By Katherine Reasons-Pyles
HQ 72 | WINTER 2010
Setting an elegant holiday table does not have to be a Christmas nightmare; sometimes all it takes is a little bit of creativity with items already in your home.
At Angie and Don Watson’s home in Seneca Woods, rich reds and warm ivories quietly complement the elegance of the family’s dining room. Angie enlisted the help of Sally Weiler, interior decorator and owner of Room2Create, to create the romantic table display, which incorporates fresh flowers from Spurlock’s, bright red cranberries and stately hurricane vases purchased from Room2Create.
“Sometimes it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit when you’re busy with work and kids and everything else,” Angie said, “so we start decorating early to give us time to enjoy the season.”
At Sally and Jim Weiler’s home on South Englewood Road, the pastel colors that appear throughout the house are incorporated in even the finest details of their Christmas table display. Sally said an elegant holiday table does not mandate an extravagant display of red and green.
“I like to use all the colors,” she said. “I personally like pastels, so when I decorate my own home, those are what I use. I like the golds and the whites. But I think the key to a beautiful holiday table is using any colors that make you happy.”
Sally’s interior design business Room2Create features well-known brands like Kim Seybert and Cody Foster & Co. as well as custom-made décor to accommodate every style.
Tara Hardwick’s home near Ritter Park displays effortless style year-round, and Christmastime is no exception. Her dining room’s silk wallpaper and luxurious draperies harmonize beautifully with opulent tableware and a floral display by Matt Reynolds at Spurlock’s Flowers. Matt designed the mantle and table displays at all four homes featured in this article.
“The dining room is soft and elegant and I wanted to incorporate silver, white and sage green into it,” Tara said. “My mother set the table, and Sally [Weiler] and Matt did a magnificent job enhancing it with the centerpiece and table arrangement.”
Tara added a whimsical touch to the room with two ornate nutcrackers and a tall, glittering reindeer made up of thousands of tiny seashells.
Susan and Joe Touma’s resplendent table display intertwines rich golds and ivories with woodsy decor and the staggering scent of fresh pine. Birch reindeer and trees purchased from Room2Create serve as the focal point of the table’s centerpiece, while accents chosen and arranged by holiday decorater Dayna Massie and fresh greens arranged by Matt Reynolds complete the room. Gift boxes at each place setting add a personal touch for the Toumas’ holiday guests.
“Susan and I decided to go with a woodsy, organic look,” Dayna said, “combining fresh greenery and flowers with a lot of greenery that looks real.”
Sally and Jim Weiler incorporated their nephew’s collection of nutcrackers into their charmingly decorated children’s table.
“I think the proof of a successful decorating job is when your kids tell you they like it,” Sally said. “As parents, we love doing things for our children at Christmastime, and decorating a kids’ table is a fun way to make your children feel special – they recognize that you’ve done something especially for them.”
Cups of hot chocolate loaded with marshmallows and gingerbread cookies and holiday cupcakes made by local cake decorator Paula Vega offer a sweet welcome to the Weilers’ kid-friendly table.
The children’s table at the Toumas’ home combines giant red bows elegant candles and handmade gifts with a special meaning.
“I wanted a table that was playful,” Susan said, “where I could include splashes of red and green and incorporate some decorations that are important to me.”
Sequined ornaments, handmade by Bridget Sheils, add a unique splash of color to the table, as does a whimsical Santa doll created by Louesa Synder, Bridget’s mother. Louesa made the doll for Susan using personal items like cherished childhood toys and a beloved fur coat that had seen better days.
