THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511210114
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARCIA MANGUM, HOME & GARDEN EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
THE COLONIAL CHRISTMAS trimmings of Williamsburg cast a long shadow over this area, their traditional influence seen throughout many homes.
Some historic houses, such as the ones on the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society's 19th Annual Candlelight Tour, lend themselves to such period treatment. In the Britt Home (circa 1800), now the home of Sue and Thomas Woodward, costumed volunteers will re-create a 19th-century Christmas with dinner by the fireplace.
And in the Bay Colony neighborhood of Virginia Beach, the homes are newer - built in the '50s and '60s - but the mood is mostly traditional. Joan and Tom Lyons' house, one of five to be decorated by the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters for the Holly Homes Tour, evokes images of an English manor, filled with European antiques and French rugs.
But most homes are an eclectic blend of styles, reflecting the owners' tastes, as well as the architecture. Likewise, holiday decorations should fit the house and express the personalities of the people who live there.
``We decorate to accentuate the furniture, the collections and the personal tastes of the owners,'' says Brenda New, a vice president of the Chelsea Green Hill Garden Club in Virginia Beach and chairperson for its Christmas house.
The home of Beaven and Marywalker Smith in Green Hill By-the-Bay presented a decorating challenge to New and her fellow club members. A Louisiana-style house with prominent porches, the two-story home has a stately facade, and the living room and dining room greet visitors with formal Victorian decor.
But beyond the exterior and front rooms, the home has an open contemporary feel, filled with whimsical art.
Marywalker Smith has numerous collections including carousel horses, painted masks, stained glass pieces and ceramic fish. Traditional wouldn't work.
So the garden club is decorating with a lot of fresh fruit, potted plants and flowers, cut flowers, dried plants, ribbons and ``hot'' colors such as hot pink, bright yellow and teal, accentuated by gold, New says. In some rooms, Christmas green and holly red will be replaced by parrot and raspberry. And although you may find poinsettias in one room, the next may be filled with the exotic Bird of Paradise.
A collection of whimsical fish on the Smiths' mantel will take on an even more festive look when adorned with a garland of live greenery, interspersed with blue iridescent shredded paper and white lights, shimmering like water.
Similarly, Marywalker Smith's carousel horses will be bedecked with fresh greenery, New says, and the Christmas tree will have an arty look, decorated with painted hydrangea blossoms in a blend of mauve and burgundy.
The outside of the house will feature more fresh greenery and a mixture of natural and dried accents, such as pine cones and curly willow, sprayed in metallic gold, silver, bronze and copper.
Unusual topiaries of greenery will grace the front entry, and inside, visitors will find several floral topiaries, made from fresh flowers.
``I think people like to see something different,'' New says. ``As an artist myself, I'm always learning. There will be things taken from tradition but with a different flair.''
Whatever your style, there will be plenty of ideas on this year's home tours, so don your sneakers and set out for some decorating inspiration. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
JOHN H. SHEALLY II/The Virginian-Pilot
CHRISTMAS IN 1861 IS RE-CREATED AT THE BRITT HOME IN SUFFOLK BY,
FROM LEFT, MELISSA ODOM, JANICE THOMAS AND JACK BRANTLEY.
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot
MARYWALKER SMITH'S COLLECTION OF CERAMIC FISH WILL BE ADORNED FOR
THE HOLIDAYS DURING THE CHELSEA-GREEN HILL TOUR.
JOAN AND TOM LYONS' BAY COLONY HOME, ABOVE AND BELOW, IS FURNISHED
WITH EUROPEAN ANTIQUES AND FRENCH RUGS.
Photo
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot
The exterior of Beaven and Marywalker Smith's house in Green Hill
By-the-Bay is traditional Louisiana-style with prominent porches,
but the interior has a contemporary flair.
by CNB