My Favorite Holiday Traditions

Hand-tied velvet blue bows adorn this Christmas Tree in Richmond, Virginia. Photography by Alison Gootee

Thanksgiving may be in the rear view mirror, but I like to keep the spirit of gratitude going as we move full speed ahead into the most magical time of the year. I love the holidays because they offer the opportunity to transform everyday spaces and celebrate, regardless of your beliefs! 

With the holiday hustle and bustle ramping up, I’m looking forward to squeezing in as many of my favorite traditions as possible before the year ends. These beloved events and activities actually force me to slow down and to pay extra attention to the things and people that are important to me. My time with family and with friends means the world to me, and my favorite traditions include hefty servings of both!

This milk punch recipe is always a crowd pleaser! Photography by Alison Gootee

One long standing tradition is a dinner party for friends that my husband and I throw. Some years, we even ask people to dress in costume to get into the festive spirit. One non-negotiable: a series of questions that get answered and submitted anonymously. As part of the evening’s fun, we try to figure out who said what. It’s a fun way to break the ice and learn new and occasionally surprising things about old friends.

As for food, I often prepare a smoked turkey gumbo, a nod to my husband’s New Orleans roots, as an appetizer. Every year I make a bunch of milk punch with a recipe handed down from my husband’s uncle–it’s always a crowd pleaser! Dinner itself can vary year to year (and on especially busy years, we rely on a caterer to make our holiday load a little lighter). For dessert, one of my favorites is a coconut cake, but the offerings vary year to year. What never changes is the rejuvenating and comforting experience of laughing and being together with friends.

Unsurprisingly, decorating the table is another favorite holiday tradition. I love to change the theme yearly to stave off monotony. One year I used woodland animals and wintery blue accents for inspiration; another I leaned into crisp peppermint colors, and last year, a Scrooge-themed table (complete with gold “coins” as table decorations). This year, I was captivated by the Nutcracker and inspired by Sugar Plum Fairy-eque pinks and whites. Be sure to watch my Homeworthy episode, “Inside a Willliamsburg-Style Home Decked with Nutcracker Decor” for the full tour!

A Victorian card ribbon over the mantle. Photography by Alison Gootee

A holiday decorating idea that I reuse year after year is a Victorian card ribbon over the mantle. I originally spied a ribbon festooned with cards and displayed over a chest at Major Dooley’s home, Maymont, and I adapted the idea for my own home. I love how my fireplace is framed every year with photos of the people I care about so I can see their faces while relaxing after holiday prep and activities.

Another much anticipated holiday ritual is making cinnamon buns for friends and family. I deliver these sweet treats right before Christmas so that they can enjoy an easy and delicious breakfast once the present unwrapping frenzy is over. Of course, we make sure to save some for our family as well!

A winter wonderland theme is continued in the smallest details from icy blue wrapping paper and matching ribbon. Photography by Alison Gootee

I’ll take these traditions over anything wrapped in a bow, but if you’re still looking for present ideas for friends and loved ones, be sure to check out my gift suggestions over at Glam Pad’s 5th Annual “Christmas with the Tastemakers” Shopping Guide!

Happy holidays!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

When I was thinking of ideas for a Mother’s Day gift guide, I kept coming back to one word: joy!

Motherhood is complicated and ever-evolving, yet being a mother to my three children is ultimately one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Mothers are experts at juggling a million things while making the world feel safe and loving, so I wanted to focus on bringing the mothers in our lives as much joy as possible.

Newport, R.I. Pickleball Paddle, $85.00

Pickleball Paddle:

Have you been bitten by the pickleball bug yet? These paddles are reason enough alone to start playing. Named after beloved towns and in a variety of stripes, gingham, patterns, and appealing colors, the paddles are lightweight, eye-catching, and as sweet as the brand’s name: Tangerine. P.S. They also have a Mother’s Day bundle on sale!

Simple Joys Puzzle - 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle, $26.00

Puzzle:

Doing puzzles is a prime example of a simple joy. Anyone who has ever fit that last piece in to complete a puzzle knows how satisfying it feels. This particular puzzle will inspire Mom to seek the most basic pleasures with illustrations of fresh berries, flowers, crayons, and music. Moms with older kids will cherish the opportunity to do a puzzle together, but if you are gifting this to a mom with young ones, throw in an IOU for some babysitting time so that she can puzzle in peace.

Bouquets: With How-To Tutorials by Laura Dowling, $35.00

Design Book:

Flowers, a perennial Mother’s Day favorite, last for only a moment, but Bouquets: With How To Tutorials will give Mom the inspiration and skills to create floral showpieces for any desired occasion. This beautiful book by Laura Dowling, former White House Chief of Floral Design, breaks down bouquets into simple, manageable steps and is organized by emotions and feelings. Dowling also has a book devoted to wreaths for every season!

Portable Kneading Massager, $39.99

Shiatsu Massager:

Okay, so it’s not the most design-friendly Mother’s Day present, but this portable kneading massager will be a guaranteed winner especially since moms are always carrying a heavy load (literally and figuratively). The massager works on the neck, back, shoulders, and even on legs. Did we mention it has healing features too?

Meaningful Donation:

For the mom who has everything she wants and needs, consider making a Mother’s Day donation in her honor. In Richmond, I recommend our local Habitat for Humanity and Little Hands Virginia, which provides essentials to economically disadvantaged children in the first years of their lives. Earlier in the month, I partnered up with Little Hands Virginia for Richmond’s inaugural Spring Tablescapes Showcase - Stay tuned for more on this wonderful event in the next blog post!

A Mardi Gras Table in Richmond

Sara Hillery Interior Design

While we may be miles away from New Orleans, the spirit of Mardi Gras is alive and well in Richmond, Virginia!

As a New Orleanian and proud member of the Krewe of Hermes, my husband couldn't let this year’s Mardi Gras festivities pass us by without celebrating in our own way. We wanted to bring the magic of Mardi Gras to our home and host a dinner party for our friends in Richmond to introduce them to some of our family’s most beloved traditions. So tonight, I am celebrating Mardi Gras in style with a dinner party filled with delicious food, great company, and cheer.

Sara Hillery Interior Design

To start, I set the table with dainty floral plates, green wine goblets, and lavender napkins to reflect the traditional Mardi Gras color scheme. I love the freshness of the Wedgwood Avon Lavender salad plates and layered these on top of Wedgwood Traditions dinner plates.

Previously purchased gold chargers and blue placemats from my personal collection anchor the table setting. The glassware includes green wine goblets handmade in Poland coupled with vintage and collected antique glasses. Polished Chantilly silverware adds high shine to the muted tablescape while gold metal masks introduce intrigue to the scene. 

Sara Hillery Interior Design

For greenery, I placed fern leaves and a preserved boxwood ball on top of a lavender runner. I handpicked flowers including Lenten roses, Hellebore flowers, baby’s breath, daisies, and purple Aster and added these blooms to various antique silver bud vases collected over time. Finally, I sprinkled in a few figs throughout the table to add interest and depth.

Meanwhile, sparkling beads, doubloons, and parade throws adorn the floating shelf in the Dining Room’s alcove, paying homage to the iconic traditions of Carnival.

Sara Hillery Interior Design

Tonight’s Cajun-inspired dinner menu is fit for a king and includes chargrilled oysters, filet, green beans, rice, and a bowl of my husband’s famous gumbo- a dish as flavorful as it is comforting. And of course, we are indulging in Randazzo’s classic king cake paired with Bluebell vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Here is to a night to remember as we celebrate Mardi Gras with good friends and good food, even from afar. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll!

How to Show Love through Your Home

Kip Dawkins Photography

Valentine’s Day is here- but I don’t think that you need a designated day to show love for the people that you care for the most in your life. I believe that you can make your home a place where residents and guests alike will feel the love any day throughout the year with just a few simple adjustments. In the words of bell hooks, “Love is an action, never simply a feeling.” 

Michael Hunter Photography

Design your space for every age and stage:

Interior design is deeply personal. While your spaces should work for you, it’s also important to make accommodations for the wants and needs of others around you.

Perhaps you have aging parents and want to make their guest room as comfortable and safe as possible. Adding extra pillows and blankets for comfort, moving furniture pieces around for easier navigation, and even putting a nightlight in the bathroom can help them feel more welcome. 

For younger guests, a basket of toys or puzzles will be an instant win (and can easily be stashed away when your little visitors leave). It’s an unwritten rule that the toys at someone else’s house are always more fun to play with! And with the kids occupied, Mom or Dad may even get the chance to sit down and relax.

Kip Dawkins Photography

Adorn your space with flowers:

Flowers on Valentine’s Day? Not exactly groundbreaking (though I’ll never turn them down!).

But buying, giving, and displaying flowers “just because” will give everyone who sees them a boost. A bouquet on a bedside table, an arrangement on your partner’s home office desk, or even a bud vase with a single bloom in the bathroom can add a little life to a space.

For a longer-lasting option, choose a succulent or another unfussy plant like an orchid.

Kip Dawkins Photography

Celebrate on a regular basis:

Too often, we feel like we have to save certain elements of our home and life (using our best china, uncorking that specially purchased bottle of wine, etc) for the biggest special occasions. But life is too short not to be celebrated and enjoyed!

So dine by candlelight, draw a bubble bath with those overpriced suds, invite friends over “just because” and have their favorite snacks and treats on hand.

In today’s busy world, a little time and effort will make someone immediately feel loved. 

Gordon Gregory Photography

Create spaces to honor your past, present, and future:

Feeling noticed and seen is an integral part of feeling loved. Have photos of your favorites out and on display.

If your best friend from college comes to visit, set out (or move to a more prominent position) a favorite framed photo of the two of you. She’ll feel a part of your life even when if there are usually thousands of miles between the two of you.

Kip Dawkins Photography

For your family, create a bulletin board or calendar space where you can celebrate today’s phase of life. Some fun ideas include:

• Showing off your child’s latest creations

• Picking a date for a family afternoon of hot chocolate and board games (or whatever activity you’d all be excited about) and marking it on your calendar

• Putting up a dry erase board where people can doodle or leave each other love notes

This special family space will serve as a daily reminder of your connections.

In with the Old and In with the New

Kip Dawkins Photography

Although the saying goes, “Out with the old, in with the new”, I think there should be an asterisk when it comes to interior design. Instead, “In with the old AND in with the new” reflects my penchant for creating spaces that combine the history and quality of old pieces with fresh style, new materials, and modern sensibilities.

Kip Dawkins Photography

I have had a soft spot for antiques since I was young because my mom has always been an avid antiquer. On family road trips, we made time to stop and look for the one thing that we couldn’t live without and the story that went along with it.

And maybe because of this, I have always loved history and learning about how each design era, phase, or fad is a reaction to something going on politically in the world. And to this day, the history buff in me is delighted to come across furniture or art that captures a particular place and moment in time. 

Gordon Gregory Photography

But at the same time, I love how new textures, colors, and forms make a space feel fresh and current. I believe that you can have your cake and eat it too when it comes to combining trends yet making designs feel classic! Today, I want to share a few examples of how to do this in your own home.

Kip Dawkins Photography

One of my favorite tricks for mixing old and new is to include a small detail with big impact. Adding a funky goat leg on a stool or table leg is an easy and whimsical way to add playfulness to a space without it seeming totally out of place.

Kip Dawkins Photography

Confession: I had antique chairs in my kitchen for a while but I kept needing to repair them. At the time, I had young children and was looking for a more kid-friendly solution during a season of life when I valued ease, comfort, and durability. I bought several ghost chairs, which are super easy to wipe down and pair well with my table despite being stylistically different. Acrylics and antiques look fantastic together!

I don’t have to worry about spills or messes- and the chairs help this space feel more open and airier.

Kip Dawkins Photography

New fabric can equal new life! Another quick yet transformative fix for antiques and older pieces is re-upholstering. You’d be amazed at how different a room can feel when you swap out the tired fabric on even one chair or sofa. Updating this settee with a dark pink and white damask gives it a modern flavor. If you’ve got some basic DIY skills, you can try tackling reupholstering a simple shape yourself, or you can leave it to the professionals.

Kip Dawkins Photography

A fresh coat of paint is all that it takes to bring an 18th-century furniture style into the present day. With the Chippendale chair’s classic shape, you can go bold and bright with your color choices. In this room, the chairs look fresh and fun and complement the bright white decor and vivid blue details. 

Kip Dawkins Photography

Finding playful yet refined and timeless ways to mix and match antiques with newer pieces and elements is our brand’s bread and butter. As 2023 begins, I am more inspired than ever to help clients create spaces that reflect their varied style preferences and to show that some design rules are made to be broken (or at least bent) to fit today’s lifestyles.

Southern Living Holiday House: Behind-The-Scenes

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

For Southern Living, I decked the halls and trimmed the tree in blue ribbon for a fresh and icy take on traditional Christmas décor for the magazine’s Holiday House feature. And since the article hit newsstands, my family and I have dodged the question, “Does your house always look like that?” with wry smiles.

This photoshoot captured a special moment in time, and I called upon an entire team of helpers- from friends and family to professionals- to get each room camera ready. The process of preparing to shoot an entire home for a national magazine is multi-layered- and always more fun than work! In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite Behind-The-Scenes moments and some insight into our methods. 

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

While the essentials of great design were there, the saying, “The cobbler’s children have no shoes” resonated with me during the initial preparation for this feature. For the past 10+ years, I have been focused on Client projects and building a team- priorities that tended to take precedence over my own home’s interior design. But the honor of being photographed by Southern Living prompted me to re-evaluate my space and take an honest look at what some of my favorite rooms would look like through a shiny lens.

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

For the magazine, I agreed to design a blue Christmas-themed spread. And in the weeks leading up to the photoshoot, I felt in my element- flexing a creative muscle that I usually save for Client work. But during this season, I was also my home’s loudest critic. Constant ideas on how to refine my space raced through my mind: Should I recover my two sofas from brown to blue? Well, if I do that, I’ll have to buy a new lampshade. And if I buy a new lampshade, I should probably just replace this lamp.

While tedious, these last-minute changes only enhanced each room and continued to add hints of blue throughout the project. After I selected additional blue art pieces and called in professional art hangers to install these, I felt quietly confident that the major design elements of my home were ready to present to the world.

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

Next, it was time to shift gears and focus on decorating for Christmas and refining the details. Enter KK Harris, who helped me style the shoot and work on a plan of attack for conquering the “To-Dos.” While my family always decorates for the holiday season with garlands and multiple Christmas trees, having a stylist proved to be incredibly helpful- especially when pressed for time.

I am always dreaming up holiday tablescapes and wanted to make sure that this one stood out! So at the eleventh hour, I sought out vintage napkins and had them custom monogrammed by my friend, Simply Blessed. My mom came over early to help polish silver until it gleamed and glistened. And before we knew it, the photographer, Alison Gootee, knocked on the front door. It was showtime.

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

As they say, the devil is in the details- and I am very appreciative of all of the work that went into styling for the camera. The stylist arrived with additional complementary greenery for each vignette- and as much as I love gardening, it was wonderful to have KK’s take on the floral arrangements.

Moreover, she prepared endless festive food and drinks for the camera including peppermint bark and hot cocoa. It was difficult not to enjoy these treats before they were photographed! And during this busy season, one of the best perks was that KK and my mom even wrapped presents for underneath the trees (way ahead of when I typically get these set out!) while my daughter cherished entertaining KK’s son.  

Alison Gootee for Southern Living

As the rooms were styled, we examined each shot with Alison to determine what might be out of place or need to move. And no matter how much we thought we had each shot ready; we always saw something to improve on in the camera. It was so wonderful to observe Alison’s process- and with each passing shot, take a deep breath, and savor the moment.

As chaotic as this season proved to be, I was able to rejoice in it alongside such a dedicated team who helped me attend to every detail when every detail mattered. Almost one year later, the Southern Living Holiday House feature captured a labor of love on glossy pages- preserving extraordinary memories that will last a lifetime for my family and team. Thank you to everyone who helped to realize this opportunity. Enjoy some of my favorite outtakes below!

Gift Guide

The latest Sara Hillery Interior Design Gift Guide is here! Scroll through to find the perfect gift for the most fun-loving friend or family member on your list!

Suzanne Kasler: Edited Style, Barnes & Noble, $57.50

The queen of edited elegance released a new book!

Palm Beach Playing Cards, LouLou Baker, $32

These cheerful playing cards provide a little more style than your typical red or blue set.

Metal Poppy Earrings, Amazon, $15

How fun are these metal earrings? Everyone on my team has a pair!

Eloise Mirror, Sara Hillery Home, $580

Chinoiserie is always in style!

The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman, Barnes & Noble, $32.50

Such a happy book on how to decorate and live well.

Custom Backgammon Board, Nine Fair, Price and availability varies

A custom backgammon board brings back a classic game in updated colors.

Combed Marble Daily Planner, Papier, $32

This simple and bright planner will keep you organized in style in 2023.

Annie Sconce, Sara Hillery Home, $490

I love the curves and color on this lantern sconce!

Virginia Mammal Pillow, Sara Hillery Home, $300 each

So excited about these winning pillows in last year’s “Made in VA Awards.”

Party Tumbler (Set of 6), Zafferano America, $159

I love this tumbler – There is something so fun about polka dots on a table!

Too Much Needlepoint Pillow, Furbish, $104

This needlepoint pillow in such a bright color is way too much fun!

Michael Aram Pink Dogwood Napkin Rings, Moda Home, $100

Love these napkin rings in a dogwood motif as a nod to my home state of Virginia!

Mally’s Little Handbook, Mally Skok Design, $22

My friend published this book last summer and it still is a favorite!

Goat Leg Leather Upholstered Stool, Sara Hillery Home, $1,500

Anyone who knows me knows that I love anything that looks like it can walk.

K&K Interiors Preserved Boxwood Single Ball Topiary in Pot, Amazon, $89

A simple topiary can elevate any space.

Citrus Clementine Folded by Gina Langford, Dogwood Hill, $48.75

These are the best notecards! I included a custom set in my Lenox Hill tablescape.

20 Piece Bamboo Flatware Set for 4, Sara Hillery Home, $36

A touch of the tropics for your next dinner party!

Set of 4 Batik Placemats in Coral, Amanda Lindroth, $45

I cannot get enough of this cheery batik print!

12-Piece Melamine Bamboo Dinnerware Set for 4

Add bamboo details to your holiday table and celebrate the season in style

The Songbird in Blush, Birdies, $120

Peak fashion meets peak comfort. And how fun are these pom-poms?

Scalloped Napkin, Sara Hillery Home, $30

Perfect year-round from Mardi-Gras to Christmas!

Savor The End of Summer (with a designer's attention to detail)

Ahh, summer! We love engaging ALL of our senses this time of year. From admiring the vivid colors of hydrangeas in bloom to smelling sweet honeysuckle to reveling in the sensation of jumping in the pool after a sizzling hot day, summer is a sensory feast, and we never get our fill. Despite our attempts to slow time down, the season always seems to go way too fast, so before we slip into fall, we wanted to share a few of the ways in which we plan to savor the end of summer. 

FRUIT PICKING

Selecting fragrant, warmed-by-the-sun fruit yourself is next level fun, especially when kids get involved, so an orchard outing is on our August calendar. After the picking comes the best part—dreaming up and then making pies, crisps, jams and syrups (as well as freezing some our hall for mid-winter when we’ll be craving fruit). We’re hoping to snag some peaches before making a fall trip for apples and pumpkins!

FLOWER PRESSING

I have fond memories of pressing flowers as a child and gifting them to my mother. Now as a designer, I love the idea of extending the life of favorite seasonal blooms including hydrangeas, daisies, and zinnias and framing them for a simple, yet timeless display. There are plenty of flower press kits for purchase, but if you have a little time and some basic materials, you can make your own.

TIE DYEING

Nothing says “summer camp” like good old tie-dye and with good reason: it’s a fun outdoor activity for all ages! Playing around with different patterns and folds will take your design to the next level, but you can also improvise with color and style. If you already have enough tie-dyed shirts to last a lifetime, consider giving linen or cotton placemats, napkins, towels, or tablecloths a visually striking—and playful—upgrade.

EASY OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

Our favorite summer memories often involve low-key cookouts, barbeques, and hang outs that naturally come together after long days at the pool or post-Little League game. We fully embrace these spontaneous gatherings (especially when there’s a slip ‘n slide involved), and we recommend having the ingredients on hand for a few favorites that come together without much fuss. S’mores, a shrimp boil, watermelon (either by itself or as part of a feta salad), cheeses with an assortment of crackers, and fruits and veggies that are easy to grill are among our staple entertaining standbys. Insider scoop: grilled pineapple topped with ice cream is a homerun every time!

FARMER’S MARKET

Who doesn’t love a farmer’s market? Between the visual array of seasonal produce, the smell of flowers, the delicious try-before-you-buy tasters, and the sound of people chitchatting about their favorite vendors and afternoon plans, it’s a true sensory heaven as well as an important community space that honors and celebrates local growers and makers. I am always inspired when I visit our local farmer’s market, whether it be a result of seeing the rainbow of fruits and veggies or hearing how a vendor turned an interest in fermentation into a tasty side hustle. I can’t make summer last forever, but squeezing the enjoyment out of the season’s simple pleasures makes every moment sweeter.