Gone are the days of tinsel-strewn boughs and mismatched ornaments. For these talented holiday decorators, Christmas trees are blank canvases transformed into works of art.
Photos by Rick Lee
HQ 88 | WINTER 2015
According to a special on the History Channel about the origins of the Christmas tree, Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we know it today when 16th-century devout Christians first brought decorated trees into their homes. It is widely believed that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. While walking home one night, Luther was awed by the radiance of the stars lighting his way through the evergreens. To recapture this, he erected a tree in the main room of his house and adorned its branches with lighted candles.
Many beautiful Christmas trees abound in the Huntington region, so the editors at Huntington Quarterly set out to find the cream of the crop. We originally planned a story on the Top 10 trees in Huntington, but understandably two of our picks weren’t up for the challenge of decorating their trees by our deadline of Nov. 13. And so, we give you the “Amazing 8,” a variety of trees that should put you in the spirit of the Christmas season.
Something Old, Something New
The Christmas tree that graces the living room in Dayna Massie’s home holds the treasures of two generations. Dayna’s love for all things MacKenzie-Childs – a New York-based designer of hand-painted housewares – was the inspiration for her eclectic design that merges old and new holiday styles. The bold black and white “courtly check” and red and green “orchard check” ribbons adorn the tree from top to bottom. Nearly six dozen handmade glass balls in shades of green, red and amber were passed down from Dayna’s father after years of collecting them from the former Pilgrim Glass Company of Ceredo. Her mother also contributed to the holiday collection when, as a birthday present in 1992, she made dozens of ornaments from materials left over from Dayna’s handmade wedding dress.
The Christmas tree that graces the living room in Dayna Massie’s home holds the treasures of two generations. Dayna’s love for all things MacKenzie-Childs – a New York-based designer of hand-painted housewares – was the inspiration for her eclectic design that merges old and new holiday styles. The bold black and white “courtly check” and red and green “orchard check” ribbons adorn the tree from top to bottom. Nearly six dozen handmade glass balls in shades of green, red and amber were passed down from Dayna’s father after years of collecting them from the former Pilgrim Glass Company of Ceredo. Her mother also contributed to the holiday collection when, as a birthday present in 1992, she made dozens of ornaments from materials left over from Dayna’s handmade wedding dress.
Through the Eyes of a Child
If you’ve ever met Tina Booten then you know she has the heart of a child. Each year, Tina decorates nearly every room in her Holswade Park home and uses her sunroom to pay homage to some of her favorite young people. Her whimsical Christmas tree is reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss story with a multi-colored miniature tree serving as the topper as brightly colored ornaments of hot pink, purple, teal and lime green cover nearly every inch of the 7-foot spruce. Dozens of packages are spilling out from underneath and are sure to bring a smile to the faces of her loved ones this season.
If you’ve ever met Tina Booten then you know she has the heart of a child. Each year, Tina decorates nearly every room in her Holswade Park home and uses her sunroom to pay homage to some of her favorite young people. Her whimsical Christmas tree is reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss story with a multi-colored miniature tree serving as the topper as brightly colored ornaments of hot pink, purple, teal and lime green cover nearly every inch of the 7-foot spruce. Dozens of packages are spilling out from underneath and are sure to bring a smile to the faces of her loved ones this season.
O Holy Night
A visit to the Camelot Drive home of Victoria and Don Baker is like a visit to the North Pole with nearly 20 trees of various sizes and themes located throughout the house. A 10-foot tree serves as the focal point of the living room, and Victoria’s favorite Christmas carol, “O Holy Night,” was her inspiration for the design. Antique lace cherubs, angels, cream-colored hydrangeas, roses and gilded trumpets and horns are nestled among ribbons covered in sheet music and lace. Packages wrapped in brown paper are tied up with matching ribbons, awaiting the family to tear into them on Christmas morning.
A visit to the Camelot Drive home of Victoria and Don Baker is like a visit to the North Pole with nearly 20 trees of various sizes and themes located throughout the house. A 10-foot tree serves as the focal point of the living room, and Victoria’s favorite Christmas carol, “O Holy Night,” was her inspiration for the design. Antique lace cherubs, angels, cream-colored hydrangeas, roses and gilded trumpets and horns are nestled among ribbons covered in sheet music and lace. Packages wrapped in brown paper are tied up with matching ribbons, awaiting the family to tear into them on Christmas morning.
A Grandmother’s Treasures
The real Christmas tree at Bridget and Doug Sheils’ Holswade Park home holds years of precious memories with each special mercury glass ornament that’s on display. Bridget has spent years working on her collection of exclusive glass ornaments designed by Patricia Breen and her husband Eric from Krakow, Poland. In addition to her Breen collection, Bridget has nearly completed her Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments handcrafted from real goose eggs. However, Bridget’s most precious heirloom can be found underneath the tree. As a child, some of her fondest memories are of seeing her grandmother’s antique jewelry hung on her tree; now those same pieces adorn the tree skirt below Bridget’s family Christmas tree.
The real Christmas tree at Bridget and Doug Sheils’ Holswade Park home holds years of precious memories with each special mercury glass ornament that’s on display. Bridget has spent years working on her collection of exclusive glass ornaments designed by Patricia Breen and her husband Eric from Krakow, Poland. In addition to her Breen collection, Bridget has nearly completed her Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments handcrafted from real goose eggs. However, Bridget’s most precious heirloom can be found underneath the tree. As a child, some of her fondest memories are of seeing her grandmother’s antique jewelry hung on her tree; now those same pieces adorn the tree skirt below Bridget’s family Christmas tree.
A Victorian Christmas
The colonial home of Scott and Elizabeth Sheets became the perfect backdrop for a Victorian twist on the traditional Christmas tree. Strands of white lights and candles shine off of pink balls, glass and feathered swans, Victorian dolls, crystals and miniature porcelain teacups and saucers. Complementing the ornaments are pink and clear beads, white and pink poinsettias and pink hydrangeas. This tree has special meaning to Elizabeth because her mother, who passed away two years ago, said it was the most beautiful Christmas tree she had ever seen. Today, it serves as a reminder of the precious holiday celebrations shared with her family over the years. It’s a tradition that is now being passed down to their young daughter, Abigail.
The colonial home of Scott and Elizabeth Sheets became the perfect backdrop for a Victorian twist on the traditional Christmas tree. Strands of white lights and candles shine off of pink balls, glass and feathered swans, Victorian dolls, crystals and miniature porcelain teacups and saucers. Complementing the ornaments are pink and clear beads, white and pink poinsettias and pink hydrangeas. This tree has special meaning to Elizabeth because her mother, who passed away two years ago, said it was the most beautiful Christmas tree she had ever seen. Today, it serves as a reminder of the precious holiday celebrations shared with her family over the years. It’s a tradition that is now being passed down to their young daughter, Abigail.
A Walk Among the Woods
Sally and Jim Weiler’s home is nestled among the trees overlooking Ritter Park, and it was that woodsy feel that Sally wanted to incorporate into her holiday décor. As a tribute to the deer that graze nearby, Sally’s tree is brimming with deer antlers, birds’ nests, tiny wooden sleighs and various woodsy ornaments. Birch branches are interspersed among vintage glass balls and birds, paper stars from Kalalou and a variety of ornaments collected from visits to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina.
Sally and Jim Weiler’s home is nestled among the trees overlooking Ritter Park, and it was that woodsy feel that Sally wanted to incorporate into her holiday décor. As a tribute to the deer that graze nearby, Sally’s tree is brimming with deer antlers, birds’ nests, tiny wooden sleighs and various woodsy ornaments. Birch branches are interspersed among vintage glass balls and birds, paper stars from Kalalou and a variety of ornaments collected from visits to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina.
A Family Tradition
Drs. Susan and Joe Touma’s house may look stately from the outside, but with one step inside you’ll find a home where their children take center stage. The Christmas tree that graces the formal living room overflows with ornaments representing every family member from birth to the present, with each one telling a story of a special memory. A luxurious brocade ribbon is woven throughout the branches that also hold Susan’s treasured collection of hand-beaded, one-of-a-kind ornaments designed by local artisan Bridget Sheils.
Drs. Susan and Joe Touma’s house may look stately from the outside, but with one step inside you’ll find a home where their children take center stage. The Christmas tree that graces the formal living room overflows with ornaments representing every family member from birth to the present, with each one telling a story of a special memory. A luxurious brocade ribbon is woven throughout the branches that also hold Susan’s treasured collection of hand-beaded, one-of-a-kind ornaments designed by local artisan Bridget Sheils.
Visions of Sugarplums
A holiday tradition of taking her four boys to the ballet production of The Nutcracker became the inspiration for Dr. George and Paula Linsenmeyer’s candy-themed tree in the family sunroom in Timberlake. While her boys are now grown men, Paula has fond memories of watching their smiling faces all those years ago. Today, her 10-foot white tree filled with pastel-colored ornaments of ribbon candy, cupcakes and gingerbread men blends in beautifully with their antique wicker furniture that once belonged to George’s great-grandmother.
A holiday tradition of taking her four boys to the ballet production of The Nutcracker became the inspiration for Dr. George and Paula Linsenmeyer’s candy-themed tree in the family sunroom in Timberlake. While her boys are now grown men, Paula has fond memories of watching their smiling faces all those years ago. Today, her 10-foot white tree filled with pastel-colored ornaments of ribbon candy, cupcakes and gingerbread men blends in beautifully with their antique wicker furniture that once belonged to George’s great-grandmother.
