Rustic Elegance

Christmas tends to inspire us in a multitude of ways, especially regarding home design décor. And, with autumn, we only have ephemeral cuddles of bearable winds and bright spiraling leaves to enjoy. So, we either can savour the memory joyfully, or tuck it away until the following year, all before it dissipates to welcome winter.

In our home, we usually savour it as long as we can—the crackling of wood in the fireplace and with the aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and hot cocoa in the air is enough to pacify any thought of extreme coldness. A cosy dwelling and setting is always a favourite of mine, and I wanted to share this one with you.

It’s a pleasure to partner with Viva Terra, a fair-trade company that is committed to providing sustainable home décor, and preserving the earth’s natural beauty in the process. They produce everything from seasonal home furnishings to bed and bath accessories.
Viva Terra offers products that are recycled, and chemical-free, in addition to having everything being made by hand from artisans globally. Here’s a highlight of some of their items that I used in a recent lifestyle photo shoot.

One might often think that when it comes to holiday tables or seasonal décor in general, over embellishment is the only way to have a strong interior perspective, which we are generally very keen on in my home. But, you can actually achieve opulence, even in a minimally modern and rustic way in your home. It’s really all about placement, and the mood or nature of your presentation.
Elaborate tablescapes and interiors are always a special treat, and for me a lot of fun to create as well. But, this time I styled an autumn-winter table on a much simpler scale—the use of rich earth tones and art pieces that were both dated and contemporary helped to balance the feeling of the season. This is a rustic evening style table. The inspiration came from capturing the transition of seasons: from the warmth in hues from summer to autumn, to the freshness that autumn to winter brings.
This interior centrepiece exhibit was a side addition to a tablescape that I styled recently for an upcoming art display. I also used influence from the comfort and joyful parts of what makes this time of year so special to capture a warm and intimate feeling.

What do you think of these warm and rustic decorations?

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

The goods: Cinnamon Bark Tealights, Mint Green Owl Mugs, Gilded Fig Vases-Provided by Viva Terra. Shop the holiday collection here. African art and Shakere-Family art piece from Ghana, Candles, Place mats-Home Goods, Baskets-Art and Pottery Market, Other items by Fashion Tales, Lake Champlain Spicy hot cocoa, Printed tablecloth-Marshalls.

To shop eco-friendly pieces from Viva Terra visit www.vivaterra.com.