Text by Charlotte Safavi
In 2012, Karen and Eric Dickman moved into their renovated redbrick row house in Georgetown, Washington, DC, which was once Eric’s childhood home, and one year later, their annual holiday party that they fondly call “Dickman the Halls” was born. “Everyone has such busy schedules year-round! The holidays are when we carve out time to catch up with friends and family,” Karen says.
The Dickmans’ party is no ordinary get-together, and the couple goes all out to make sure their guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind celebration to be remembered.
“The first time we decorated the house for Christmas was in 2013; I enlisted the help of Emerald Hill Interiors. They did a beautiful tree, and there was lots of live greenery inside and out. It was gorgeous, and we were hooked,” recalls Karen.
The overall palette of the home is neutral, with lots of cream, gray, and black, so the space becomes a blank canvas when it comes to layering in holiday décor. Designers Sadie Johnson and Jackie Bayer of Emerald Hill have been decorating the house, which they also designed, for the annual Christmas party since that first holiday bash.
“Each year, the theme varies, but we always adorn the interior of the home with trimmed trees, fresh greens, and seasonal flowers,” says Sadie. “The exterior also gets a traditional Georgetown look street side.”
On the home’s exterior, each window, including the dormers, gets its own wreath tied with a red velvet bow, and the wrought iron staircase receives a fresh garland intertwined with white lights. The real surprise comes inside with its fun themed décor and more contemporary transitional style.
The couple found inspiration in a period film that showcased disco music, which set the wheels in motion for the theme of their 2022 holiday party—Disco Christmas. “For this disco theme, we used our traditional Christmas elements of fresh evergreens, velvet ribbons, and pretty florals while adding punches of colorful ornaments in colors reminiscent of the 1970s disco era, like bubblegum pink and ice blue,” says Jackie. “We also layered in some disco balls, vintage glass ornaments, and bits of glitter and tinsel.”
The base ornaments that Emerald Hill always uses in the Dickman holiday décor are modern glass baubles in clear and metallic neutrals, along with a collection of abstract glass standing Christmas trees. Each year, the team also incorporates plenty of fresh evergreens as well as white lights and velvet ribbons. But for the disco-themed décor, they added an extra festive flair.
“We start with a more traditional interpretation in the dining room, which faces the street side, and layer in more disco-themed décor as you head back into the large living room, which opens onto the back deck, where a holiday bar is set up,” says Sadie.
And soon after the festivities end, future party planning begins. “Each year, the couple reaches out to us the day after their party and enthusiastically announce the next year’s theme, giving us plenty of time to design and plan the décor early on,” Jackie says. “So, when December rolls round, we are ready with all the fun new embellishments!”
