Published: December 01. 2009 2:00AM

By Kim Hassold
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Visiting the Silliman home on the most ordinary day is like going on vacation. The walls are colorful, whimsical paintings are at every turn and the huge, friendly faces of the family Newfoundlands welcome everyone with a cock of the head and wag of the tail.

That said, visiting during a holiday takes the experience to a whole new level (eight trees). One that we were lucky enough to have for ourselves and now to share with you.

“Originally we moved from Colorado to this area of the country with my husband's business. After living in Asheville for a time, we moved to Greenville and love it here!” says Kelli. “We knew we wanted an older home and liked this area. When we got this house we ‘did it the Dallas way' — big — and took it down to the studs, raising every ceiling while we lived at Lake Keowee for a summer and then at the Westin Poinsett for a month until we could move in here.”

Jim and Kelli now happily reside in their home as their three sons, Bo, Zach and Sam visit whenever possible between work and school. After experiencing Christmas at the Silliman home we can see why it would be hard to stay away. After all, holidays should be all about fantasy, and there's no better place to step into the middle of one than right here.