This year, Avenue asked three well-known designers to show us how they deck the halls and trim the trees in their own homes. Using a blend of their favourite things and the trends of the season, each designer reinvents traditional holiday decor and offers some inspiration for rest of us.
Theme: Non-traditional ChristmasBefore moving to Edmonton a few years ago, interior designer April King lived in a half-dozen cities across the United States. In all of these places, she sought inspiration from her surroundings.
Not surprisingly, when it came to decorating her west end home for the holidays this year, she looked to Edmonton’s winter landscape – particularly the trees, snow, and sparkling stars. “I wanted it to be sparkly and glittery like it is outside – but inside,” she says.
King’s living room – an open, airy space with neutral-coloured walls, furniture, and flooring – provides the perfect canvas for this vision. Because this is a non-traditional holiday theme, there isn’t a Christmas tree, nor are there any traditional holiday colours to be seen. But with so much light and sparkle, they aren’t missed.
In the large picture window, gold and silver ornaments hang, catching the light as they turn. On the mantle above the modern, understated fireplace, decorative letters spell out “Joy.” On the wall above, gold and silver stars, hearts and snowflakes have been mounted in the shape of a tree on the wall. The display is flanked by two modern lamps, adding even more light to the scene.
There are nods to nature all over the room, with small, gold and silver trees scattered throughout and the prints of owls on the throw pillows. On a sideboard, next to a trio of silver candleholders, an owl made of straw peeks out at the room.
Here, in this untraditional space, King finds Christmas spirit: “It’s all about the happiness and joy.”
