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Averyfloral Christmas Summit home owes its festive look to live and artificial blooms
WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIC WAHBY PHOTOGRAPHY FLORALARRANGEMENTS BY R . MERRITT PRODUCTION
The Summit estate had been unattended for along time when new
owners moved in two-and-a-half years ago and launched agut renovation , prompting curious neighbors to wonder what the new interior looked like . They had their chance to find out in December 2019 , when the home was one of five featured in Reeves-Reed Arboretum ’ sannual holiday house tour . “ My clients ’ house was featured on Thursday , and on Sunday , the decorations were still up and they had abig neighborhood house party ,” says Alexa Harris-Ralff , owner of AHR Designs , and the family ’ slongtime decorator .
Harris-Ralff says her “ labor-intensive ” staging of the home using real and artificial greenery was done in conjunction with Rebecca Merritt , owner of Montclair-based R . Merritt Productions . “ What is native to New Jersey in December ?” Harris-Ralff asks with alaugh . “ We made atrip to the New York flower market and got blooms off Dutch auctions and from South America .”
( Above ) The eldest of the family ’ s three daughters carries presents down stairs decorated with an artificial garland and commissioned paper flowers that can be stored and brought out at subsequent Christmases .“ We want the clients to be able to replicate this look next year ,” says Harris-Ralff .( Right ) Merritt and Harris-Ralff relax in the homeowner ’ s kitchen behind an artificial wreath with a tied wire ribbon .
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HOLIDAY 2020 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE