Christmas is in full swing at our house! Before I sign-off for a magical few days with these two, I want to take a moment to wish each of you a Very Merry Everything! I hope your holiday is a happy one!
Merry Christmas from Alexander Interiors
Inspiring Spaces: Decking the Halls--and Beyond!
Dropping in today to spread a little holiday cheer by way of some room eye candy. What I love about these spaces is that they prove Christmas decor does’t have to be all about the tree and or even the mantel. I’m a fan of dressing up unexpected spots with a touch of greenery or sparkle. Tucking these little “surprises” throughout the house is the secret to really twirling up a home for the holidays. So yes, deck the halls—but also the bedrooms, the bar cart, even the powder room. The more the merrier!
Photo credits (top to bottom, left to right): Laurey Glenn for Southern Living; Annie Schlechter for Country Living; Laurey Glenn for Southern Living; Ngoc Minh Ngo for House Beautiful; Annie Schlechter for Coastal Living; Annie Schlechter for Country Living; Laurey Glenn for Southern Living; Victoria Pearson for Country Living; Aaron Dyer for Martha Stewart Living; Photographer Unkown for Traditional Home; Picayo for House Beautiful; Annie Schlechter for Country Living AI Styles: Charming Kids' Christmas Table
I’m back with more images from our recent shoot with Corzine and Co. and Ruby and Peach, this time sharing a sweet Christmas morning kids’ table. The idea here was to set aside an area for a pretty, but practical mid-morning snack of milk and cookies. I kept things simple, forgoing a table cloth in favor of a bare table. (Because, hello, kids + cookies = So. Many. Crumbs.) But that didn’t mean the look had to be boring. I embraced a classic color scheme of red and green, pairing an oversized Christmas tree placemat with Old St. Nick plates by Vietri. In lieu of a centerpiece, I filled a tiered sterling silver stand with yummy treats (I’m a big fan of turning dessert in to decor!) and accented with a few Gerber daisies and a happy Jellycat teddy bear from Magpies. Add in a few adorable kiddos sporting peppermint KicKee Pants pajamas (also from Magpies) and you have an easy, elevated holiday moment sure to please all ages.
Life of the Party: Deck the Fall Recap
Y’all. You know how to show Southern makers, artists, and designers some love. Our Christmas pop-up shop was a rousing success. (Though we may have run out of champagne at one point—shhh.) All the merry making reminded me that I need to share another shindig that took place at my house. Back in September, we teamed up with The Scout Guide Nashville to present a preview of some of the city’s best holiday vendors. And no, that’s not a typo. We held it in September to give party-goers a jump start on the most wonderful (and busiest!) time of the year. While the season is now in full swing, it’s not too late to incorporate these amazing companies into your holiday decor, parties, and more. Read on for a full list of our wonderful participants, as well as some pretty images Warner Tidwell Photography captured at the event. My neighbors were scratching their heads when they saw those Christmas lights go up a full month before Halloween. But a good time was had by all!
LIGHTHOUSE OUTDOOR LIGHTING
THE AEROBAR
BATCH NASHVILLE
GRACIOUS GARLANDS
MANDY JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY
MARY CRAVEN PHOTOGRAPHY
PATRICIA MARIE FINE JEWELRY
THE CEDAR LANE
THE CLEAN PLATE CLUB
YOU’RE INVITED GIFTS & PAPER
Shop Talk: Tori's Holiday Wish List
1. Yearly Co. Bangles I’m just shy of obsessed with these hand-made 14 karat gold bangles. The delicate design is intended to be layered, the idea being you get a new one in celebration of each year of marriage. But I also like gifting them to friends and family who have had a milestone year with a birth, wedding, graduation and so forth. You better believe I have my eye on their monogram options so I can sport an M and E for my girls.
2. Looms & Lighting Rugs I’m a firm believer you can’t have too many Oushak rugs. Right now, my bathroom is begging for a beautifully worn one. Enter Looms & Lighting, my favorite source for vintage rugs. Owner Jenn Terry, who is based in Georgia, will help you search for just the right piece for your space.
3. Mainly Baskets Desk Chair I don’t know about you, but I’m planning to take my work productivity to new heights in 2019. And I hope to do it in this impossibly pretty rattan desk chair. It’s available in 21 colors so the only thing I’m uncertain about is which shade I covet most.
4. Hadley Pottery Those that know me well, or barely at all, really, know that I’m a sucker for all things table top. I’m planning to gift classic blue-and-white Hadley Pottery plates, which feature whimsical hand-painted motifs, to my nieces and nephews. (I’ll also be scooping up some for my daughters.) I love the idea of starting a collection for little ones on your list and adding to it each year!
5. Birdies Slippers Quilted satin. Lush pom-poms. Unrivaled comfort. Need I say more about Birdies’ Songbird Slippers? A great gift for moms, sisters, or yourself!
6. Susan Gordon Pottery Swoon worthy. That’s the only way to describe the pieces Susan Gordon crafts in her Birmingham studio. I’m stocking up on her wavy bowls for hostess gifts during the holidays—and beyond.
7. Gray Malin Photography Only a real Scrooge would fail to smile at the site of a beachy Gray Malin photo. His “Beach Ball Splash” is sure to perk up any space—fingers-crossed one of mine!
8. Circa Lighting Linden Lamp This sculptural lamp, designed by Kelly Wearstler, is at the tippy-top of my wish list. I’m hoping to bask in its warm glow for years to come,
9. Ashley Longshore Artwork & Accessories Artist Ashley Longshore’s pop-art work is the stuff designer’s dreams are made of. From her glam paintings to her quirky accessories—I want it all!
10. Noble Designs’ Book My friend Sara Noble’s first book “Finding Fabulous” is hot-off-the-presses! I can’t wait to pore over its beautiful pages and then proudly display it on my coffee table.
P.S. Nashville friends—I’m hosting my second annual Designer Holiday Pop-Up this Thursday Dec 6 and Friday Dec 7. There you’ll find offerings from Yearly Co., Looms & Lighting, Susan Gordon Pottery and many more! Check out my Instagram for all the details.
AI Styles: An Elegant Christmas Tablescape
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And that means my dining room is about to see a whole lot of action. I gave my Christmas Eve tablescape a trial run during a recent shoot with Corzine Ruby & Peach. Now that my dining room walls are newly coated in Folly Green by Farrow & Ball, I’m embracing a fresh palette of green and gold—with a smidge of red for good measure. Anchored by my beloved Christmas china, which is rimmed in a whimsical garland motif, the table also sports a range of less expected green hues from the malachite dessert plates to the mossy orchid centerpiece. I layered in plenty of brass accents, including my collection of vintage horns. They set a particularly festive note, don’t you think? (These also look great nestled into garland or hanging from a wreath, by the way.) Oh, and I skipped a formal table cloth in favor of a streamlined runner that shows off my gilded table. Those of you following along on Instagram will remember that I scored this Craigslist gem for less than $1,000 only to later discover it’s worth nearly 50 (yes, 50!) times that. Happy December y’all!
P.S. Check back later this month for a darling kids’ table I curated with the help of some favorite Nashville shops, including Magpies.
Yellow Nursery
It’s always such a treat when we get to photograph a finished project. Here is a fun nursery for one of our favorite Nashville clients. The gender was a surprise, but so far my batting average is 1000% with guessing the gender of my clients babies and I felt confident rolling the dice on the blue glider!
Photo credit: Ruby and Peach Photo
Breakfast Nooks
One of my favorite spaces to design is a breakfast nook. It’s a small space that packs a ton of personality. I often find that clients are more willing to take risks in design in this space. I’m a big fan of combining a built-in banquet with a round table and grouping of chairs that adds visual interest. This is also a great opportunity for a statement light fixture or fabric. Please enjoy some inspiring breakfast nooks, including some of our own.
Inspiring Spaces- Stately and Eclectic
Here’s a collection of spaces that inspire me, that I would describe as stately and eclectic. Enjoy!
Images sourced from Pinterest. We always want to give credit where credit is due, if original source is known, please contact Alexander Interiors.
AI Travels: Charleston, SC
Our girls trip to Charleston was one of the highlights of our summer and we wanted to make sure and share all the details with you on our fabulous accommodations at 86 Cannon Street. This beautiful boutique inn has exquisite interiors by Betsy Berry. If these walls could talk, I would definitely be in trouble ;)
All images sourced through Pinterest and Instagram. We want to give credit where credit is due. If original source is known, please contact us.