Cheatham home

Cheatham home

After 36 years, the Lake Highlands Women’s League is planning something they never considered before – a Twilight Tour as part of their annual home tour. Sure, last year’s Holiday in the Highlands included evening hours, but that was more a result of necessity. The freak snowstorm of 2013 which closed roads and shut schools required creative thinking, and the first-ever Twilight Tour became an accidental success.

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“We expect to welcome attendees who could never tour homes during the work day,” says Lisa Johnson, who co-chairs the event this year with Michelle Dishman. “Women can bring their husbands, groups can come from the office and LH teachers, who are big supporters of Women’s League, can come after school lets out.”

Proceeds from the event go to college scholarships for LHHS seniors, LH area schools and LH community projects.

Tour times are now 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6-9 on Friday, December 5. Though the houses are closed from 3-6, the Holiday Market, located at Highland Oaks Church of Christ, will remain open from 9-5. New this year are market hours for the public Thursday afternoon from 1-4. In previous years, only Women’s League members got to shop during this “preview” time. Also new: additional vendors, since members no longer provide gifts to be sold. (In a bye-gone era, members actually stitched or handcrafted Christmas items for sale.)  Not changed: Women’s League members will still bake their delicious homemade pies, cakes and candies, beautifully wrapped. The luncheon will also be held at the church from 11 to 1:30.

This year’s homes are truly special. One was featured on the Architectural Digest national home tour, another was submitted to a national home magazine and the backyard of another has been featured on HGTV and Houzz. As always, LHWL seeks to provide a mix of home styles and sizes.

The Cheatham’s contemporary home is located in Dallas’ Urban Reserve – 13 acres on White Rock Creek near Royal Oaks Country Club. All 50 homes there are designed with sustainability in mind, including energy efficiency, water conservation and air quality. Chuck and Diane had a previous Urban Reserve home on LHWL tour in 2008.

The Smith home is adorned with keepsakes collected over 20 years raising children in Lake Highlands. James shares photos and memorabilia from his weekends as a photographer for the Dallas Cowboys, and Kandy displays treasures from her hobby antique shopping for her booth at City View Antique Mall.

European old world charm embellishes the Mackenzie home, adorned with the family’s Scottish coat of arms above the front door and restored antique doors from Germany inside. Look for English touches and the Mackenzie Tartan plaid throughout.

The Jeffery home has clean lines and a modern feel, with displays of art, photography and sculpture from the family’s worldwide travels. Your favorite part of the tour, though, is likely to be the backyard – part spa retreat, part oasis.

Tour tickets are $15 in advance from Women’s League members or by emailing Nancy Plotts at lhwlhometour@gmail.com.  Tickets at the door of any of the homes on tour day are $20. Tickets entitle holder to one entry per home per ticket (if you’d like to see any home twice, you’ll need a second ticket). Luncheon tickets are $20.

Highland Oaks Church of Christ is located at 10805 Walnut Hill Lane. The homes are:

Diane and Chuck Cheatham, 1 Vanguard Way

Kandy and James Smith, 9425 Estate Lane

Tiffani and Steven Mackenzie, 9276 Cliffmere Drive

Stephanie and Ben Jeffery, 9332 Forestridge Drive.

To date, LHWL has given more than 800 annual service hours and $2 million back to the community.

Mackenzie home

Mackenzie home

Jeffery home

Jeffery home

Smith home

Smith home