Story: And Heaven and Nature Sing
With three covered porches and a spectacular view of the Savannah River, the Evans home of Renee and Jonathan “Shack” Shackelford is the perfect backdrop for them to honor all things Christmas in a natural setting.
The Shackelfords, who moved into the house with their daughter, Amelia, almost two years ago, still are creating family traditions for their new home. However, from honoring the memory of Renee’s late father to baking and gift giving, they brought many of their holiday rituals with them.
“Christmas is a big holiday for us,” Renee says. “Amelia was born the day after Christmas. She was a great Christmas gift.”
Cardinals Rule
Renee and Shack turned to Southern Landscaping to capture their love of the outdoors with their holiday décor.
The theme begins on the covered back porch, which is the main entrance to their home in River Island. On the wicker couch, a trio of Christmas pillows brings holiday charm to the cozy sitting area. While two of the pillows feature a snowman and a vertical plaid stripe on one side, the third one resembles an envelope addressed to Santa.
A poinsettia and a candle in a lantern accent the round table in the sitting area. The brick fireplace is the focal point of the covered porch, however, and it is brimming with holiday cheer.
Soft, snuggly blankets are tucked inside a plaid basket on the raised hearth. A skinny Christmas tree in a small black planter stands guard on either side of the fireplace.
The trees are decorated with oversized red and white balls, ornaments featuring Christmas carol lyrics, bright red cardinals, wooden ornaments with cardinals on them and ribbon featuring cardinals and birdhouses.
More cardinals are nestled in the greenery on the mantel, which also features large red and white Christmas balls.
“We wanted a cardinal theme, and we wanted five trees,” says Shack.
The cardinal décor was not chosen for its color, however. The redbirds are a gentle reminder to Renee that her father is still with her.
“He loved the outdoors,” she says. “When I see a cardinal, it feels like he has come back.”
Calling the back porch his favorite spot in the house, Shack says, “The porch has such good natural light, and it’s so warm in the wintertime when we have a fire going.”
A nutcracker doormat placed beneath double doors, which are decorated with a wreath, leads to the kitchen.
Nuts About Christmas
The nutcracker motif continues in the kitchen, where a dishtowel says, “Welcome to The Nutcracker House. . . Crazy doesn’t skip a generation here.”
On a countertop, two wine bottles are wrapped in Christmas sweaters with nutcrackers or gnomes on them.
Greenery and a trio of blue-gray balls are tucked in two lanterns above the island, and the island décor features place settings with Nikko Christmastime china and a gold bowl filled with glittery gold balls, cream-colored balls and a small blue Christmas tree.
Of course, along with cardinals and nutcrackers, the Shackelfords share their Christmas spirit with other family members.
“Our family is big, and we love spending time with them,” says Shack. “Renee is one thousand percent a giver. She loves to see the joy on people’s faces when they open their gifts.”
Their extended family includes Renee’s three grown sons and their wives, four granddaughters and the 100-plus employees at McElmurray Construction Company, which her father founded. For the annual company Christmas party, Renee, who serves as president, buys presents for all of the employees’ children and has raffle prizes for spouses.
Ask Renee about her other favorite holiday traditions, and her daughter is quick to answer.
“She loves making Christmas cake with me,” says Amelia.
Mother and daughter always make a chocolate cake on Christmas Eve, and they see a performance of “The Nutcracker” together every year.
Christmas Cheer
In the dining room, the long wooden table is set with Winter Greetings china by Lenox – a pattern that features cardinals and greenery.
“My mom bought the china over 20 years ago,” says Renee.
Forest green napkins in gold Christmas tree napkin rings accent the table, and the centerpiece is made up of gold bells, glittery gold berries and white tapers in gold candlesticks.
A side table features wooden signs that say “Noel” and “Joy,” and another wood sign has a nativity scene on it. A whimsical Mark Roberts elf, clad in white and gold, is perched atop each of the two gold lanterns on the table.
One of the five trees stands in the dining area, and festive ornaments that say things like “Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear” add to the fun.
In the adjoining living room, the floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree is trimmed with cream-colored poinsettias, large glittery gold balls, large cream balls, gold Christmas pics, flocked branches, pinecones and silver bells. Wooden church-shaped ornaments and square wood ornaments on the tree say, “praise Him” or “adore Him.”
A green and gold bow in the center of the mantel is surrounded by greenery, artificial grapes and gold, white and silver balls of various sizes. Pastel-colored stockings for Shack, Renee and Amelia hang from the mantel.
“The colors in the living room are so relaxing, and we wanted the Christmas decorations to match the coastal feel,” says Renee.
Artwork in the guest room, along with a gold nativity scene in the hallway, belonged to Renee’s father.
“I have a lot of things from my dad’s home that I incorporated in this house,” she says.
Garlands and Bows
Courtesy of the Savannah River across the street, the Shackelfords also can enjoy their natural surroundings with the view from their stacked front porches year-round.
“The view is so pretty,” Renee says. “How can you not love it?”
A round table on the front porch is set with Lenox Holiday plates, and a large white pitcher in the center of the table is filled with gold Christmas pics, glittery red balls, flocked greenery and a poinsettia.
Each of the double doors is adorned with a grapevine wreath featuring a bow tied with cardinal-themed ribbon and white ribbon with glittery red stripes. Greenery, red berries and holly leaves add the finishing touches to the wreaths.
Strands of white Christmas lights are wrapped around the greenery in planters on either side of the doors. A Christmas pillow featuring a deer head rests on each of two brown rockers that belonged to Renee’s father.
Green garland with red bows is draped on the white railings of the front porch, the split staircase and the landing railings. A decorative “Merry Christmas” flag, featuring a red cardinal on a wreath, flies from the front porch as well.
More green garland accented with red bows hangs from the railings of the upstairs porch, which is off the primary bedroom.
Featuring a shiplap cathedral ceiling and a gas fireplace with a marble surround, the primary bedroom is a show-stopper all year long.
For the holidays, a tall Christmas tree featuring white and gold ornaments is nestled in the corner of the room, and the fireplace mantel features flocked greenery, beige poinsettias and pinecones.
“I love everything about Christmas,” Renee says “I love the decorations. I love the music. I love giving, and I love seeing other people happy.”
By Betsy Gilliland
Photography by Sally Kolar
