NFDI Style Magazine | Christmas 2023 by Nyla Free

STYLE

NFDI

C H R I S T M A S

2 0 2 3

Volume .05 I S S U E . 0 5

Merry AND Bright CHRISTMAS

TA B L E - of -

CONTENTS C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R Nyla Free EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Brianna Powell CONTRIBUTORS Ava Free | Marie Luce-Denis

05. SONGS OF THE SEASON

25. NYLA’S CHRISTMAS CALENDAR

09. GIVE THE GIFT OF HOME

27. HOLIDAY HOT CHOCOLATE BAR

15. BRANCHING OUT

31. SMALL SCALE SWEETNESS

Curl up & enjoy this festive mix!

Gift ideas for every room in the house. A guide to greens.

A look into my holiday schedule. The perfect hosting experience!

Building mini gingerbread houses.

19. MERRY & BRIGHT

All the colourful Christmas inspo!

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15 19

27 31 0 2 | N F D I style

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My theme carries through to our live tree, well my tree, whereby I decorate it according to the design aesthetic of the season, and a cohesiveness with our living room. While we’re still all together, my family leaves me alone, knowing all too well my control freak tendencies of having it look ‘just right’, and not wanting the pressure of placing an ornament in the wrong place. Heaven forbid!

‘Tis also the season, for events and gatherings. In an effort to manage the full days ahead, both work and play, I’ve got a calendar organised to ensure I’m getting done what I need to, and having fun along the way. You’ll see my holiday preparation and entertainment plans on pages 2526 from holiday markets, industry events and evening theatre, all to celebrate the season and stay present through it all. This issue is chock full of ideas and inspiration to bring festive cheer as we move into the final months of 2023, and the Christmas season in all its wonder. Whether these pages are simply visual inspiration, or you dive into creating a holiday hot chocolate bar as (as featured on pages 27-30), we hope this season is full of time well spent with those you love. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the season be filled with love, hope and good cheer.

o, yla xN 0 4 | N F D I style

DITO

One year, I acquired many fabric samples from a supplier and thought it would be a great idea to wrap our gifts with them. In protest to my crazy idea, my husband used hot glue to secure the fabric. They were so secure, it took us ages to open the presents. I, on the other hand, used wide ribbons and tight bows to hold the fabric in place, no glue or tape needed. We still laugh about it, and many other “schemes” to this day. I’m grateful for my husband’s patience with my neverending creativity, and sometimes crazy ideas.

This year’s theme is colour! We’ll be decking the halls with all things Merry & Bright as you’ll see on pages 19-24. From our tree to mantle to Christmas dinner, I can’t wait to celebrate the season with bursts of colour.

OT E F ROM T H

Every year, around September, my girls ask me, “Mom, what’s our Christmas theme going to be this year?” They come by this question honestly as each year, I decide on a colour scheme for the season. All white, shades of green, metallic or a red and mauve combination to name a few. I take this decision quite seriously and request that everyone in our family follow suit, all the way to the wrapping paper.

used to be that we’d wait for the radio to start playing Christmas music on December 1st, and be at the mercy of whatever they chose to play throughout the season. Alternatively, we’d throw in a cassette, or CD of a single band’s Christmas album or perhaps a 15 track compilation of several artists. Either way, we often listened to the same songs on repeat throughout the holiday season.

songs of t A Christmas Playlist by NFDI

Nowadays, the world is our oyster when it comes to options at our fingertips, and Christmas music is no exception. It’s almost overwhelming! Platforms like Spotify have provided the opportunity to be our own disk jockey, creating playlists for anytime of day, mood, genre, and of course time of the year. So we’ve done just that! Scan the QR code below and listen to our Holiday playlist to enjoy in the background while you spend time with friends, or have a relaxing evening in front of the fire. If you feel so inclined, have a listen while you peruse this issue! We hope you’ll enjoy it now, and throughout the season.

LISTEN WHILE YOU READ!

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the season

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1. “Hallelujah” Leonard Cohen 2. “Christmas Time Is Here” Diana Krall 3. “Christmas Lights” Coldplay 4. “Wintersong” Sarah McLachlan 5. “Snowfall on Christmas Eve” The Rossman Ensemble 6. “Christmas Time Is Here” Khruangbin 7. “Till Christmas Day” Forrest 8. “Silver Bells” Voyageur 9. “Let It Snow” Diana Krall 10. “This Christmas” Oh Wonder 11. “Silent Night” Sydney Rose 12. “Angels We Have Heard on High” Beta Radio 13. “Carol of the Bells” Mannheim Steamroller 14. “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” Lindsey Stirling 15. “O Holy Night” Roses & Revolutions 16. “What Child Is This” Andrea von Kampen 17. “Little Drummer Boy” for KING & COUNTRY 18. “O Tannenbaum” Vince Guaraldi Trio 19. “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” Trans-Siberian Orchestra 20. “The Holly And The Ivy” Billy Paul Williams 21. “Carol of the Bells/What Child Is This” Point of Grace 22. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” for KING & COUNTRY 23. “Christmas Time Is Here” Brett Eldredge 24. “Silent Night” Sinéad O’Connor 25. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Enya 26. “Christmas Canon” Trans-Siberian Orchestra 27. “I Saw Three Ships” Lindsey Stirling 28. “Merry Christmas Everyone” Olivia Dean 29. “Warm In December” Samara Joy

“The house is still and I am too, outside the street lamps glow, and I am warm tucked in my bed watching the evening snow. It covers all the roofs and roads till everything’s made white, and queits all that it befalls, on this cold winter’s night.” Ellis Nightingale

Silent Night

GIVE the gift of home I love a good gift guide, so we’re sharing our own! With a room by room focus, we’ve narrowed down some fabulous finds, perfect for the design and lifestyle savvy people on your list. Let’s go shopping! 0 9 | christmas 2023

for the

KITCHEN O L I VE O I L Well

SA LT CELLAR

P I TC H E R

Guildhall Home

Simons

O L I VE O I L C RU E T

S E A SA LT FLAKES

Anthropologie

Safeway

SA LT & PEPPER MILLS

WO O D E N SPOON Field Study

June Home Supply

COFFEE & E S P R E SS O M AC H I N E Nespresso

DREAM COOKER Our Place

D I S P L AY STA N D

O L I VE & P I T B OWL S

Zara Home

Lina’s Italian Market

PIZZA C U TT E R Gozney

COOKBOOK Indigo

AMBER D E CA N T E R Indigo

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S I LVE R M E TA L T RAY

P I TC H E R

Zara Home

Indigo

I C E BU C K E T Inspirati

STA R P L AC E H O L D E RS Zara Home

C H A M PAG N E

Market Wines

COUPE G L ASS E S Indigo

TA B L E RU N N E R

Serena & Lily

NA P K I N S E T La Double J

NA P K I N RINGS

D E SS E RT P L AT E S E T

Crate & Barrel

CA K E S E RVE R

H&M Home

La Double J

for the

CA K E STA N D Anthropologie

DINING ROOM 11 | christmas 2023

L A Z Y S U SA N

Williams Sonoma

for the

D E C O RAT I VE B OX E S

LIVING ROOM

TA P E R CA N D L E ST I C K S Lina’s Italian Market

B LU E TO OT H WI R E L E SS SPEAKER

Madegoods

Best Buy

CA N D L E ST I C K H O L D E RS Anthropologie

T H ROW BLANKET

Tartan Blanket Co.

D E C O RAT I VE B OWL CB2

P I CT U R E F RA M E

Williams Sonoma

T I C -TAC TO E S E T CB2

“ WO N D E R L A N D”

Annie Leibovitz Indigo

D I S P L AY STA N D Amazon

C O R D L E SS TA B L E L A M P Mantar

F L OWE R SUBSCRIPTION

Black Earth Floral

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WA F F L E TOWE L S

D RAWE R O RGA N I Z E RS

Parachute Home

Canadian Tire

BAT H CA D DY

CA N D L E

Crate & Barrel

Hudson’s Bay

BAT H G E L COLOGNE

DIFFUSER

Chanel

Jo Malone

The Watermark Shop

HAND T R E AT M E N T

Malin & Goetz

H A N D WAS H OUAI

G L ASS CA N I ST E R Anthropologie

G UA S H A Fieldstudy

BAT H SA LTS

Sephora

M A R B L E T RAY Anthropologie

for the

ENSUITE 13 | christmas 2023

RO B E

Parachute Home

for the

BEDROOM G L ASS CA RA F E S E T

R I N G T RAY Guildhall Home

Indigo

WI R E L E SS C H A RG I N G STA N D

READING G L ASS E S

PAJA M A SET

Apple

Gabriel Simone

Indigo

D E C O RAT I VE T RAY Anthropologie

T H ROW BLANKET

Parachute Home

S L E E P P I L L OW S P RAY Amazon

J EWE L L E RY T RAY

Pottery Barn

S L I P P E RS

Free People

SILK P I L L OWCAS E M O N O G RA M M E D J O U R NA L

Silk & Snow

SILK S L E E P M AS K

Indigo

Cozy Earth

14 | N F D I style

RANCHING OU T

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh greens! Incorporating them into your seasonal decor is a great way to add colour, texture and of course scent. We’ve created a guide to greens, outlining the ins and outs of each variety so you’re prepared to enjoy them all season long. Garland, wreaths, floral arrangements and more, live greens are a must to include in your decor!

CAR E T IP S:

P INE

1. Cut branch at an angle 2. Hammer or crush the end to help retain moisture 3. Soak stems in a tub of cold water overnight 4. Let cedar dry 5. Spray with anti-transpirant to prevent stems from drying out 6. Let stems dry 7. Lightly mist with water every 1-2 days

Found throughout mountainous regions and peaks, pine’s are found in the northern hemisphere (with the exception of one). Pine needles grow in bunches of two to seven and are most often distinctly longer than other conifers, growing between 1 and 11 inches. Similar to fir, their hardy structure makes them great for Christmas trees, bows, garland and wreaths.

15 | christmas 2023

MAGNOLIA

D OUGLAS F IR

Magnolia trees are known to symbolize purity and nobility within the Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese medicine, Magnolia bark was used as a sleep aid. Stem’s are identifiable by their deep green patent shine and copper underside. Incorporating magnolia stems into your holiday foliage is a great way to break up the green amongst garland, wreaths and winter arrangements.

Did you know? Douglas fir’s are not true fir trees. Their needles grow down the branch towards the base, where brown, cone shaped buds cluster. These buds are a key identifier for a Douglas Fir.

16 | N F D I style

CAROLINA SAP P HIR E

SILVER F IR

A fast growing evergreen tree, Carolina Sapphire’s have delicate, lacy foliage, great for privacy and substantial presence. Each stem adds character, texture and variety as the foliage presents more blue-green.

Most often known to be dressed in ornaments, tinsel and lights galore, firs are a Christmas mainstay. It’s needles are softer and boast a lighter, silvery underside and tend to point upwards.

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IN T EGR IF OLIA

CED AR

A hardy foliage, integrifolia’s leaves fan out in star-like form. With a distinct pale green, silvery underside, each stem stands out in both shape and contrast. Integrifolias are generally available year round.

Several trees under the conifer genre, take on the name ‘cedar’. Above is an Arborvitae, similar to true cedar’s in appearance but genetically estranged. As a staple of Christmas conifers, true Cedars are aromatic, have needles not scales and are native to Lebanon, the eastern coast of the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. True cedars are most often found as ornamental trees in parks and landscape settings.

18 | N F D I style

Merry AND Bright There’s no denying that colour has returned to the forefront of the interior design world. Whether you enjoy an infusion in your own home or not, Christmastime is an opportunity to add a little colour or a lot! This year, we’ve gone the way of a colour burst, taking the idea of merry and bright to new heights and hues. From the tree, to tablesettings to mantle decor, we’re bringing an unabashed combination of colour to our Christmas decor. It’s the perfect time of year to channel your inner colour lover and bring fun and festive cheer to the season.

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Tree

We kept the ornaments simple and colourful, packing the tree with baubles of all sizes. Combining saturated, solid colour and vintage inspired mercury glass ornaments gives our tree a modern meets retro vibe. We finished the tree off with a heavy dose of gold icicle tinsel, one of my new favourite additions to our tree.

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TABLESCAPE 21 | christmas 2023

Oh what fun to set your dining table with festive cheer! Combining everyday basics with colourful accents will have your tables feeling merry and bright indeed. Basics include glass chargers, black rimmed dinner plates, classic silverware and stemware. Add colour by way of napkins, accent/ salad plates, candleholders, candles, ribbon and a table runner. Tip! I layered two types of wrapping paper to create a colourful table runner.

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MANTLE Whether you’re hanging stockings, simply adorning, or both, a mantle is a great area to bring in the colour. Layer a little or a lot, the options are endless!

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While not a decor item, gift wrap need not be forgotten in the mix of adding a little merry and bright to your home. Carry the theme through with bold colour and pattern. Society 6 has a plethora of wrapping paper options, and I love the grid lines on the back to ease with cutting straight lines! If you can, wrap gifts early to enjoy the bursts of colour under the tree.

GIFTWRAP 2 4 | N F D I style

NYLA’S CHRISTMAS There’s no shortage of things to see and do during the Christmas and holiday season. From theatre productions to school plays, craft markets to zoo-lights, as well as parties and get-togethers, it’s the time of year when an overabundance of events fill our calendars. Admittedly I still get overwhelmed, despite the organisation, but this 05 06helps to maintain 07 some order and take in all the fun along the way. Take a peek into my plans over the next five weeks. Eeeeeeeek!

19 THIS WEEK

Turn on/install outdoor Christmas lights Spruce Meadows Market 10-6pm

Do I have enough wrapping paper/ adornments? Purchase accordingly

THIS WEEK

Plan baking recipes & purchase ‘pantry’ baking ingredients Purchase outdoor wreath & live greens

CYBER MONDAY

november 22

What toy drives or charities will I be partaking in this year? Create / update Christmas card recipient list

Purchase store bought cards Make second batch of caramels

Address & write Christmas cards

Drop off cards at post office

Make third batch of caramels

Order fresh turkey

BLACK FRIDAY

INDUSTRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

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Make first batch of caramels

calendar SU

THIS WEEK Organize gifts & determine outstanding Decorate Tree Banff Christmas Market 10-4pm

10 Make final batch of caramels

Last day to send International parcels

THIS WEEK

NEW YEARS EVE

Merry Christmas!

CHRIST MAS DAY

Purchase real tree or take out & fluff artifical tree

Little Modern Market 9-3:30 pm @ First Alliance Inglewood Night Market 5-10 pm

Make fifth batch of caramels

Last day to send letter to Santa to receive reply (via Canada Post)

Last day to send national parcels

Market Collective 10-6pm Start wrapping gifts

INDUSTRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

Last day to send U.S. parcels

Buy turkey (frozen) Shop for non-perishables/ pantry items

Pick up live greens for indoor decorating

Plan table setting for Christmas dinner

Continue wrapping gifts Decorate with live greens

INDUSTRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

Candlelight Jazz Concert

20 Start thawing frozen turkey

Set table Track Santa CHRIST MAS EVE

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Regular parcel shipments & provincial shipping

Prepare Christmas menus & start grocery lists

INDUSTRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

december

Make fourth batch of caramels

2 6 | N F D I style

Send teacher gifts to school Office closed

Drop off gifts to local friends Grocery shop for fresh ingredients

Brine Turkey Finish wrapping gifts

WINT ER SOLSTICE

holiday

HOT CHOCO 0 5 | christmas 2023

OLATE BAR

Last year while at a clients home, I noticed a fun little set up on the kitchen counter - a hot chocolate bar! With individual containers full of treats and adornments to create your own taste experience, the set up can be as large or small as you’d like. Think of it as a hot chocolate charcuterie. We’ve got a home made recipe and all the fixings for you to put one together yourself. We think it’s the perfect idea for the season, and to add to a holiday party. Who doesn’t love hot chocolate?!

RECIPE

C O U RT E SY O F French 50 Bakery

Ingredients

• • •

2 tbsp organic, dark, cocoa powder 2 tbsp organic white sugar 1 pinch of salt

Instructions 1.

Mix dry ingredients. Pour in just enough hot water to make a slurry and combine. On a stove top, heat milk in a pot. Pour milk into slurry mixture. Stir & enjoy!

2. 3. 4.

TOPPINGS • • • • • • • • • • • •

Whipped Cream Marshmallows Crushed Peppermint Crushed Skor Bits Chocolate Curls Piroloune Wafer Straws Mini Rolos Sprinkles Chocolate Chips Candy Canes/Peppermint Stir Sticks Mini Gingerbread Houses An assortment of cookies. (Shortbread, gingersnaps, biscotti, to name a few.)

MUG SHOPPE G L ASS STA R MUG H&M Home

M O N O G RA M MUG Anthropologie

YE T I M U G West Elm

WR E AT H MUG Indigo

GINGERBREAD MUG Indigo

EVE RG R E E N MUG Crate & Barrel

REINDEER MUG

Pottery Barn

P E AC O C K S MUG

CHALET MUG

John Lewis

Anthropologie

WO O D L A N DS MUG

GREEN G L ASS M U G

Simons

H&M Home

C H R I ST M AS TREE MUG

Enjoy Ceramic Art

SA N TA MUG

Pottery Barn

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MALL-SCALE SWEETNESS

Feeling the urge to try something fun and new during the pandemic, I ordered a mini gingerbread house cookie cutter set. It wasn’t until this year that I actually made them however, and what fun! We thought they’d be the perfect addition to our holiday hot chocolate bar feature and a great activity to share with others. Whether you make them to serve, or gift, you’ll be sure to surprise and delight with these adorable abodes! 0 5 | christmas 2023

building mini gingerbread houses

R E C I P E VI A HGTV C O O K I E C U TT E RS Amazon

SOURCE

guide

Branching Out PA G E S 15 - 18 BLACK EARTH FLORAL www.blackearthfloral.com 403.452.9707 GREENGATE GARDEN CENTRE www.greengate.ca 403.256.1212

"How to Identify Conifer Trees: Pine, Fir, Spruce, Juniper & More" GROW FORAGE COOK FERMENT www.growforagecookferment.com

H&H 100 We’re honoured to have been selected for House & Home Magazines inaugral H&H 100 list!

WINTER Issue coming JANUARY

2024

3 3 | christmas 2023

Thank you to House & Home Magazine, for your continued support and celebration of design.

Now available on newstands!

Thank You To you, our readers, both new and old, for your unwaivering support. We adore sharing each issue with you, and having you as part of our creative journey.

See you in 2024!

WISHING YOU THE BEST OF THE SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 0 6 6 | N F D I style

403.255.4980 www.nylafreedesigns.com #601, 5920 1A Street SW Calgary AB T2H 0G3