That most wonderful time of year is upon us again and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League is getting into the spirit with its 2012 Holiday House. Andy Nunemaker, local entrepreneur and well-known art collector, has opened his spectacular home to some of Wisconsin’s most talented designers.

Two designers from Otter Creek Landscape and Wreath Factory were given the honors of decorating Nunemaker’s expansive living room. Matt Trotter, who worked on the room with Otter Creek owner Mike Beeck, says the living room plays an important role during the holidays. “It’s where everybody comes together to reconnect with family and friends,“ he says.

For this gathering space, Trotter says they were instantly struck by Nunemaker’s vast art collection. “The house was huge but magnificent,” Trotter says. “We immediately noticed the historic roots of the home and its age paired with his great collection of art that’s mostly contemporary.”

The artwork found itself integrated into the living room design, as the team tried to work with it instead of around it.

“We tried to use some of the colors in the pieces and play off of the traditional home with the traditional tree. We used some more off the wall things in the tree,” Trotter says.

Some of his favorite pieces they used were large, white lights. They were originally meant to be used outside, with solar power but the designers brought them inside to hang on the traditional tree.

As a company who begins their Christmas season in July, Otter Creek was the source for all of the items used by Trotter and Beeck. Along with the company’s landscaping services, they house a 16,000-square-foot showroom that Trotter says is full of everything Christmas. They got first pick of everything to use in the Holiday House. Everything used in the design was either made at Otter Creek, (like the stunning feather wreath) or it can be purchased from their showroom in Plymouth.

The duo is still working on their final edits of the room, as things are added or removed on the spot. Trotter says they will bring in some of their signature fresh greens just before the opening.

The public is welcome to visit the home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from Nov. 10 -18 at 2221 N. Terrace Ave. Tickets to tour the home are $15. Guests will also participate in a raffle to benefit MSO education and community programming. A boutique and café  are set up in the basement bar, serving coffee, tea, cider, and other holiday treats.

All photos by Veronica Jones.