Cottages & Bungalows

Christmas Bliss:

An antiques vendor styles her home for the holidays with soft tones, DIY projects and found treasures that inspire the imaginatio­n.

- BY AUTUMN KRAUSE PHOTOGRAPH­Y BY JESSIE PREZA STYLING BY TAMMY AKEL

Everything you need for holiday decorating, hosting and enjoying

When an antique vendor with a gift for interior design decorates for Christmas,

her home transforms into a nostalgic holiday retreat that’s full of old and new treasures. Tammy Akel’s designs feel so wintry and authentic to a white Christmas that you’d never guess that her Southern Colonial farmhouse is located in sunny Florida. She says, “Every December, my priorities are to create a welcoming and cozy atmosphere in my home that evokes warm childhood memories.” Her designs reflect her background as an antiques vendor at her booth, The Vintage Grind (you can see her finds on Instagram at @MyVintageG­rind and her home décor at @MyColonial­Farmhouse). “For the holidays, I combine traditiona­l elements and vintage pieces,” she says. “I appreciate the feeling of a ‘collected’ home that isn’t filled with brand-new store-bought furnishing­s. That look is too sterile and generic for me.” And, since Tammy is also talented at DIY, her interiors have heartfelt, personaliz­ed touches. She says, “Nothing brings me greater joy than salvaging a piece and bringing it back to life!”

A SOFTLY HUED HOLIDAY

The dining room is a serene version of holiday styling. When Tammy and her family first moved in, the room was graceful but suffered from olive-green walls, which Tammy painted a bluish-gray. The new paint was all that was needed to emphasize the room’s beautiful bones, and she got to decorating. “The inspiratio­n for the dining room is the shutters hanging on the wall,” she says. She mounted sconces on shutters that she rescued from the trash and proudly displays them, saying, “I saved the shutters from being discarded, and they are such a conversati­on piece. I enjoy sharing how I found them and transforme­d them.”

To transition the dining room for the season, she adds jewel-tone accents, sets a vintage Santa Claus atop a small cabinet and fills her dough bowl with ornaments and Christmas-themed accessorie­s. Of course, Yuletide feasting can’t occur without appropriat­ely festive table settings, and Tammy’s are a tour de force of intricate layering and style mixing. “I approach my holiday place settings using traditiona­l patterns of plaid and holly berry, but mixing them with a boho macramé runner,” she explains. “It’s layered and textured at the same time.”

CURATING CONVERSATI­ONS

Tranquil tones continue into the family room, giving the home an easy flow. Tammy updated the spacious area with fresh paint and replaced an outdated ceiling fan with a farmhouse chandelier that sparkles throughout the day. Every year she has a holiday open house, complete with spiced sangria and appetizers. No Christmas party is complete without a beautifull­y decorated tree, and Tammy decorates hers with both traditiona­l and whimsical ornaments. She always adds additional pieces she finds while antiquing and thrifting. She says, “I use vintage books in classic red and green colors, a small collection of holiday houses, and I add some jingle bells to a thrifted acacia wooden bowl.”While most homeowners put their tree front and center, Tammy artfully encourages conversati­on and mingling by placing her tree off to the side of the room because “it gives more space and doesn’t block off our open layout.” It’s still easily visible and fills the room with its presence without detracting from the natural movement of friends and family.

“For the holidays, I combine traditiona­l elements and

vintage pieces … I appreciate the feeling of a ‘collected ’ home that isn’t filled with brand-new store-bought furnishing­s.”

“I use vintage books in

classic red and green colors, a small collection of holiday houses,

and I add some jingle bells to a thrifted acacia wooden bowl.”

?? ?? FREE FLOW. The family room is the central gathering place for holiday festivitie­s. Tammy scales the room with parties in mind and creates cozy spots for conversati­on amid her wintry designs. She takes her cues from the room’s open layout and makes sure the space maintains its spacious feel. Throw pillows, blankets and the Christmas tree off to the side don’t interfere with entertaini­ng yet have a big impact.
FREE FLOW. The family room is the central gathering place for holiday festivitie­s. Tammy scales the room with parties in mind and creates cozy spots for conversati­on amid her wintry designs. She takes her cues from the room’s open layout and makes sure the space maintains its spacious feel. Throw pillows, blankets and the Christmas tree off to the side don’t interfere with entertaini­ng yet have a big impact.
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?? ?? |ABOVE LEFT| DOOR TO DOOR. Tammy focuses her décor around the doorway, and her design is a study in balance. Two topiaries, two lanterns and two signs create a compelling Christmas compositio­n. |ABOVE MIDDLE| ARTFULLY AGED. Winsome, distressed signs add a lightheart­ed touch to classic holiday décor. At the same time, they allow Tammy to scale her designs to the sizable porch. “The height and width of the signs help balance the large porch,” she says. |ABOVE RIGHT| ELEGANT ENTRY. Tammy’s Southern colonial-style home is particular­ly timeless during the holidays. She keeps the focal point on her doorway. “When an entryway is inviting, it immediatel­y puts guests at ease and also entices them to see what else is in store inside,” Tammy says. |OPPOSITE| HOLIDAY HAVEN. When styling a porch for the holidays, it’s easy to incorporat­e green with greenery and plants. However, red can be tricky. Tammy finds ways to work it in by using poinsettia­s, ribbons and signs. “There’s nothing like classic Christmas red and green,” Tammy says.
|ABOVE LEFT| DOOR TO DOOR. Tammy focuses her décor around the doorway, and her design is a study in balance. Two topiaries, two lanterns and two signs create a compelling Christmas compositio­n. |ABOVE MIDDLE| ARTFULLY AGED. Winsome, distressed signs add a lightheart­ed touch to classic holiday décor. At the same time, they allow Tammy to scale her designs to the sizable porch. “The height and width of the signs help balance the large porch,” she says. |ABOVE RIGHT| ELEGANT ENTRY. Tammy’s Southern colonial-style home is particular­ly timeless during the holidays. She keeps the focal point on her doorway. “When an entryway is inviting, it immediatel­y puts guests at ease and also entices them to see what else is in store inside,” Tammy says. |OPPOSITE| HOLIDAY HAVEN. When styling a porch for the holidays, it’s easy to incorporat­e green with greenery and plants. However, red can be tricky. Tammy finds ways to work it in by using poinsettia­s, ribbons and signs. “There’s nothing like classic Christmas red and green,” Tammy says.
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?? ?? |BOTTOM LEFT| VINTAGE GEMS. A village tableau adds a magical detail to the family room, while greenery placed underneath the side table adds an organic element.
|BOTTOM LEFT| VINTAGE GEMS. A village tableau adds a magical detail to the family room, while greenery placed underneath the side table adds an organic element.
?? ?? |OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT| VIGNETTE APPROACH. Instead of a traditiona­l coffee table, Tammy puts a tray atop an ottoman in her family room. It’s unexpected, and the ottoman’s upholstere­d top softens the room. She says, “I was inspired to do this on my ottoman because I wanted to incorporat­e my collection of vintage books. And then I just added candles for height and deer antlers for an organic element.” LOVELY LAYERS. Tradition meets whimsy in Tammy’s Christmas tree. She opts for classic colors (reds, golds and greens) and thick ribbons that weave in and out of the branches. Decorating it is a family affair—though she does “fluff” it to her liking once the kids go to bed.
|OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT| VIGNETTE APPROACH. Instead of a traditiona­l coffee table, Tammy puts a tray atop an ottoman in her family room. It’s unexpected, and the ottoman’s upholstere­d top softens the room. She says, “I was inspired to do this on my ottoman because I wanted to incorporat­e my collection of vintage books. And then I just added candles for height and deer antlers for an organic element.” LOVELY LAYERS. Tradition meets whimsy in Tammy’s Christmas tree. She opts for classic colors (reds, golds and greens) and thick ribbons that weave in and out of the branches. Decorating it is a family affair—though she does “fluff” it to her liking once the kids go to bed.
?? ?? |ABOVE LEFT| HEART OF THE HOME. The kitchen island is so large that the family’s realtor describes it as more of a continent than just an island! Tammy does a lot of holiday baking and cooking here with her daughter, Sophie, and the ample island is wonderful for rolling out dough and cutting out cookies. “For the kitchen, I pare down my décor,” Tammy says. “I’m strategic so that it doesn’t impede my workspace. I have a huge holiday centerpiec­e on my island, a wreath over my hood range, and I decorate my coffee bar shelves.”
|ABOVE LEFT| HEART OF THE HOME. The kitchen island is so large that the family’s realtor describes it as more of a continent than just an island! Tammy does a lot of holiday baking and cooking here with her daughter, Sophie, and the ample island is wonderful for rolling out dough and cutting out cookies. “For the kitchen, I pare down my décor,” Tammy says. “I’m strategic so that it doesn’t impede my workspace. I have a huge holiday centerpiec­e on my island, a wreath over my hood range, and I decorate my coffee bar shelves.”
?? ?? GET TOASTY. Nothing is cozier than a hot drink on a cold day, and Tammy has a whole area dedicated to coffee and cocoa in her kitchen. It’s a key place in the home, as Tammy makes her morning coffee here and the kids use it for cocoa as soon as there is a chill in the air. “I change the décor on the industrial pipe shelves for the holidays,” Tammy says, “and add seasonal accessorie­s to the countertop.”
GET TOASTY. Nothing is cozier than a hot drink on a cold day, and Tammy has a whole area dedicated to coffee and cocoa in her kitchen. It’s a key place in the home, as Tammy makes her morning coffee here and the kids use it for cocoa as soon as there is a chill in the air. “I change the décor on the industrial pipe shelves for the holidays,” Tammy says, “and add seasonal accessorie­s to the countertop.”
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?? ?? TRASH TO TREASURE. Inspiratio­n can come from unexpected places, and in the case of the dining room, Tammy found her inspiratio­n quite literally in the trash! She discovered a pair of old shutters and knew instantly that she would style her dining room around them. She says, “The color scheme of the room was inspired by the newly refinished shutters and is soft hues of blue, gray and cream.”
TRASH TO TREASURE. Inspiratio­n can come from unexpected places, and in the case of the dining room, Tammy found her inspiratio­n quite literally in the trash! She discovered a pair of old shutters and knew instantly that she would style her dining room around them. She says, “The color scheme of the room was inspired by the newly refinished shutters and is soft hues of blue, gray and cream.”
?? ?? |TOP RIGHT| NATURE’S BOUNTY. Layers, patterns and textures characteri­zed all Tammy’s holiday place settings. “I use a twig charger adorned with berries and greenery, a plaid melamine charger, and then finish off each setting with a mistletoe-print china dinner plate,” she says. She’s had the holiday dinner plates for many years, so they immediatel­y invoke memories from many a Christmas feast past. |ABOVE LEFT| ROOM FOR MORE. Since Tammy’s island is so large, it’s a great place to put décor without it getting in the way of holiday baking marathons. “I call this centerpiec­e my mini winter wonderland forest,” Tammy says. She made it using a vintage galvanized metal watering trough from France and nestled faux pine trees from Hobby Lobby inside it. “I filled the trough with oversized blue and silver ornaments, frosted jumbo pinecones and birchwood cuttings,” Tammy says. “I use blue because it pulls together the other tones of blue in my home.” |ABOVE RIGHT| HOLIDAY MAKEOVER. Clever little tricks are one of the ways Tammy reinvigora­tes her pre-existing décor. “These canisters normally say Flour, Sugar and Tea in black lettering,” she says. “I turned the canisters around so I could add mini wreaths to them!”
|TOP RIGHT| NATURE’S BOUNTY. Layers, patterns and textures characteri­zed all Tammy’s holiday place settings. “I use a twig charger adorned with berries and greenery, a plaid melamine charger, and then finish off each setting with a mistletoe-print china dinner plate,” she says. She’s had the holiday dinner plates for many years, so they immediatel­y invoke memories from many a Christmas feast past. |ABOVE LEFT| ROOM FOR MORE. Since Tammy’s island is so large, it’s a great place to put décor without it getting in the way of holiday baking marathons. “I call this centerpiec­e my mini winter wonderland forest,” Tammy says. She made it using a vintage galvanized metal watering trough from France and nestled faux pine trees from Hobby Lobby inside it. “I filled the trough with oversized blue and silver ornaments, frosted jumbo pinecones and birchwood cuttings,” Tammy says. “I use blue because it pulls together the other tones of blue in my home.” |ABOVE RIGHT| HOLIDAY MAKEOVER. Clever little tricks are one of the ways Tammy reinvigora­tes her pre-existing décor. “These canisters normally say Flour, Sugar and Tea in black lettering,” she says. “I turned the canisters around so I could add mini wreaths to them!”
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