Three leading designers put a new spin on holiday packaging

Andrea Brooks, Andrea Brooks Interiors

Materials of Choice: Fabric and wallpaper remnants, tissue paper, paint chip samples, and vintage ornaments Inspiration: “I chose these materials much like I would design an actual interior, selecting fabrics that coordinate and are cohesive in color but vary in scale and texture of material. I love using a mix of reds and greens…and also personally use a lot of Oriental accents in my Christmas décor, including my vintage Chinese silk paper doll ornaments that I inherited from my grandmother. I’ve also been collecting vintage Shiny Brite ornaments for years, so including those was a must,” Brooks says. What She Did: Brooks used the fabric and wallpaper pieces to wrap the packages just as she would with regular wrapping paper. To create a unique ribbon, she cut a length of fabric that would wrap around the box and that was two-inches wide. She turned the cut edges of the fabric under for a polished look on each edge. Flowers, cut from the fabrics, create additional embellishments for the gifts. For a finishing touch, Brooks added handmade tissue flowers to the packages. Andrea Brooks Interiors, El Dorado, (870) 314-1334, andreabrooksinteriors.com

Shayla Copas, Shayla Copas Interiors

Materials of Choice: Wallpaper, drapery fabric, ornaments and greenery Inspiration: “I am actually using this palette in my holiday decorating at home this year and love the soothing calm colors. The look itself is traditional; however, it is a nontraditional palette pairing, which makes it unique. I love to put my own stamp on tradition, and I think the mix of textures in the grasscloth and pearlized wallpapers along with the iridescent threads in the fabric really catch the eye,” Copas says. What She Did: Copas wrapped boxes in the wallpaper, using a glue gun to secure the thick paper, and then created her own bows using sheer drapery fabric (visit our blog for more info). She used floral wire to attach the bow to the package along with ornaments and fresh cedar, which Copas says gives the look “an organic flair.” Shayla Copas Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 258-7396, shaylacopas.com

Andrea Hadfield

Materials of Choice: Chalkboard surfaces, including matte black bulletin board paper, small decorative chalkboards, chalk paint, ribbons, and accents Inspiration: “Everyone, whether a child or a child at heart, loves to write or draw on the chalkboard! Most of us have good memories of learning, being expressive, or being cheered on by classmates while doing so. I wanted to incorporate a fundamental aspect of every child’s learning experience into my wrapping paper scheme,” Hadfield says. What She Did: Hadfield used matte black bulletin board paper, which is sold in large rolls similar to wrapping paper, to transform her packages into “blackboards”—perfect for writing messages of holiday cheer to the gift’s recipient. She used chalk and chalk markers to inscribe the messages and then finished the package with brightly colored mesh bows, peppermint candies, and treat-themed ornaments to contrast with the dark black wrap. Small chalkboards and pieces of chalk tied on with string served as another fun way to incorporate the theme into the wrap. To take the project one step further and create and an actual gift, Hadfield used chalkboard paint to cover the surface of wine glasses and photo frames, as seen here. She suggests using a setting spray to keep the writing intact. Andrea Hadfield, ASID, I.O. Metro, Fayetteville, (479) 521-1297; PEH Architect, (479) 444-8283, peharchitect.com