Wilson Lovett : Elevated Design and Decor
By Glenda Sanders
Meridian native Wilson Lovett , an architectural and residential interior designer , puts on a different hat during the holiday season when he becomes famous locally as the decorator of one of the signature trees for Merrehope ’ s annual Trees of Christmas tour .
It ’ s a task he has undertaken for the past decade , and his ornately decorated tree , standing sentry in the downstairs parlor , is always stunning and “ selfie worth .” Last year his tree made the perfect backdrop for a couple of wedding proposals .
“ I try to make it different every year , but I always want it to be something everyone is going to enjoy and they will walk in and know that is a Wilson Lovett tree ,” he said . With this year ’ s “ 56th Annual Trees of Christmas at Merrehope ” set to open Nov . 24 , Lovett has been hard at work adding hundreds of colorful ball ornaments , oversize giant gold butterflies and dragonflies , and a silver carousel horse to the parlor tree . He ’ s striving for perfection in getting the tree ready to welcome this year ’ s visitors , with more than a thousand anticipated by the end of December .
“ Betty Lou Jones , when she was the president ( of Meridian Restorations Foundation ), asked me to come and do a tree one year . She said , ‘ Wilson , no one else can have anything like it , and it will attract people to come to Merrehope for the annual Trees of Christmas .’ She said ‘ we ’ ll call it the signature tree ,’” Lovett recalled . “ So I started doing it and this will be my 10th year .”
This year ’ s tree is reminiscent of trees he has decorated over the past couple of years for the Merrehope tours . Not in the traditional reds and greens of the holiday
Wilson Lovett season , the brightly colored tree features groups of pinks , purples , gold , greens , silver and blue ornaments in a cohesive , festive display . Not one inch of the tree underneath can be seen .
“ It ’ s kind of like a mixture of several of my past trees ,” he said , calling his work “ Merre & Brite .”
Some of his trees have graced the covers of magazines , including one decorated in all-gold ornaments that made the cover of Our South magazine . A photo of last year ’ s stunning tree is being used to promote
Merrehope ’ s Trees of Christmas in the USA Today ’ s 10Best Readers ’ Choice Awards contest for Best Holiday Historic Home Tour , which is currently being voted on by readers .
Some years his signature tree is more sentimental than other years . For instance , last year ’ s tree , titled “ Vivid Vibe ,” was a tribute to his friend and Meridian artist Joey Horne who had passed away earlier in 2023 . The brightly colored ornaments and oversized butterflies in pink , blue , purple , green , orange , yellow and silver coordinated with one of Horne ’ s colorful paintings Lovett sat on a nearby table .
Lovett grew up immersed in art , design and architecture , so his talent comes naturally to him .
“ Both of my parents were artists ,” he said . “ My mother was a renowned artist and designer . I treasure fond memories of excursions with them to visit artists and galleries in New Orleans , Memphis and Atlanta .”
At a young age , he said he showed great proficiency in his art skills , including with color mixtures and basic design .
“ My parents provided gallons of enamel paint in primary colors , and I would sit and mix and match the colors to make new colors ,” he said . “ Sometimes I would get paint on everything in sight .”
As he grew up , he continued to excel in art and design .
After graduating from Meridian High School in 1965 , Lovett headed to college at Memphis College of Art . He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design , graphic design and architectural design in 1971 .
While there , he said he received first place in a student design competition , sponsored by the Georgia American Society of Interior Designers , and received the senior departmental award in interior design and architectural design at graduation .
During his final semester in college , Lovett said he was commissioned for the residential design of the Tommy Webb home being constructed in Meridian at the time . He designed custom carpets , furniture , art and sculpture throughout the house to give the home its meridianstar . com
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