For 36 years, regardless of whether or not it’s snowing, Billie Rothschild has celebrated a white Christmas with family and friends at her Evansville home on Stonegate Road. “My home always has provided a neutral background for my many collectibles,” says Rothschild, “no matter what season it is. But Christmas has to be my favorite time of year. When that big white reindeer is nestled under the tree on top of my old fox fur coat, I know the holidays have begun.”
Rothschild’s holiday decorating scheme — centered on her favorite white reindeer, purchased at Von Maur in Louisville — echoes the creamy white color palette inside her contemporary ranch-style home. Rothschild says the color scheme evolved from helping friends decorate their homes; in turn, they helped her. “They all would know exactly what to give me for Christmas — of course, it usually was something white,” she recalls. “I would just add different things each year, and now it has grown into a winter wonderland.”
The 3,200-square-foot stone and wood-frame house was built by Rothschild’s late husband, Louis Rothschild. When building their home on the North Side, the couple, who previously lived just down the street, “knew we wanted to build something a little different,” Rothschild says. They opted for a split-level home with two bedrooms and abundant living space — an expansive living room and bar area that flows into a glass-enclosed sunroom and formal dining room adjacent to an eat-in kitchen. (The couple’s children, Jerry, Robert, and Kathy, live in Evansville with their families, “so we did not really need a lot of space for guests,” Rothschild says.)
The main living area is a shimmering reflection of Egyptian mystique, and the walls feature mirrored sandblasted etchings of mystical gods and goddesses. The space comes alive during the holidays with frosty flocked trees and candlelit tableaus. Instrumental in the process, says Rothschild, are her grandson Chris Rothschild and Andrew Cutini from BJ’s Home Accents. Cutini prefers to start decorating in early November because “it takes us a while to get everything in place. We move things around a lot,” he says. “Billie always has had a very eclectic sense of style, and she and I play off each other very well. We like to try new things and experiment with interesting combinations.”[pagebreak]
Rothschild has a penchant for collecting — “I see it, I like it, I buy it,” she says. (That was the case with her beloved white reindeer: “Somehow I strapped it into the back seat of my car and hauled it home,” she remembers.) To enhance her snowy holiday décor, Rothschild frequents her favorite local retailers: BJ’s Home Accents, Gehlhausen Floral, Baumberger’s Furniture, Dean Bosler’s Furniture and Mattress Showroom, SugarBakers Home Fashions, Lea Matthews Furniture and Interiors, and The Secret Garden.
While she enjoys collecting designer Mark Roberts’ white Christmas fairies, some of her favorite pieces in this winter wonderland are charmingly homemade. “Every year, the first thing I put on the tree is an ornament made by my daughter Kathy (Schenk) when she was in the first grade,” Rothschild says, “It’s just a little clear pill bottle filled with tiny balls that hangs by a pipe cleaner. I love looking at it.”
Although the trees and the flickering snowflakes are kept under wraps for most of the year, Rothschild lives with many of her frosty flourishes all year long. Her collection of Waterford and antique crystal decanters sets a festive mood on the mirrored bar, and frosted etched vases, mirrored mosaic candle holders, and blown-glass globes shimmer on side tables year-round. The accessories complement the sleek, modular furnishings in the monochromatic color scheme, which provides a stark contrast to the more traditional, Old World accents.
Rothschild doesn’t worry about giving this beautiful setting the white-glove test, however. “I have kids running in and out of here all the time,” she says with a laugh. “But keeping it clean just does not seem to be a problem.”
When she needs a relaxing break from the hubbub of the holidays, Rothschild heads to her spa-inspired bathroom with a creamy, plush lounging area, a spacious tub, and a mirrored wall featuring an Art Deco etching. “This,” she says, “may be the best present of all.”
