Home of the Week: A holiday destination

There are some great holiday traditions I look forward to every year, and not just the one where I attempt to intertwine a holiday jingle with the "Home of the Week."

Far more inspiring and in a league of its own is the designer showcase known as The Christmas House, located at the Springhill Center for Family Development, a Crownsville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening family relationships.

Now in its fifth year, The Christmas House is truly decorating inspiration at its best, providing some of the area's most talented designers with an empty space to call their own.

This year, 15 designers transformed the plain into posh, the drab into dramatic and the ho-hum into high style, all within a mansion that dates to the 1850s.

Let's go dashing through the halls and take a look at all that is the grandeur of this year's Christmas House.

We begin in the foyer, which has been dubbed "Tidings of Couture, Comfort and Joy" by the designer, Lorna Gross of Savant Interior Design, with locations in Bethesda and Bowie.

At the far end of the foyer, a fabulous art deco table is topped with a festive and eclectic display of objects. Opulent draperies in teal and gold, mimicked with stools in like colors, further the very glamorous take on traditional holiday decor.

Upstairs in a small nook at the far end of the hallway is "The Toile Days of Christmas" display created by Barbara Seldes of All Things Annapolis.

For fans of toile and Annapolis, this space is the best of both, with Annapolis-themed toile covering the walls, stool, pillows, totes, picture frames and various containers.

Just beyond this space is the breakfast room called "Between Heaven and Earth," done by Eileen Hoyland of the Well-Dressed Nest in Annapolis.

The inspiration for this room is perfectly clear, or at least perfectly turquoise and pink.

"A trip to Bermuda two years ago," Eileen said of her inspiration.

Upon the walls - and quite fittingly so - is Benjamin Moore's "Pink Peach."

Bermuda-themed prints provide even more authenticity and color, as do the stark white plantation shutters on the windows.

"The shutters are really bifold doors," Eileen said. "These cost 56 bucks a window."

Eileen explained she had a difference of opinion with her husband on using exterior shutters inside, but she won.

"I said, 'You're getting the essence - you're getting the feel,' " Eileen said.

A wood chandelier hangs above the table, reminiscent of two hand-carved chandeliers Eileen saw at Hamilton City Hall and Arts Center in Hamilton, Bermuda.

No place like home

On the other side of the hall is a superb example of nautical-meets-casual-comfortable in a room called "Christmas in Annapolis," designed by Carolyn Kibby of Annapolis Staging and Design.

Nautical ropes, complete with square knots, are used as curtain tiebacks. Oyster shell wreaths adorn the windows and hang from more rope.

Framed black and white nautical photographs taken by Carolyn's daughter hang from navy blue lines attached to cleats, a fabulously clever idea.

"We hung them on the boat cleats to look nautical," Carolyn explained.

While "Christmas in Annapolis" celebrates blue and white, next door we find a different Chesapeake-inspired color palette within the "Chesapeake Sunset Room," designed by Dana and Currie Mebane of Bandicoot Trading Co. in Annapolis.

This space offers all the colors of sunset - golds, reds and creams - in a sumptuous retreat.

"It's a guest den slash game room," Dana explained. "A lot of gracious homes have a den located close to the guest quarters. This gives the guests a place to watch their favorite television show, catch up on some correspondence or have a cup of coffee."

Dana said it's about using the colors of nature in objects such as the sisal rug and the grass cloth backsplash on the bar.

"Everything in the room should be like a sunset sail on the Chesapeake," she said. "The colors are very warm; the grass cloth should remind you of a reedy, grassy bank on the bay, the same with the sisal - very natural materials - wood, sisal and metal."

According to Dana, though she put it all together, the space was a collaborative effort with her business neighbors in the Annapolis Design District, including Mark White of Kitchen Encounters, who provided the wet bar/beverage center.

Just next to this room is a full explosion of very cool and oh-so-hip vibrancy in the room called "Purple Glaze," created by Decoria Designs, based in Mitchellville.

From the purple leather rug and magnificent chandelier to the white leather sectional and bold contemporary artwork, this is color at its best.

Less is more

While there were themes that revolved around color and texture, a common denominator this year was the economy and being able to make do with less.

Many of the designers achieved affordable opulence, tastefully and beautifully incorporating new life into the old and utilizing inexpensive accessories.

Perhaps there's no better example than the decorative cones in the "Secret Garden" display of the upstairs hallway.

"I made these - they're made from papers that came from Nepal and Africa," explained designer Kathy Brady of Design Services of Annapolis.

She takes one of the beautiful cones off a shelf.

"This cone was made from elephant dung," she said.

Nearby, an old, salvaged window has been transformed into a beautiful garden scene painting. A fabric window panel hanging next to it furthers the illusion of looking out a window.

An old door just across the hallway has been given the same treatment.

"As a designer, I'm always trying to repurpose, to retrofit," Kathy said.

Though a small space, it's one with great message, plus panache.

Just beyond we find the tranquilly sophisticated, Asian-inspired powder room designed by Theresa Hollinger of Fresh Start Interiors, along with her neighbors in the Annapolis Design District, River Crest Design Build and Kitchen Encounters.

There are so many more rooms to see and marvel at, but unfortunately they can't all fit into one article. That said, there's no time like the present to start a new holiday tradition that's sure to inspire.

"We would love it if The Christmas House became a family tradition for people," said Julie Bass, Christmas House co-chairwoman.

Cheryl Rabbitt, the other co-chairwoman, agreed. She also offered more enticement: several design seminars being offered to the public. (Call 410-923-8900 for details.)

"Our goal this year, because this is our fifth anniversary, was to keep it fresh. We didn't want people going, 'I've been there before,' " Cheryl said. "We brought in new designers. I think people are going to be very excited.

"This year it's fresh, cutting edge - we wanted it to be a holiday destination."

Donna L. Cole is a freelance writer living in the Annapolis area. If you'd like your home considered for "Home of the Week" (we'd like to feature smaller homes, condos and townhouses, too), please contact her at writerdle@aol.com.