Dressed for Christmas
Bonnie Warren
The warm glow of the fire in the fireplace enhances the spirit of Christmas in the living room, where the nearby tall tree is the focal point. The mantel is adored with the three wise men purchased on a trip to Paris, while the stockings were acquired in Bergamo, Italy.
Bayona. “We even decorate the kitchen and back porch.”Furnished with fine antiques and Oriental rugs, as well as art and accessories gathered from around the world, the entertaining areas of the Keevers’ home in Metairie Club Estates serve as a backdrop for their elegant manner of decorating for the holidays. Poinsettias are placed on the front porch and holiday bouquets are affixed to the tall, glass front doors as an introduction to the grandeur of Christmas that greets you inside.
“We always have a large tree in the living room,” Regina says. “I like to use handmade ornaments that we’ve collected over the years.” The fireplace mantel is swathed with greenery that’s interspersed with holiday ornaments and clusters of silver grapes, pomegranates and poinsettias.
“We especially like to surround ourselves with mementoes gathered from our travels when we decorate for the holidays,” says Regina. Elaborate stockings hang from the mantel; the Keevers purchased them on a trip to Bergamo, Italy.
Additionally, the couple found the three wise men statues in Paris.
With all the holiday cheer, it’s difficult to imagine that this meticulous home suffered severe flooding during Hurricane Katrina. “We had four feet of water,” Ron explains. “We were out of the house for seven months and it was nice to be home again for the second Christmas after the hurricane. “Adds Regina, “I think missing one Christmas in our home gave us a special appreciation of what it means to decorate our house and have our friends and family over to share the holiday season.”
Nothing in the Keevers’ home is more festive than the formal dining room. “We love using our Steuben glass dishes and crystal when we entertain for the holidays. The fact that our Steuben collection is green simply makes it more fitting,” says Regina.
Table decorations include nutcrackers guarding the four corners of the table, with a large antique porcelain bowl in the center that’s filled with a variety of gold and glass balls. Hand-blown glass pear-shaped ornaments, topped with gold glass butterflies add interest to the chandelier.
The picturesque dining room is partially curtained from the long hallway and the columns that further define the space are wrapped with green garland, gold ribbon, tiny clear lights and ornaments.In the kitchen there are always home-baked goodies interspersed with holiday decorations. “We complete our holiday home by never neglecting the back porch,” Regina says cheerfully. “Even our wicker porch furniture is painted green and the cushions are red.”
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