Annette Thurmon of Azure Farm Shares Her Favorite Ways to Harvest Holiday Magic

Text by Kara Mautz

Nestled an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia, a charming farm has become a beacon of festive flair thanks to the creative vision and keen eye of Annette Thurmon, who maintains Azure Farm alongside her family. Opting out of trend culture, Annette prefers to focus on drawing from the beauty of nature when bringing the magic of Christmas to life in her home.

“Every year, my goal is to bring the outside in,” says Annette, who recently released her latest book, Simple Country Living. “I love to be crafty and make it more natural, even if it’s not always on trend. From branches on the mantel to cedar, pine, and pampas grass, it’s fun to forage outside and see what we can find.”

When it comes to picking out the family Christmas tree, often the focal point of any holiday display, homeowner Annette Thurmon prefers to choose her own live tree. She says the annual outing has become a beloved family tradition. “We always go and pick at least one live Christmas tree that we cut together. My daughter looks forward to it every year,” she says.

“My favorite room to decorate is the dining room; it’s where we gather the most,” Annette says. “Sharing mealtime together is important to us, so I wanted to do something special . . . I drew on the windows, decorated with our homemade ornaments, and added pine trees and dried plants for ambience.” Incorporating a personal touch, such as homemade ornaments, is a great way to enhance your décor while still creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Although red and green may be traditionally synonymous with the holiday season, Annette says that she tends to live more aligned with nature, incorporating greenery and vegetation from her farm into her décor instead. “I used to be very traditional, but since moving and living more in line with the seasons and nature, I gravitate toward wanting to do that more,” she says. “I usually start planning around August, and I start thinking about what is outside that I could incorporate. I always do it differently each year, mixing it up with the natural items while keeping it pretty neutral toned.”

Her family has several cherished holiday traditions, but one of Annette’s favorites is making homemade ornaments with her daughter, often crafting them from farm vegetation. “My little one loves going outside with me and exploring; it’s something fun to do as a family,” she says. “We’ve made ornaments with stuffed seeds and plants and even made our own salt dough ornaments in animal shapes reminiscent of some of the animals on our farm.”

Get creative! Whether it’s the branches in your front yard or dense woody bush, adding touches of fresh greenery is a great way to cultivate a display that is both rustic and refined. “Of course, there are always pine cones galore, and juniper berries are usually growing in the winter,” Annette notes. “But sometimes, I have to start early. I love using dried lavender to wrap gifts, which isn’t usually growing close to Christmastime.” Paired with simple accents such as twine, candles, or even dried flowers, foraged elements can elevate any space, creating an environment that is full of warmth and charm.

In contrast to her usual approach, Annette gravitates to more traditional décor when decorating her daughter’s room for a more playful atmosphere. A vibrant felt Advent calendar adds a touch of classic Christmas cheer, while a delicate wire-framed tree serves as the centerpiece. Adorned with an array of whimsical ornaments and sprinkled with frosted greenery, the tree evokes the magic of a winter wonderland while making the space festive for the youngest family member to enjoy.

“With traditional décor, there is a pressure to buy new things each year, which is fun but can get expensive,” Annette says. “I’m not one to be super themed with certain colors. I usually start with what I’m feeling and go from there.” Taking a more hands-on approach to holiday decorating is a great way to create meaningful, unique pieces for your home, for a timeless setting with a story behind each decoration.

For more information, visit @azurefarm on Instagram.