Christmas Cozy

A CHARMING MIDWEST HOME WELCOMES THE HOLIDAYS IN A RICH AND RUSTIC FASHION.

- Hannah Roberts

In a historical neighborhood in northern Michigan, Maria Marcusse and her husband Karl have spent the last three years living in a darling 4,000-square-foot Victorian. It was built for a lumber baron over a century ago, back when the logging industry drove the local economy. “There are several other houses like ours here that have a similar history; our town has done a great job in preserving them,” Maria says. “When we saw our home go up for sale, we were compelled to buy it due to its rich history and beautiful vintage features!”

Once they acquired their Victorian treasure, Maria set to work finding worthy pieces to fill the inside. “I want our home to have a welcoming, cozy feel for all who visit here,” she says. “Nothing [inside] really matches, per se, but it all seems to fit.”

MAKING A LIST

While she obviously has a knack for filling spaces, Maria is the first to point out that her ideas don’t come from thin air. “I find inspiration for decorating everywhere,” she says. “My mom and aunts have great decorating style, and I love peeking into their gorgeous homes for inspiration.”

Maria also thrills for decorating magazines, which have long been the best part of her grocery store trips. Her enthusiasm for the decorating world has only expanded with the rise of décor blogs—of which Maria herself has become an inspiring part. “I have become acquainted with new friends across the country and world—these women are extremely talented and I have been truly inspired by their blogs,” she says.