My goal is to use the best of what’s already there, add to it, and make it better,” says photo stylist Missie Crawford. And nowhere is that more evident than inside her own home that she shares with husband Sims and teenage sons Nelson and Tucker. “I’ve always had an appreciation for antiques and art, so I’m constantly working with favorite pieces and heirlooms I have collected over the years,” she says. 

For the holidays, Missie takes that approach one step further as she incorporates seasonal décor that complements and highlights her collections. “I’m drawn to navy in a lot of ways, whether in my interiors or my wardrobe,” she says.

“My wedding china (Bernardaud Ithaque Gold) has a navy polka dot pattern, and I used that as the inspiration for my holiday palette. I also mixed some grays into the scheme, especially in my dining room tablescape. The color combination creates a sense of warmth that welcomes guests.”

Those beautiful gray hues flow into the family room, where the painted fireplace adorned with custom-made stockings takes center stage. “The stockings are from Julie Terrell Interior Design,” says Missie. “They each have hand-stamped porcelain charms with our initials on them. It’s a fun way to change up how you personalize your stockings.” 

To counterbalance the gray tones, Missie worked with friend and fellow stylist Kay Clarke to cover the mantel in an abundance of garland and accessories. “Sometimes, it helps to have a set of fresh eyes when you are decorating,” Missie says. “I can always count on Kay to discover a new or unique way of arranging things that I may not have seen since I’m living in this space all the time.” 

For the family’s Christmas tree this year, Missie chose a new place for it—the living room. “It just felt right to have it in this space surrounded by so much of my art collection,” she says. “I decorated the tree with white lights and a variety of sentimental ornaments—silver ones from godparents, recycled cardboard ones from Food 52, and an abundance of crosses, guitars, and handblown glass balls.” The newest additions to the tree are stars carved from local wood. “Cliff Spencer of Alabama Sawyer made them, and I love how they perfectly nestle in between the lights,” Missie says. “They really add a unique element to the tree.” 

When it’s time to entertain family and friends, Missie loves seating guests in her spacious, oval-shaped dining room. “Five of my Chippendale dining chairs belonged to my grandfather,” she says. “I salvaged them from my mother’s attic during Hurricane Katrina. Then I found three more at Chelsea Antiques that were a perfect match!” She adds that the table is a relatively new purchase from an estate sale. “It took almost 10 years to come across just what I wanted, but it was worth it to find the right piece for this space.” For a punch of color, Missie brought in a piece of modern art by Betty Freeman that she bought at Arceneaux. The art also adds a casual element to the room, as do the simple linen drapes. “We use this space for more than just special occasions, so I didn’t want it to be too fancy,” Missie says. “On any Friday night, you might find a group of teenage boys in here chowing down on pizza.” 

As much as she loves her dining room, Missie says her newly renovated kitchen may be her new favorite spot in the house. “Everything in here is tailor-made for how we cook and live—right down to the beverage fridge that I keep full of soft drinks and waters for the boys,” she says. “We also took out the upper cabinets and replaced them with open, wooden shelving to create a more spacious feel—and to force myself to get rid of clutter.” 

Like the other rooms in the house, the kitchen displays some nostalgic pieces. “My everyday dishes belonged to my great grandmother,” Missie says. “And I love to use the checked cloth napkins that were hers as well.

I always keep them on the counter right beside jars full of snacks. That way, the boys and their friends can grab something to eat whenever they want to.” It’s just one more way that Missie ensures a welcoming home full of style, comfort, and collections—during the holidays and year-round.

Natural Wonder

Never underestimate the beauty of a wreath made from magnolia leaves. “I continue to use these wreaths even after the leaves turn brown,” says Missie. “I’ve even spray-painted the leaves gold and changed the ribbon to get another year out of them.”

How To Wrap the Perfect Gift

“Wrapping gifts is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I grew up wrapping gifts for customers at my dad’s store in Mississippi, so I guess you could say it’s in my DNA.” Here, Missie offers advice on how to ensure your gifts look beautiful.

Choose quality paper
Well-made, sturdy paper makes all the difference. “I like to buy the one-of-a-kind sheets at Paper Source,” says Missie. “I also love the papers at Alabama Art Supply and the new line at Ami à Vi. (amiavie.com)”

Invest in ribbon
“I prefer a thick satin or grosgrain ribbon,” Missie says. “I usually find them at Midori (midoriribbon.com) or locally from Cocoon Silk Ribbon (IG: CocoonSilkRibbon).

Add an embellishment
Missie likes to tie a piece of greenery or an ornament into the ribbon to give it a little extra flair. “It’s almost like a gift on top of the gift,” she says.

Use colors From Your Decor
Since her décor includes navy and gray, Missie uses those colors in her gift wrap. She also mixes in marbled papers from Alabama Art Supply.

Recipes from Missie

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing and Candied Orange Slices

4 cups water
4 cups sugar
3 navel oranges, sliced ¼-inch thick
1 cup sugar

Bring water and 4 cups sugar to a boil in a wide Dutch oven. Add orange slices, and simmer over medium-low heat about 45 to 60 minutes, gently stirring occasionally. (This works best in a shallow layer, so it can be done in 2 batches.) Add more water to prevent burning if it evaporates before the slices are tender.

Remove slices from syrup, and let dry overnight on a wire rack. Toss in 1 cup sugar, and place in a single layer on parchment-lined baking pans.

Note: Any remaining orange syrup can be used in cocktails. Slices can also be dipped in chocolate for another treat.

Cake Layers

2½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1½ cups vegetable oil
2½ cups sugar
4 eggs
8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups finely shredded carrot
1½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Whisk together flour and next 4 ingredients. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat oil and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until well combined. Slowly add flour mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients by hand.

Divide batter evenly between 3 (8-inch) metal pans coated with vegetable cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, and turn out onto a wire rack or parchment paper. Let cool completely before icing with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing 

¾ cup butter, softened
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1½ to 2 pounds powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gently beat butter and cream cheese at low speed of an electric mixer until combined. Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until creamy.

Christmas Cheer Punch

1 cup orange syrup from candied oranges or simple syrup, chilled
½ cup 100% pure cranberry juice, chilled
3 cups ginger ale, chilled
2 (12-ounce) bottles sparkling water, chilled
Fresh cranberries for garnish

Stir all ingredients together and serve. Makes 6 servings

Sugar Cookies

Recipe from Southern Living

1½ cups butter, softened
1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt

Beat butter and sugar in a stand mixer on medium speed until light and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, beating until combined. Gently add flour and salt at low speed. Divide in half, and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Chill at least an hour.

Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness, and cut with your favorite cookie cutter (or biscuit cutter). Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until barely brown around the bottom edges. Let cool 5 minutes and transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely. Decorate to your liking.

Cookie Icing

Recipe from sallysconfections.com

1 pound powdered sugar
3½ tablespoons milk
3½ tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Add a little extra milk or powdered sugar to make it the perfect icing or piping consistency.

Every year, even before the Thanksgiving plates have been cleared, Doug Sutton and Andrew Nix begin hanging garland, decorating trees, and throwing open their bright blue front door to an almost endless cavalcade of guests. “Forget the 12 days of Christmas. For us, it’s more like 112 days here,’ says Doug. “We host tons of small dinners and cocktail parties, as well as fundraisers and events for organizations like Better Basics, Smile-A-Mile, and the Birmingham Bar Association.” Last year, the couple even opened their home for the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour. “We also host a big annual Christmas party for as many as 200 guests,” Doug says.

The way Doug and Andrew see it, they are simply carrying on a tradition that comes with ownership of the “Hiden House,” a historic home in Redmont Park. Designed by architect Hugh Martin for Birmingham News associate editor Robert Hiden and his wife, Anne Earl, in 1923, the grand Georgian-style home has seen its fair share of dancing in the attic, intimate gatherings for visiting coteries of artists, and star-studded dinner parties through the years. “Julia Child even cooked in the kitchen when the Robertsons lived here,” says Doug of the former owners’ famous houseguest.

The history of the house—along with the idyllic mountain-top setting overlooking English Village—appealed to Doug and Andrew from the very start. Still, as with any historic home, there was work and restoration to be done and prior renovations to undo. “Everything was very fancy, very ornate,” Doug says. “The chandeliers were huge, all the walls were tea-stained, and someone had added Victorian moldings. It wasn’t right for us.” Luckily, with eight previous renovations under his belt, he wasn’t at all intimidated by the scope of the project. “When we left the closing table, we immediately gave the keys to the painters, the tile guys, and the electricians, and we started the process of stripping back the layers to get it closer to its original finishes,” says Doug.

After returning the home to its earliest incarnation (and adding a few modern updates), Doug and Andrew now find that the house truly shines during the holidays. Elaborately themed trees, designed with more than a little help from Doug’s grandmother who is a retired florist in North Carolina, complement the couple’s mix of antiques and eclectic art. Fresh garland pops against the pristine palette, and a plethora of plaid stockings are right at home on the mantel in the wood-paneled “Polo” lounge. And the best part? A steady stream of the homeowners’ nearest and dearest friends mingling all season long. Says Doug, “There’s always something going on here from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and we try to add a little element of surprise at each and every turn.”

Deck the Door
An abundance of garland wraps columns candy-cane style, while an evergreen wreath adorned with silver baubles on the bright blue front door (Blue Danube by Benjamin Moore) signals the beginning of holiday party season.

Let It Shine
Guests are greeted with a healthy dose of Christmas spirit as soon as they walk through the front door, thanks to the “silver-and-gold” tree in the wide entry hall. Trimmed with mercury glass ornaments that Doug has found “here, there, and everywhere,” the tree shimmers day and night in front of the stretch of windows along the staircase. The banister and antique table are twirled up with magnolia garland from Leaf & Petal. “We put all of the magnolia out early,” says Doug. “It browns out after about a week or two to a really pretty color. This year, we’ll save it and spray-paint it to reuse next year.”

Set a Jolly Table
In a nod to the antler-themed tree in the “Polo” lounge, Doug selected a pair of large glass-and-iron-clad vases (“They look like antlers,” he explains.) for the table and filled them with red and yellow roses, eucalyptus, and cypress. He surrounded the centerpieces with more greenery and ornaments and then set the table with a mix of festive dishware that’s potluck-inspired. “We often borrow from our friends—they have 40 or 50 sets to choose from,” says Doug.

Make Tree Decorating a Team Sport
Doug always wanted a tree inspired by his alma mater, North Carolina State, but he was worried it might be tacky. Enter his grandmother, a retired North Carolina-based florist, and those tacky notions turned elegant. Working with the school’s colors (red and white), as well as with the memory of a cardinal and dogwood stained-glass piece designed by Doug’s parents, Doug and his grandmother spent two days sourcing red mercury glass ornaments and another two days looking for the birds. The topper is a moss basket, found at a floral wholesaler, with more birds attached. The theme continues with presents wrapped in NCSU Wolfpack colors.

Home(made) Is Where the Heart Is
When Doug was in search of the perfect tabletop décor (above), his grandmother’s floral talents came to the rescue once again. She sourced each and every pine cone strip from her yard and spent hours hot-gluing them to Styrofoam cones. “I told her I would love to
have three, but I didn’t realize how much work went into them,” says Doug. A red tailgate from an old Chevy truck stands in for Santa’s sled. The sunroom’s windows are draped with garland and bright white lights.

Red & Green
A spray of garland from Leaf & Petal and hand-blown hurricanes filled with hundreds of red cherries and white roses (thanks very much, Publix and GreenWise Market) add holiday cheer in the totally renovated kitchen (above), which features a custom island, limestone countertops and backsplash, crisp cabinetry painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, an AGA stove, and classic brick floors. Red-hot tip: “If you use real cherries, don’t plan on them lasting for more than a few days,” says Doug.

Hang Stockings With Care
In addition to garland crafted from cranberries, Frasier fir, gold-leaf pomegranates, and giant sparkly balls, the mantel in the “Polo” lounge is adorned with personalized plaid stockings for every member of the family, which includes Doug, Andrew, and English bulldog Bob. Andrew found the painting above the fireplace on his travels to Vietnam.

Branch Out
Visions of sugarplums dance more easily in heads when there’s greenery in the bedroom. The mantel is trimmed with magnolia and evergreen, while a Charlie Brown Christmas tree at the foot of the custom built bed (designed by Doug) is adorned with antique nickel-plated-and-copper ornaments and handblown glass pieces. The tree topper is a red glitter Star of David.

Checking It Twice

Andrew and Doug are very specific about what makes their holiday “nice” list. Doug shares a few of their holiday traditions and favorite things.

• Go For The Green. We like to make hot toddies and go to the Birmingham Zoo with our former neighbors to pick out a tree.
• Playlists with Patina. I have to confess that Christmas music is not my favorite—unless I’m decorating Christmas trees. That’s the only time I turn it up and play it in every room. I prefer the older stuff—the songs that my mom and dad and grandparents play. (Try “Holiday Pops,” Channel 783 on XM Radio.)
• Old-Timer. For an extra special, one-of-a-kind gift, look to Levy’s (levysfinejewelry.com) for a great selection of vintage men’s watches.
• Fine Papered Packages. I always had to wrap my dad’s gift to my mom, so I learned how to wrap a pretty package at a very young age. I’ve gotten even better at it through the years. I like to use beautiful ribbons, and I always try to include a cool Christmas ornament on top as a special touch.

When Jeffrey Dungan talks about his clients, he sometimes sounds more like a psychologist than an architect. That’s because, in addition to thinking about his clients’ lifestyles, he thinks about their personalities. So when describing client Charlie Israel, he says, “Charlie is a man’s man kind of guy with a bit of a cowboy, all-American attitude. I wanted the house to reflect that, so we chose stone and reclaimed wood for the exteriors to create a more masculine appeal. Charlie is also a big-hearted guy, so I wanted the whole place to be warm and inviting throughout.”

Inside the house, however, there’s a subtle shift to a feminine perspective in the midst of the stone pavers, stucco, and stained pecky cypress. It appears in the chamfered openings, the sinuous staircase, and the fluting details on the front door and bar cabinetry.

“I was thinking of Linda [Israel] when you first step inside, but I still wanted the interiors to relate to the façade and the outdoor rooms,” says Jeffrey. “Indoor/outdoor living is a strong presence in the design.

As empty nesters, the Israels downsized significantly, but the house still lives large.”

Jeffrey and Atlanta interior designer Beth Webb have worked on many projects together, and they speak the same language when it comes to beautiful bespoke finishes and details. “Jeffrey is incredible at creating the perfect canvas, which makes anything we do look good,” says Beth. But the interior designer is adept at making it look easy as well, as evidenced by the seamless flow throughout the open floorplan.

In her choices, she listened to Linda’s desires “to go in a new direction in this house, which is significantly smaller than her former traditional one,” says Beth. “She wanted a fresher, more fashion-forward palette and a more eclectic mix of furnishings.” The design includes two seating areas that can morph for larger gatherings and a dining table that expands. “While they are now living in a smaller house, the Israels still have a lot of family in town,” Beth says. “We needed to account for that in our selections.”

Above all, the house exudes comfort, which is the linchpin of good design for Beth. “If it’s not comfortable, it’s not enjoyable,” she says. That’s certainly in keeping with Jeffrey’s philosophy. “I wanted to create a home that’s like a great-fitting pair of blue jeans that only gets better with time,” he says.

Buffy’s Brushstrokes

In keeping with the muted interiors, floral designer Buffy Hargett Miller employed varying shades of green punctuated with fruit, white flowers, and ribbons for a festive winter wonderland.

RESOURCES
Architecture Jeffrey Dungan, 205.322.2057,  jeffreydungan.com Interior Design Beth Webb, 404.869.6367,  bethwebb.com Floral Design Buffy Hargett Miller, Buffy Hargett Flowers, 205.533.3328, buffyhargettflowers.com

Double Up
The living room mantel (above) features multiple strands of cedar and Frasier fir garland for a lush look. To create even more texture, Lisa added eucalyptus strands and then wove magnolia garland and gold satin ribbon along the top and sides. Clusters of silver balls and sugar pine cones finish the look.

Holiday Mix
A white-and-green arrangement on the coffee table (above) includes both cut and planted flowers, such as amaryllis, tulips, hydrangeas, roses, and eucalyptus. Bare branches add texture and draw the eye up while also providing support to the amaryllis.

Winter Wonderland
Lisa created an enchanting, wintry scene on the entry table (below) using a collection of wooden and bottle brush trees, along with candles and a sprinkling of faux snow. Pine cones and greenery fill a large bowl underneath. Evergreen wreaths hang on the doors, and sugar pine cones are tied to mirrored sconces. “The wreaths and pine cones are graced with knotted gold velvet ribbon,” Lisa says. “I’m not a great bow maker, so I often like to go with the simplicity of a little knot.”

Make A Statement
Lisa likes to work with containers that enhance her designs.  A sculptural gold vessel (below) cradles a red poinsettia nestled into reindeer moss and enhanced with white amaryllis, paperwhites, and ilex berries. 

Highlight Interiors
The study (below) showcases leather chairs and wood-paneled walls, so Lisa opted for rich golds and warm hues to complement the masculine tones. A garland gracing the carved limestone mantel consists of cedar; eucalyptus leaves and pods; glittered branches; sugar pine cones; and faux, decorative game birds that nod to the husband’s love of hunting. Magnolia leaves show both sides—shiny green tops and caramel-brown undersides. Green velvet ribbon drapes from a corner for a showy finish. A deer mount is set off with a wreath of cedar, Frasier fir twigs, and pine cones. An arrangement of Parrot tulips enhances the cozy scene.

Entry Point
Lisa repeated materials inside and out for elegance and consistency. Garlands of cedar and magnolia frame the entry (below), while swags of sugar pine cones and satin gold ribbon adorn gas lanterns.

Lisa’s Decorating Tips 

Help greenery last longer by keeping temperatures in the house a little cooler—heat dries them out more quickly. If possible, use a mister to lightly spray them daily.

Instead of stapling or pinning ribbon, hold it in place with florist wire. The wire prevents holes and allows you to reuse your ribbon each year.  

When hanging fresh garland it’s ok to cut it. Don’t feel like you must use one long piece. In fact, when draping garland around a door, Lisa actually prefers to cut it to ensure that it hangs correctly. “And if you cut it too short, don’t panic,” she adds. “Simply use florist wire to put it back together.”

LISA BAILEY
Lisa Bailey is a magazine-stylist-turned-floral-designer and owner of Lisa Bailey Designs. She started her career working behind the scenes at Time Inc. For 10 years, she helped create the iconic Southern Living Christmas covers before venturing out on solo shoots for floral designs in catalogs such as Summer Classics and Ballard Designs. Today, Lisa provides floral design for practically any type of event, including weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and, of course, Christmas parties in and around Birmingham. During the holidays, when she’s not decorating her clients’ homes, Lisa is likely to be found in the car with husband Chris and kids Ben, Ella Kate, and Anna—all with hot chocolate in hand and comfortable in pajamas—as they continue the annual tradition of checking out Christmas lights around the city.

Lisa Bailey Designs  •  205.821.4128
[email protected]

Location: Montgomery
Resources: Interior Designer: Marianne Strong Interiors, 205.222.8876, mariannestronginteriors.com

Location: Birmingham
Resources: Architects: Mark Pledger and Cristi Pledger, Pledger Architect Contractor:Mitch Bradford, Saunders Bradford Cabinets: Aaron Lane, Lane Woodworking Tile Installation: Somerset Tile Stone Installation: Alabama Stone Works Custom Range Hood: Brady Jackson, Jackson Forge Plumbing Fixtures: Fixtures & Finishes

Location: Mountain Brook
Resources: Designer: Laurie Fulkerson, Twin Interiors of Twin Construction Construction: Twin Construction Cabinets: Parsons Custom Cabinetry

Location: Crestline
Resources: Interior Design: Jan Ware Designs Custom Paint Finishes: Paint Works

Location: Vestavia Hills
Resources: Architect and Interiors: Christopher Architecture & Interiors, Chris Reebals, AIA Cabinets: A-1 Cabinets Tile and Countertops: Triton Stone Appliances: Ferguson

Location: Homewood
Resources: Builder & Interior Design: River Brook Construction and River Brook Interior Design Kitchen Hardware: Brandino Brass Appliances: Allsouth Appliances Lighting Fixtures: Mayer Lighting Countertops: Maranatha

Location: Mountain Brook
Resources: Architect: Anna Evans, Anna Evans Architect LLC Builder: Chris Franks, Franks Building Company Cabinets: Custom-made and built to Anna’s drawings by Alan Deal • Deal’s Cabinetry & Fine Woodworking

Location: Birmingham
Resources: Builder: Korey Nations / NATCO Construction, LLC  Designer: Katrina Porter Architect: John Forney Custom Cabinets: Joey Keely / Recreated Cabinets Tile/backsplash: Marble herringbone Lowe’s Lighting: Pottery Barn

Location: Homewood
Resources: Plan Designer: Crystal Tucker, Twin Construction Builder: Twin Construction Interior Designer: Laurie Fulkerson, Twin Interiors Cabinet Hardware: Brandino Brass, Countertops: Surface One, Triton Stone

Location: Vestavia Hills
Resources: Builder: Clark Parker of Embassy Homes Cabinets: Treglown Construction Countertops: premiersurfaces.com Backsplash: Triton Stone Group Barstools: Ballard Design Pendant Lights: Gabby Home