Perfect Holiday: A Sweet Celebration in Brooklyn
Photos by Chinasa Cooper. Originally published in AphroChic magazine Issue No. 2 in 2019.
Christmas is one of our favorite holidays. Every year the season brings up memories of growing up in Philadelphia. As kids we couldn’t wait to get to the Wannemaker Building to see the Christmas Light Show and tour the world of Ebenezer Scrooge in the animatronic Dickens Village. We’d walk beneath the dazzling ornaments hung in Rittenhouse Square before going home to sit with moms and grandmoms to be reminded of the parts of the holiday that aren’t about trees and toys. There was more family, food and fun than at any other part of the year. And - at least for a while - we didn’t have to go to school. It was a magical time, and each year we try to share the same warm feelings we remember with our New York family, transforming our home into a winter wonderland just in time for our big party.
Our apartment isn’t huge, so getting it in shape for a party, even a small one, takes some creative designing. This year, while the decor included a few nods to traditional holiday accessories, we wanted the feel of this celebration to be more sophisticated and modern. We decided to start by moving away from the customary palette of reds and greens to embrace brighter hues with more contemporary accents. To inspire our new color story, we took a cue from a piece we live with every day: our Cameroonian juju hat. With its bright, fuchsia color as a base, we set out to find hot pink ribbon for the wreath and tree with baubles to match. Echoing the bright accessories, the sofa was loaded with pillows from our textile collection, including a Congolese-inspired kuba print in purple and fuchsia.
With so many bold colors on display, we needed to find a way to balance the intensity. Muted shades of gray and black were the perfect solution, but we needed a way to add them in that was still fun. Lining the mantel with gray, felt trees was a great way to get the color we needed along with a cozy texture that added to the aesthetic. As an added touch, we were thrilled to display our collection of black glass nutcrackers and reindeer, a cool update to the older wooden versions. Finally, we layered in our favorite metallics - silver, gold and a touch of copper to give the space a warm, holiday glow.
For this year’s celebration we invited over a creative crowd from Brooklyn and beyond. We were happy to host floral-enthusiast Emily Howard Kudva and her husband, Suren, interior designer (and Jeanine’s sister) Angela Belt, journalist Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson with her husband Matt and designer Tanika Goudeau Hochhauser with her husband Brian. We were even happier to see their kids. Roxanne Kudva, Brooklyn Belt and August Anderson were the life of the party as we gathered for an evening of good food, soulful holiday classics, and gift-giving.
Environmental touches are a big part of any seasonal gathering, and for us, that starts with music. we had everything from Motown holiday standards to new classics by Boyz II Men setting the perfect mood. Stevie Wonder and Andra Day sang Someday At Christmas, with a refreshing new sound. Meanwhile, candles burned on the mantel, adding light and fragrance to the room, while guests big and small made quick work of gingerbread cookies and cider. Then it was onto the main event.
Grownup parties aren’t the most exciting thing for kids - even the ones with cookies and cider. But we all remember the exhilaration that comes from seeing gifts under the tree, so the party began with a special treat for each of our little guests. The mantel was filled with stockings, which in turn were filled with gifts for little hands. While favors are usually given out at the end of a party, we love giving kids a gift that can keep them happy throughout the event. For the adults we had a “Happy Holidays” bar with sparkling wine and light bites. More gifts were stacked just for them on our gifting table - a new holiday tradition we adopted to free up space around the tree.
On the tree, we showcased ornaments collected over two decades of life together. Among the selection of newly purchased snowy owls, houndstooth foxes and geometric ornaments were the sentimental pieces that mean the most to us. Every year we decorate the tree with a custom AphroChic silhouette ornament that we received years ago when we were just starting out, a Rwandan basket favor from our wedding, and a Christmas angel that brings back fond memories of holidays past.
While the kids ran and played, we sat and enjoyed long conversations with our friends and family. And while we aren’t little anymore, or in Philly, and there isn’t an animatronic Christmas spirit in sight, we still get excited for the holidays. The work of preparing for guests, the fun of having them over and the excitement of little ones - these are the moments that make this season truly special.
Effortless Holiday Entertaining Tips
Festival of Color
Decorating for the holidays is just like designing for the home. Start with a color palette that complements your existing decor. Pick three shades for your holiday decor. For a modern touch be sure to include a strong neutral like black or gray. Once you have your color palette decided, you can go wild with ornaments and baubles, stockings, wrapping paper and other accessories that fit within your color story. The end result will be a visually striking winter wonderland.
Personal Ornamentation
Ornaments that have a personal connection to you and your family are important heirlooms to display during the holidays. Showcase any heirloom pieces on your tree, at your tabletop, and wherever you bring holiday decor into your home. And if you’re in need of personalized ornaments, make collecting them a new part of your tradition. Adding a new family ornament annually can be a fun way to grow your collection!
Soulful Tunes
Donny Hathaway’s This Christmas, Boyz II Men crooning Let It Snow, The Temptations version of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, no party is complete without a mixtape of favorite soulful holiday tunes. A few days before your event, be sure to make a playlist of family favorites, and in your invitation you can even ask guests for a few suggestions. Be sure to have enough music for a few hours of shuffle play. At the end of the night, share your playlist as a party favor that guests can enjoy throughout the season.
For the Babies
For your littlest guests, have presents at the ready upon their arrival. Stockings by the chimney can be filled with special treats for children. Child-friendly gifts can also be placed beneath the tree. Remember, they’ve waited all year long for Santa, so don’t make them wait one minute longer. Allow them to rip right in and open something to play with as the evening’s festivities go along. It will make for some very happy little ones.
Bar Style
Craft a bar that welcomes your guests upon arrival. Outfit a bar cart, console table, or any extra surface with shimmering glassware, cordials and tonics for the evening. Also have the area well-stocked with plates, flatware, napkins and other items that guests can grab so that they can easily enjoy all of the goodies served throughout your holiday celebration.
