St. Matthews condo is filled with more than 1,000 needlepoint creations, Christmas decor
The home of Michael and Deb Hoskins is filled with needlepoint creations. That’s because Deb has been crafting needlepoint pieces for nearly 40 years.
“It’s just a passion of mine — and I’m really big into Christmas,” she told The Courier Journal.
Deb explained that though she does needlepoint throughout the year for various people and occasions, Christmas is her specialty — and the holidays are a time when her needlepoint truly shines.
Because Michael is an interior designer, much of the home’s aesthetic is a reflection of his skills. But when Christmas rolls around, Deb’s design takes over.
“Our house is always about Michael … but when it’s December, it’s all about me!” she exclaimed with a laugh.
Seamless supplements
“Michael tries to teach me to incorporate (my pieces with the existing ones),” Deb said, explaining that the rest of the decor — including ornate gold frames, dark wood furniture, and wallpaper and rugs in rich hues — are on display year-round. “Everything is always here, except for the trees, (and) the balls.”
But between the forest green wallpaper in the dining room and the deep red carpeting in the sunroom, the Hoskins home seems to have been made to display Deb’s holiday decorations.
“We’re a Christmas house,” Deb said with a laugh. “These are our colors.”
The pieces that are currently adding holiday flair to the abode are mostly needlepoint, and include everything from a Christmas village in the dining room to large nutcrackers flanking the fireplace. And the tree is, of course, decked out in needlepoint ornaments.
“I have over 200 ornaments on the tree,” Deb said, adding that she handcrafted every single one. “I love the holidays, so I started doing Christmas ornaments. And when we moved here, my dream was to have a tree that was all needlepoint.”
Prized pieces
The Hoskinses haven’t counted the number of needlepoint pieces that currently grace their home — but they estimate that it’s upward of 1,000. And out of those hundreds of pieces, they each have their favorites.
“For our 25th wedding anniversary, she needlepointed shoes — which I wore with a tuxedo,” Michael said, adding that the multicolored, paisley pair went with them on a trip to Italy. When their luggage went missing at the start of that vacation, those shoes were their main concern.
“These are extra special to me,” he added. “(Deb has) done handbags, shoes, furniture — just about anything and everything you can think of (that could be) needlepointed.”
Deb’s favorite finished piece changes each year, as her newest item is usually the most cherished. This holiday, that is a triptych that sits at one end of the table in the sunroom. The gold-leaf frame features Santa on the left, Mrs. Claus on the right, and a Christmas tree in the middle.
Countless collections
“We’re big collectors,” Deb said, explaining that she and Michael fill their home with assemblages of other items, too. In a black and gold case, for example, sits a complete collection of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit & Friends ceramic figurines.
“We’ve been married 52 years, and Michael gave me the first piece before we were married,” Deb recalled. “He just recently gave me the last piece that I needed. (It’s) one of the very rare, original ones. (It’s) Duchess, holding the flowers.”
Another kind of collection is on display on the walls of Michael’s bathroom.
“We collect everything we can,” Deb said, referring to the 100+ framed photos and decorative accents that adorn the space. “We (gather) these little decorative things, (which we call) goobers — that’s just something that we made up.”
Despite the countless number of items that Deb and Michael have amassed and presented in their 1,750-square-foot condo, the space is squeaky clean — and everything has been carefully curated and arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
“We’re always ‘on tour,’” Deb said. “You can come to my house at almost any time, and (it’s) very neat, clean, and orderly.”
Keeping their home tidy means that Deb will likely always have space to add more needlepoint decor — and that’s a good thing because she shows no sign of slowing down. The self-described fast stitcher constantly has multiple pieces going at once, and she does a little bit every day.
“My husband says it’s cheaper than therapy,” she said with a laugh, “and I love sharing it. I love it when people want to see it and enjoy it.”
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].
nuts & bolts
Owners: Michael and Deb Hoskins. Michael is an interior designer and the vice president of Hubbuch & Co.
Home: This is a 2-bed, 2-bath, 1,750-square-foot condo in St. Matthews. It was built in 1968.
Distinctive elements: Custommade iron tables, stair railing, and chandelier in building entry; wood burning fireplace in the living room; hardwood floors throughout; sunroom overlooking the large backyard; custom kitchen with quartz countertops; newly renovated bathrooms; extensive collection of art, antique furnishings, and English porcelain.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: St. Matthews condo filled with more than 1,000 needlepoint creations
