If you’re looking for decorating inspiration or just like the idea of wandering through some beautifully decked out homes, Intown has an array of tours on tap this month.
Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes
Decatur’s 30th annual tour is Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. both nights. The tour features homes throughout the city, ranging from new builds to craftsman renovations to the breathtaking Rosehill estate sitting on the hilltop at the corner of W. Ponce de Leon Avenue and Pinetree Drive. Tour-goers can board a complimentary shuttle at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Decatur, hop on and off throughout the two evenings and take advantage of the dining and shopping opportunities in Decatur as well as tour seven of Decatur’s interesting, creative, eclectic and beautiful homes. The Tour of Homes is a fundraiser that benefits the Mary Miller Decatur Youth Fund, the Decatur Education Foundation and the Wylde Center. Tickets for the Tour of Homes are $20 in advance at decaturtourofhomes.com and $25 at the door.
Peachtree Garden Club Christmas Home Tour
The 2012 tour will feature three distinctive homes minutes from the heart of Buckhead on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The homes include a Virginia Tidewater style house originally designed by James Mean and renovated and expanded by Norman Askins and Michelle Moody. It is filled with reclaimed bricks, floors and slate for the roof, giving the home a feeling of great age. There’s also a Greek Revival style home originally designed by Clem Ford. It has numerous authentic details and the interior is a blend of French accents influenced by the owner’s memories of living in France, Louisiana and South Carolina. The interior design is by Karen Menge of Pulliam Morris Interiors. The third home is French style house designed by Summerour and Associates in 2001. The house was designed to fit in the historic neighborhood by using minimal old growth tree disturbance and minimal visual impact on surrounding homes. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of and can be purchased at the following Atlanta locations:  Boxwoods, Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings, Peachtree Battle Shopping Center; Glyn Weakley LTD and Willow Green. peachtreegardenclub.org
Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes
Two Victorian mansions and a bed & breakfast are just some of the homes on the 2012 tour of the Grant Park neighborhood. Starting at St. Paul United Methodist Church, the tour will be Saturday, Dec. 8, and Sunday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. both nights. A special stop this year is The Social Goat Bed & Breakfast at 548 Robinson Ave. Since their last appearance on the tour a few years ago, the owners have accumulated quite the petting zoo out back, complete with turkeys, goats and chickens if tour-goers are feeling frisky. Another tour stop is the L. P. Grant Mansion just across from St. Paul, home to the Atlanta Preservation Center. And always a big draw to the tour and the neighborhood is the Burns Mansion at 622 Grant St. For family fun, the popular Winter Wonderland put on by the Grant Park Parent Network is returning. Featuring Santa, cookie decorating and other holiday treats, Winter Wonderland will be in the church gymnasium from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. An Artists’ Market and Bake Sale, open both nights, caroling hayrides on Saturday and a Candlelight Christmas Concert on Sunday are also planned. Tour tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 at CandlelightTourOfHomes.com.
Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes
The 18th annual tour will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. This year’s tour features eight inspiring homes including several turn-of-the-century bungalows expertly renovated in designer style, a 1920s Tudor Cottage reinvented for relaxed, luxe living, a contemporary masterpiece reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature prairie style and a fully-restored, historic bed & breakfast. In keeping with tradition, local restaurants will provide food tastings in each of the eight homes. Tour guests will enjoy savory tastings from neighbor favorites La Tavola, Atkins Park, DBA Barbecue, Murphy’s, Genki, Osteria, Pozole and Noche. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 weekend of the tour. To purchase tickets online, visit vahitourofhomes.org. Tickets will be available for pick up on the morning of the tour at the YMCA, 975 N. Highland Ave
Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes & Holiday Market
The 20th anniversary tour will feature six homes in the community from 3 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9. The Holiday Market will be held at the Avondale Community Club, 59 Lakeshore Drive, from noon to 6 p.m. The market feature great foods, unique gifts, and fun finds for the holidays. The homes on this year’s tour have been sensitively restored or renovated to preserve the character of the historic community. A festive trolley will be ferrying visitors from the homes to the market throughout the afternoon. For further details visit avondaletourofhomes.com.
Christmas House
The Christmas House to benefit the Alliance Theatre is happening this year at a beautiful home at 4775 Dudley Lane in Chastain Park. The tour began in November and continues through Dec. 9. With exteriors of stone and brick, multiple entrances, peaked rooflines and graceful columns, the Dudley Lane home has the feeling of an updated New England farmhouse that is welcoming and comfortable while still elegant and inspiring. The home is open for tours Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door. For more visit, AtlantaChristmasHouse.com.