Q: How do I extend my vintage winter décor past the holidays? ^ designing with deb
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intage inspired holiday decorat- ing is probably the easiest way to incorporate the yummy finds you have been collecting and curating all year long. Whether your ideal look is minimal or more-is-more, just remember to highlight some important areas inside your home that make you feel good and comfortable, and you will guarantee the same welcome to guests all season long. Front door: Fresh greenery (sprays or
wreaths) can be found in your own yard or even your big box store. Add in a few items from your collectables stash—anything from pinecones, to photographs, to jewelry. What better way to welcome people through- out the holiday season than to have a blinged-out wreath? Take an oval antique silver tray, add greenery and a bow. Once Christmas is over, change the bow to white and it can stay the rest of the winter. Mantel: You can always do the traditional greenery, but wouldn’t this be a great way to focus on a vintage mercury glass collection of candlesticks, bowls or vases? Also take advantage of any opportunity to have a fire go- ing. Nothing conveys a literal warm welcome better than a cozy fire burning. Foyer stairway: Rustic burlap woven in and around with sprigs of holly in a foyer is a great way to display a collection of vintage decora- tions that aren’t necessarily Christmas items. You can comfortably leave them up into the new year. Also look around for some of those amazing containers (anything from crates to chicken feeders) you’ve been collecting and tossed down in your basement. Now is the time to pull them out and add luxurious throws and pillows to grab on a frosty night. You can place it at the base of your stairway. Table top: If you have a formal dining area, always keep two place- settings out. Go all out: chargers, layers of dishes (mix and match), silver (go to the thrift store or antique mall), and glassware. They don’t have to be matching sets, but they must complement each other. Light- ing is everything. Set candles on small mirrors; the reflection of the light off the mirrors is enchanting. You may have a collection of Moravian stars. All sizes and colors would be great. A couple of Amaryllis flowers would be terrific here. Kitchen: You can never go wrong with potted herbs or ornamental pep- pers. I’m a firm believer in decorating for the senses. Keep some citrus fruits around to toss into a pot (or maybe an antique teapot) of water with some cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bathroom: Nothing is more inviting that a clean, fresh-smelling bath- room—whether you are going in for a quick break or a leisurely soak after a long day of shoveling snow or shopping. Rather than going red and green, take this time to make everything white: towels, rugs, candles, everything. You can swap out pictures you have hanging throughout your home year-round with some of your favorite flea find frames showcasing some vintage-inspired giftwrap—easy and inexpensive. Whatever you do this holiday season, do it with comfort, do it with flair, do it with love, and share your time with a friend. Peace and blessings to all of our readers and here’s to an even brighter 2016! ^ Deb Vogler has been creating her own brand of Comfort by Design for more than 15 years. She deals with all aspects of design, from budgeting, to floor plans (renovation or new construction), to furniture, to color at her full-scale design firm. Have a designing question for Deb? Send it to debvogler@msn.com.
The family has only lived in the house for about a year. Brooke said she thinks it’s turned into the perfect home for her bustling family. What first started out as a somewhat “scary” endeavor and leap of faith has turned into something of which they could only dream. They went from impeccable and modern in new development, to mature and flawed with a story. And they haven’t looked back since. “There’s going to be some cracks and imperfections throughout the house,” Brooke said. “That’s what we really love about it.” ^ There is a great balance of dark and light in the Ricklefs’ home. A chest in the downstairs converted porch stands out against the white brick wall. Above, a cabinet in the kitchen was found and refinished with the finest attention to detail.
Samantha is a freelance writer and editor in Kansas City. She’s a recent University of Kansas journalism graduate (go Jayhawks!) who can be found buried in a good book, traveling the country, and even world, or wandering around Kansas City.
29 vintagekc winter 2015
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