Holiday Homes I

Here at Topsy Turvy we're not really into the typical red and green holiday decor, as you might guess. When it comes to poinsettias, I'll choose white over red any day. And the same goes for Amaryllis. I know red can be really rich and festive, but, for me, it just seems "too much." I believe that subtlety should never be under-rated.

I thought I'd show, in a series of posts, a few Christmas interiors that I have loved and remembered and that have provided a lot of inspiration for my own decorations.

Rather than glamour, I always go for natural greenery and rustic elements. Although I like a little silver and gold to add some sparkle to my normal scheme of white and brown, orange has always appealed to me, and it works so well as a splash of color because of the seasonal fruits that are available - oranges, kumquats and gorgeous persimmons. I like to place a large rustic basket, full of clove-studded oranges (they look and smell great!) and pinecones, on the dining table. A couple of kumquat trees in full fruit and planted in rustic terra cotta pots would be wonderful by a front door or inside an entry foyer.

One of my favorite interior designers, Stephen Shubel, has done up his 16th c Loire Valley home so beautifully in this color scheme, and I admit to borrowing freely from his ideas!

Please click on any image to enlarge.

Those orange curtains – how bold! – all aglow with the sunlight coming from behind, make a luscious combination with the Old World Weavers silk velvet leopard cushions, and the brown velvet pillows with gold embroidered coat of arms. A Napolean III chair, slipcovered sofa (from Habite, Paris) and ottoman in shades of white defer to the rustic architecture. For a fun idea (if your budget allows), change out your curtains for the holiday season!

This Christmas tree is perfection! I've searched high and low for one like this – can anyone tell me what kind of tree it is? I have purchased my tree online (a Fraser fir, in lieu of the above) for the last two years from Cartner Christmas Tree Farm in N.C. The trees are perfect, cut fresh the day you request delivery and come to your door in a very compact box, with stand, pre-drilled and ready to put up. It's so easy, and so worth it, if you're looking for the perfect, traditional tree. They last longer and drop fewer needles than any tree I've ever had. Of course, if I could find a tree like Shubel's .... I'd have to switch.

I'm also crazy about the oversize white plaster snowflake ornaments and white paper star on this tree. An idea I borrowed is the dried oranges - whole and sliced - hanging on the tree like ornaments. Those can be purchased from several sources online, and will last for at least a couple of years.

I spy my favorite white Amaryllis with silver, mercury glass and rustic accents, in this tabletop vignette. Also on display: 18th c creamware plates and platter, 19th c silverware, a silver Moroccan tagine, and a Moroccan textile runner.

The upstairs master bedroom has its own smaller-scale tree, and Shubel varied the scheme a bit here: he added deeper red-orange tree ornaments and introduced yellow-gold fabrics. The Louis XVI chair is upholstered in a luminous gold silk and a 19th c daybed sports a snappy gold and cream stripe cushion. The simple, wispy green wreath with sheer orange ribbon is more perfection. French iron garden stools serve as tables or as extra seating.

A wall of 19th c painted oak book cabinets stands in magnificently for headboards behind the twin beds. A gold silk coverlet and luxurious creamy vintage linens make this a napworthy spot. A painted side table from Morocco serves as a nightstand.

In the sunroom, a painted pine desk (c.1900) holds a collection of quirky and charming flea market finds, and nearby built-in bookshelves are stacked with antique books in more shades of white. The 18th c lamp base has a shade covered with antique papers. This room is decorated for the holidays with a simple rustic pot of white blooming hellebores and a ribbon or two.

More white potted hellebores and silver ornaments add a little Christmas spirit to the bath. A 19th c pine demilune, a 19th c plaster bust of Marie Antoinette, stacks of fluffy white towels and a Swedish Empire-style painted chair add my kind of luxury to this rustic space. Flooring is 16th c terra cotta tiles.

Shubel refers to his style as eclectic and unassuming, and that suits me to a tee. Check out his portfolio here, and then grab a copy of the newest House Beautiful (Jan. 09) to take a look at his interpretation of a more modern and hip interior with bold patterns - a home created for a young fashion-conscious client.

Photos by Thibault Jeanson for Veranda Magazine.
...........................................................................................................................................................................