Making a Home for the Holidays

Ellen Cesario Ferns, store*four owner and interior stylist, is passionate about well-decorated homes that also complement lifestyles. We chatted with the Wakefield storeowner to get her best tips on how to get our homes holiday ready.

store*four is celebrating a big birthday. How has your boutique changed in ten years? What has stayed the same?
Since store*four opened in 2005, we have evolved into a store that is known for having that “it” gift for weddings and hostesses. Over the last ten years our customers have come to trust our advice about gifts and decor and have learned that our choices are current and affordable. Our proximity to Wakefield Liquors also allows us to provide a great resource to our customers and their entertaining needs.
Our home accessories and entertaining essentials are carefully chosen to provide a distinctive selection to enhance our customers’ lifestyles. The emphasis is on heirloom quality and timeless style. We take the time to offer advice and help you choose the best gift for each recipient. This is a constant and always will be at store*four. Whether helping to discover the perfect gift, assisting to accessorize a dinner table or an entire home, it is very rewarding to offer advice and a personal shopping experience to all of my customers.

What home decorating tips can you share for transitioning from Halloween to the holidays?
I believe that simple elegance and layering can transition you through all of the seasons. Start with a beautiful tablecloth or runner in your dining room. All you have to do is layer or change your accessories. A sophisticated, layered look will transition you from the fall through the winter. You can add colorful napkins for Thanksgiving and then add accessories such as our beautiful Italian Vietri hand-painted pieces for your Christmas display.

Once the holidays are over you can leave the cloth and layer more pieces for winter, such as beautiful pine-scented Voluspa candles. For the other rooms in your home, a cozy and luxurious Sferra throw can change the feel of a room by adding color, texture and warmth. We also have myriad colorful or neutral French tea towels. They can hang in the powder room or kitchen and can even be used as mini-tablecloths, placemats or runners. This is a quick and affordable way to add style and refresh the look of your room.

store*four celebrates each season with expert style. What’s your favorite season, and why?
We love the holidays because it is a time of remembrance and family. It brings warmth to the home and table. I love that with so many occasions for entertaining, the holidays become a wonderful opportunity to showcase your home.
Occasionally our customers will bring in photos from their homes so we can help them style their mantles or dining tables. Often with a little refresh of your accessories you can achieve your dream look for any season.
The holiday time is also an opportunity to collect special one-of-a-kind pieces that can be enjoyed for generations. I love receiving our shipments of hand-painted Italian pottery and handmade Annie Glass pieces. We order these pieces sometimes as early as March so that the artisans will know how many to create. I love that our customers enjoy these pieces as much as we do.

The holidays bring holiday parties. What are your most popular host/hostess gifts?
Hostess gifts are a specialty that we have become known for! We have many options in different price ranges for all occasions and circumstances. We love working with our customers to find stylish and sophisticated hostess gift. Sometimes you may not know your hosts’ taste or colors. Even in that case we will help you find something elegant and stylish that will mix with any decor.
We also can combine items in our store with anything purchased next door at Wakefield Liquors (such as a bottle of wine, champagne, beer or bourbon). These customizable gift baskets are popular because they are great for everyone. An example is to incorporate consumable items, such as our imported snacks and crackers with a bottle of wine with a beautiful dishtowel. That way your hostess has something to keep and something to eat and drink.

What can readers expect during the holidays at store*four?
Many times during the holidays customers have told me that shopping with us takes the stress out of gift giving. We strive to make the shopping experience stress free and calm at such a busy time of year. We will have samples and specials all season long and possibly a few surprises. We always offer complimentary gift-wrapping, but at this especially hectic time of year that can save our customers so much time.

store*four
673 Kingstown Road
Wakefield
783-7388
www.storefour.net