editor’s letter
I
often think that the real magic of the holidays is that they bring families and friends together in joyous celebration — no matter the holiday you celebrate. This season we’re celebrating the holidays and savoring the warmth of traditional farmhouse style interiors: An early 20-century farmhouse in Montpelier with newly redecorated interiors designed to showcase cherished objects, and an urban farmhouse in Manchester dressed for Christmas in a natural palette of creams, greens and browns. Diane and Allen Murray’s farmhouse in Montpelier is the picture-perfect image of an early 20th century white clapboard farmhouse. The interiors of the well-loved home, featured on Page 40, have With my dear friend full-on style and a welcoming personality. Valerie Hubbard takes us on a tour. Diane Murray on the steps of her Beautifully adorned with festive greenery crafted in anticipation of Christmas by homeowner Sue Montpelier farmhouse. Mondeau, her urban farmhouse in Manchester is a study in the art of blending disparate furnishings with beautiful results. Step inside with Kim Catley on Page 46. The decorators and designers featured in the recent Richmond Symphony League Designer House at the Taylor mansion presented a host of creative decorating ideas and met numerous design challenges along the way — they had to work around the original and incredibly intact decorative plasterwork and woodwork on the first floor. Take a look at some of the standout spaces on Page 32. My grandmother embraced traditional style in everything from clothing to home decor. She even set her Thanksgiving table with English turkey plates, a family tradition that continues today. Evan Morgan looks at the plates’ English origins on Page 24. Inspired holiday decorating often begins with found objects, family treasures and natural greenery. Find tips from four area design pros on Page 28. When it comes to holiday gifting, we’re thinking creatively this season; see some of our favorite things from local shops and designers on Page 17. On Page 58, local experts share their preference in the live vs. faux tree debate. And get the 411 on Champagne on Page 60. If your holiday traditions include home and garden tours, this season will be a merry one. Check our expanded events calendar on Page 20, for information on annual holiday tours in Richmond and beyond and makers markets this season.
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WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON,
Susan W. Morgan
ONLINE, ALL THE TIME
Find beautiful photos of local homes, expert design tips and advice, and much more at rhomemag.com.
CORRECTIONS
In the September-October issue: On Page 60 in “Vintage Charm,” FoodiO, the name of the restaurant at 100 N. Railroad Ave. in Ashland, was inadvertently omitted. On Page 37 in “Savoir Vivre,” the painting by Richmond artist Chris Shands was incorrectly attributed.
Alexis Courtney
events
To u r h is to home r ic s fro to m o m g r a n d dest the a on n D is t r n u a l Fa n ic t H o li d ay Hous e To u r.
Dec. 2 Ashland Christmas Market Meet more than 60 local artists and makers and shop their offerings for a plethora of gifts. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, open to the public (rain or shine). Historic Downtown Ashland, 201 S. Railroad Ave, Ashland. ashlandvirginia.com
Dec. 2 Green Spring Garden Club’s Christmas Home Tour Tour four houses and Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg decorated with lovely seasonal floral arrangements by members of the Green Spring Garden Club and displays celebrating the 100th anniversary of Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin, the man credited as the father of the historic district. $40. greenspring gardenclub.org
Dec. 3 Petersburg Christmas Homes Tour Tour historic private homes on High, Perry and Washington streets in Old Towne; Dodson’s Tavern; an Egyptian Revival home; Second Presbyterian Church and Historic Battersea on this holiday tour presented by The Battersea Foundation and Historic Petersburg Foundation. The city’s trolleys are available to carry visitors to the houses. Noon to 5 p.m. $25 in advance; $30 on the day of the tour at the McIlwaine House, 411 Cockade Alley, Petersburg. Purchase tickets at batterseafound.org.
Dec. 8 Centre Hill Under the Lights Enjoy a special evening tour of historic Centre Hill mansion, dressed for the holidays by local decorators. 6 to 8 p.m., $20. 1 Centre Court, Petersburg, tourism@petersburg-va.org
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Dec. 9-10 61st Fan District Holiday House Tour Visit a beautifully renovated condo at the Warsaw, a stunning eco-friendly Stuart Avenue renovation, and the Branch Museum (a former private home turned museum), to name just a few of the architectural jewels featured on the Fan District holiday tour. Open-air tuktuks will be available for transportation. 1 to 5 p.m each day. Tickets: $35 in advance (through Dec. 8); $40 day of tour; kids under 10, free. Purchase tickets at fandistrict.org.
Dec. 10 57th Church Hill Holiday House Tour Tour an assortment of Church Hill homes and buildings dressed for the holidays. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to discover the architecture and community that is Church Hill and acquire a few decorating tips along the way. Noon to 5 p.m. Free trolley transportation available. Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 day of tour. churchhill.org/holiday.
Dec. 10 Yuletides at Agecroft Hall Explore the beautiful gardens, gift shop and historic house. Father Christmas, crafts and entertainment will be on hand. Experience Christmas in three different centuries: 17th- and 19th-century England and 20th-century Richmond. Noon to 5 p.m. Free. Agecroft Hall & Gardens, 4305 Sulgrave Road. agecrofthall.org
Dec. 10 Winter Wander Join The Valentine and the Richmond Night Market for some holiday cheer at the annual Winter Wander festival in historic Court End. Shop the Richmond Night Market’s festive makers market for gifts and more. Enjoy live entertainment, refreshments, family crafts and games. Tour the historic neighborhood and hop a shuttle to visit the open houses at nearby cultural sites. Noon to 4 p.m. Free, 1015 E. Clay St. thevalentine.org
Brian Gibson, EVERGIB
DINING ROOM BUFFET
Magnolia leaves from a tree out front and roses in miniature vintage vessels decorate the dessert buffet set with vintage cake stands and a gleaming brass samovar. The painting is by Richmond artist Geraldo Netto. The buffet lamp is from Shades of Light.
Over the course of the weekend, Diane recalls, Varney, a noted interior decorator in his own right, stressed the importance of finding one’s individual style and eschewed anything uncomfortable or drab. “He encouraged everyone to think back to what we really enjoyed about our homes and what we liked about places we had lived in to find our style,” she says. The fresh perspective sparked a renewed love, not just for the pieces the couple had acquired over the course of their marriage, but also for family furnishings and art. “I realized that I knew what I wanted to be surrounded by, but I had too many choices and had sort of lost my way,” Diane says. “Susan helped me realize that it was just a matter of making small changes to upholstery and placement.” With Morgan’s assistance, Diane’s grandmother’s turn-of-the-century chairs and settee were transformed with a fresh, custom striped velvet upholstery that works both with the gray sectional sofa in the family room and the light gray sofa in the living room. The fabrics selected — solids and patterns — serve as touchpoints for color combinations throughout
PRIMARY BEDROOM
The Murrays found the screen, now used as their headboard, at the Hillsville Flea Market in Southwest Virginia. The tapestry-like screen pulled together the soft green and blues in the decor and added needed height to the room.
the house that Diane associates with her blended French and Asian styles. Morgan designed the pillows and upholstery, which were fabricated by another close friend, Cynthia Schmidt. Consulting with Morgan, Diane attended auctions and scoured antique stores and flea markets for items to add to cherished antiques from both her family and Allen’s that had been a part of their home for decades. Persian and Pakistani rugs flow
throughout the first floor to ground the seasonal changes Diane embraces with tartan throws during the holidays, replaced by lighter fabrics such as blue-and-white ticking displayed during warmer months. At almost every turn, Diane is comforted by family furnishings: a mirror from Allen’s grandmother’s house in Botetourt County, a jacquard woven coverlet made by her grandmother draped over a sofa, a crocheted blanket made by Diane’s great aunt and a stained glass depiction of cranes Allen made for their dining room. “We used what we have and love from our families together with things that we have found that we liked to make the house work,” Diane says. “The colors work now, and I have a new appreciation for layering patterns and for patina. Everything doesn’t have to be new. I love using all my family treasures. I got the spaces that I love, and it makes me happy every time I walk in the door.”
PRIMARY BEDROOM
“I love color, but in my bedroom I have always kept it more controlled so I can rest,” Mondeau says. A plant arrangement of ivy, eucalyptus and hellebores adds a bit of green.
In addition to an oversized tree that fills out her living room’s high ceilings, she has a mix of lush wreaths, garlands and centerpieces of evergreens and magnolia leaves that last for the season. She often mixes in fresh flowers as rotating accents. For Mondeau, it’s these details — a cozy paint color, a comfy oversized chair with homemade pillows, magnolia leaves grouped with a pheasant feather and blue cedar berries — that elevate a space. “I see myself as a finisher. I source the details that take a space to completion,” she says. “I get to bring the sparkle.”
WE CAN MAKE THAT STUDIO
The bicycle table is “one that I hope to one day have in a flower shop,” says Mondeau, who uses the unique piece as a worktable.
If Mondeau’s mantel inspires you to bring a touch of the outdoors to your holiday tableau, she offers a few tips for creating your own garland. 1. MAKE YOUR BASE: To create a full and luscious garland, Mondeau starts with faux greenery. It’s less expensive and creates a thick base to build from. 2. LAYER FRESH GREENERY: Mondeau often sources her greenery from Vogue Flowers, but also says a neighborhood magnolia can also be a good place to start. “The more variety and the more volume you have,” she says, “the better it looks.” 3. BRING YOUR PERSONALITY: Accents of feathers, blue cedar, fresh flowers and magnolia leaves allow your personal touch to shine through.
rhomemag.com
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garden
Real vs. Faux The great holiday tree debate By Kyra Molinaro
THE HOLIDAYS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY the most popular time of the year for festive decorating. For those who celebrate Christmas, the season often starts with an age-old question about a time-honored tradition: Which is better, a real or artificial Christmas tree? Live-cut trees require more upkeep than their faux counterparts. A 7-foot-tall cut evergreen tree needs about a gallon of water a day, says Tommy Hicks, whose family has been growing and selling cut-your-own Christmas trees at Hanover’s Windy Knoll Farm for 30 years. “You want the tree to maintain its hydration so it stays fresh and doesn’t become a fire hazard, especially since homes in the winter have low humidity and the heat is likely running,” he says. It's also important to research where you purchase a real tree to ensure its freshness. “If you go to a local tree lot, make sure they’ve been freshly cut and brought in, not cut two or three months ago and shipped in from far away,” suggests Tom Hicks, Tommy’s father and owner of Windy Knoll Farm. Over time, the tree will drop its needles in anticipation of new growth in the spring, tasking homeowners with frequent floor cleanup. Purchasing your tree at a location that offers a tree shaking service will help diminish this issue. “We have a machine that shakes A 30-foot-tall artificial the tree like a paint shaker and removes a lot tree In The Jefferson of those old, dead needles,” Tom Hicks says. Hotel Rotunda Many home and business owners opt for a hassle-free, mess-free experience by sticking to artificial trees and greenery that will maintain their beauty for an extended period. Known for its lavish holiday displays, Richmond’s Jefferson Hotel begins preparing decorations for installation in early November. “It is imperative that we use artificial greenery, flowers and decor, as the hotel remains decorated from the day after Thanksgiving until the first week
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in January,” says Rick Lunsford, hotel florist A 13-foot-tall and holiday designer. “This includes our live-cut tree in 30-foot-tall artificial tree in the Rotunda Chris and Kellie Giacchi's West … [as well as] 20 other trees throughout End living room the hotel and in our ballrooms.” Lunsford says he enjoys using faux materials at home as well because it allows him to finish his decorating early so he can enjoy it longer. For those who miss the comforting scent of a real tree, he suggests “placing vases or urns of fresh evergreen branches and berries around your home. There are also wonderful sachets and sprays [that can] add the scent of the season.” When it comes to sustainability, experts cite the environmental costs of farming and distributing real trees. Still, many shoppers prefer real trees out of nostalgia and in support of local merchants, as most tree farms are small, family-owned operations rather than the large factories that typically produce artificial trees. For less of an environmental impact, consider purchasing a balled and burlapped live tree with its roots still intact that can be replanted outdoors and enjoyed for years to come. Whatever your preference, selecting and decorating a tree should be a pleasant experience to look forward to each year. “A lot of people choose to cut their own trees because they’ve been doing it for generations,” Tom Hicks says. “People remember coming to our farm with their parents, and now they bring their children. It’s all about following your family’s tradition.”
From top: Ansel Olson; Courtesy The Jefferson Hotel