Clara's Room is my Swedish inspired Nutcracker themed designer children's bedroom from the 2009 Holiday House. Like the E.T.A. Hoffman book on which the ballet and Tchaikovsky's score are based, I wanted to present a window in the world of wonder and whimsy. Because this year's Holiday House theme focused on table settings, I also incorporated elements of a birthday/tea party taking place during the holidays to correspond with both the season and the story.
For those unfamiliar, the Nutracker is about a young girl (Marie, usually changed to Clara for the ballet) who encounters a Nutcracker Prince and takes part in a fierce battle against a Mouse King. After the battle in which she takes the role of the heroine, her adventures continue until her prince is made real. Unlike many other stories from the same era, Clara is a character who possesses both inner strength and good judgment, which makes this tale an uplifting and inspiring tale for young ladies everywhere.
Reproduction Gustavian furnishings and a genuine Swedish hourglass clock (known as the Mora clock) convey the old world charm of the era in which the story was written. To tie in the season and setting, I including custom embroidered runners featuring Nutcracker characters, a snowflake area rug and “Swarovski Snowflakes” on the window and table to depict the “Land of Snow”. Multiple dolls in various sizes from the Bla Bla collection make fine party guests and needlepoint art in the form of a Christmas tree imbues the room with holiday spirit. A genuine Jose Varona original from the estate of famed Soprano Beverly Sills give the room history through his unique watercolor interpretation of Mother Ginger while a Segovia chandelier provides elegant lighting for guests.