Creating the Perfect Space for the Occasion 

Make this season sparkle with intentional, welcoming details

By Carin Hall   Photos by G. Frank Hart

The holidays invite us to slow down, gather close, and celebrate the simple joy of being together. This year, we’ve teamed up with four Wilmington retailers who know how to make entertaining feel extra special. Each brings their own take on festive styling—blending warmth, creativity, and local craftsmanship to help you design a table that tells your story. By shopping local, you’re not just setting a beautiful scene; you’re supporting the artisans and shopkeepers who make our community merry all season long.

A Warm Welcome for the Holidays

At Sugarwood Interiors, the spirit of the season takes shape in a tablescape that blends warmth, texture, and craftsmanship. Designed to feel both artful and inviting, the setting layers a travertine tray ($45) with rattan accents and seasonal hydrangeas to create a cozy yet elegant backdrop for entertaining. Handmade turkey napkin rings ($12) add a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind touch to each place setting, while autumn leaves and pumpkins infuse the space with familiar fall charm.

The dining table, sourced from a North Carolina vendor, anchors the arrangement. Cushioned chairs—crafted by a local seamstress using fabric from a textile artist in Kiawah, South Carolina—add texture and a touch of storytelling to the space. On the sideboard, faux fall florals, a table lamp, a bronze turkey ($35), and brown rattan pumpkins provide a mix of beauty and function, leaving room for extra dishes and linens.

Newly introduced pieces, including a quail print ($22) in a burl frame by a recently featured artist, add depth and character. Even unlit, sculptural candles bring visual interest; when lit, they enhance the glow and coziness of the room. Altogether, it’s a thoughtful, layered look that captures the warmth of the holidays.

Sugarwood Interiors
sugarwoodnc.com
910-319-7779

A Classic Holiday Tablescape

Interior designers Suzanne Reid and Porter Creighton of Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors have created a timeless holiday tablescape that celebrates the season’s familiar warmth and sparkle. The design begins with glossy white and gold lanterns holding flickering candles—battery-powered, but made of real wax for a soft, authentic glow. Cone trees in mixed finishes, from brushed brass to playful stripes trimmed in faux fur, bring height and texture to the arrangement.

Down the center, ceramic light-up houses and smartly dressed nutcrackers evoke a sense of nostalgia, while a red and gold ribbon winds through the display to tie it all together.

The table settings continue the theme with a mix of pattern and polish: plaid placemats paired with red and green hemstitched napkins, finished with beaded napkin rings in holiday hues. White stoneware chargers frame decorative plates nestled in small berry wreaths, and hand-blown glassware—complete with a delicate tree-shaped stem—adds a festive touch. Behind it all, a cluster of LED fairy trees offers a gentle twinkle, equally suited for indoors or out.

With its traditional palette and playful details, the design captures the joy and magic of holiday gatherings—classic, cozy, and made to last.

Nest Fine Gifts
nestfinegifts.com
910-256-6378

Mix, Match, and Make It Yours

One of the freshest trends in holiday tablescaping is the art of mix-and-match — creating a look that’s cohesive yet delightfully varied. For this table, six place settings were styled using three different sets of china. The key to making it all feel intentional is consistency in the details: each setting features the same white charger, glassware, and napkin rings. To tie everything together, each patterned napkin was paired with a solid red one, adding a pop of color and visual harmony across the table. The result is a festive, layered look that feels personal and collected over time — and it’s easy to recreate using whatever chinaware combinations you already own.

Port City Peddler 
portcitypeddler.com
910-444-8881

Golden Glow

This season’s enchanting tablescape, designed and styled by Savannah Holman, designer, stylist and vendor at Uptown Market, captures the heart of the holidays through warmth, sparkle and nostalgia. Known for her signature ability to blend timeless elegance with inviting comfort, Holman brings her love of holiday decorating — and the cherished memories that inspire it — into every detail she creates.

Set within Uptown Market, this winter display glows with layered textures and golden tones. A soft, whitewashed table anchors the scene, adorned with lush greenery, delicate pearls and the coveted Eric & Eloise Collection featuring “Frankie” as a candelabra centerpiece — equal parts conversation piece and heirloom charm. Each element evokes the magic of gathering, laughter and tradition, transforming the table into a place where memories are both made and remembered.

Holman’s passion extends beyond the store — she offers in-home holiday and Christmas tree decorating services, bringing the same thoughtful touch and festive artistry into her clients’ homes. “I love that the holidays let us blend the beauty of winter with the warmth of family,” she says. “For me, it’s about recreating that sense of wonder I felt as a child — the twinkle, the laughter, the little details that make a house feel like home.”

From the flicker of candlelight to the shimmer of gold accents, every detail reflects Holman’s signature approach to design — heartfelt, refined and deeply personal. Her work invites you to slow down, savor the season and celebrate the joy of creating spaces that feel as beautiful as the memories they hold.

Uptown Market 
uptownmarketnc.com
910-686-0930