Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
In the living room, Sylvester dressed the mantel and chandelier with mixed garland enhanced with lichen, olive, and acacia branches; smilax vine; and others.
We all want our homes to shine during the holidays as we anticipate visits from family and friends and perhaps some larger-than-usual gatherings. But what if you were expecting throngs of visitors tramping through your house over the course of a weekend? That’s exactly what faces the intrepid and generous souls who open their houses for charitable holiday home tours.
Alice and Bob Schleusner in Birmingham, Alabama, know a thing or two about this experience, as they have thrice offered their homes to the Independent Presbyterian Church’s celebrated fundraiser, a local tradition for more than 70 years. “It’s such a great cause,” says Alice. “It’s hard to say no!”
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
The staircase was wrapped in mixed garland with acacia and olive branches added in.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
“I wanted the window arrangement to look like it was scooped up in the forest and planted right in the box,” says Sybil.
Alice engaged friend and Birmingham floral talent Sybil Sylvester of Wildflower Designs to ease the burden and bring the beauty. “We wanted the overarching look to be as natural and seasonal as it could be, bringing the outdoors in,” says Sybil.
“Sybil knows I don’t do froufrou, and I think the designs are beautiful and not over-the-top,” says Alice. The pair also wanted the decor to be in harmony with the interiors designed by Marjorie Johnston, which feature glorious rugs throughout. (Alice was a purveyor of fine rugs for 40 years before selling her business to protégé Paige Albright, who helped select some pieces for this home).
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
In the kitchen, a marble-top island displays nutcrackers and Santa figurines on a small fine rug.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Alice’s blue-and-white porcelain is filled with delphinium, sea holly, amaryllis, and ilex berries in the dining space.
To achieve cohesion downstairs, the floral designer threaded similar materials and textures throughout. Standard mixed garlands became custom, woven with branches, berries, smilax vines, and eucalyptus pods.
“There are important considerations when decorating for a house tour, primarily scale and placement,” says Sybil. “People are not coming for a dinner party and sitting down and lingering; they are moving in and out at a fairly rapid pace, so things need to be visible and dramatic. Smaller gestures would be lost.”
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Alice’s blue-and-white porcelain is filled with delphinium, sea holly, amaryllis, and ilex berries.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Green crystal goblets accompany china and glassware bearing a Christmas tree motif.
With that in mind, Sybil festooned the living room chandelier and added branches and vines to the mantel garland to create height and movement. “On the coffee table, I placed a dramatic and vivid arrangement that was larger than standard for that space, so it would stand out,” says the designer.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
An arrangement in a black urn bursts with deep-red peonies, butterfly ranunculus, spray roses, fern fronds, and pieris.
On the staircase, practicality was in play: Instead of wrapping the entire railing with greenery, she created two sections, making it easier for a crowd to traverse the stairs.
For the bedrooms, she departed a bit, selecting colors and materials inspired by the setting. Coppery hues dictated the choice of pine cones cleverly used as garland on the headboard in a guest bedroom.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
“The coppery tones seemed to call out for pine cones,” says Sylvester of this guest room.
The main bedroom required softer colors and more delicate pieces—wreaths of tallow berry, eucalyptus buds, privet, and lichen tied with blue-gray ribbon.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
In the master bedroom and bath, Sylvester used soft blue-gray ribbon and delicate materials.
MORE FROM INSIDE THE HOME
Click images to enlarge.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Tallow berry, eucalyptus buds, privet, and lichen form the wreaths.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
A garland of pine cones and copper ribbon trims the antique headboard.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
A spray of greenery adorns a snowshoe.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
A petite wreath of smilax vine, elaeagnus whips, and tiny pine cones
DECKING THE OUTDOOR SPACES
To create some excitement outside the house, Sybil used abundant greenery and ilex berries on the mailbox and in window boxes. The decision to use the bright berries proved prophetic as rain pelted down for most of the tour weekend; the ilex added a cheerful note in the otherwise gloomy skies.
Because the rain diverted visitors through the garage, Sybil, in a tongue-in-cheek move, strung up a clothesline to which she randomly pinned pieces of a Santa suit to “dry out.” Not even the rain could dampen the festive spirit of everyone involved in this worthy and wonderful holiday tradition. ’Tis the season after all.
OUTDOOR HOLIDAY DECOR
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Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Sylvester's natural choices for holiday decor complement the home's existing landscaping.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Cut branches of ilex berries appear to grow among the window box plantings.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Abundant greenery and vivid red ilex berries on the mailbox add curbside appeal.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
A simple red bow accents the spout's ornate medallion.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Year-round plantings on the patio include topiaries and other potted shrubs, herbs, and flowering annuals.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
On the front door, Sylvester tucked bits of lichen into a magnolia and pine cone wreath
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
The holiday decor continues on the patio, which features a splashing fountain.
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn
Year-round plantings on the patio include topiaries and other potted shrubs, herbs, and flowering annuals.
By Alice Welsh Doyle
