Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Holiday Spirit Supreme
Our hostess welcomes us to her winter wonderland in understated elegance, wearing a Alex Garfield crimson silk blouse and flowing black palazzo pants accented by beautiful jewelry from Evelyne Talman.
When it comes to holiday decorating, Beth Barrett’s friends and neighbors know that she’s the queen! She graciously invited Elegant Island Living into her beautiful St. Simons Island home to capture the magic.
Beth admits that she’s a holiday zealot. She has an entire closet devoted to holiday dishes and décor from St. Patrick’s Day to Thanksgiving and everything in between. While the Christmas tree in the living room filled with Christopher Radko ornaments is a main focal point, that’s not the only room to get full seasonal splendor. In addition to the “Snow Room,” snowmen are everywhere in the kitchen and breakfast nook. Upstairs, you’ll find a collection of Nativity sets from a flannel family to carved wood pieces. The sunny piano room boasts a whimsical winter village where you can spot Rudolph flying, a candy shop, and so many more fun details. One of the boy’s rooms has a nautical themed tree and a more coastal Santa. In a nod to her husband’s medical career, there’s even a doctor Santa in the house. From front door to backyard firepit, there’s certainly no lack of holiday cheer.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Mailbox
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Holiday Tablescape
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Stained Glass Snowman
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Village Windmill
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Nautical Santa
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Wooden Nativity
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O Christmas Tree
A collection of Christopher Radko ornaments and others make Beth's Christmas tree the focal point of the room.
Melissa Stroud and Detra Brock come bearing gifts and Melissa Weaver is here too! Beth's friends graciously agreed to join our photo shoot to show off some holiday looks from local retailers.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Merry Merry!
Melissa Stroud and Detra Brock come bearing gifts! Their Christmas totes by Santa Barbara Design Studio from Maggie’s Boutique are sure to become an instant favorite! Melissa wears a cheery “Merry” topper, over classic white blouse and stretch jeans by Lysse. Detra sports a butter-soft red leather zip jacket by Multiples over a Valentina black tank and accessories, all from Maggie’s Boutique.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Blue Christmas
This signature split cowl Vitamin top in brilliant blue silk dupioni from Evelyne Talman is ideal for entertaining or an evening out. Beth wears Christmas tree earrings also from Evelyne Talman for extra holiday sparkle.
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And Bright
Detra Brock’s ivory Viscose Crepe Pull Sleeve Dress from Tibi is the perfect complement to Beth’s “Snow Room” where white accents abound, and snowmen decorate the room and tree. Her earrings and necklaces are Julie Vos from Ronne’s on Market Street.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Cheers to Christmas
Missy Weaver is the picture of holiday chic in the French inspired and Italian made Cassandra top and Alana pants from CobbleStone Living’s Enchanté Collection. Her gold chain tassel necklace by Susan Shaw is from Ronne’s on Market Street. Melissa’s cozy red and black color block sweater by Marble comes from across the sea in Ireland, is paired with black Krazy Larry pants, all available at Maggie’s Boutique.
While the Department 56 Santa and chimney in the living room certainly catches your eye, it’s the tree filled with Christopher Radko ornaments and other Radko touches around the home that Beth is most eager to share. Once upon a time, local travel guru Ann Owens owned a Christmas store in the Village called Village Holiday and Gifts and she had some special pieces that had been commissioned by “King of Christmas” Christopher Radko. Five years ago, Beth cleared out her garage of the remaining inventory and items from the store she had packed away since the store had closed more than a decade before. Beth took advantage of that incredible garage sale and walked away with some amazing collector’s items, including the glittering “Christmas Joy” painting that greets you in the entryway to a tiny china Santa figurine that Radko commissioned to be made by Limoges. She has signed ornaments as well, including a lighthouse and this specially made snowman with St. Simons written on the brim of his top hat. Beth loves Radko’s story of how a Christmas accident that resulted in broken family heirloom ornaments and him “ruining Christmas” led him to start making the glass-blown ornaments which have made him famous associated with happy Christmases for families around the world.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
All Aglow
Beth lights up when telling the stories of the ornaments she has collected and the origins of her Christmas treasures.
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SSI Snowman
This Christopher Radko signed St. Simons Island ornament is one of Beth's special keepsakes.
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Santa's Coming to Town
This Santa was commissioned by Limoges by Christopher Radko and is a valued collector's item.
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Sparkling Santa
Christopher Radko had paintings commissioned as well. This glittery gem is just past the mistletoe in Beth's entryway.
In the china cabinet, along with Christmas settings, of course, Beth has a collection of Duncan Royale Santa figurines from the History of Santa Claus Collection. She shares that her mother began the collection and gave figurines to her and her sister. Each Santa comes with its own collector’s plate and there’s a book sharing all their stories. Here we have Dedt Moroz, known as Father Ice, a character from an ancient Russian bedtime story told to children to frighten them into being good. In contrast, there’s also the Russian Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Russia, in his resplendent blue. Saint Nicholas, according to legend, is the patron saint of a diverse group of people including sailors, maidens, packers, and even pawnbrokers. And in a nod to our own culture, there’s the “Soda Pop Santa.” Not originally from the Atlanta cola company you might expect, but popularized by a 1920s soft drink ad by Haddon Sundblom. This is where Santa gained his colorful image.
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Russian Saint Nicholas
A Duncan Royale Santa figurine from the History of Santa Claus Collection.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Dedt Moroz - Father Ice
A Duncan Royale Santa figurine from the History of Santa Claus Collection.
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Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Soda Pop Santa
A Duncan Royale Santa figurine from the History of Santa Claus Collection.
Thank you once again to Beth for skipping her Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating and putting up Christmas so early her mail carrier thought she had lost her mind. And thank you to Missy, Melissa, and Detra, who are such fabulous friends they agreed to model. We’re also eternally grateful for the keen eye, skill behind the camera, and fantastic sense of humor and fun of photographer Annaliese Kondo.
From the Elegant Island Living Family to Yours — A Merry Christmas to All and To All a Good Night!
Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
And To All A Good Night
These festive plaid PJs by Gretchen Scott available from Evelyne Talman are perfect for reading by the fireplace on Christmas Eve or opening presents in the morning. They come with their own cute carrying pouch so you can take them over the river to grandma’s house too.
