Tradition with a Twist
Early American homes inspire Covington, Georgia, homeowner April Lajevardi’s holiday decorating style. She is attracted to ornaments crafted by hand and decorations gathered from nature. April draws upon the Christmas spirit that prevailed during the 1700
1 Stockings.
For almost two centuries, Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” has encouraged us to hang stockings by the chimney with care. For a primitive look, tea-stain white socks and add embellishments such as buttons, ribbons and trim.
2 Feather Trees.
During the 19th century, feathers were used to create decorations that resembled white pines’ sparse branches. Antique feather trees are rare and highly collectible. For a similar look, use wire cutters to remove a branch from an artificial tree. Set the branch vertically inside a small flowerpot and then display on a tabletop or mantel.
3 Santas.
Inexpensive wood and fabric Santas abound at crafts and discount stores. To give a new Santa a timeworn appearance, do some editing. Remove excess glitter, apply thinned brown paint to simulate age, and accessorize with miniature flags, fruits and grapevine wreaths.
4 Evergreens.
Primitive style is synonymous with resourcefulness. Decorate with natural ornaments, such as pinecones and freshly cut boughs of holly, pine and laurel. These items can be gathered from your yard or purchased at garden centers.
5 Dried Fruit.
Fruit makes for a pretty and fragrant decoration. Cut an orange crosswise to create thin, round slices. Bake the slices on a cookie sheet for four hours at 150°F. Turn every hour until the slices are dry. Hang the slices on a tree with twine, or use a needle and thread to string them with cranberries into a garland. Spray the garland with sealer to prevent the berries from staining. To fashion a fresh arrangement that’s perfectly suited for any room, intersperse the dried slices among real or faux fruit and greens in an antique dough bowl.