Vacant and at risk for destruction, Aldie Mansion was purchased by The Heritage Conservancy, a Doylestownbased land conservation nonprofit, in 1987 and was restored to its late-1920s splendor.

Recently, The Heritage Conservancy hosted a holiday lunch and asked designer Suesan Klein of Murphy & Klein Floral Studio to set an all-white holiday table. Concrete gargoyles, leaded glass windows, bluestone floors and custom-concrete fireplaces set the scene for this all-white winter wonderland.

The Inspiration

Headquartered at Aldie Mansion, The Heritage Conservancy has upheld the Mercer family’s holiday tradition. According to local history, wealthy philanthropic homeowners William R. and Martha Dana Mercer were known for throwing eccentric and lavish Christmas parties at their Tudor home, Aldie Mansion. At the 1941 celebration, the von Trapp family (of The Sound of Music) caroled from Great Hall as partygoers mingled.

The Look

The long king’s table in this original oak-panel mansion’s formal dining room is set with a collection of vintage silver containers filled with white hydrangea and white roses. Evergreens cut from local trees, branches and found pinecones create a woodsy look to complement the intricate woodwork found throughout Aldie Mansion. Votive candles lit in mercury glass create a warm ambiance and are reminiscent of the fireplace guests pass as they walk through the Great Hall to enter the library.

Design Tip

“No need to look further than your own backyard to find materials for your winter-themed table. Assorted pine, cedar and boxwood trees branches can be painted to add sparkles for that winter wonderland feel,” says Klein.