15 minute read
DECOR
DESIGNING HOLIDAYS the
BY TERRI FERRAGUT
C
ome colder weather, our residential landscapes and the comfort of our interiors slowly morph into festive holiday sparkle and shine that we cherish, year after year. Home is more important than ever, and we desire to gather with family and friends for the holidays and celebrate together in an atmosphere laden with comfort and familiarity.
There’s something about this season that serves as a reminder of past happy memories. Nostalgic feelings experienced from enjoying an ornament from childhood or the twinkle of holiday lights on your home’s exterior can have profound benefits, adding meaning to our lives and bolstering our social connections.
People who decorate their homes for the holidays are perceived as more approachable and friendly. In this digital age, holiday decorations may signal sociability needed more than ever before. Even our outdoor lighting becomes inspiring illumination for neighbors to enjoy in the darkness of our winters. Inspired Home set out to discover beautiful holiday décor ideas we hope will inspire and motivate you to celebrate the season with beauty and sentiment – both old and new. From traditional and trendsetting color palettes for 2022 to new décor shapes and textures, it’s all here. Read on to discover your own personal favorites.
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Classic Elegance
This holiday décor style reflects a timeless quality of history and tradition. For nostalgic souls, a timehonored design scheme incorporating rich red, green, cream and gold hues offers a comforting scenario. The look is structured and balanced, often played off of a focal point such as a fireplace. Rich with accessories, textures and strong patterns, the end result is a perfectly inviting design result.
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There’s something comforting about traditional Christmas decorations. They perhaps remind you of a simpler time. If you love classic and elegant home decor, the traditional style of decorating for Christmas may be right for you. Keep the traditional spirit of Christmas alive with strong patterns, textures, and rich colors.
Rich wood tones, ornate detailing, plush fabrics, and artful accessories come together here seamlessly. Combined, they create warmth and coziness to withstand the test of time.
Inspired by and staying true to tradition, this turn-of-the-century Fargo home brings a sense of historical glamour to this space.
Fit for royalty, the traditional style here lends regal opulence to the fireplace. Silver, gold, and velvet ribbon–perfect elements.
A welcoming scene for your holiday guest – This life-sized soldier, layered in lacquered color, seems to have arrived directly from the Nutcracker Ballet stage. Orderly and symmetrical, he creates holiday magic for the entire family.
As Charles Dickens perfectly stated, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year”, the perfect décor tribute to tradition.
A masterpiece, not only in a holiday music score but in every clever detail this Fargo designer created for the homeowners. Brilliantly effective.
Rich and Opulent
Shine and shimmer create the luxurious feeling of this decorating style. Rich tones and refined elegance take the lead in the sophisticated aesthetic that this design portrays. Lavish finishes, details in patterns and plush textures are the hallmarks seen in this approach. From shiny gold and silver metallics and sparkling crystals to rich colors and intricate patterns, stunning design is the result.
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Opulent details marked by gold and silver are beautiful elements on this holiday fireplace. The swagged elegance is a breathtaking design style of luxury.
Sheer charming elegance takes the lead with metallic finishes, textures, and family nostalgia. Soft creams and grays mingle perfectly together.
Holiday swags on a fireplace make beautiful statements by setting the design mood for the entire room. Emerald green, gold, and Swarovski crystals–perfect companions.
Lavish, ornate, and refined elegance take center stage in this holiday room scene. Soft colors, pearlized surfaces, and the addition of faux precious metals stand strong together under the watchful eyes of the kingly guardsmen.
Rich, intricate patterns of the Blue Ming ceramic vases define opulence. Snow white textured cardinals add nature’s own elegance.
A matching trio of holiday décor elements defines the sophisticated aesthetic. This stunning room portrays rich and opulent design.
A Chorus of Color
Bold and vibrant color combinations in darker hues create a velvet feel of a mysterious starry night, in tune with the Holy Night spirit of the holidays. Jewel tones bring beautiful colors into our homes. Inspired by precious gemstones such as amethyst, emerald, ruby and sapphire, the hues create a dramatic and colorful alternative for the holidays. In stunning lighter shades, they create an equally festive atmosphere.
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The jewel-tone colors of these plush pillows are an easy place to begin a foray into rich hues that will add beautiful drama to your holidays.
Precious gemstones are the inspiration for this highly colored, visual assembly of design components. Emerald, amethyst, ruby, and sapphire play starring roles.
Where would our lives be without the beauty of rich and vibrant colors? The jewel-tone colors used in the table setting create a serene and peaceful holiday dining experience for both the homeowner and guests.
A Christmas color explosion that delights both the eyes and heart. Mercury glass, which has neither silver nor mercury in it, takes on a most elegant and magical look upon this hearth.
Comfort, joy, and glad tidings are all expressed here with the vibrancy of deep, rich colors.
Deck the halls and walls not just with ivy but with colorful wreaths that foster grace and high spirits for your Christmas gatherings. Here, the jewel-tone hues are sure to bring a smile.
There is a humbling effect of deep midnight colors that remind us of that starry night we celebrate. This quartette of colors epitomizes the spirit of Christmas.
Scandinavian Comfort
A Scandi Christmas is characteristically clean and simple, characterized by combining functionality with beauty. Natural fibers create the cozy warmth of the season. Natural woven materials add luxurious texture and softness to the simplicity of your interiors. Homespun touches of candles and colors rooted in nature will create Nordic charm in your holiday home.
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Relaxed, original, simple elegance and natural materials are key players in the Scandinavian lifestyle and in their décor. This fireplace mantle combines many elements of the Scandi style. Natural wood, greens, and candles vibe with the nostalgic ceramic church and village homes.
Creative. Simple. Inspiring. This “forest” of pine trees soothes the soul and emits the beauty and respect for nature that Scandinavians are famous for. The natural lightness adds “light” to the long, cold winter days.
Multiple homespun textures marry up with natural colors, candles, and natural materials–all hallmarks of Scandinavian simplicity and intentional functionality. A particularly beautiful design aspect is the clean and stark beauty of the Christmas Advent calendar.
A Nordic functional and beautiful interpretation of the warmth of home, these tealights are a perfect representation of the Scandinavian design.
The warm glow of candlelight is essential and coupled with earthy bottle brush trees, a natural comfort is created.
Elements of hygge, wellness, and contentment are a product of this mixture of fresh greenery, candles, and brush bottle trees.
Here, cozy warmth is portrayed by the coolness of the color tones interplaying with warm knits and pops of coppery tree ornaments. Simplicity without sacrificing beauty is a hallmark of Scandinavian design. Using neutrals, textures, and natural wood with intermittent color–the design mission is complete.
The epitome of Nordic design is captured here in this holiday-dressed room. Natural textures, neutral colors, and lack of clutter go hand-in-hand with candles and fresh greens to create a perfect scenario of inviting comfort.
Natural and Botanical
Influenced by nature, this style offers a comforting charm, the ultimate in coziness. Organic design, holistic by definition, seeks to integrate harmony between humans and nature. Natural materials like wood, soft colors, dynamic forms and rustic textures create visual warmth. Forage the outdoors to find your inspiration with cut logs, branches, pinecones, pine branches or berries. continued on page 32
Greet your arriving guests with a charming botanical deer. This warm greeting at your home’s entrance during the holidays will be appreciated by anyone entering. The peaceful laying deer is crafted from fiberglass and coated in actual moss that is preserved.
Simplistic elegance at its best. This is a perfect portrayal of nature entering a space in your home to create a moment of awe that could be a part of your home for the entirety of the winter season. Use a bit of pine, cranberries, pebbles, or a combination of items.
Simplistic in nature, a candelabra of a pine tree branch and Christmas tree balls become an elegant focal point for dinner guests. Include natural elements, gifted to you by nature in your own backyard to create special holiday memories.
A winter wonderland right on top of your table. Here textures of twine, candles, fresh greens, ceramics, wood, and metals all play a role in making sure your holiday is merry. The earthy natural fibers in the table runner anchor the delightful scene.
Dried orange slices, brass bells, and fresh greens are all simple and natural ingredients for a fireplace mantle that will never be forgotten. Bringing nature into your home will create holiday beauty that creates a peaceful atmosphere and an immeasurable sense of contentment.
Artful and stunning are only two of many words that could describe the natural beauty of these “sculpted” oranges adorned with cloves. The intoxicating fragrance meld of the orange and cloves is one of heaven and perfect for your holiday home. Place in a bowl of nuts and greens.
Using fresh greens to decorate your home is a true value and may be as accessible as your own back door. Fragrant juniper with berries, pine, spruce, deciduous twigs, and branches with berries–even persistent crabapples, all become fragrant elements for your holiday home.
Classic Neutrals
Create a cozy and sophisticated environment for Christmas. Neutrals are peaceful and calming with a softness that is truly inviting. Creating a more natural look, the chic serenity will feel like a peaceful retreat from your daily life. These subtle hues create timeless, easy-on-the-eye designs that mix well with other colors. Add glam with metallic gold, silver brass or mercury glass to achieve the perfect amount of glitz.
Unfettered and unhurried is the vibe when the classic beauty of neutrals graces a room. This kitchen countertop island is just the spot for the earthy piece.
This delightful neutral blend of Santa Claus, brush bottle tree and mercury evergreens on reflective mirrored glass is a stunning sight for all to behold.
Neutral metallic colors of copper, silver, and gold add not only festive beauty to your holiday décor but also an added sense of peace and calm. Perfect for any room color in your home, their ease and ability to complement any room make them a smart choice for your holiday trimmings.
ABOVE LEFT: Tone-on-tone textures and metals create an elegant scene in a room dominated by the brilliance of the Christmas tree. Complementary neutrals of the entire room become a beautiful backdrop and play a supporting role in the home’s holiday season.
A striking collaboration of elements all come together seamlessly in this established Fargo home. Turn-of-the-century charm is accentuated by original paned windows and woodwork creating graceful elegance. Neutrals again play an important role in perfect harmony with shimmery, shiny metals
Santa, always the lead “character” has surrounded himself with luxury here. This is a perfect example of different neutral elements of varying textures playing off one another. The end result is a magical holiday feast for the eyes. Merry Christmas!
IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
As the only fellowship-trained urogynecologist in North Dakota, Essentia Health’s Dr. Erin Maetzold is the local expert in treating pelvic floor conditions
Words by Kelsey Mix
About 1 in 4 women will experience a pelvic floor disorder at some point in their lifetime.
Pregnancy, aging and obesity can weaken women’s pelvic floor, leading to uncomfortable disorders like pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence.
The good news is that women across the region now have an expert to turn to for help with pelvic floor issues. Dr. Erin Maetzold, who recently joined Essentia Health in Fargo, is the only fellowship-trained urogynecologist in the entire state of North Dakota.
Urogynecologists are board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists or urologists who complete a three-year fellowship and certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. This fellowship provides expertise in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the muscles
and connective tissue of the female pelvic
organs.
Dr. Maetzold recently completed her fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. When it came to choosing where she would begin her career as a urogynecologist, Dr. Maetzold knew that Essentia Health in Fargo was a perfect fit. “I knew I wanted to come to Essentia after meeting with the OBGYN team and seeing how dedicated they were to improving women’s health,” she said. “I think having people who truly care about women’s health throughout their lifetime is so important.”
And Essentia Health-Fargo has proven to be a good match for Dr. Maetzold in more ways than one. She was born in Devils Lake and grew up in Dickinson. After completing her undergraduate degree at Concordia College in Moorhead and medical school
at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, Dr. Maetzold says that returning to work in Fargo feels like “a homecoming.”
Despite the frequency of pelvic conditions, there are still few fellowship-trained urogynecologists in the United States.
Dr. Erin Maetzold
With a small number of fellowship graduates each year, Dr. Maetzold is part of a select group of specialists in the country. She is proud to become the only fellowship-trained urogynecologist in North Dakota and recognizes the positive impact that her move to Fargo will have on local women.
“I know that many women suffer from these issues, so being able to help provide additional care and give women more treatment options is really important,” she said. “Many of these patients in North Dakota or northern Minnesota don’t want
to travel hours and hours to go see a specialist in another state, so being able to get this care close to home is going to be helpful for so many.”
NORMALIZING TREATMENT
For many women, pelvic floor conditions like incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse can have a negative impact on their quality of life. Women with incontinence, for example, can end up planning their entire day around whether they have access to a bathroom.
Unfortunately, embarrassment or unawareness of available treatment options prevents too many women from seeking care for these conditions.
“Many women have the perception that as they age it’s just normal to leak and just normal to have prolapse,” Dr. Maetzold explained.
Dr. Maetzold says that as the only fellowshiptrained urogynecologist in North Dakota, her main priority is to reduce the stigma surrounding many of these conditions and educate women about available treatment options that can dramatically improve their quality of life.
She says her favorite part of her job is helping women return to the activities they love, recalling the joy she felt when a former patient was able to return to her dance classes after receiving treatment for incontinence.
“It’s just so rewarding to be able to help women live their best and happiest lives,” she concludes.
DON’T DELAY CARE
If you are experiencing discomfort due to a pelvic floor condition and are looking to improve your quality of life, don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Maetzold by calling 701-364-8900.
