John and Will Hardee
A mélange of greenery, lights, pinecones, and ribbons spills down the staircase.
Upon entry, guests pass beneath garland and are greeted with a petite flocked tree adorned with candles and elegant glass and gilded ornaments, all aglow against the foyer’s walls painted in Sherwin-Williams “Port Royal” from the Colors of Historic Charleston collection.
It’s all about layering: For the dining room’s winter wonderland, John adds dimension and volume to each tree and strand of garland through abundant candles, ornaments, and ribbon. But he also considers how complementary design elements—here, a collection of metallic tabletop trees, elegant potted paper-whites, and fluffy faux snow—will fully bring the space to life. After all, more is more during the holiday season.
With the help of his mom, John builds all of the garland, dressing up each artificial base with decorative sprays, picks, and stems of all stripes. This room features the likes of magnolia leaves, pinecones, and berry picks sourced mostly from Winward Home and Natural Decorations Inc.
This large, formal tree is home to a collection of Palmetto State-related ornaments that John’s late grandfather, Hugh Leatherman—a state senator for 40 years—sent out to colleagues, constituents, and relatives every Christmas. Positioned among festive feathered birds and a different hue of interwoven ribbon each year, the fusion of old and new is striking (and fitting in a room that places antique furnishings alongside abstract art).
As the pool house has a more relaxed feel, John wanted its nine-foot tree to be a little more whimsical, draping it in a gold garland that reminds him of seaweed and adding decorative tassels from Samuel & Sons.
The garland stretching along the pool house’s built-in wet bar features real trimmings for a whiff of fresh pine, while petite faux citrus inserts provide a pop of color.
In place of a wobbly tree stand, John uses a plastic bucket with a 12-inch PVC pipe, wide enough to accommodate the trunk, cemented in the center. He then covers the base with fabric and fills it with water to keep the tree hydrated.
In a cozy room off the kitchen, the “family” tree is a picture of nostalgia, featuring the couple’s childhood ornaments and vintage GE String-A-Long Classic Lights, just like John grew up with.
More is more when it comes to the abundance of Christmas decor in John and Will Hardee’s grand manse
