FRONT AND CENTRE

1

TEXT SARA CATION

PHOTOGRAPHY DONNA GRIFFITH

STYLING STACY BEGG

FRONT and CENTRE

2

An elegant and edgy entryway goes au naturel to welcome guests to an intimate fete so fabulous they’ll forget to explore the rest of the house.

For designer Barbara Milner, effective design is all about the fleeting moments, like the smile that spreads across your face the second you walk through the door and into a stunning space. That’s why Barbara never overlooks the entryway – especially the one in her Toronto home, considering its 12-foot-high ceiling, standout staircase and original fireplace. This year, she’s chosen the area as the centre of her spectacular holiday decor, which blends refined elegance with rustic woodsiness. Here, Barbara shares her seven secrets to entryway success.

3

4

1. GET REAL “I wanted a Christmas tree that you could happen upon in the forest,” says homeowner and designer Barbara Milner. So she strayed from the glam and glitz and focused on fashioning a natural appeal that didn’t feel crafty. “I was going for fuss-free...and yet I fussed so much,” she adds.

2. PICK YOUR MOMENTS In keeping with the earthy elegance of her tree, Barbara wrapped the gifts in brown kraft paper – “I love the back-to-basics understated feel of it,” she says. “But, as with anything, you choose your moment to make a statement.” Here, it’s all about the sumptuous satin ribbons. 3. GO GROCERY SHOPPING Unusual and imperfect yet bright and seasonal, persimmons are the perfect accents for this natural style. Strewn along the mantel, they look like they’re about to be foraged by the vintage taxidermied pheasants above.

4. CUSTOMIZE THE DRAMA Instead of splurging on pre-made bows, Barbara suggests going to a fabric outlet and having some custom made. These pricey-looking ones created from four-inch-wide peau de soie are dramatically oversized: 16 inches wide with 22-inch tails. “If you can explain what you want, it’s inexpensive to go to the experts,” she says.

5

6

7

5. MAKE IT WELCOMING MING With its muted, monochroochromatic palette, traditional onal touches (like the toile-look e-look wallpaper), unexpected ted elements (check out the the exotic veneer of the conconsole) and elegant accents cents (don’t those sconces make make you think of Gatsby?), the ), the entryway feels “like an old, an old, cozy Park Avenue hotel otel with an eclectic British ish undertone,” says Barbara. bara. What could be more e welcoming than that? t? 6. PUT THE ELVES TO WORK Barbara’s four-yearold son, Marshall, loves everything about Christmas, especially decorating. “He is very hands-on and opinionated about what’s beautiful,” says Barbara, “which is both a joy and a challenge.” 7. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX It doesn’t always have to be in the shape of a house or a person – gingerbread is just as tasty in tree form. Their snowy candyfloss tops fit perfectly with the forest theme.

DESIGN, South Hill Interiors, southhillinteriors.com; Cole & Son WALLPAPER, Lee Jofa; Coconut Sugar PF 60 FIRE-

PLACE & MILLWORK PAINT,

Para Paints; ARMCHAIR, SIDE TABLE, RUG, Elte; custom ROMAN SHADES, tartan GARLAND & BOW SEWING, The Sewing Shop; STAIR RUNNER, Alexanian Carpet & Flooring; PENDANT LIGHT, Black Rooster Decor; SCONCES, Royal Lighting; FIREPLACE INSERT, Dimplex; antique brass PLATE (above fireplace), antique NEWEL POST, The Door Store; custom MIRROR, Canada Glass & Mirror Co.; Nordmann fir CHRIST-

MAS TREE, GREENERY, URN,

Terra Greenhouses; TREE TOPPER, Pottery Barn; RIBBON (on presents), Mokuba.

FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK

▲ Cole & Son Versailles 99/15061 WALLPAPER in Charcoal, $414 per double roll, through designers, Lee Jofa, leejofa.com.

◀ Medium Darlana LANTERN in Guilded Iron, $630 US, Circa Lighting, circalighting.com.

get the look RUSTIC ELEGANCE RUSTIC ELEGANCE

◀ Proud Pheasant FIGURINE, $96 US per two-piece set, Wayfair, wayfair.com.

Dion MIRROR RO OR in G, $1,200 US, through designers, Worlds Away, worlds-away.com. Evergreen WREATH, visit your local garden centre.

▶ Deconstructed French Napoleonic ARMCHAIR in Sand, from $1,195 US, Restoration Hardware, rh.com.