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Text by Kim Ratcliff •
Styling by Kathy Curotto •
Photography by Rick Szczechowski
Come December, Kaari Meng’s 1925 Spanish Revival home, located in Los
Feliz, California, is a Santa-free zone. You won’t find one figurine, ornament,
or cookie plate bearing the likeness of the jolly man with the beard and sleigh.
It’s not that she’s the Grinch, she’d just rather craft her own decorations,
display fresh cuttings from the yard, and go easy on the gingerbread. “Around
the holidays, we all tend to overdo it. I’d rather use and recycle what I’ve
got. There’s a way to make it work without driving yourself nuts,” advises
Kaari, whose shop, French General, was featured in our June/July 2005 issue.
merry makings
(a) Fanciful ribbon and vintage tinsel. (b)
Kaari and her daughter, Sofia Zabala, 10, hang homemade wreaths.
(c) Luxuriously layered table linens encourage the family to linger over festive
meals. a tip from Kaari: Think of your tabletop as a puzzle. Layer with a mix of
old and new linens, with the value of a piece determining where it goes. Keep
heirloom pieces safe from cranberry sauce/red wine “stain-ger danger” by folding
lengthwise and using as a runner.
(d) Natural hemp stockings, trimmed with a red bird print, are hung by the
chimney with care. Santa Rosa church candles in various shapes and sizes,
available at French General’s website, give the living room a soft glow. Made in
rural Mexican villages, each is hand-poured and stamped in gold.
crimson tidings
(e) Kaari created this jeweled Christmas tree kit
exclusively for HOME COMPANION readers. See French General’s website for
details. (f) Holiday pillows, stuffed with organic lavender and covered
in French ticking, take the edge off holiday stress. (g) A beaded
Italian ornament made from a French General kit.
Heartfelt & Handmade page
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