Legacy Article "Christmas Traditions"
Winter 2003
by Johanne Yakula

Heritage houses look best when the choices made for holiday decorating are In harmony with the style and era of the house. Today this is surprisingly easy to do since so many holiday decorations are replicas based on ornaments of the past.

During the late Victorian era, the new burgeoning middle class seemed to find it morally reprehensible to have empty, undecorated space in their homes. Their style was one of "abundance," and they filled every corner with the accoutrements of wealth, learning, travel, knowledge of the world, and family. Clutter became a hallmark.

As a contrast and a backlash against the excesses of the Victorian period, homeowners in years following this era preferred clean spaces free of clutter. Their style was minimalist, restrained, and appeals to those who seek serenity in their surroundings. Minimalists decorate with the idea that any item worthy of occupying their space must be of very high quality and very special.

Understanding where you fit on the scale of abundance to minimalist is an important first step in choosing the best decor for your house.

The second step requires looking at your home—inside and out. Does your home feature original moulding, parquet floors, gingerbread trim, architecturally beautiful staircases, stained glass windows, or tall ceilings? Or does it sport large windows, lots of waxed woodwork, natural tile flooring, and a wide veranda? Each style leads to different decorating choices at any time of year, including Christmas.

An early 20th century home featuring many fine architectural details suits the Victorian/Edwardian style of decor. If you rate high on the "abundance" scale of decorating, you will find it easy to emulate the look and decorate in this style, and Christmas is a perfectly good excuse to indulge in excess.

If your house has a strong arts and crafts influence, you may enjoy a more restrained look and choose more "natural" decorating. Organic materials such as greenery and fresh flowers are accentuated by the patina of old wood and the soft gleam of time-tarnished metals such as copper, pewter, and brass.

Homes from the 1920s and '30s could reflect either minimalist or abundance decor. The minimalist style suits a house with the clean, almost austere lines of the Modern movement. Colonial Revival or other 1920s revival styles would work well with more traditional Edwardian design.

Here are some ideas for decorating your heritage home for Christmas:

• Use combinations of natural, handmade ornaments with commercial decorations such as mercury glass figures (first available in 1870). Hang gingerbread cookies from ribbons, or decorate the tree with ropes of popcorn, cranberries, or holly berries, candies, and even peanuts.

• Display handmade gifts from times past. Creating special gifts with one's own hands was important regardless of the individual's financial circumstances. Many objects that are available today as collectibles were special gifts: store-bought handkerchiefs with hand-crocheted edges, glove boxes decorated with designs made with a hot poker, hand-painted china plates, and hair jewelry, for example.

• Display old children's toys, at the base of the tree or on the mantle.

• Decorate the tree with historic family photos (or use reprints or vintage greeting cards to achieve the same effect).

• Use flowers freely, especially in the dining room. Botany became a very popular science during the Victorian era. Having and growing beautiful, uncommon plants became a status symbol. The more expensive and rare the flowers, the more they appealed to the wealthy. Dining rooms became the favourite place to display these floral treasures, since they could be viewed at eye level by guests throughout the meal. Combine flowers with natural greenery, silver candlesticks, or crystal to create a centrepiece or, if you are fortunate enough to have one, use an epergne.

• Decorate doorways, fireplace mantles, chandeliers, and stair banisters with plain or variegated holly and cedar boughs.

• A natural green-and-white colour scheme suits an Arts and Crafts house, or indulge in rich burgundy, deep green, and gold for a Victorian-style house.

• Minimalists can create impact by choosing a few larger decorative pieces rather than many small ones. A large crystal bowl filled with silver balls, or a basket filled with pine cones or bright red apples, creates a holiday look.

• Don't forget the exterior of your house. Embellish doorways, veranda, stairs, and light fixtures with greenery.

When all is done, don't forget to take the time to have a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider, and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Merry Christmas!

Interior decorator Johanne Yakula owns From Times Past in Edmonton and focuses on products and services/or the restoration and decoration of older homes. Contact her at: (780) 448-9671.

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