Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

HOME for the holidays story by COURTNEY AUSTIN photography by COURTLAND RICHARDS TURN UP THE HOLIDAY TUNES, GRAB A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE, AND TURN YOUR HOME INTO YOUR VERY OWN WINTER WONDERLAND! T he sounds of Sinatra drift throughout the living room. The aroma of hot chocolate mixes with the scent of fresh pine. My family gathers around the Christmas tree, each of us taking turns adorning the branches with glistening ornaments of red and green, creating the centerpiece for our holiday celebration. Remember when decking the halls was something you looked forward to, rather than something you dreaded? With the added stress of the holiday season, sometimes decorating seems like just another thing we have to do, but it should be something we want to do. Decorating for Christmas is still a tradition—but it has become much less traditional. Strolling through decorating stores in the months leading up to the holidays proves just that. Rather than sticking to red and green, wreaths and bows, transform your home into a Winter Wonderland that suits your style. With so many options to choose from, bring the fun back into your holiday decorating! One of the best parts of holiday décor is the wide variety that now exists. There is no longer one style for Christmas decorating, and that’s something that Mary Messer of Posh Interiors in Orange Beach, Alabama has realized. Mary built her design career around decorating for the holidays and knows that there is a lot more to Christmas decorating than there used to be. “Design is as versatile as people’s personalities,” Mary says. She recognizes that Christmas is about tradition and family, and thinks decorating styles should reflect that. To begin decorating, you need to choose a style to focus on throughout your home. Three themes stick out as favorites along the Gulf Coast this year—tropical, contemporary, and antebellum. Escape the cold winter months with a getaway to the beach, all within the comforts of home. The tropical style of decorating mixes beachy elements with the traditions of Christmas. Adorn the tree with seashells, sand dollars, and starfish. Rather than decorating the traditional pine Christmas tree, garnish a palm tree! Indoors and outdoors, palm trees provide the perfect spot to hang lights and ornaments, Jana Porter and Mary Messer of Posh Interiors take holiday giving your décor a tropical feel. What better way to decorate for the decorating to a whole new level! From the traditional look (this page) to contemporary (next page), they handle it all! family who escapes to the beautiful Gulf beaches for the holidays? Holiday 2007 27

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Words & Notes Coastal Calendar Storefronts Sweet Dreams Art of Living Fixtures Our Backyard Make Yourself at Home Beach Bam! A Big Easy Christmas Upwardly Mobile Can't Drive Old Dixie Down Rock On! The Play's the Thing Cheers Dish Chef's Table Let's Eat Reader Services Last Bite

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