Christmas at Callanwolde

For the second year in a row, interior designers have transformed the prominent into a feast for the eyes.

The Callanwolde mansion is decked inside and out with holiday garlands, wreath, and lights as part of a yearly fundraiser for the arts center — Christmas at Callanwolde.

Callanwolde was the residence of Charles Howard Candler, eldest son of Asa Candler, who founded the Coca-Cola Company. The home and grounds were slated for destruction in the 70s. The Candlers had donated the estate to Emory University, but it had passed through many owners and fallen into disrepair. The neighborhood held fundraisers, and the Federal Housing Development Department and Dekalb County contributed funds as well, saving Callanwolde and making sure of its spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the mansion operates as an arts center, with art classes and facilities for all ages. In the month of December, the mansion ends most of its arts activities and lets interior designers go wild.

This year is no exception. The rooms, typically empty of furniture and decoration, have been filled with artworks and stylish furniture, Christmas trees and floral arrangements, showcasing the space to great effect.

The themes of the rooms are playful, reflecting the original use by the Candler family and the Gothic-Tudor architecture of the mansion.

The music room, decorated by Dana Terrell of Westside Foundry, features furniture upholstered with images of the Beatles, and a vintage Coca-Cola cooler next to the Christmas tree as a nod to the Candlers. The billiard room was styled by Mark Sunderland as a celebration of English Revival, featuring artifacts owned by King Edward VIII which Sunderland acquired at auctions. The room brims with tartan plaids, framed coats-of-arms and porcelain animal figurines.

The entire mansion smells like Christmas, with orange and cinnamon scents perfuming the air. Live organ music is piped through the rooms through the system of conduits built with the house.

Susan Summers, Publicity and Arts Events Director for Callanwolde, said last year the event raised about $50,000, but she expects this year they’ll do even better. There have been about 200 people a day, with more on the weekends, she said.

Holiday themed events such the Breakfast with Santa and the Teddy Bear Tea have sold out every weekend.

Summers said planning began for this year’s Christmas at Callanwolde in March with a luncheon inviting interior designers to participate.

In early April, the designers were notified which room they’d been assigned and the planning began. Every piece used in the rooms is on loan, either from a personal collection or from a store, and some items are available for purchase.

After Thanksgiving, the design teams had exactly a week to set up and will have a week to take it down. Summers said many nights the teams stayed late, making sure everything was perfect.

Funds raised will go towards the continuing conservation efforts and to maintaining the arts programs.

If you go: Christmas at Callanwolde ends on December 18. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for children aged four through twelve, and free for children three and under.