Planning ahead is prudent when decorating. “Most of the red
Christmas balls used on the tree and mantle greenery were collected
at thrift shops, garage sales and discount stores over years.” Family
heirlooms are also part of Sarah’s design. She mixed her husband’s
grandmother’s milk glass with the décor. “Filling Grandma’s milk glass
bowl with Christmas ornaments is a perfect way for us to remember
her during the Holidays.”
The home’s colors and textures are echoed in the furniture and
accessories. In the dining room, the first room seen when entering the
home, Sarah combined graphic elements and a high contrast color
palette to create a whimsical, sophisticated look. She says “I used a
palette of black and white with pops of red, warmed with golden
lights.” Reds, grays, blacks, checks, boxes, written script, oversized stars,
and antlers are some of the recurring motifs. “I love to repeat design
elements. It creates a sense of flow”.
The home’s accessories and furniture have quiet tête-à-têtes sharing
textures, colors, lines, sheen, shapes, and boldness. In the dining
room, for example, a bold black mirror brings quiet spectacle to the
room, balancing the dark hues of the table and chairs, lamps and
rug. Red ornaments and accessories along with bevels and curves
embellish the room’s linear elements while creamed porcelain
heightens the wainscoting.
In the living room, the fireplace expresses Sarah’s love of neat, clean,
symmetrical and simple spaces. In this space she chose one main
focal point; the fireplace. “Instead of using a lot of items, I went with
key pieces that were large in scale”. She notes that the solid white of
the living room sofa and the black and white drapery gave her the
freedom to experiment with patterned area rugs, toss pillows and
wall décor.
Mike jokes that because Sarah is so often redecorating their home
that it is ever-changing, and refers to it as living and breathing.
Their children Hannah, Cameron and Max, as well as their dog
Murphie, love when the home is dressed for Christmas. Sarah remarks
“My family appreciates the sense of magic it brings to our home
during our most favorite time of year.”