Nothing gives a home a more welcoming holiday feel than an elegantly decorated front door. For designers Daniel Keeley and Christopher Todd, front door décor is a sophisticated art form. “Everybody sees your front door,” says Todd. “Other than the Christmas tree, it’s the most important element to decorate.”
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In the South, the holidays are as much about preparation as they are celebration. Little Rock-based designer Tobi Fairley and her mother, Beverly Wells, are no exception. “I have always loved Christmas and the traditions that go along with it,” says Beverly, who hosts the season’s family gatherings in the Sheridan home she shares with her husband, David. “We spend days decorating the house, setting out china and ironing linens, but we have fun doing it,” says Fairley.
However, just because this mother-daughter team relishes the preparation rituals doesn’t mean they always stick to tradition when it comes to color and décor. “We really try to mix it up each year,” says Beverly. “We’ve even had pink and orange trees in the past.” For years, the two have been dreaming up cheerful decorations that are as inventive as they are inviting. “I approach holiday décor the same way I approach any design project,” says Fairley, who begins with a color palette or key piece of inspiration.
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1. Recycled green wire stool can be turned over and used as a storage bin. Box Turtle, Little Rock
2. Red plaid and embroidered polka dot table runners. Pottery Barn, Little Rock, Rogers
3. Painted wooden reindeer. Haus Werk, Little Rock
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At Home in Arkansas: Last time At Home visited, you were living in a 1950s contemporary home, and here we find you in a Georgian Revival residence. What inspired the design shift?
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At Home in Arkansas: You’ve been building custom homes for others since 1999. What did you envision for your own home?
Bill Parkinson of Parkinson Building Group: I’ve learned a lot from my clients’ builds, and since all of our homes are custom, I’ve been fortunate to see a variety of styles and executions, which helps when planning your own place. You get an idea of what works and what styles you can see yourself living with for a long time.
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1. Donovan sofa by Robin Bruce. De Madera Trading Company, Hot Springs; Swank, Jonesboro; Cleo’s Furniture, Mertinsdyke Home, Little Rock
2. Elise accent chair. Bassett Home Furnishings, locations statewide
3. Grant chair by Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair. Pollard’s, Jonesboro; Bear-Hill Interiors, Cobblestone & Vine, Mertinsdyke Home, Little Rock
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At Home in Arkansas offers you a look inside the state's most inspiring homes. The magazine features monthly advice from the experts to help you plan your next remodel or redesign, entertain at home, or find Arkansas's best kept secrets. It is your definitive guide to the state's finest homes and gardens, design professionals, fashion and entertaining essentials, and premier shops and showrooms.
