Elaborate displays fill home with Christmas spirit
Robin and Dannie Dukes decorate each room of their home with a holiday theme.
Photo by Ron CockerilleWILLISTON, S.C. - Christmas is filled with happy memories for Robin and Dannie Dukes.
"I remember how magical Christmas seemed to be," said Mrs. Dukes, who tries to recreate that magic for guests through her holiday decorations.
Each of the rooms in their two bedroom, two bathroom, 2,500 square foot home that was built around 1908, features a different theme.
Snowmen abound in the kitchen and eating area.
Mrs. Dukes, one of the supervisors at the dining room at Brandon Wilde in Evans, has more than 150 snowmen. Cookie jars, soap dispensers, stuffed snowmen and ceramic snowmen fill counters and shelves. A bride and groom snow couple, made by Mr. Dukes' mother, commemorates the couple's wedding day, Feb. 14, 1998.
A Nativity scene of snow people is one of the newest additions to the collection.
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"I incorporate a nativity in each room," she said.
Another new piece this year is a snow tree. The couple found it in a catalog last year, but it was out of stock.
"I watched all year on the Internet for it," she said.
The artificial Christmas tree stands about 4 1/2 feet tall and is equipped with a blower that gently blows faux snow through the top of the tree. A skirt around the bottom of the tree catches the snow and recycles it.
Adorning the Christmas tree are snowmen ornaments and snowflakes.
The formal dining room features an angelic theme. The dining room table is already dressed for the holidays with the china in place. A cream colored porcelain nativity trimmed in gold is the table's centerpiece.
Angels decorate the mantle.
The living room is the Santa room with several animated Santa Clauses, including Santa in his sleigh and Santa with Mrs. Claus.
There is a Christmas village with ceramic buildings in the corner of room.
Underneath the Christmas tree, there is a toy train and a ladder with tiny elf and Santa figures rests against the tree.
Next year, Mrs. Dukes plans to buy a tree that will reach the tip of the 14-foot ceilings.
The living room tree is a sort of an heirloom tree. Ornaments on the tree include one made by Mr. Dukes' second grade teacher.
Each year, the couple buys an ornament and personalizes it with their names and the year. She also buys ornaments for her nieces and nephews.
There is a traditional Nativity creche in the room, but there's a special one on the coffee table - Santa Claus bowing before the baby in the manger.
The two bedrooms have a few decorations, but they are works in progress.
One day, the master bedroom possibly will become the antique Christmas room. Stockings hanging from the chimney in the room date to Mr. Dukes' childhood. His first stocking as well as a stocking made by his grandmother hang in there.
Four cloth wreaths, made by his grandmother, hang in the room as well.
The second bedroom will probably one day have a Nutcracker theme.
The main bathroom features Christmas bears.
Throughout the home, around the windows are strands of evergreen garland and red bows, which were part of the decorations from their wedding.
One day, Mrs. Dukes said, these items will become the trimmings for another Christmas tree.
"I've always loved to decorate," said Mrs. Dukes, who begins preparations for Christmas as soon as the Halloween decorations come down. "He's the same way."