Interior designer Jamie Merida’s home on the Eastern Shore reveals a passion for the season.
Merida says he likes to keep holiday decor simple and contains it to specific areas like the stairs and mantel.
THE PROJECT
Jamie Merida, principal and founder of Jamie Merida Interiors and Bountiful Home (jamiemerida.com), is unequivocal about decorating for the holidays. “I tend to like more is more, but at home, I try to pull it back a bit,” he says about his Eastern Shore property.
“The living room tree and mantle are lush and dense with fresh greens as the base with gold garlands and ornaments woven into the design,” says Merida. “When doing lush and over-the-top decorating, I like to keep it contained to specific areas.”
A festive tablescape at interior designer Jamie Merida’s home.
THE HOME’S ORIGINS
“We fell in love with the house when we turned down the driveway,” says Merida about the property, whose style mimics 18th-century Tidewater architecture with classic details and trim of the period.
“The home needed a total refresh and update, including the not-so-sexy replacement of all systems, HVAC, plumbing and electrical,” the designer says. “We updated the bedrooms to include en suite bathrooms, added a primary bath and renovated the kitchen. The home didn’t have a family room or great river [views], so we added a sun-filled kitchen room.” Merida also updated and renovated the home’s expansive gardens.
Merida’s living room radiates holiday warmth.
STANDOUT DECOR
It’s always interesting to see which pieces a designer selects for their residence. In Merida’s case, he curated furniture he adores and often recommends to clients.
In the living room, he chose a sofa from Wesley Hall (wesleyhall.com), side tables from Woodbridge Furniture (woodbridgefurniture.com), lamps from Chelsea House (chelseahouseinc.com) and silk grasscloth wallpaper from Kravet (kravet.com).
For the holidays, the dining room features abundant fresh greenery from the property and focuses on the table setting. Merida selected chairs from Wesley Hall, a chandelier from Currey and Company (curreyandcompany.com) and draperies from Kravet.
The family room shines with a drink table from Woodbridge Furniture, a Chesterfield sofa from Hooker Furniture (hookerfurniture.com) and a rug from Annie Selke (annieselke.com). “The family room is much more casual and relaxed, featuring our favorite tree with ornaments of all the woodland wildlife we can see from the windows with a white egret as the tree topper,” says Merida.
Merida uses greenery from his property for the mantels.
HOW TO MAKE THE HOLIDAYS SHINE
Merida says he adheres to a cohesive color scheme that reflects his style and the holiday spirit. “Traditional colors work well for me, but I don’t hesitate to mix modern hues for a fresh twist,” he says. “I designate key areas to showcase my decor, such as a mantel, dining table or entryway. I use larger pieces as focal points and build around them with smaller accents.”
The renowned designer also arranges decorations in a balanced way, either symmetrically or asymmetrically. “This creates a pleasing visual flow without feeling clutter,” he says. “Sometimes less is more. I like to choose a few key pieces that make a statement rather than overwhelming your space with too many decorations.”
An understated sign outside the home, decorated for the holidays, greets guests with cheer.
Home Type
Single-Family
Location
Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Designer
Jamie Merida Interiors, Bountiful Home
jamiemerida.com
Natural light pours into Merida’s gorgeous holiday dining space.
Wesley Hall
Sofa, living room
wesleyhall.com
Woodbridge Furniture
Side tables, living room; drink table, family room
woodbridgefurniture.com
Chelsea House
Lamps, living room
chelseahouseinc.com
Kravet
Wallpaper, living room
kravet.com
Currey and Company
Chandelier, living room
curreyandcompany.com
Kravet
Draperies, living room
kravet.com
Hooker Furniture
Sofa, family room
hookerfurniture.com
Annie Selke
Rug, family room
annieselke.com
Photography by: DARREN SETLOW
