Southern Lady Holidays at Home 2022

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays…” Thus goes the classic Christmas song, and what a true sentiment it is. Glimmering trees and lush wreaths, cozy gatherings with family and friends, proudly presenting a loved one with a beautifully wrapped package—so many of the season’s dearest memories are rooted in the comfort of familiar surroundings. In this special issue, we celebrate the joy of hospitality and the satisfaction of simple pleasures, with the warmth and welcome that are so essential to Southern traditions. As you leaf through the pages, you’re sure to draw plenty of inspiration from our collection of Yuletide décor ideas, exquisite table settings, and gorgeous flowers, plus menus worthy of a grand celebration. On behalf of our Southern Lady staff, warm wishes for a joyous…

CORDIAL AND CLASSIC While it can be fun to freshen holiday décor with unconventional palettes and novel embellishments, there’s something enchanting about an archetypal display that calls to mind cherished recollections of Noels past. Deck the heart of your abode with a grand Fraser fir garnished with orbs aplenty—myriad shapes and sizes parade traditional Christmas colors across iridescent solids, fanciful swirls, and timeless tartans. Textural swaths of ruby grass cloth ribbon shine against a multitude of tiny tree lights and a flickering fire beyond. The mantel, dressed in swags of cedar and magnolia mixed with bright ilex berries, pomegranates, and oranges, holds a glimmering pair of heavenly hosts as well as a quartet of needlepoint stockings that depict iconic Yuletide motifs. Along the hearth, potted poinsettias keep company with packages wrapped…

“GIFTS OF TIME AND LOVE ARE SURELY THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF A TRULY MERRY CHRISTMAS.”—PEG BRACKEN, AUTHOR Cascading across a mantel, foliage in caged floral foam calls to mind a peaceful woodland clearing before winter’s first snowfall. Incorporate the same bounty—cedar, pepperberry, a medley of eucalyptus varieties—into a wreath, using a mirror as the backdrop. For a look that sings, adorn a ring of pine and hypericum berries with rolled sheet music, oversize ornaments, and a trumpeting angel accent. Lush garland draped along the stairway underscores a showpiece of sizable pine cones and a simple petite wreath. As a final touch, gold-and-green ribbon coalesces with the natural finds and neutral palette of the space. (Page 16) Vintage-inspired cards and gift tags mingle with large sugar pine cones in a wreath above…

FANCIFUL SOIRÉE Whisk guests to a world of sugarplum fairies and nutcrackers with this tabletop of creamy winter whites and not-so-traditional colors, perfectly on point for a holiday dreamland. Ice-blue napkins, finely embroidered with a pink Christmas tree, set the tone atop a Wedgwood china pattern highlighted between a muted silver charger and a simple snow-white salad plate. The soft sheen of satin ribbon blends with a brigade of timeless nutcrackers standing tall with a snowman to guard a gingerbread house and gaily wrapped gifts. Ballerinas and danseurs upon a wreath recall the familiar strains of Tchaikovsky’s classic Nutcracker Suite as garlands of greenery enhance all with seasonal flair. CAPTIVATING TABLEAU Side-table vignettes further the motif with a candy box and vase reprising the blue-and-white palette beside a crystal tree that reminds friends…

GLORIOUS GET-TOGETHER In the spirit of réveillon, a centuries-old French custom modernized by New Orleanians, host a dinner party that fuses culinary extravagance and holiday fanfare. Historically, the meal and merrymaking commenced at home after mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, but Louisiana restaurants and residents continue the custom today with lavish contemporary renditions throughout the season. Set a table fit for royalty when welcoming bons vivants to partake in a tantalizing spread. Shimmering metallics and nuances of green cast a glowing ambience across the scene, from the setting of gold-trimmed finery topped with apple place markers to flickering candles in silver holders. A centerpiece of roses, hydrangea, scabiosa, selaginella, hypericum berries, and seeded eucalyptus anchors the tableau, as pink tulips and a mix of cream and blush poinsettias lend contrast.…

ORNAMENTAL ELEGANCE Gather in the heart of the home amid a glowing display of neutrals, natural greens, and golden hues. The subtle scheme earns interest not from traditional holiday colors, but instead from assorted embellishments that meld shapes and sizes, patterns and textures, and festive finishes of sleek gloss and flashy brilliance. Artful touches enhance the refined ambience, from intricate spheres hanging on twinkling branches to handcrafted stockings with a Champagne-gold grain that glistens against the light of the flames below. A flourishing tree, topped with a majestic angel and anchored by an abundance of smartly wrapped presents, reminds of the many blessings we reflect on this time of year. UPLIFTING VISIONS Allow the joy of gathering with family and friends to flow as you bask in the luminous glory of a finely…