Being natural

Southern Living, Dec 2000 by Hamilton, Julia

PERHAPS BECAUSE of its history as a resort destination, Alabama's Eastern Shore inspires relaxation and radiates hospitality. The fine old houses edging the water in Point Clear, Fairhope, Montrose, and Daphne often serve as vacation retreats for extended families. Year-round residents bask in the serenity that accompanies their proximity to Mobile Bay; its sound and scent are never far away.

Due to the relatively mild winters, doors often remain open to invite the crisp December air. The temperate climate means that plant materials such as Spanish moss, camellias, and palmettos are readily available for use in preparing for a season of celebration. When combined with fresh fruit, the essence of holiday spirit finds expression simply and beautifully.

THE ROBIN HOUSE

How do you decorate a home for the holidays when it's nearly perfect already, with spacious porches leading to expansive snowy white rooms-all with wonderful views of Mobile Bay. The answer is simplicity. "We want the house to be a pure and simple background with no fuss about it,' says Montrose interior designer Candy Murphy as she considers the Point Clear home of Duke Robin.

Candy starts by placing a welcoming holiday tree on the front porch. "We think that with such a beautiful entrance, a simple tree is appropriate," she says. After encircling the fir with tiny white lights and grapevine, Candy hangs spheres covered in cranberries. She adds garlands of red berries from a crafts store, chosen both for their bright color and weather resistance. To finish the look, Candy banks the base of the tree with cardboard boxes covered in sheet moss to resemble packages.

Just inside on a table in the foyer, citrus topiaries and pineapples rest atop a blanket of palmetto fronds. The topiaries, which are a cinch to create, use wooden or plastic florist picks to attach lemons and limes to cones of florist foam. (For step-by-step directions, see page 130.)

The Robin house offers a sweeping staircase, just perfect for draping with a garland of fresh cedar. For a more festive look, an embellishment with lengths of gold ribbons and palmetto fronds (which will dry into papery green fans) is an easy additional step. Tip: Insert the palmetto stems into water picks to prolong their freshness.

While this holiday tends to flaunt bold colors, Candy carefully avoids overwhelming the home's neutral palette. Instead, she keeps to natural elements by draping the family room's doors and windows with cedar roping. "Because the room doesn't have window treatments," Candy says, "the cedar makes it seem warmer." The mood extends outdoors, beyond the family room and its enclosed porch, where grapevine balls encircled with white lights hang from ancient live oak trees.

On the dining table, a top-rated menu, chosen by the Southern Living Test Kitchens, adds the perfect flavor to a family's memorable time. (See menu on page 84.)

A TOP-RATED HOLIDAY MENU

(serves 8) CHUTNEYED BEEF TENDERLOIN

ROASTED VEGETABLES

GREEN BEAN, WALNUT, AND FETA SALAD

(For recipes, see "Top-Rated Menu" on page 174.)

A NATURAL BENT

Here are more ways you can create a holiday decor out of elements native to your region.

Enhance classic Christmas decorations with accents such as lichens, moss, nuts, and twigs from your own backyard. Rely on native plant materials to give a distinctive look to a purchased wreath or swag.

Use evergreen roping from a florist or Christmas tree lot to drape over a doorway, window, or mantel. Or make your own roping by cutting cedar, pine, boxwood, or fir into 6- to 8-inch-long pieces. Cluster several pieces, and bind the cut ends with florist wire. Wire additional pieces to the first bunch, turning all the ends in the same direction. Continue adding greenery and wiring it in place until the desired length is reached.

Decorate with arrangements of evergreens. Silver julep cups make ideal containers for small clusters of foliage. From the winter garden, take cuttings from plants such as elaeagnus, aucuba, ivy, holly, and nandina. Finish with ribbon or small ornaments.

Use a grapevine wreath as a form to make a large decoration for a door or tabletop. You can easily wire ornaments, toys, or tiny gift packages to the wreath and fill in with greenery. Display it on a door, or lay it on a tabletop.

Use juice glasses or small clay pots to hold votive candles. Complete each one with a twist of ivy.

Work with traditional hues, and add decorations with a light hand. Avoid overwhelming a neutral setting with too much holiday color.

Appeal to children's imaginations by incorporating some of their favorite picture books and toys. Trim a tiny tree with sugar cookies hung from red ribbons.

Make your decorations personal by clustering ornaments in an heirloom tureen. Display family photos or holiday cards on the tree.

THE DAHLE HOUSE

Candy takes the natural look in a different direction at the Fairhope home of Lisa and Craig Dahle, a two-story brick structure on the site of an old bay house.

The front porch draws its inspiration from the grounds with their extensive plantings of lush camellias. Slipped into water picks, the blooms' light color accents the fresh greenery and white lights around the entry. Delicate Spanish moss, taken from live oaks on the grounds, hangs from the greenery, while a potted ficus tree on the porch twinkles with lights. Wreaths adorn the double front doors, which lead into a wide foyer.