The designer at her North Central home
Classic holiday decor and woodsy flourishes in the living room of Heather’s circa-1920s bungalow
For her dramatic mantelpiece, she fills narrow Lucite trays with floral foam, then a mix of greens plus branches covered in lichen, silver-hued Cecropia leaves, and guinea hen feathers for tons of texture and a woodsy feel.
To create the installations flanking her front door, Heather starts with a frame of birch branches, anchors them in planters, then guides the branches upward.
She also created three simple pine wreaths for the front windows.
Heather gathers greens with whippet Cleo, who’s aptly dressed for the occasion.
First lights strung at varying depths, then showcase ornaments in spot where they can be best seen and enjoyed, fill in evenly with baubles, and finally glass icicles.
Heather treasures the eight snowflake ornaments crocheted by her grandmother.
Color-coordinated gifts are wrapped in kraft paper and embellished with satin ribbon and an organic element, such as a snippet of fir, a cinnamon stick, acorns, or berries.
Heather’s staircase garland with a stunning arrangement
A floral foam cage held with zip ties
Insert your longest greens in the back. Place a few long branches facing up toward the railing and a few at the bottom to trail down.
Working from the back to the front, place leafier greens around the edges and into the center covering the floral foam. Cut some pieces very short and tuck them in tightly for coverage. Finally, work in pine and cypress clippings.
Cut poinsettia blooms and other white flowers, place them in water tubes, and tuck them into the arrangement.
Tabletop Magic: The holidays also call for planning special meals and decking out dining spaces. Heather recommends working fresh florals and pops of color into your tablescape.
Incorporate candles of different heights. “Tapered candles are elegant, and lower candlelight—such as votives—casts a warm glow upward, which is flattering,” Heather says.
“You can make almost any palette work for the holidays with the addition of seasonal foliage,” she says. In this case, poinsettias in newer pink and white varietals add festive flair.
Offer guests a special cocktail, like this pomegranate spritz, as soon as they walk in the door, but do have other options available, as well.
