When bringing out the boxes of decorations and working like an elf to deck your halls for the holidays, don't forget to bring a touch of the season to your kitchen. Setting up a display on the kitchen island is an easy way to continue the holiday cheer in a simple, subtle way. Add florals, ribbons, ornaments and more, but don't forget to leave room for holiday food prep or serving. Three local design shops show off their take on a working kitchen-island display in a beautiful kitchen located in the Fischer & Frichtel display home in Enclave Bellerive.
Fall Harvest
By B. Davis Design
You don’t have to limit yourself to the traditional holiday décor when setting up an island display. Barb Davis of B. Davis Design created a casual buffet with a fall-harvest theme that would be festive all winter long. Davis mixes fresh kale and berries with faux stems of rosemary, basil and raspberries to bring texture to the island. “Fresh is always best, but you can add in faux if necessary,” Davis explains. “Gather fresh produce from your garden or the grocery store. It makes it easy and natural.” The designer also prefers to mix new and old pieces, like the 18th C. wine caddy from Paris that holds the herb arrangement and the old pots from Provence she uses for vases and silverware paired with beautiful everyday dishes such as the new Juliska “forest walk” dinnerware and Ralph Lauren horn candlesticks. Linen napkins embroidered with pinecones add a soft touch.
Touches of Sparkle and Color
By Marketplace at The Abbey
Shimmering trees and punches of red bring holiday cheer to the gray tones of the kitchen. Designer Marie Gelineau of Marketplace at The Abbey layered the island with a burlap runner edged in a red ruffle. Three shagged trees made of preserved lemon leaves dipped at the ends in gold glitter add a touch of holiday sparkle. The stars of the display are two rustic wood-carved penguins. “I love the juxtaposition of the red ruffle of the runner with the rustic penguins,” Marie says. She created height in the display by utilizing a wood cutting board with feet. Glittering, snow-frosted berries and a red metal lantern pick up the touches of red in the runner and a vintage wood sign creating an overall merry holiday look with hints of sparkle.
Natural Elegance
By The Jeweled Cottage
Keeping the display casual yet elegant, Robin and Ellen Bretz of The Jeweled Cottage mixed rustic greenery with touches of silver. “We took a rustic approach, but incorporated silver pieces to give a sense of elegance and shine,” says Robin. A silver tray serves as the base for an elaborate floral centerpiece complete with greenery, branches and fluffy white owls. The designers used tin trays as placemats for their dinnerware. The nature theme continues with touches of deer décor like the deer butter cloches set atop the white porcelain place setting and the glimmering white reindeer laying in a bed of pine leaves and berries set to the side of the island. The shine continues in the mercury glass candleholders that illuminate the display in a soft glow.
