As we deep dive into the holiday season, the age-old argument brews in my household and, presumably, others across the country. To be or not to be– kidding! To decorate for the holidays after Halloween or to wait until Thanksgiving has been celebrated is what I’m really referring to. Whether you favor the latter or the former, we’ve got you covered because we’ve sat down with interior designer and Southampton resident Victoria-Ninette Magee to discuss all things decorating for the holidays.
Victoria, who has been working in the interior design industry for almost two decades, is originally from Connecticut. Her college best friend introduced her to the east end of Long Island, and she then made the island her home when she met her husband, Matthew. When asked how she would describe her aesthetic or style, she said, “It’s rooted in Scandinavian minimalism dappled with New England maximalism.” Victoria says that she gravitates towards neutrals, blues, and greens– very fitting for our coastal communities.
I asked Victoria what was one thing, or a few things, that people could do to elevate their seasonal decorations. Victoria replied, “Try to make your own decor! Craft a wreath, make your fireplace garland, or my personal favorite, make clove clementine pomanders.” Victoria and her family live in a 1930s cape, which happens to be her husband’s late grandmother’s home. I thought her biggest design tip for those looking to design or redesign their spaces was perfect. She said, “Always invest in the pieces you are going to be living in. Save up for the sofa you’ve been dreaming about, buy a special pillow one at a time, and learn how to wallpaper the room yourself! Remember, good things take time!” It is so easy to get caught up in wanting to fill the space you’re living in that you end up spending more money than you wanted to, buying and rebuying pieces that you weren’t in love with in the first place.
Curious about what the inside of an interior designer’s home might look like? Victoria drew it up for us, “I recently installed wallpaper on the risers of my stairs and in my kids’ bedroom and re-did the fireplace. Currently working on a mural that goes up along the stairwell. Overall, it’s a layered look mixed with heirlooms, vintage finds, and pieces about to be reupholstered. I’m in it for the long game, and because of my line of work, it will constantly be evolving.” You can check out more of Victoria’s work on her Instagram @VictoriaNinette_InteriorDesign or on her website, www.victorianinette.com
I asked Victoria what her favorite part of the house was to decorate for the holidays, and she said, “I love a stoop/front porch moment! Trees, lights! it’s so lovely to drive up to the house in the evening with the lights all aglow.” Whether you have a big space to decorate or a smaller one, it somehow always feels daunting to get it right. It often seems like so many trends are coming into popularity and so many falling out of favor each month that it’s hard to keep up. But what I loved about my conversation with Victoria and her work as an interior designer is what she said next, “I love when Christmas trees have heirloom ornaments or ones that came from a special trip. The trees that are like storybooks are the ones I find to be the most interesting.” Sometimes, it’s what you already have that makes the best decoration.
When Victoria isn’t making spaces come alive, you can find her in the kitchen; cooking is her second love. She will be hosting a wreath-making workshop on November 19th in East Hampton, with a portion of the proceeds given to Hampton’s Community Outreach. More info on this can be found on her Instagram!
