Fresh Traditions

If Santa could tarry a bit in the midst of his Christmas Eve rounds, kick off his boots and savor the spirit of the season, he could pick no better retreat than this historic 1908 residence in the heart of Denver. The home, grand as it is, exudes a true graciousness. The exterior deftly blends elements of art nouveau, Tuscan and Tudor-style architecture, while the interiors are aglow with elegance and holiday cheer.
If Santa could tarry a bit in the midst of his Christmas Eve rounds, kick off his boots and savor the spirit of the season, he could pick no better retreat than this historic 1908 residence in the heart of Denver. The home, grand as it is, exudes a true graciousness. The exterior deftly blends elements of art nouveau, Tuscan and Tudor-style architecture, while the interiors are aglow with elegance and holiday cheer.

For the homeowners and their young daughter, the season is more about embracing the traditions of holidays past than the glitz of Christmas present. The wife has maintained successful collaborations with her interior designer, Kristi Dinner of kd design consultants, (303) 355-1840, and with Kirsten Rodriguez of Encore Style, (303) 227-1111, the floral event company that decorates this home for the holidays and supplies florals for other social events.

The Christmas spirit builds well before Thanksgiving. “As early as July, Kirsten and I pick a date to decorate. She is prepared with ideas, and we decide on a basic plan,” says the homeowner. “Around September we create a list of everything we are going to do. This gives Kirsten plenty of time to order and purchase new supplies.”

Rodriguez, one of the most celebrated floral designers in the region, studied under world-renowned floral designer John Haines, and later nurtured her talents in San Francisco and Atlanta before moving back to Colorado, where she was raised.
Fresh ColorsRodriguez brings eclectic elements to the holiday design such as pheasant feathers, amber ornaments, copper- and gold-gilded acanthus leaves tipped in glitter, a six-inch raspberry and gold tapestry, gold-gilded boxwood foliage, fresh hanging pepper berries, fresh magnolia, sugar-coated pomegranates, scented cedar and the homeowners’ hand-picked ornaments collected throughout their many travels. 
New IdeasKirsten Rodriguez of Encore Style shares some of her favorite seasonal decorating tips and ideas:

• If you have evergreen trees on your property, cut full boughs, seal them with a foliage sealer and use them to decorate your fireplace, shelves and exterior planters.  
• If you use fruit in your decorations, select the least ripe pieces.
• Extra “specialty fabric” purchased for chairs or pillows can be woven into hutch designs or mantels to give the room a finished look. Use different fabric or ribbon treatments to add a new dimension to your style.
• Use fresh orchids for a dining room or front entrance table. After
• the holidays are over, change the base of the design with fresh moss or clusters of pinecones to enjoy the orchids throughout the year.
• One of the best parts of the season is shopping for decorations. Make a list of things to find, and hunt for treasures to work with your existing pieces to complement and enhance your home.