Holiday Spirit

Designer Suzanne Kasler loves Christmas—spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts. But, as much as anything else, she loves decorating for the season.

“I love the tradition of transforming your house into a whole different look for an entire month,” she explains. “When you bring out collections you’ve put away for the year, you bring out all those memories, too.”

Kasler starts planning her seasonal decor in November, when she places her annual greenery order with Planters, Inc. Then, early in December, she sets aside two days to complete the transformation of the Regency-style home in Buckhead she shares with husband John Morris and their college-age daughter, Alexandra, so the family can enjoy the trimmings all month long.

The interior, with its predominantly neutral palette—shades of cream, beige and ecru are the order of the day—provides a perfect backdrop for Kasler’s Christmas embellishments, allowing them to shine. But equally important to showcasing her treasured collections is the designer’s keen eye for editing.

“Too often, people try to put things on every surface,” she explains. “I don’t put everything out; that way, it’s more special—and not so overwhelming.”

Because Kasler has numerous collections from which to choose, she has a different focus each year. “I start with a concept, then pick and choose from my collections—and edit,” she says, noting that there are some constants throughout. “I have a beautiful collection of ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ ornaments from Christopher Radko; I always put them on the main tree in the family room. And I like to use things from my Christmas collection for Ballard Designs. It was inspired by antique ornaments I’ve collected in muted colors, and the tree in the living room is done in those ornaments, paired with all-silver varieties. The fireplace mantel incorporates them, too; the muted colors are gorgeous there.”

Kasler also cherishes her collection of nutcrackers, as much for their sentiment as style. “They have a lot of memories,” she says. “They were given to me, one per year, by my mom and dad, or a friend.” The nutcrackers get significant placement, too, arranged en masse on a French console table in the foyer.

Complementing the designer’s special collections throughout the house are elements in traditional red and green hues, as well as timeless Frasier fir and juniper berries. Not surprisingly, the holiday trappings are quietly elegant—a true reflection of Kasler’s personal style.