Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg, in Williamsburg Virginia offers a look back at America's style in the 17th and 18th centuries. The colonial town, once the capital of Virginia, has been restored to its original elegance and is a popular tourist attraction, especially during the holiday season. Many colonial Williamsburg design elements are repeated throughout the South.

A Traditional Williamsburg Holiday Wreath

Williamsburg, originally called Middle Plantation, was founded in 1632 as the original Jamestown settlers looked for higher -- and drier -- ground. The colony became the capital of Virginia in 1699 and was renamed Williamsburg, after England's King William III, shortly therafter. The city hosted some of the early colonies' greatest statesmen, including Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

The town fell into disrepair after the American Revolution when Virginia's capital was moved to Richmond. In the early 20th century, industrialist John D. Rockefeller Jr. set out to restore the many authentic buildings as a living history museum.

Colonial Williamsburg style combines English traditional design with the bounty and openness of the new world. Furniture largely retained its European lines, but was constructed of America's abundant oak and cherry woods instead of the European pine. Often American accents, such as eagles or acorns, found their way on furniture and accessories, creating truly American design.

• Colors - Typical colors in Willamsburg design include the colors of the Chesapeake basin, including hunter green, soft robin's egg blue, and a variety of neutral colors ranging from soft ecru to a rich wheat color.

• Accents - Williamsburg accents include carved fruit and nuts, animals, and brass finials. Crickets, a British symbol of good luck, are often found, usually in cast-iron or brass.

Wallpapers traditionally are stamped in an intricate, repeating pattern, and architectural details, such as dental mouldings and massive hearths are common.

• Accessories - Accessories include European luxury goods, such as crystal and china as well as American crafts, such as quilts, pewter items, and handwoven textiles. Brass accessories, such as lamps, chandeliers, snuff boxes, and tableware is also typical.

The holidays at Williamsburg are a magical time. The village adorns itself in traditional 18th century style. Typical decorations include wreaths made of boxwood and bayberry leaves (see the example above.) Often, these incorporate seasonal fruit, such as apples, oranges, and pine cones. (In colonial times the residents would carefully disassemble the wreaths after the holiday season and add the fruit to their dinner table.) Swags of pine boughs, draped around door frames or interwoven into staircase railings are also popular.

Colonial Williamsburg is open 365 days a year and makes a fascinating living history and design lesson for visitors of all ages. Located just south of the Chesapeake Bay, about an hour's drive from Richmond Virginia, Williamsburg is easily accessible from cities along the East Coast as well as the southern cities of Atlanta and Charlestown.

Accommodations vary from the classic and luxurious Williamsburg Inn to the family-oriented Williamsburg Lodge. Visitors can even opt to stay in authentic colonial guest houses, scattered throughout the restored area.

Attractions at Williamsburg include visiting the authentic 17th and 18th century crafts studio, dining in a traditional colonial pub or restaurant, and seeing a reenactment of a colonial muster on the town green.

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