Greene and Red Homestead: Simple greenery wreaths tied with traditional red bows dress the windows and front door at the Greenes’ brick Colonial home, where the couple first tied the knot during the pandemic. Taylor Greene and her husband, Dusty, hope to spend many more happy Christmases in their dream home with their young son, Campbell. Each year, Taylor decks the halls with multiple themed trees beautifully coordinating with the year-round decor. // Photos by Summer Ennis Ansley
In February 2020, most folks were going about ordinary days, heading to work or school, perhaps choosing a Valentine’s Day card for someone special or lining up along a Mobile sidewalk awaiting a Mardi Gras parade. Taylor White and Dusty Greene were scurrying around, preparing to start their lives together. Taylor had just returned from a trip to New York City to pick up her wedding gown and was putting finishing touches on plans for their big day, while Dusty was boxing up their belongings to move into their first home together. Just a few weeks ahead of their March 28 wedding date, the couple closed on a stately traditional Colonial on a picturesque property in Bay Minette. Everything seemed to be falling into place. Until COVID-19 struck, and the world stopped.
If the bleakness and isolation taught Taylor and Dusty anything, it was that they didn’t want to spend another day of their lives apart. Working in the home health and physical therapy field, they understood better than most the severity of the pandemic. Yet they didn’t want to postpone their wedding for who knew how long, so they made some calls and simplified their plans. In a simple white jumpsuit, Taylor walked down the “aisle” of their new front yard, up the brick steps to meet her groom. There, she and Dusty shared a sentimental moment and said their I dos right on their front porch with only their immediate family beside them. Afterward, they celebrated with a backyard feast, served on vintage china. Taylor’s mother and grandmother handled every detail from the food to linens and flower arrangements. “They both have always loved decorating and making things beautiful,” Taylor laughs, “so I guess I get that from them. It was especially pretty for something so last minute.”
Sugar Fruit Tree: The family room’s snow-flocked tree is always extra special to Taylor because the focal point is the vintage sugar fruit that was a gift from her grandmother. “I usually try to mix three to four different textured and colored ribbons in each tree.” In this case she chose sage silk, gold glittered and beige gingham. “I loved the greens in the fruit; those colors inspired my ribbon choices. Next, I added the ornaments, being sure to place larger balls deep within the tree to create depth and cover any larger holes. The final step is always adding interesting picks throughout.”
Dining Table Setting: “My grandmother insisted that I register for formal china when we got married, and now I am so glad I did. I keep my table set,” Taylor says. For the centerpiece, she arranged real oranges, studding them with fresh cloves. “This was the first year I did this, and it made the room smell amazing. It’s definitely a tradition I’ll continue.”
During the long lockdown days, the newlyweds took their free time to feather their new nest. The bones of the house already matched Taylor’s traditional style. “I felt like the exterior would stand the test of time, and inside, I just loved all the architectural details and character, like the beautiful molding and a formal living room. We didn’t have to do any major renovations, but we wanted to make cosmetic changes, like painting and hanging wallpaper.”
A self-professed fan of the trending “grandmillenial” aesthetic, Taylor is drawn to charming antiques and anything chinoiserie. She has a knack for mixing those classic pieces with a few newer design elements to make her spaces feel put together but never stuffy or dated. With a little bit of paint, wallpaper, art and a dose of social media inspiration, the Greenes’ Bay Minette home became exactly what Taylor had always envisioned.
Blushed and Bashful Tree: Playing off of the pastel pink drapes in the formal dining room, wired blush ribbon and glass ornaments in similar shades add a festive, feminine touch to the room.
Chinoiserie Tree: A large, chinoiserie ginger jar served as the inspiration for the kitchen tree. She anchored the tree inside the jar itself. Using plate hangers threaded onto the branches, blue and white antique plates become an instant coordinating focal point. Homemade cut-and-dried orange slices make aromatic ornaments that add a contrasting pop of color. A few simple velvet ribbons tied in bows add the perfect finishing touch.
Woodland Tree: For the newest tree to the collection, Taylor repurposed some old Thanksgiving decor. “I like to mix things up, and use my decorations for multiple holidays in different ways.” She began with statement elements, like the duck, pheasant, and antlers, securing them to the base of the tree, before wrapping it all in grapevine to lend texture. “Last, I layered in a plaid ribbon I found on Amazon and orange velvet ribbon from Celebrations in Pensacola. I try to do a variety of techniques with ribbon in each tree to keep things interesting and add dimension.”
Vintage Nativity: A vintage porcelain nativity set, found at Antiques at the Loop, perfectly fits Taylor’s grandmillenial home aesthetic for the holidays.
Once the world reopened, the young couple was still able to celebrate their marriage at a lavish outdoor wedding on the Bragg-Mitchell lawn, just as they had imagined. Now, almost five years later, Taylor and Dusty have welcomed a precious son, Campbell, to their family. Chasing a busy toddler hasn’t kept them from maintaining a stylish, inviting home — especially during the holidays. Before they were even married, Taylor had a tradition of decorating themed Christmas trees that could be plucked from a storefront window. Every November, she puts up not two, not three, but five Christmas trees. For each, Taylor chooses a color scheme and theme that coordinates with the year-round decor of the room. She says she’s sure the collection will expand as their family grows, including more kid-friendly trees. “Campbell was 17 months old last Christmas, and I think I just got lucky that he did not bother the trees. But this year might be a different story so I don’t want to brag too soon!”
One thing is certain: The Greenes will continue to treasure every sentimental moment, every holiday — even every ordinary day — together with their son in their Bay Minette dream home.
