This Florida Cottage Was Made For Holiday Hosting:-Nicklaus and Sid Williams-Heath designed their Gulf Breeze, Florida property for holiday hospitality. Their first Christmas celebration, an annual caroling party and Sid’s birthday party, was held in the home’s studs before it was finished.
“All we had was the fireplace, so I just set up a Champagne bar and we put out some benches,” Nicklaus says. “That, to me, was the first breath of fresh air that gave this house life.”
It took 16 months to build a “distinctly Southern” home with architectural designer Robert V. McCown, builder Kevin Russell, and designer Nicholas Pica, but their ambition had been in the works for much longer.
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This Florida Cottage Was Made For Holiday Hosting
Natural Instincts
- The couple was used to designing small places in New York City and Savannah before moving to the Panhandle, so they focused on the basics. They prioritized their favorite things.
- “The new house was like a blank canvas for us to explore what really comes to life,” Nicklaus explains. “For me, it’s all about bringing in natural elements we already have and expanding and simplifying Christmas.”
A Well-Loved Tree
- “We’ve had some Christmases when we didn’t use a single ornament,” Nicklaus says. Nicklaus’ grandmother has given him Lenox ornaments from infancy, so when they moved into this house and had more space for decorations, they welcomed heritage.
- He added a “layer of nostalgia” to the tree by borrowing her signature white candles this year. “It’s been so special creating our own traditions as a family,” he adds.
Main Attraction
- The living room fireplace is the home’s centerpiece. I want our guests, and even us, to go in and see the greenery, white lights, pine cones, and stockings, Nicklaus says of the mantel.
- Even though the house is new, the couple wanted a columnar fireplace that looked old, so they had a mason toss and shatter the bricks.
Grand Gesture
- As the first room you see when you enter the house, the couple called the kitchen the greeting point.
- A fragrant simmer pot is often on the stove during the holidays, but Sid says, “Just as many cocktails come out of the kitchen as meals.” Nicklaus favors an old-fashioned, while Sid likes bubbly.
Cocktails Around Every Corner
- From a gingerbread home on a table to a 5-foot wreath on a porch to a miniature tree on a desk, the pair thinks each area deserves a personal touch.
- They also set up serving stations. “We’ll set up bars in outdoor spaces and all over the house,” says Sid.
- We serve Champagne in the courtyard and have a bar on the screened porch. People can sip while traveling!
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All-Season Entertaining
- Due to the courtyard, screened porch, and front overhang, the 2,800-square-foot home doubles. “It suits us.
- We entertain often, and Nicklaus has always wanted each room to have outdoor access to make traffic flow easier.
- They can use the outside space year-round in Florida, but the air conditioner turns on while the fire is on.
Musical Memories
- Nicklaus is a talented pianist who leads partygoers in joyous Steinway melodies. He puts out his childhood carol book on the piano for the season. He plays Once Upon a Christmas by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton to fill the home when he’s not playing.
Signature Gift
- The duo prepares DIY “simmer kits” for party handouts and neighborhood gifts every year. Each bundle contains an orange from Sid’s dad’s store, cranberries, rosemary, tree clippings, and a recipe card for friends and family to save.
Subtle Points
- The duo prepares DIY “simmer kits” for party handouts and neighborhood gifts every year. Each bundle contains an orange from Sid’s dad’s store, cranberries, rosemary, tree clippings, and a recipe card for friends and family to save.
Sentimental Greeting
- For this season, Sid put a four-poster bed in the guest suite to wrap garland around. He greets guests with a card, a modest gift, and “the full experience of Christmas,” as the greenery will shed after a good night’s sleep. In New York City, the couple routinely shares Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree articles.
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