excited to include it on the tour this year.”

An anomaly on this year’s tour is the mid-century modern home at 1844 Pendleton Avenue that has an interesting history with some alleged Kansas City mob ties. We won’t offer any spoilers here so you’ll have to take the tour to find out all the juicy details.

The second group of tour homes is located south of Lexington Avenue on Garfield, each with its own unique history. First up is what was originally a “stack-duplex” at 350 Garfield. The present homeowners purchased the home and have done a stunning restoration/renovation into a single family residence. A bonus stop on the tour is the unique store-front carriage house behind the home that has been completely renovated as well.

Another tour repeat home is 508 Garfield, arguably one of the more famous homes on the tour, given it has at least seven “twins” scattered across the country. The home was model home in a Victorian Age house catalog and plans were available to purchase so homeowners could construct their own Queen-Anne style home. The home has been a labor of love for the present homeowner who has painstakingly and single-handedly brought the house back from the city’s demolition list.

Also on tour day, PH Coffee will be offering specials throughout the day and according to Reeves, there will be something for kids on the tour as well. “We’ve hidden seven Grinch ornaments, one in each one of the tour homes,” Reeves said. “Whoever finds the ornaments in each of the houses will get a free cookie at PH Coffee.”

Each of the tour homes will be festively decorated for the holidays. Advance tour tickets are $20 and are available at phkc.org.

Michael Bushnell

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‘Tis the Season: Seventy Years of a Kansas City Tradition

Soon it will once again be time for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour . And our gift to you is an insider’s look at these fabulous homes from the 2021 tour, decked out in holiday finery by some of Kansas City’s most creative floral designers. Last year’s tour represented 70 years of a classic Kansas City holiday tradition, which was especially appreciated after the cancellation of the 2020 tour because of the pandemic. Enjoy these memories from last year, and plan on joining the tour again this year to visit four more magnificent homes celebrating the holidays.

Ring in the New

F lorist Craig Sole of Craig Sole Designs was delighted to prepare Chasitie and Mike Walden’s new home for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour. He had worked with Chasitie and her family before and admired the hand-painted wallpaper in the living room of their new home. He thought it was important that the decoration didn’t fight the décor.

“We kept color out of the tree and the decorations in the hall, and relied on silver, gold, and some sparkle,” Sole says.

The bold pink music room was complete with green wreaths as well, but Sole and Walden turned up the heat in the kitchen.

“We elevated the red feather tree with a clear truffle bowl, which we turned upside down. It places the tree at just the right spot within the clear pendants.”

The red wreath in the window just beyond provides the perfect punctuation .

Green and Serene

W ild Hill Flowers and Events in Spring Hill, Kansas, is a go-to resource for events and weddings. While owner Jenni Koch is comfortable and confident in creating wedding bouquets with bold colors, she chose a palette heavy on evergreen and neutrals for the home of Janet and Gary Hall.

The crisp, white woodwork of the front hall received an exuberant garland of evergreens. If ever there was an argument for garland of fresh greens over artificial, this is it. A tablescape of classic tabletop trees and gleaming votives sets the mood.

In the family room, Koch used fresh garland on the fireplace and wreaths on the windows but introduced the classic Christmas dash of red with stockings by the fire and ornaments on the tree. A tree in another part of the house takes red a little further with striped ball ornaments and a spirited tree topper. A spritely elf is on hand to assist with decoration. The striped packages wrapped up with string express homespun comfort that balances excess with restraint.

Second Time is a Charm

J ohn Schuppan is a regular client of Studio Dan Meiners , and last year he generously offered his home for the second time to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour . While his Tudor home is stately, Schuppan is not stiff or formal. Completely trusting the Meiners team, he left the design to them.

“John has such a laid-back demeanor,” Rory Welsh of Studio Dan Meiners says. “He let us have full design freedom.”

The Meiners’s team focused on making sure that each room has its own feel, so the house is rich in inspiration. In addition, they rely on a lot of Christmas trees.

“People go on the tour to be inspired and get ideas for their own home,” Welsh says. “And we want to deliver. We like to use design ideas that people will talk about, such as deer heads hanging from sconces or penguins in wreaths.”

About the Tour

Since 1951, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour has transported us to a winter wonderland where all is merry and bright. This year, from December 7 through 8, Kansas City’s top florists and designers will show us how to put a little holiday spirit in every room.

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2018 Holiday Homes Tours

Leavenworth Vintage Homes Tour

27th annual tour .

Sunday, December 9   |   1-6 p.m. 

www.leavenworthhistory.org 

Benefit for the Leavenworth County Historical Society

Kappa Kappa Gamma

67th annual tour.

December 4 – VIP Event: 5-9 p.m.   |  Tours: 5-9 p.m.

December 5   |   1-8 p.m.   |    December 6   |   10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

www.kappahomestour.com

Downtown Dazzle Urban Homes Tour

December 8   |   10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

www.downtowndazzle.com

Holly & Mistletoe Homes Tour 

Independence young matrons .

December 6   |   10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

www.independenceyoungmatrons.org/homes-tour.html 

Holiday Homes Tour

December 2    |   Noon – 5 p.m.

www.heartlandhealth.org/holiday-homes-tour

Benefitting the Heartland Community Health

Weston Candlelight Homes Tour

37th annual tour.

December 1 & 2   |   2 p.m.- 7 p.m.

www.westonmo.com/events

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