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TABLE CONTENTS of
ON HOLIDAY
Paula Danyluk, owner of The Paris Market & Brocante, shares the thrill of the hunt, her love for vintage and how to mix and match to recreate her shop’s magic at home.
Written by Allison Stice
39 HARDWORKING HOSTS
Kitchen pros reveal their must-know preparation tips, must-have cleaning supplies and their number one no-nos to keep your home merry and bright.
Written by Margaret Daniel
Photography by Mackenzie Dalton
47 COMPANY’S COMING
Local experts share their best advice for keeping bathrooms festive and functional for holiday house guests.
Written by Mary Fitzgerald
57 COMFORT & JOY
In collaboration with Joshua E. White of Port Town Collective, business owner and designer Emily McCarthy has created a colorful welcome that not only exudes personality but also radiates holiday cheer.
Written by Nicole Letts
Photography by Kelli Boyd Photography
70 CHRISTMAS TRADITION
For Proper English’s Barry Mason and his family, the passage of time can be measured by the accumulation of ornaments. With their collection now encompassing three trees on the main floor and a tree in each bedroom, it’s safe to say Christmas is a serious affair.
Written by Allison Lane Farmer
Photography by Kelli Boyd Photography
ONE SEPTEMBER NIGHT, Hurricane Helene tore through my hometown of Augusta, Georgia, littering the ground with treetops, shattering transformers like glass Christmas balls and obscuring rooflines with blankets of limbs and pine needles.
A few months later, as residents decorate their homes — stringing lights around tarps and cleverly utilizing curbside debris piles in their holiday displays — and Santa’s list crawls with insurance claims, the overwhelming sentiment is one of hope and joy thanks to acts of neighborly kindness and cheery decor.
Savannah is chock-full of these good people and cultivators of beauty; just ask Deborah and Ashley McCorkle, proprietors of Southern Crafted, who are supporting Asheville, North Carolina’s, hurricane relief efforts with their shop’s artisanal offerings (“Handcrafted Hope,” page 26).
Consummate hosts Emily and Patrick McCarthy welcome us into their chromatic family Christmas where longstanding traditions mingle with candycolored decorations dreamed up by Joshua E. White of Port Town Collective (“Comfort & Joy,” page 57). At his Rose Dhu residence, Proper English owner Barry Mason pays homage to his family’s travels and holiday habits with a layered display spread over multiple trees (“Christmas Tradition,” page 70).
If you are eager to turn up the allure this year, we’ve got you covered: local shop owners share their favorite avant-garde vessels for festive arrangements (“Skip the Vase,” page 30).
For those hosting holiday celebrations, we’ve rounded up the best tips and tricks for keeping your bathrooms running and ready to receive guests (“Company’s Coming,” page 47), and kitchen cleaning and design hacks for unforgivable design peccadilloes (“Hardworking Hosts,” page 39).
The Lowcountry’s top Realtors offer tidings of good cheer — celebrating recent market changes and disclosing the best strategies for selling at a notoriously tricky time of year (“A Merry Market,” page 78).
Rounding out this holiday issue, our favorite Southern transplant Brienne Walsh offers the gift of laughter and, to the horror of her Lowcountry in-laws, bakery-bought pie (“A Southern Lady … Almost,” page 80).
This year held its fair share of storms, but I am leaving 2024 feeling utterly encouraged by our community’s tireless creativity and ceaseless push for spreading good. Happy holidays to you and yours. Ever upward!
Margaret Daniel Guest Editor
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CONTRIBUTORS
Mackenzie Dalton Photographer
“Hardworking Hosts,” page 39
MACKENZIE DALTON
is a portrait and interiors photographer based in Augusta, Georgia, with more than a decade of professional experience. Her passion for shooting interiors began through her mother, an interior designer. Mac loves creating visually striking compositions and capturing perfect lighting to enhance each subject.
Kelli Boyd Photographer
“Comfort & Joy,” page 57
“Christmas Tradition,” page 70
KELLI BOYD’s work embodies a unique approach to storytelling, influenced by years of experience in the world
of marketing and design coupled with a welltraveled mind and heart. Her bespoke sense of style speaks to those seeking an intuitive, creative and unforgettable embodiment of the moment. Her passion for cultivating and sharing an authentic connection through her photographs expresses itself naturally in a style that is joyful, distinctive and artful.
Brienne Walsh Writer
“A Southern Lady ... Almost,” page 80
BRIENNE WALSH is a New Yorker who moved to Savannah three years ago with her family — and never wants to move again. A writer, photographer and art critic who has contributed to The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Interview, Art in America and Real Simple, among many other publications, Brienne currently teaches a class on art criticism at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Mikaela Fuchs Illustrator
“A Southern Lady ... Almost,” page 80
MIKAELA FUCHS is an illustrator, printmaker and baker based in North Augusta, South Carolina. She shares her handpulled screen prints on Instagram and Etsy via The Hungry Fox, and her sourdough-based baked goods at Trellis Coffee Bar in Augusta, Georgia.
Allison Lane Farmer Writer
“Skip the Vase,” page 30 “Christmas Tradition,” page 70 ALLISON LANE FARMER is a Charleston-based freelance writer and marketing consultant.
Her passion for new places, inspiring design and a great story has led to Airstream trips down Florida’s dirt roads, dive bars in New Orleans and countless backroad produce stands. While not clacking away at a keyboard, Allison can be found spending time with her husband, toddler son and their perfectly misbehaved dog.
Mary Fitzgerald Writer
“Company’s Coming” page 47 MARY FITZGERALD is a longtime editor in the design and home furnishings field. Her career began in New York City at Family Circle magazine, and since then she has worked for bridal, shelter and lifestyle publications. Fitzgerald is passionate about travel and summers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts — to beat the heat — but is always happy to return “home” to Savannah.
Kelli Boyd Photography
Party Perfection
In case you missed it, the award-winning party styling company, Curated Events (301 Passage Way, Suite 101 A) debuted a new Savannah showroom in October across from The Thompson Savannah. Possibly coming to a holiday office party near you, this luxury event rental company is no stranger to the area. The high-quality, carefully curated selections are suitable for any event imaginable — from place settings at the party to silk linens at the soiree.
Written by ALEXIS HAMPTON // Photo by MARY KATHERINE MCCONAGHY
Collaborating with HGTV’s hosts of “Fixer to Fabulous,” the nation’s largest bath remodeling company Re-Bath (2219 W. Bay St., Suite A) brings its latest franchise to Savannah. Owner and co-founder, Kurt Kittleson, has been making a splash in the bathroom design industry since 1978. Offering accessible bathroom remodels and tub and shower conversions, the company helps to transform your home’s bathroom from consultation to installation.
A family-owned business Live Oak Construction Supply (82 Columbia Drive) opened Oct. 24, providing concrete supplies and everything from diamond blades to trowel machines. After more than 30 years of operating in Georgia — providing concrete vibrators for the famed Talmadge Memorial Bridge project in 1990 — the streets of Savannah welcome this fullcircle moment spearheaded by Joel Landers and Terry Bynes.
Waste Not, Want Not
Looking for ways to be kinder to Mother Nature this holiday season and beyond? You can add recycling glass to your list of sustainable practices with Savannah’s own ABC Waste (3 Patton Road). The locally owned waste management company acquired the area’s only glass recycling company to expand its efforts to keep the community clean and safe by providing residential and commercial glass recycling programs for Chatham County.
Well-Read Women
Crack open these two new books by area authors
Lowcountry native Mary Martha Greene is showing Southern cooking some love with her upcoming book “The Cheese Biscuit Queen: Kiss My Aspic!,” a follow-up to her family recipe confessional, “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All.” Greene’s newest title leaves it all on the page with 80 mouthwatering regional recipes and enchanting anecdotes celebrating the Southern culinary traditions that shaped her. Available for purchase Feb. 18, 2025, at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and E. Shaver, Bookseller.
Fear not, Richmond Hill native Viggy Parr Hampton is back with sophomore horror-thriller, “Much Too Vulgar.” Released Oct. 22, the novel follows the twisted tale of Keely Rexroth, a pre-med student determined to make a name for herself at Georgetown University, where Hampton herself studied biology before pursuing work in epidemiology, content marketing and founding horror podcast, “Horror Humor Hunger.” Signed copies of the book are available at E Shaver, Bookseller.
Mary Martha Greene
HOLIDAY &
WINTER
DEC. 4
Get your bling boots, fancy pants and embellished cowboy hats ready. The National Association of Women in Construction is hosting its first Holiday Hoedown. Shindigs Savannah will provide music and lead line dancing. Check the local chapter’s Facebook page for tickets, which include three cocktails and a dinner buffet.
DEC. 5
Enjoy an evening of networking and holiday cheer with fellow Savannah Chamber of Commerce members at its annual Holiday Business Connection & Oyster Roast at Tubby’s Tank
House. Sample delicious hors d’oeuvres, oysters and refreshing drinks, while building relationships and exploring potential collaborations with likeminded professionals. Tickets include two drinks, appetizers and one dozen oysters. Preregistration is encouraged.
DEC. 8
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church is hosting its biennial Christmas Tour of Homes. Jump on a trolley tour to peek into some of Isle of Hope’s gorgeously decorated homes. A festive reception will follow in the parish hall. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased in St. Thomas’ church office, 2 St. Thomas Ave., or call 912.355.3110.
Shop with the Lowcountry’s best artisans, savor tasty treats from local vendors and enjoy live music at Palmetto Bluff’s Holiday Farmers Market . The shopping celebration is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Wilson Village Green, 476 Mount Pelia Road, Bluffton.
DEC. 12
Celebrate the holiday season in style at the High Design Holiday Party. Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects and International Interior Design Association, the event takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Victory North and includes food, drinks, dancing and mingling with industry professionals.
Loni Lewis, creator of Bar Black pop-up events, will teach you the art of sustainable bar tending and share some of her favorite festive holiday drink recipes. The Holiday Cocktails and Mocktails event at the Davenport House will get you in the spirit for hosting your own holiday party.
DEC. 14
Join the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Savannah for the 49th annual Holiday Tour of Homes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hotel Bardo will serve as this year’s tour headquarters. View the exquisite architecture, beautiful furnishings and gracious holiday décor of
eight private homes as well as historic inns and museums. Tickets are available at savannahdna.org
DEC. 7, 14 & 21
The Savannah African Art Museum will host its third annual Kwanzaa Marketplace from noon to 4 p.m. in the museum’s courtyard. A unique holiday shopping experience, the marketplace will feature vendors of the African Diaspora selling handcrafted items such as jewelry, art, clothing and more.
DEC. 26-28
Visit the Green-Meldrim House for “Christmas in Wartime Savannah — 1859-1866.” During this special programming, tour guides in period costume will recount how the holidays were celebrated during the Civil War and showcase the home’s architectural style. Tours embark every 30 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. Reservations recommended. Visit greenmeldrimhouse.org for tickets.
JAN. 17-19
Find everything you need to solve all your home and garden projects at the 24th annual Home & Garden Show held at the Savannah Convention Center. Talk with experts on all areas of home improvement and outdoor living. Plus do a little shopping, attend seminars and enter giveaways.
Green-Meldrim House
Handcrafted Hope
One local shop is on a mission to help rebuild Asheville’s River Arts District
Written by LOLA JARZ EMSKY and MARGARET DANIEL
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM Ashley and Deborah McCorkle conceived Southern Crafted as a love letter to their region.
Featuring the works of the area’s preeminent creatives hailing from the Lowcountry to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Bull Street shop offers handsome, hand-turned knives and bowls, metalworks and remarkable glassware meant for gifting and everyday acts of Southern hospitality. In an increasingly automated world, their store offers a respite from cool modernity, providing practical objets d’art bursting with warmth and ingenuity.
The couple sprang into action when they heard about Hurricane Helene’s destruction of Asheville and the nearby Penland School of Craft, pledging 10% of their glassware sales through the end of the year to initiatives for rebuilding the famed River Arts District.
Now their Christmas ornaments, barware and art pieces are directly helping the broader Asheville community and the artists their store represents, like second-generation glassblower Hayden
Wilson and silversmith Adam Whitney, an artist in residence at the Penland School of Craft.
“Western North Carolina and the Appalachians are the heart of handmade craftsmanship, including furniture. It’s where it all began in the U.S.,” Ashley says. “We want to help them out in any way we can, and they are really going to need it when the news cycle has turned over to something else. They will still be rebuilding far beyond November and December.”
Some River Arts makers and Asheville residents still lack electricity, drinking water, internet and phone service. Compounding the devastation, leaf peeping is off the table for tourists without the infrastructure to support them.
“The fall season is when local Blue Ridge merchants make a good deal of their money because tourists come for the fall colors, but they are all shut down, without basic services and not getting the bulk of their money. It would be like Savannah suffering
Southern Crafted
a hurricane in April,” Ashley says. “Quite a few people we’ve talked to moved from coastal areas in Florida to get away from hurricanes, but the weather came in search of them.”
Asher Holman, owner of Asheville-based shop Small Batch Glass, echoes this sentiment and dedication to his community. “Not having the ability to work and the usual traffic we rely on is going to be hard on everyone here, myself included. I’m getting ready to button things up at my shop and help the community in any way I can, including donating a percentage of my sales to local organizations.”
As a proud Southerner and maker, Ashley emphasizes the impact shopping local and handmade has in the wake of disaster and its power as a safeguard against globalization’s erosion of regional culture.
“I think Southerners are so house proud of being Southern. We have such a distinct culture, and we like to revel in that. There is nothing more disappointing than finding a beautiful oyster plate and turning it over to see ‘Made in China.’ There is such irony in that, and it seems inauthentic,” Ashley bemoans. “These plates are so culturally significant to this 200-mile radius, but it’s been commodified and made overseas. Our oyster plates are made up the road in Memphis, Tennessee, by Melissa Bridgman.”
“We are focused on selling to Southerners — and Savannah’s many visitors — things that resonate with our shared cultural
HELP WANTED
Consider giving back to organizations offering tangible relief to North Carolinians whose holiday plans and livelihoods were upended by Hurricane Helene.
The Penland School of Craft is accepting donations to support relief efforts for students and locals impacted by Hurricane Helene. Messages of hope and support are welcome too. To contribute, visit riverartsdistrict.com/donate.
Most of the River Arts District buildings, artist workshops, machines and raw materials, were destroyed. To help, scan this code.
experience as people who grew up in or who live in the South,” Ashley says. “And the best way to do that is to work with makers who live here and are inspired by the place where they live to provide things we use every day in our homes.”
Instead of shopping big box, the McCorkles encourage going small batch this holiday season — trimming the tree, stocking the bar and gifting friends with handmade goodies that can give back to their makers and beyond — boosting economies like Asheville and Chimney Rock and preserving a tradition of Southern craft at schools like Penland and Berea College.
Glassware by Hayden Wilson
Reindeerpatterned square cachepot, $84
LOOK OUTDOORS
When displaying winter florals, designer Chuck Chewning likes to keep it simple. “I prefer to keep fresh cut flowers in tight, small arrangements in antique cachepots on the dining table, fireplace mantle and tabletops for a touch of holiday color.” To achieve this look, the interior designer draws from his flagship store, Courtyard Lifestyle, where design coordinator Cuffy Sullivan shares a few of her favorite unusual vessels.
“Our low French urn comes in several sizes and makes a strong statement on a table, pedestal or as a pair at the front door,” Sullivan says. The large piece can be paired with other planters or stand on its own. For place settings, mix and match from various mini pots to add color and dimension to your holiday spread. If you opt for Chewing’s favorite vessel, a cachepot, Sullivan has the perfect selection. “We have plenty of cachepots and can’t imagine a holiday without our reindeer-patterned square cachepot. At 7.5 inches, it’s the right size for a table arrangement or as a pair on a mantel,” she adds.
Forage for Florals: While poinsettias have long been synonymous with holiday arrangements, Chewning finds floral inspiration at home. “Being in the South, we have beautiful greenery available to us outdoors,” Chewning says. “Magnolias and camellias are perfect to use throughout the house — I love the rich green color and the scale of the magnolia leaf with the golden underside.”
Skip the Vase
Local experts share their favorite unexpected vessels to create eye-catching floral arrangements for the holidays
Written by ALLISON LANE FARMER
MAKE A STATEMENT
When your arrangements are a work of art, shouldn’t they be displayed in one, too? Cue Ashley McCorkle, owner of Southern Crafted, who suggests just that. In this case, a hand-hammered bronze bowl made by silversmith Adam Whitney. “Adam hammers out each bowl from a sheet of bronze entirely by hand, with each bowl taking many hours to complete,” McCorkle explains. “Its bright faceted sides would make for a distinctive centerpiece floral arrangement for the holidays.”
Hand-hammered bronze bowl, $950
THINK OUTSIDE THE VASE
Brian and Emily Kellet, co-owners of STUMP, propose opting for smallbatch, artisan pottery in lieu of conventional vessels. Pair yours with a rubber tree for year-round decor, and don’t be afraid to think vertical, either. Case in point: STUMP’s mounted holiday cactus is a clever way to add color in unlikely spaces and enjoy seasonal blooms and year-round greenery. For a low-maintenance option, consider a tropical glass terrarium.
Holiday Swap: Swap out your sad Charlie Brown Christmas tree with a Norfolk pine kokedama for a pop of holiday cheer in every season.
FUNCTION FIRST
For the storage-challenged, devoting precious square footage to vases is typically a non-starter. That doesn’t have to mean a home without floral arrangements, though, as Joel and Erika Snayd, owners of Asher + Rye, share. “Living in a townhome on Jones Street, our storage is limited, so we love when something is multifunctional, like this antique brass party bucket. This large vessel makes for the perfect wine or drink cooler and doubles as a beautiful container for large floral arrangements.” With the holiday season upon us, they suggest adding this statement piece to your dining table to chill your bubbly or to hold a colorful punch of florals. Or, shake things up and try a combination of the two.
Antique brass party bucket, $300
Mounted holiday cactus, $35
COURTESY STUMP
On Holiday
PAULA DANYLUK
The Paris Market & Brocante
Written by ALLISON STICE
Photography by ADAM KUEHL
A TRIP TO THE PARIS MARKET & BROCANTE feels like a journey in itself, and at no time is the boutique on Broughton Street more transportive than the holidays. With dramatic shop windows and themed trees nestled alongside tablescapes fit for a fête and art and antiques collected from around the world, the brainchild of co-founder and owner Paula Danyluk brims with treasures.
Each holiday, Danyluk outdoes the last, moving past the conventional to surprise and delight. This year’s global theme goes far beyond conventional green and red. Think: A pink ombré dragon intertwined with a 12-foot Christmas tree to evoke Japan, followed by themed areas for Peru, Italy, France and Scotland, where Danyluk recently vacationed. She loves to keep each season fresh — and with displays fully shoppable, there’s no shortage of opportunities to spruce things up.
“We’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I’m pretty sure we have not repeated a window,” Danyluk says.
Here, the creative shares the thrill of the hunt, her love for vintage and how to mix and match to recreate The Paris Market magic at home.
ON THIS SEASON’S STORE THEME
I was inspired by a St. Augustine quote that says, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” This year, we have decorated trees themed for the countries of Japan, Scotland, Italy, France and Peru. I’ve curated items related to those countries, and I have a palette for each one.
We went to Scotland in June for my birthday, so I now know the environment. Thistle is their national flower, they have Highland cows and tartan plaid, and everywhere you went you had to have a drink of Scotch.
We’re going to make each country’s area interactive with someone stationed there offering an educational tutorial for kids. Do you have any relatives from Scotland? Where are your grandma and grandpa from? I want people to see that we’re all immigrants.
I want it to make you think. I’m hoping each tree will bring an element of surprise.
ON TREASURE HUNTING
I love finding vintage items. I’m the kind of person that everyone calls a magpie. I like to find that shiny thing in a pile that looks like nothing. I don’t like to walk into auction houses where it’s all clean and perfect.
Of course, I go to Les Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen, which is so inspirational but often too expensive. Instead, I prefer going into the basement that’s dusty and hunting. I do a lot of research before I go abroad to find little-known places. I did bring some vintage kilts back from Scotland and kimonos from France.
ON HER CREATIVE PROCESS
I love the creative aspect of sitting down and coming up with the idea for each year’s theme. Then, I draw it out on paper. This year, I made a 3D model of the book in the shop window to show our stylist, where the pages fold to reveal Christmas trees and bagpipes for Scotland.
I’m especially inspired by vintage paper, with letterpress, gold embossing or hand coloring. I’m creating my own collages from new and vintage papers to sell at the store for Christmas, and there’s this mindlessness of mixing them together that I love.
ON HER HOSTING MUST-HAVES
My personal preference is vintage silverware. At the store, we set the table with mix-and-match silver.
“The World is Your Oyster” window display
I love vintage linen napkins from France. First of all, I think you should never really use a paper napkin if you have people over — unless it’s in the summer for a barbecue. For Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, you should have amazing napkins and Grandmother’s silver.
One of my very favorite things to do, because I hate napkin rings, is to get jasmine vines and use them to wrap each napkin. Then you add some more to the middle of the table. It’s elegant and falls off nicely, and it’s a conversation piece.
ON HER TABLESCAPE RULES OF THUMB
I love maximalism; I love mixing and matching; I love layer upon layer, and I think that’s what sets things apart. You can’t just do one thing and then it’s done.
If you’re using a stripe, use a thin stripe and then a bold floral. Don’t have everything in the same scale. You’ll want to do things in odd numbers, three or five. It can be different colors and metals. Mix silver candlesticks with brass candlesticks.
I think people are so afraid to try, and I totally get it. But just go ahead and start trying and keep going. Add another layer. Don’t stop too early. Put on some good music that you like and just have fun with it. There are really no rules. Like everything else, you get better as you do it.
“The Year of the Dragon” window display
Hardworking Hosts
The kitchen is an essential ingredient in every holiday party’s preparation, and we’re sharing the recipe for perfect order
Written by MARGARET DANIEL
AS EVERY HOST KNOWS, the kitchen is a home’s hospitality epicenter, a cadre of appliances, glistening countertops and dynamic backsplashes supporting these workhorses … until they don’t. To ensure your holiday celebration looks more like a Norman Rockwell painting and less like a “Home Alone” booby trap, we polled Savannah’s kitchen experts for their must-know preparation tips, must-have cleaning supplies and their number one no-nos to keep your home merry, bright and fiasco-free.
Photography by MACKENZIE DALTON
Stainless Record
Whether you prefer a made-from-scratch menu or artfully plated store-bought casseroles, kitchen appliances put in the time around the holidays, so keep their maintenance top of mind days or weeks before company is set to call.
“We often find customers having major appliance emergencies around holidays because they have not been used prior to holiday gatherings,” says Todd Livingood, co-owner of Livingood’s Appliances & Bedding. “We recommend homeowners [do] a test run of baking or cooking a couple of weeks before large gatherings to ensure things are working correctly, and we do not recommend selfcleaning an oven as the cycle can cause more harm than good.”
While the self-cleaning process is enticing, elevating the oven’s temperature to over 800 degrees for hours at a time is infamous for frying thermostats and broilers. Instead of self-cleaning, use your oven’s steam cleaning feature or do it yourself by filling a pot with water, heating the oven to 450 degrees and setting a timer for an hour. The steam buildup loosens even the toughest residues, yielding self-clean results without the risk of an appliance meltdown.
Livingood keeps stainless steel appliances fingerprint-free by generously applying an oil-based cleaner and polish directly to the stainless surface and gently wiping it off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. For the inside of the refrigerator and freezer, make a solution of two parts water and one part white vinegar and wipe down with a lint-free cloth, taking special care to use unscented cleaners, as foods readily absorb scents, altering their taste.
If your appliances are on their last leg or sullied beyond saving, start shopping early to ensure adequate acquaintance with your new appliance before holiday cooking begins.
Livingood notes new brands like Fisher & Paykel, Fulgor-Milano and Signature Kitchen Suite produce high-quality, highly featured professional appliances at a great value.
Artificial Intelligence
Considering a countertop switch or brand new backsplash ahead of the holidays? For highdollar looks without the hassle, keep manmade backsplash and countertop materials like porcelain tile and quartz top of mind.
Once deemed low-budget, low-style options, these durable materials have come a long way with most tile manufacturers offering a wide variety of stone-look porcelains, varied glazes rivaling those applied by hand and stone composites indistinguishable from the real thing.
“The main difference between natural stone and manmade stone is natural stone is porous and needs sealer and regular maintenance to minimize staining, while quartz is engineered stone and only needs basic cleaning with mild soap and water or Weiman Glass Cleaner for those hard-to-get messes,” says Carley Gunn, a sales representative at Counter Fitters.
large kitchen island is the perfect tool for holiday entertaining, providing a central place to serve all the holiday goodies and for guests to gather. Swirling marbles, speckled granite and heavily-veined quartzite countertops add a fun dose of drama.
A
“We recommend engineered stone for customers who have high-trafficked kitchens, as you don’t have to worry about staining the countertops [with] oils, spices and sauces.”
For the ultimate backsplash and grout protection, Stephanie Laughlin, interior sales assistant manager at Savannah Surfaces recommends frequent sealing. “If sealed properly and re-sealed [regularly], staining shouldn’t be an issue.” To keep up with the task, set a recurring calendar reminder based on your favorite cleaner’s suggested maintenance schedule.
Au Naturel
While natural stone counters and backsplashes demand more considered maintenance, no material is more luxurious. While stones like marble and soapstone get a bad rap for etching and staining, Liezel Fourie, design and sales representative at MultiStone, maintains that a little bit of extra effort is worth the results.
“Marble is one of the most elegant, timeless [countertop] choices and a perfect complement to many of our historic properties,” she says. “As marble surfaces age, they can build a slight patina and some characteristics of use, which lends it character and warmth.”
To slow the patina process, MultiStone applies an anti-staining agent that keeps porous marbles from absorbing acidic juices and colored liquids.
For everyday marble and granite maintenance, Fourie advises cleaning natural stones with gentle cleaning solutions free of acids, ammonia and abrasive ingredients. “The best solutions are dish soap and water, or other sprays specified for natural stones,” she adds.
A relative newcomer to the kitchen scene, soapstone is growing in popularity for its dark, distinctive appearance that is maintained with mineral oil applications. “Soapstone is a great stone option for outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and even kitchens. Oiling it will prevent the visibility of scratches as it moisturizes the stone,” Fourie says.
Before beginning holiday baking, call your preferred countertop fabricator about sealing your kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Most shops apply an extended warranty sealant
ahead of installation that should protect the stone for over a decade. While store-bought and professionally applied sealants are perfectly safe, Gunn reminds her clients, “Each time you seal your natural stone it will absorb the sealer, causing it to darken slightly with each application.”
Once guests arrive, remember to pull out your trivets and chafing dishes when serving hot plates, as heat can open up natural stone’s pores and chemically alter the resin utilized to bond quartz, and always use cutting boards, as dense stones dull knife blades.
With a little bit of elbow grease and the sounds of your favorite holiday playlist, your kitchen will shine, ready for rolling out cookie dough and assembling mouth-watering family meals. And, if you are short on time this month, rest easy, Savannah’s professionals are one call away.
Gleaming marble countertops and antiqued mirror tiles create the perfect moody backdrop for a serving of holiday desserts after dark. These natural stone countertops can be cleaned with a soap and water spray, and the tiles can be wiped down with ammoniafree glass cleaner before company comes.
Company’s Coming
Local experts share their best tips for keeping the guest bathroom fresh when it’s go time
Written by MARY FITZGERALD
Photo courtesy WEEZIE TOWELS
THE BEST PART of the holiday season is gathering with loved ones — opening your home to friends and family and celebrating cherished traditions together. If this is your year to host a holiday party or accommodate house guests, you’ll want your home to sparkle with holiday cheer. To handle the influx of house guests and avoid any mishaps, pay special attention to the bathrooms. Make sure these rooms are in good working order and include festive touches to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable. Happy hosting!
TROUBLESHOOT
Bathrooms will be working overtime with extra occupants in the house, so ensure your bathrooms are ready for the holiday rush. No one wants to deal with a flood on Christmas morning. If you have ever had to make an emergency service call over a holiday break, you know how frustrating and costly it can be. Kyle Hagemes of Victory Plumbing suggests having your drains cleaned to preemptively avoid possible disasters. This is especially important if your baths are older or prone to issues.
He explains that the main drains can be viewed with a camera to see if there are any blockages, and a plumber can inspect for other potential problems before they arise, such as replacing faucet cartridges and toilet tank parts. Small fixes now can avoid big headaches later.
“Maybe it’s time for a new light fixture, paint color or wallpaper. Swapping out an old mirror or light fixture with something new can create a big impact.”
— Anne Pappas, owner Anne Pappas Interiors
FRESH DECOR: A new rug, bath mat or shower curtain are easy fixes to refresh a bath. Monogrammed hand towels add a personal touch.
Kati Ann is
- Happy Client
To keep all your guests happy, hot showers are a must on chilly December mornings. Remember, there will be a constant demand for hot water, not only for showers but for laundry and dishes. If your hot water unit is old, you have noticed water in the pan or a lack of hot water, this might be the time to replace your model. Hagemes suggests having your hot water tank checked before the company arrives to avoid cold showers and water damage.
Tonya Reed of Henry Plumbing shares more helpful tips. To prevent holiday backups, Henry Plumbing can perform hot water jetting of the waste lines to remove blockages and build-up. Reed recommends having the water heater flushed and checked yearly. If desired, Henry Plumbing will send a yearly reminder to have this service done ahead of the holidays.
Most importantly, Reed states, homeowners should know where their water meter is located, in case of a water leak, and have a shut-off key on hand, available at your local hardware or home improvement center. Gently remind guests to be careful about only flushing toilet paper down the toilet. Being prepared will hopefully ward off any “National Lampoon Christmas Vacation” scenes!
Lastly, if you battle with hard water, which contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, your faucets and glass shower doors may be displaying a chalky film. Reed recommends installing a whole-house water conditioning system to remedy this situation.
ON THE CLOCK
Try to see your home through your guests’ eyes — it can be enlightening. You may suddenly realize your bathrooms need a makeover. If so, be sure to allow for plenty of time, as the average renovation spans multiple months, especially around the holidays as contractors’ schedules fill up. The last thing you need when company arrives is to be “under construction.”
Interior designer Anne Pappas advises clients to set realistic expectations for major bathroom renovations. “For a full-scale bath renovation, I recommend two months of design work and six to 12 weeks of renovation (once design decisions are finalized
Throw in the Towels
For plush towels, bathrobes, rugs and shower curtains adorned with appliqué embroidery and touches of tartan, Weezie Towels can stock your bath, creating a sumptuous, hotel-like experience.
“As the holidays approach, I like to focus on creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for my guests,” says Weezie co-founder and creative director, Liz Eichholz. “Adding a personal touch through customization makes any space look more put together and intentional, and I’m most excited about our new scallop towels embroidered with an intricate Christmas tree icon and our new linen-like paper guest towels.”
PAMPER GUESTS: Stock the bath with fluffy towels, comfy robes and seasonal decor.
Pappas’ Picks
Anne Pappas of Anne Pappas Interiors highlights some of her favorite Savannah shops to accessorize and add holiday flair to bathrooms:
• “Leah Bailey Interiors has a great selection of hand linens, and she keeps them fresh with the seasons.”
• “One Fish Two Fish is another go-to for great candles, trays and accessories.”
• “I love the selection of bud vases and candlesticks from Asher + Rye — their palette is sophisticated.”
and materials ordered) depending on the complexity of the project.”
Kevin Norris of American Craftsman Renovations has noticed that many clients are replacing tub-and-shower combinations with stand-alone showers, specifying textural tile and glass surrounds for a more spacious and luxurious bath.
For a quick facelift, he recommends a fresh coat of paint on walls, ceiling and trim. And even the most tired or outdated vanity can be updated with paint and new hardware. For a touch of instant character, Norris recommends applying wallpaper in his clients’ powder and guest bathrooms. Simple fixes like changing out lighting also brighten up these spaces.
Preparing for holiday guests or hosting a party is a great excuse to spruce up a guest bathroom or powder room. “Maybe it’s time for a new light fixture, paint color or wallpaper,” Pappas says. “Swapping out an old mirror or light fixture with something new can create a big impact.”
FINISHING TOUCHES
“A powder room is a great spot for an unexpected piece of art or an artsy blackand-white family photo,” Pappas says. Bring in the sights and smells of nature by dressing the bath with greenery and flowers, especially during the holidays for a festive feel. “I love magnolia or boxwood garlands draped on mirrors or
eucalyptus in a rustic vase for greenery,” Pappas says. “I always put something fresh in the guest bath — ranunculus, anemones, olive branches and date berries in vases. To awaken the senses, Pappas says, “A woodsy fragrant hand soap and candles are great additions before company comes.”
PHOTO BY MIKE SCHALK // STYLING BY ANNE PAPPAS
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REAL HOMES
HOLIDAY/WINTER
local designer colorfully adorns her home for the holidays
Written by NICOLE LETTS // Photography by KELLI BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY
Joshua E. White, owner of Port Town Collective, dreamed up a statement-making entry for the McCarthys with oversized Christmas balls, giant pink nutcrackers and yards of colorful ribbon.
LARGER-THAN-LIFE
holiday ornaments, illuminated topiaries and bubblegum pink nutcrackers with tassel belts flank the McCarthy family’s signature green front door on Dutch Island. Complementary ribbons burst from its surrounding garland, while oversized snowflakes — seemingly plucked right from Buddy the Elf’s North Pole — cascade throughout its branches.
In collaboration with Joshua E. White of Port Town Collective, a wedding planning and event firm, Savannah business owner Emily McCarthy has created a cheerful welcome that not only exudes personality but also radiates holiday cheer.
For McCarthy, Christmastime has always been a family-focused season. During her childhood, she recalls each step of the holiday, which kicked off on Christmas Eve with a huge family meal at her grandfather’s Alpharetta, Georgia, restaurant and ended 24 hours later with a raucous game of bingo.
“Everyone would bring a bag of tiny, inexpensive presents, and they were arranged in big piles. We would play bingo using a vintage set that belonged to my great-grandparents,” McCarthy recalls.
“When you won, you would grab a present off the pile, and we would play until all of the gifts were gone.”
Now with two kids of her own, Rhett and Lillian, McCarthy strives to give her family their own memorable holiday traditions.
“We make a huge breakfast, which turns into brunch and lunch, and it becomes this all-day progressive rollout of food and beverage. We do breakfast casserole, mimosas and sausage balls in the morning. I usually roll out smoked salmon midday,
In the living room, a red, white and silver tree gleams with hundreds of tiny white lights.
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Emily’s lounge looks merry and bright with decorations taking color cues from the room’s furnishings and trim.
Over the years, the intimate family gathering has turned into an open-door policy for close friends and neighbors, too. “We invite everyone to wear pajamas! There’s nothing better than caviar and champagne in your pajamas on Christmas Day,” she says.
The celebration starts as soon as the kids wake. In the McCarthy house, Santa is known to slip into their bedrooms to deposit stockings, but the big reveal happens once the grandparents have arrived. Presents are piled around the tree in the den decorated with heirloom ornaments.
“There’s a mix of mercury glass, homemade children’s ornaments and generational handmade ornaments that are married with elevated reds and a traditional [color] scheme,” White says.
The family’s Christmas village is creatively displayed on the bookshelves
Festive Favorites
Emily shares her holiday traditions and must-haves
Favorite holiday movie: “The Holiday”
It’s not Christmas without: Christmas music and by evening, we’re indulging in a little caviar,” she says.
Favorite Christmas carol: “Carol of the Bells” because of my musical background
Favorite holiday cocktail: I love one healthy serving of traditional eggnog. I have to check that box every year!
Favorite holiday menu item: Sausage, egg and cheese breakfast casserole
“We invite everyone to wear pajamas! There’s nothing better than caviar and champagne in your pajamas on Christmas Day.”
— Emily McCarthy
in the family room. “My mother-in-law started a collection for each of her children when they were little, so by the time we got married, we had a full collection to display,” McCarthy says. “To bring the collection to life, I proposed we pepper it with magnolia leaves and fresh greens. We added in some holly, blanket snow and flake snow to give it depth and dimension. The kids can engage with it, and it is safe from the dog,” White says.
As the day continues and one meal dips into the next, kids gather on the porch where a Candy Land-like table offers a fantastical backdrop for giggling about Santa’s surprises. During the season, it’s not uncommon for the family to pile onto the porch with friends for a big meal or group activity. Kids might linger here while parents retreat to the his-and-hers sitting rooms.
For the lady of the house, that’s an aqua-drenched room complete with mint cabinetry where a mimosa bar is ready at a moment’s notice to liven up the festivities. Blush Christmas ball ornaments spill onto shelves, mimicking champagne bubbles. A bottle of bubbly serves as the apropos topper on the gold tinsel tree, emphasizing the room’s sophistication and spunk.
In the gentleman’s room, White sprinkled in found objects, leaning into the Lowcountry aesthetic. “We love natural elements, and finding things in the woods
Peppermint ribbon trees, gingerbread houses and a candy-themed Christmas tree create a fantastical wonderland on the porch at the McCarthy family’s home.
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Left to right: Tanner and Meghan Reed, Tonya and Todd Reed
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is especially fun for me because it tells part of the story of the space,” he says.
In this case, Port Town Collective partnered with Weston Farms in North Carolina to procure magnolia garlands for the table and the sideboard. Spanish moss and preserved citrus were added as regional nods to colonial-era Savannah. McCarthy’s nutcracker collection is elegantly styled throughout the space as well.
The McCarthy home, adorned with a festive blend of classic and keepsake decor, is a testament to the family’s joy over the Christmas season and McCarthy’s personal style. With its inviting atmosphere and thoughtful touches, it’s a warm gathering place for loved ones to create lasting memories. “The most traditionally decorated room is our family room because, at the core of everything, tradition is so important,” she says. Thanks to the collaboration between McCarthy and White, the result is a space that showcases meticulous attention to detail and captures a whimsical holiday spirit.
Details
Homeowners: Emily and Patrick McCarthy
Year built: 1983
Construction/ renovation timeline: 2015-2024
Neighborhood: Dutch Island
Bedrooms/bathrooms: 4/2.5
Square footage: 2,600
Interior designer: Homeowner
Kitchen design: Kathryn Myrick
Furniture: Whelan’s Furniture, Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn
Flooring: Poppell Flooring
Art: Bellamy Murphy, Kelli Boyd
Photography, homeowner
Accessories: Emily McCarthy, Homegoods, One Fish Two Fish, family heirlooms
Appliances: Lowe’s
Joshua E. White of Port Town Collective left no surface uncelebrated, piling the baby grand piano with fresh greenery and ribbon.
Christmas Tradition
A local shop owner’s Yuletide decor is woven together with tartan ribbon and the invisible strings of time
Written by ALLISON LANE FARMER // Photography by KELLI BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR BARRY MASON, proprietor of Proper English, a home and decor store in Savannah’s Twelve Oaks shopping center, and his family, the passage of time can be measured by the accumulation of Christmas ornaments.
“We started our collection the second we got married,” says Mason. “On our honeymoon in Saint Lucia, we brought back an ornament, and ever since then, wherever we go, if it’s a trip or an outing, we try to bring one back.”
From there, the Mason family’s love for Yuletide decor has only grown. Now encompassing three trees on the main floor and an additional tree in each family member’s bedroom, it’s safe to say Christmas is a serious affair for this Savannah family. “You can say we might have a Christmas problem,” Mason says with a laugh.
Most months, Mason’s home is an artful mix of family heirlooms, traditional Southern pieces and a motif of neutrals, blues and whites. “We use a mix of furniture passed down from our families along with other thrifted finds,” he shares. “It’s not done in a single style and is truly a curated blend of the old, the new and the unexpected.”
True to his word, sentimental pieces fill the home. An antique secretary from
Three themed Christmas trees spread holiday cheer around the Mason family’s primary level. The living room tree, shown here, features larger-than-life candy ornaments and dazzling ribbons.
Mason’s parents sits proudly in the family room, the centerpiece of the dining room is his grandparents’ buffet, and in the kitchen nook, his wife’s grandmother’s rocking chairs are their favorite seats in the house. The heirlooms are the roots of Mason’s Southern style, for which both his home and flagship store have come to be known.
This curated take on design has translated to Mason’s masterful approach to the holidays, where he draws inspiration from a singular piece and builds his motifs from there. In the dining room, the designer selected his grandmother’s China in an antique blue and white Currier and Ives pattern to set the tone.
“I actually hang them inside the tree with plate hangers,” Mason explains of his ingenious approach. The next step is layering, where he draws upon his traditional Southern roots in an inspiring way. “I like to use a lot of texture, so feathers were important, Southern magnolia was important, and all of those things in the tree draw from that.”
The tartan tablecloth on the dining room table became another jumping-off point for the designer, who used a similarly patterned ribbon in the family room, tying together the more formal dining room tree and sentimental family room tree. For Mason, ribbon is the key to festive decorating. “Find a fine ribbon that works, and it will
Festive Favorites
Barry shares his holiday traditions and must-haves
Favorite holiday movie: “A Christmas Story”
Favorite Christmas carol: “O Holy Night”
Favorite holiday cocktail: Gin & Tonic
Favorite holiday menu item: Southern baked ham
It’s not Christmas without: A new pair of PJs
Details
Homeowners: Kristen and Barry Mason
Year built: 1998
Neighborhood: Rose Dhu
Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5/2.5
Square footage: 3,107
take you farther than you think it could,” he confirms. “It is what pulls together the design for my trees.”
The family room tree, festooned with ribbons, ornaments and towering winterberry branches, is a nostalgic ode to Christmases past and present. “In the family room, we also utilize tartans and things, but we do bring in those elements of trips we’ve been on,” Mason shares. “We have some ornaments from our sons, and it reminds us how much they’ve grown and how quickly life passes.”
Mason saved his favorite room, the kitchen nook, for his most playful display of holiday cheer. “[The kitchen nook] is a little more whimsical,” Mason notes. “We utilized a gingerbread and candy-themed tree there.” The whimsy carries over to the family’s elves on the shelf, lovingly named Paul and George after their favorite Beatles members. Paul
and George are a testament to the family’s dedication to tradition and togetherness and a vote for eschewing decorating for decorating’s sake. “Christmas to me is about those traditions, and that’s why we decorate the way we do. Ever since my boys were little, we wanted to create a little bit of magic,” Mason says.
His blend of old, new and unexpected is a masterful love letter to Christmas, penned lovingly over two decades. The traditions, the sights and the sounds — it’s what makes Christmas, Christmas. And the magic, as it turns out, is truly in the details. “Our Christmas is a collected mix of meaningful ornaments from our children and travels, family china, sterling silver and lots of layers and texture,” Mason recounts. “It’s the use of fine ribbon woven throughout to pull it all together and all the little details that tell our story.”
A Merry Market
Four local experts share their advice for listing a home during the holiday season
Written by KENDALL MCKINNON
THANKS TO ITS EVERGREEN ECONOMY, soon-to-be Savannahians are always flocking to the coastal city for job opportunities, and these new locals need homes. Regional real estate agents agree that Southeastern homeowners can rest easy in the region’s stable market, even during the holiday season — a notoriously tricky time to list or purchase a home. Four experts provide their tips and tricks to best navigate holiday listings.
Cultivate Holiday Cheer
Listing a home can cause stress for many, but looking ahead with optimism and hope are key to keeping you grounded. The holidays can help with that — the market might typically move more slowly during this time, but Brooke Powell, associate real estate broker at Ashly Brooke Properties, says there is a silver lining.
“One benefit you do have as a seller in these slightly slower months is that you have more serious buyers coming through. You don’t have as many looky-loos,” she says. They are serious, and if they find something they like, they’re probably going to make an offer.”
Appeal to Seasonal Senses
The season’s cooler weather is the perfect time to lean into a feeling of coziness, and for prospective buyers to better imagine their families enjoying the home together. Make open houses a warm refuge by lighting a fire, simmering cranberries and rosemary on the stove, baking gingerbread cookies in the oven or even hosting a hot cocoa bar. Soft, non-holiday music can create additional ambiance while guests wander the home.
For Annie Rockwell and Kelli Weiss, associate brokers at Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, attention to the details makes all the difference. “Taking these small steps will give your home that extra sparkle that buyers love during the holiday season,” Rockwell says.
List with Timeless Imagery
Mitch Jacobs, vice president of sales and guest relations at The Landings, makes a key distinction when considering the question
Put in the Prep Work
’Tis the season for hosting parties, wrapping presents and collecting holiday cards — a beautiful but busy season made much more challenging by putting your home on the market. To keep your home show-ready — and your sanity intact — decide the most important tasks in advance and keep up with them using a “chore checklist.”
By staying on top of these small tasks, your home will always be ready to impress potential buyers. From Annie Rockwell and Kelli Weiss at Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s, here’s a simple daily checklist to help keep your home ready for last-minute showings:
4 Tidy up living areas and fluff pillows.
4 Clean floors and wipe down counters.
4 Make beds and freshen up bathrooms.
4 Take out the trash.
4 Ensure lighting is on, warm and inviting.
4 Keep entryways clean and welcoming.
of holiday decorations: “There’s living in your home, and then there’s listing your home.”
Deck the halls at home to your heart’s delight, but the expert consensus is to keep holiday decor minimal in your listing photos. Your home should read as clean and beautiful, and too many novelties or Christmas lights can look busy. The difference is key
to ensuring potential buyers can envision themselves living in your home. To avoid dating your listing, consider taking additional photos without festive touches to swap out come January.
While holiday decorations can add charm, keep them minimal. You want to showcase your home’s features and appeal to all buyers, regardless of their holiday preferences. A simple wreath or string lights can add just the right amount of holiday magic without overdoing it.
Book Professional Services
If you want your home to look its best, professional staging and photography are a must, and our experts often include these services in their packages. Certain add-ons might also suit your individual property, such as video walkthroughs to highlight ample space or aerial photography if the home is within walking distance of downtown or a waterway.
Tend to the Details
For Rockwell and Weiss, one of the simplest ways to spruce up your home’s curb appeal is to tend to typically overlooked details: Ensure there are working light bulbs in your porch lights, maintain outdoor furniture and consistently rake leaves. Keep your lawn and porch area tidy, clean the front door and power-wash surfaces if possible.
Powell agrees and recommends the same for listing photos, adding that because grass and other landscaping tend to go dormant during winter months, consider touching up exterior shots to keep the lawn looking lush.
“So as long as there is actual grass there, I will have the photographer green over the grass, just like they would add a blue sky if it wasn’t perfectly sunny that day when they took pictures,” she says.
Price It Right
As with any season, our experts recommend a weekly check-in with the local market. Take a look at other homes for sale in your neighborhood or similar homes across town. Compare your price to your competitors’ and consider whether the number on your sticker needs to change.
Jacobs observes that during the holiday season, cost considerations can be especially encouraging in light of tax benefits that may motivate buyers to purchase before the end of the year. “For certain write-offs and deductions, getting them in for that calendar year can make a big difference, depending on the person’s circumstances,” he says.
A house sale is enough to lift holiday spirits, putting cash back in homeowners’ pockets. “If the timing is right for you, then I wouldn’t shy away from listing during the holidays,” Jacobs says.
A Southern Lady ... Almost
Written by BRIENNE WALSH
AS A BORN AND BRED NEW YORKER who spent the first 38 years of my life eating warmed-up trays of Italian food from a local pizzeria on major holidays, I often feel out of my depth when it comes to holidays in the South.
I don’t have a killer — or even acceptable — recipe for a covered dish event. I do not know how to decorate a wreath. There are no table runners in my linen drawer. And, I do not have a linen drawer. If you have a meal in my home, you will eat off plates I found on the curb in Brooklyn one cold winter night, and no, sadly, they are not Christmas-themed.
My only entry into Southern holiday culture is my husband’s Aunt Tweet, who was born and bred in Coastal Georgia.
My husband’s mother passed away before we were married, and Tweet, her sister, has stepped in as a caretaker to my two children — and to my Yankee self. Not only is she the quintessential Southern grandmother — generous, drives a white Lexus SUV and lovingly calls my kids “a mess” — but she is also a wonderful cook and hostess. Many a time I have asked Tweet if she could help me make her famous mac and cheese for a school function, and many a time, she has called me the night before to say, “You know what, I’m just going to go ahead and make it myself.”
Tweet hosts most of our family holidays at her marsh-front home in Sunbury, Georgia, which overlooks St. Catherines Island.
At her parties, there are always three different types of greens simmering on the stove, a group of people
watching football and drinking sweet tea in the living room and a towering three-layer coconut cake that last Thanksgiving, our rescue dog, Sam, ate before anyone realized he could jump on top of the table.
I would choose Tweet’s house on a holiday over heaven. But our first Christmas in Savannah, in the winter of 2020, my husband and I decided we wanted to christen our Ardsley Park home with joy by hosting his family for dinner. Tweet offered to help me decorate. One of her many superpowers is that she once worked for a florist in Hinesville, Georgia, who also happened to be her mother-in-law. As a result, she knows how to make garlands from scratch.
A week before Christmas, Tweet arrived at my house with a box full of magnolia and cedar branches. Carefully, over the course of an afternoon, she wove the branches around green wire and strands of white Christmas lights. By the evening, when the sunlight had dimmed, the single staircase in our house was adorned with the most beautiful Christmas garland I had ever seen. Every morning, I walked downstairs before dawn just so I could see our staircase glow with Tweet’s creation.
The house still smelled like cedar a week later when my husband’s family arrived for Christmas dinner. We feasted that day on ham, Savannah red rice, potato salad, fried chicken and crab casserole, most of it brought in covered dishes by my husband’s relatives. I bought a pie from Auspicious Baking Co. that, despite being delicious, was barely touched because it was not homemade — a cardinal sin on a Southern holiday.
Tweet’s gift for me under the tree that year? My first set of matching flatware. She didn’t say it outright, but she’ll make a Southern lady of me eventually.
Illustration by MIKAELA FUCHS
