As life and work partners, the architects Tom Morbitzer and Goil Amornvivat have mastered many challenges together. But every December, the founders of New York firm Ammor Architecture grapple with one question: How should they decorate for the holidays?
Mr. Morbitzer, 51, grew up in Columbus, Ohio, in a family that always gave everything. “Christmas was a really big deal,” he said, noting that his grandparents and parents, who have a German background, stopped at nothing to create a festive atmosphere.
“We’re talking about the whole tree, the house decorations, cookies, everything,” Mr. Morbitzer said. “There were always parties, music and fun.”
Mr. Amornvivat was born in Bangkok, where his family celebrated Buddhist holidays. There was nothing better than the month-long marathon of tree trimming and caroling that Mr. Morbitzer conducted every December.
Instead of ignoring this difference when decorating their 750-square-foot one-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, they decided to put their own spin on holiday traditions by freely borrowing elements from both of their cultural backgrounds.
“We tried to find ways to decorate and celebrate that brought together the memories and celebrations that Tom holds dear, while leaving room for new interpretations that we both enjoy,” said Mr. Amornvivat, 53. “Our image of Christmas had to be inclusive.”
To create decorations up to the task, the couple drew on the skills they know best: drawing, painting and model making.
A small architectural work
Every year since 2014, Mr. Morbitzer and Mr. Amornvivat have created a custom holiday ornament they call “Ammor-nament,” which they produce in multiple copies to give as gifts to friends and customers. Made from a single folded, laser-cut sheet of metal, it is always in the shape of a house but is so detailed that it playfully evokes the Chinese zodiac sign of the coming year.
For example, for the Year of the Rat, they designed a “Hickory Dickory Dock”-inspired ornament with a mouse in a clock and numerals from different cultures.
This year, for the Year of the Horse, they designed an ornament that is a nod to Greek mythology, with a classical temple meant to represent democracy and Perseus flying in on Pegasus to save the building from an attacking sea monster.
“Read into it what you want,” said Mr. Morbitzer, laughing.
An intercultural tree
To decorate their tree, the couple hangs ornaments that evoke memories old and new.
There is a tiny red stocking filled with 51 pennies, a tradition Mr. Morbitzer's parents started when he was a newborn by adding a penny to the stocking each year. There is also a tiny glass cucumber, reminiscent of another family tradition with German roots: When Mr. Morbitzer was a child, anyone who could find the cucumber on the tree received a small gift.
For color, there's a checkered ribbon made from Pha Khao Ma, a multi-purpose textile that Mr. Amornvivat purchased in Thailand.
Recent additions to the tree include ornaments depicting French bulldogs, paying homage to her former pets Marly and Lil Lily Munster.
A creative window decoration
Many people decorate windows with candles, wreaths and garlands during the holidays, but for the couple's apartment, Mr. Amornvivat wanted to do something different. To beautify the window facing the balcony, he created a large-format frame made of two layers of foam panels. Using a utility knife, he cut the first layer of the board with patterns reminiscent of geometric tree branches. For the second layer, he added the shape of a gable roof. In between, he installed an LED light strip on the ceiling that was equipped with a remote control that controls the brightness and color of the light.
Now the living room feels “like the inside of an ammorn,” Mr. Amornvivat said. But it is also intended to be a contemporary reinvention of a German candle arch, a traditional arched candle holder that often features two-dimensional scenes lit from behind.
Spice up the holiday buffet
Most years, Mr. Morbitzer and Mr. Amornvivat view Christmas decorations as an opportunity to get together with friends. They provide a delicious buffet on their kitchen island and invite their guests to browse while they help decorate the tree.
To give the buffet an impressive look, they place the plates on stands that they designed and made using a 3D printer. “It’s like building an architectural city with food levels,” Mr. Amornvivat said, “which is exciting to me.”
This year, the plates were filled with snacks like cheese and crackers as well as more personal bites.
“The pigs in a blanket are a cheeky nod to the food of my past,” Mr. Morbitzer said.
Mr. Amornvivat added skewered cubes of a pandan-flavored Thai layer cake and golden balls of Thong Yot, a traditional Thai dessert that represents a blessing of wealth, from SriPraPhai restaurant.
DIY decorations
Instead of purchasing a wreath made of greenery to hang on the front door, the couple made their own wreath out of paper. The piece consists of overlapping rings of white, black, silver and gold paper into which they cut the shapes of trees, stars, reindeer and people holding hands. It was made with the help of a laser cutter and glued together, creating a complex composition that encourages arriving guests to take a closer look.
However, making fascinating paper decorations does not require a laser cutter. In the apartment, Mr. Morbitzer painted watercolor images of candy canes, which he cut out by hand and glued to baker's twine to create a colorful garland.
Meanwhile, Mr. Amornvivat used his utility knife to cut city silhouettes out of leftover squares of watercolor paper. After folding the bottom of each paper to set up the silhouettes, he placed an LED votive candle behind them to give the windows a glow.
“We met in graduate school making things, and that’s how we still connect,” Mr. Amornvivat said. That's why he and Mr. Morbitzer continue to enjoy adding their own touches to Christmas decorations, he added: “We create new traditions together.”