How local designer Anne Fortini decorates for the holidays

Editor’s note: This is part of a continuing series showcasing the homes of local interior designers.

One of Anne Fortini’s boldest moves as a designer involved a friend devoted to plastic-wrapped furniture. One day, when that friend was away from home, Fortini invited herself over and liberated everything: the dining chairs, the sofa, the staircase.

That was a few decades ago, and, incredibly, the owner of that home kept Fortini as a friend. She did, however, ditch the plastic for good. “Don’t be afraid of the bumps and bruises that make a house a home, I told her,” said Fortini, who takes this philosophy to heart in decorating her own San Luis Obispo home.

Built in 2003, the Italian farmhouse style residence was meant to evoke glorious vacations in Italy and to celebrate the Italian heritage of Fortini’s husband Led. It was never meant to be a showpiece, however.

Fortini is quick to invite guests to sit back on their invitingly plump down-filled tapestry sofa and put up their feet on the distressed wood coffee table. On any given weekend, at least a handful of their six grandchildren are dragging toys over the French limestone floors or playing tag among the olive trees.

Family-friendly comfort is central to Fortini’s approach to decorating for the holidays as well. A simple, understated look allows her to strike a balance between laid-back and pulled together.

Fortini is a fan of organic elements for the way they bring simplicity, texture and warmth to holiday decorations that, with all their color and shine, can easily cross the line into garish.

She insists on a fresh tree, preferring one that looks straight from the forest, and therefore not too perfect. She always includes some natural ornaments, including handmade bird nests that she made 20 years ago. Other possibilities are twigs, berries and pine cones — things that can be collected or purchased inexpensively.

Fortini prefers a limited color palette for her tree for a look that is easy on the eyes and “not too busy,” she said. She sticks mainly with burgundy and gold glass ornaments and ribbon, which coordinate with her everyday living room décor. Simple white lights brighten without adding more color.

Like most people, the Fortinis have ornaments that are sentimental, yet don’t work with their design scheme such as kids’ art projects and whimsical ornaments gifted from friends. Fortini reserves these for a smaller tree that the children decorate.

Fortini likes fresh greenery, such as pine and eucalyptus, both for its unfussy yet elegant look, as well as its fragrance. She uses garlands, wreaths and ribbon to dress up the hearth, sconces, chandeliers and mirrors.

Tradition is a big part of the Fortini family’s Christmas celebration. They resist the allure of the latest holiday decorating trends, preferring timeless pieces, many of which they have used for the last 30 years.

Most have a story and some history with the family. For instance, she and Led have purchased several pieces on their travels, including a white ceramic nativity scene from Italy, and a wooden Santa Claus from Germany. Other decorations were handmade by family members.

Though Fortini is an avowed resister of clutter, she does have a weakness for holiday collectibles. Thirty years ago, she began a collection of Dickens Village pieces — buildings and accessories that together create a 19^th century English village. She also collects Byers’ Choice Caroler figurines. Over the years, she has amassed a collection of more than 80 pieces.

Her clutter-taming solution is to clear out everything she normally keeps in her china cabinet, and restrict her collection to that area. Not everything fits, so she rotates through the collection, creating a different display each year. A bonus to containing her display: she doesn’t have to worry about pieces being accidentally knocked off tabletops and ledges.

Because the Fortini home is on a seldom-traveled roadway, they keep outdoor decorations simple and understated — just a few lit trees, a wreath on the door, and small rosemary Christmas trees on the front porch.

Having the right attitude is the most important part of creating a welcoming space during the holidays, or anytime, said Fortini. That may mean overlooking the dings in your coffee table, or refusing to fret over the bare spot in your tree. “If you enjoy your home, your guests and friends will as well — that has been my philosophy,” she said.

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 9:26 AM with the headline "How local designer Anne Fortini decorates for the holidays."