A few years ago I photographed the Levin family at their beautiful Lake Martin home. So, I was excited when they asked me to photograph them again as their sons, daughter in laws and granddaughters all gathered at their home in Birmingham for Thanksgiving. The Levins are such kind people with adorable kids/grandkids. Clearly they have a great deal to be thankful for!
It was a pleasure photographing Nashville top designer, Jonathan Savage’s personal home decorated for the holidays. His Christmas tree was appropriately dressed in shades of his branded Savage Interior Design orange with Hermes bags under the tree for extra holiday cheer. His pup Artie was even in the holiday spirit for our shoot. Cheers!
Designer: Jonathan Savage Interior Design • 615.244.5674
PHOTOGRAPHY | Heather Durham
FLORAL DESIGN | Lisa Smith, Thorne & Thistle
DAHLIAS | Stone Hollow Farmstead
TABLE SETTINGS| Robin Wilhelm, Tea and Old Roses
CAKE ARTIST | Amanda Hinton, A Joy Cakes
CALLIGRAPHY | Melissa Gullatte, Gracefully Made Art
INTERIOR DESIGN: Lisa Flake, Caldwell Flake Interior Design
ARCHITECT: Eric Dale
BUILDER: Paul Davis, Ruff Reams Building Co.
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We all love to decorate our homes for the holidays in a way that reflects our personal style; and every year, it’s nice to fill in and add to what we already use with a few fresh, new finds. Over the years of my career as an art director and photographer, I’ve had to style many photo shoots, so it’s fun when I get the time and opportunity to style my own home.
I stick with an airy palette of white, gold, greys and shades of green when decorating for Christmas. I also love the juxtaposition of mixing metals and luxurious textures like velvet, fur, and wool with organic elements like cedarwood, magnolia leaves, succulents, seeded eucalyptus, pears, artichokes and herbs. Try using a chunky wool or fur throw as a tree skirt instead of the typical store bought ones. One year I used a few yards of velvet fabric as a tree skirt. And, you can never have too many pretty, flickering candles in woodsy scents. Don’t forget to load up on white tealights for mercury glass votives and tapers for timeless wooden candlesticks like these and these!
Each year I purchase a live tree, garland, wreath and paper white flowers, because I love the softness and smell of fresh greenery in the house. I prefer to support local nurseries, like Collier’s in Birmingham, but since there’s not one near where I live now in Franklin, I purchased some at Costco.) In addition to using garland on the stair banisters, lay it across your dining table as a runner with mercury glass votives and taper candles scattered throughout. Given that decorations only stay up for about 45 days, and I don’t do after Christmas sales to buy ahead for the next year, I try to find new looks that are affordable. It might be just to add Christmas spirit in another room of the house like a playroom or study. Here are my picks for simple “freshen ups” and “fill-ins” to holiday decor this season. Hope you find a bit of inspiration for your own home. Cheers!
XO,
Heather
1.Anthropologie Snow Capped Candles | 2.Live Paperwhites in Reclaimed Box | 3.Velvet & Linen Reindeer Pillow | 4.Ivory Fur Stockings | 4.Flocked Pine Christmas Tree | 6.Gold & White Geometric Mug Set| 7.Turkish Dish Towel | 8.Christmas Botanical Print | 9.Chunky Wool Throw (use as a Christmas skirt) | 10.Mercury Glass Taper Candlesticks | 11.Live Olive & Eucalyptus Wreath | 12.Haus Interiors Mountain House Blue Spruce & Cedarwood Candles
Entertaining for the holidays? Find some beautiful, fresh, colorful inspiration and tips to decorate your home in the current issue of Birmingham Magazine, on newsstands now.
Photography: Heather Durham | Floral Design: Thorne & Thistle | Vintage China and Flatware: Tea and Old Roses | Cake Artist: A. Joy Cakes & Co. | Paper & Calligraphy: Gracefully Made Art
Chris & Emily wanted an intimate ceremony with only family present to exchange their nuptials. They kept it simple and meaningful and it was perfect. And the way they looked at each other all day was the sweetest. You’ll see…
You can see Emily and Chris’s Birmingham Botanical Gardens Engagement Session here.
Photographer: Heather Durham | 2nd Shooter: Becca Bell | Floral Design: Laurie Freidman, LSL Event Design | Wedding Gown: Diane’s Formal Affair | Tux: J.Crew | Bridesmaid Dress: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Savoie Catering | Cake Artist: Edgar’s Bakery
Loved working again with an amazing team of friends/talented creatives on a fashion cover story in the current Birmingham Magazine Weddings Summer/Fall 2017 issue. Brides…need some inspiration for your wedding style? Pick up a copy on new stands now for ideas for every occasion, and where to get the looks… from the Engagement Party to Bridesmaids Luncheon, Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding.
Here are some of my favorite images from our shoot in the studio…
Photographer: Heather Durham | 1st Assistant: Andi Rice | Art Director: Laura Buchanan | Stylist: Mary Beth Wetzel | Hair & Make Up: Kerri Bunn of Boma Beautiful | Models: Anna Kathryn Fitch and Ellie Martin | Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon: Leslie Nunnelly, Cocoon Silk Ribbon | Floral Design: Lisa Thorne, Thorne & Thistle
Photographers sometimes have to step out of our norm (and what people are used to seeing from us) and do something completely different to fuel our creative juices. This is one of those times for me. Such a fun day of shooting in the studio with Ashley! And a big thanks to Cameron Powell for pushing me to create something different and allowing me to use his space to do it.
Model: Ashley Owens of AMAX Talent
Assistant & DigitTech: Collin Fatke
It’s always a pleasure to shoot for my friends at Twin Construction in Birmingham, AL. This home was especially fun to photograph, since I know Rachael, the owner and love her personal style. Laurie Fulkerson, interior designer for Twin, did an exceptional job capturing and bringing Rachel and Dax’s style and personalities into the details of the home design. My favorite elements? The incredible black crocodile wallpaper in the study (slight obsession), the luxurious blue velvet sofas in the living room, the butlers pantry filled with natural light, the steel folding doors that open the dining room onto the screened porch for indoor/outdoor entertaining and finally the perfectly organized master bedroom closet with lighted shelving. There’s so much more…Pick up a copy of Birmingham Home & Garden to read the story behind this amazing Homewood (Edgewood) remodel.
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