Holiday Warmth Florida Style

With a love for nature, a flair for vignettes, and family traditions at the heart, this home shines especially bright at Christmastime.

- WRITTEN BY KELLY MCMASTER I STYLED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY WENDY SMITH-SULLIVAN

In Florida, where sparkling lakes meet stretches of wooded preserves, Wendy Smith-Sullivan and her husband have built a home that celebrates both nature and nostalgia.

"I grew up just ten minutes from our home, when this whole area was nothing but wetlands. When the neighborhood was developed, they preserved 18 lakes and plenty of wooded conservation areas, so we still get visits from deer, coyotes, bobcats, and even the occasional Florida panther," says Wendy.

Step inside, and you'll discover spaces layered with rustic romance, vintage treasures, and a holiday spirit that feels equal parts cozy and magical.

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS

For this family, Christmas is a team effort, though Wendy laughingly admits her husband is the real "Christmas captain."

"He sends me on a mission to find the perfect candle that smells like Christmas, then gets the bins down from the attic. I manage the decorating inside while he takes charge of the lights outside," she explains. "He's also the real cook and baker in the family. His smoked ham and sweet potato casserole are legendary."

The family's holiday traditions are rich with nostalgia: potato chip dip, cookies made from old family recipes, and a soundtrack of Christmas classics by Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, and Bing Crosby. Their "friendly" family game nights are anything but calm, "it usually turns into a competitive one, with plenty of laughs," she says.

With three grown children, two nearby and the youngest studying at her Wendy's al mater, the University of South Florida—Christmas means everyone comes home. Extended family gathers for the big holiday meal her husband prepares, while her job, she jokes, "is to put ice in the glasses and set the table."

STYLE THAT TELLS A STORY