Images from Boston

We went into Boston yesterday to do some shopping and take in the sights of Christmas.

We were so busy that I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few to share the feeling. Below is the dome in the center of Faneuil Hall.  With tons of people, it was hard to pause for the perfect shot, but this will give you an idea..

We went to lunch at Ned Devine's and had the most outrageous Guinness beef stew, perfect for a cold day in the city. 

This is the bar area, which looked beautiful with wreaths around the lights, which, unfortunately, is hard to see in this image.

The stairway in the entrance had an incredible chandelier, with hand blown glass globes of sorts.  You can see from all the brick that it's in a fabulous part of the building.

Over on Newbury Street, Carolers warmed hearts of shoppers...

I assume this was a private residence, in among the shops and eateries.  I loved its presence on the street...

The British store, Jack Wills, was my favorite for design -- they accented their signature navy/pink so beautifully, and the building itself was true love.  The top hat on the tree says it all.

Check out those old floors, and the stairway is to die for.

To see some incredible shots of Christmas at night in this area, check out Steve's pictures at An Urban Cottage.

I hope you all are enjoying this last day before celebrations begin.  I am off to the market, then baking, cooking and wrapping.  Hope I make it!

Carol

Christmas Dining Room Inspiration and Thanks

Hi all.  Is this the craziest time of year, or what?

With Christmas getting closer, you might be looking for some inspiration for your dining room and your table.  Again this year, Scot Meacham Wood of his Adventures of Tartanscot blog, is holding a Christmas decorating contest, and the dining rooms are quite lovely.

Click here to be transported to some really pretty images.  And then, scroll through the previous post to see stunning entryways and Christmas trees.  And my thanks to Scot for including my dining room in his contest.

While we continue struggling to lift our heavy hearts,  I encourage you to join me in indulging in the spirit and the inspiration of the season.  I'm choosing to believe that 26 angels are enjoying their most joyous Christmas ever, and I'm sure they want you to feel the peace of the season, as they are experiencing now.  And, continue to pray for their families, won't you?

Carol

Christmas at My House

My front door, from the inside

The look of Christmas in our home is, for me, about warmth, a haven from the cold, a place to share a hot toddy on a cold New England night.  It is always about making my family and those who come to visit feel as though I decorated just for them, because, in fact, I did.  I hope you enjoy this peek...

My front hall chandelier, from below

It is tradition in my house to do my dining room differently every year.  My girls always look forward to what is to come.  Now that makes a mom feel good.

 

And who can deny the dog a picture, when he's dressed with his own jingle bell?  And below are my daughter's chocolate-pepermint cupcakes.  I'd be lying if I said I don't dance a jig that my daughter loves to bake :)

This Christmas season, we are all feeling heartache for the families in Connecticut whose joy will be diminished, and whose decorations and celebrations may feel empty.  And so I pray, and I hope you'll join me, that the light of the Christ child will guide their way through, just as it did for their loved ones on Friday.

Many blessings to you and yours this week before Christmas,
Carol

The Irony and Heavy Heart

It doesn't feel right to post what I had planned today.  My heart is too heavy, as I'm sure yours is, too. This image is of Johnson Brother's pattern, "The Friendly Village", and the plates I've been collecting to use in this year's tablescape, are "The Schoolhouse."  I put it all together Thursday night, and with the events in Connecticut on Friday, the irony is a bit much for me today.

So I will choose to think, instead, as I look at my table, of the knowledge that there is Christ in Christmas, and that he was in that Sandy Hook schoolhouse in Connecticut yesterday, not to prevent the tragedy of the human condition, but to do what he is meant to do -- welcome those angels into heaven and guide their way.  I believe he was in that schoolhouse, ready to embrace his children, and that those children have found their greatest joy this Christmas.  And I pray for the ones they left behind.

Carol

Christmas Past

I hope you are enjoying the decorating season...

Christmas past is so nostalgic, don't you think?

Carol

A Client's Christmas and Where I've Been

I can't believe two months have flown by without writing a word on this blog!  It has been a whirlwind of a fall, between fifteen client projects and working on my online shop (which will open in January).  I have so much to share.  But for today (and Happy December, by the way), I want to share Christmas at my client's...

Remember this house from last year?

(If not, you can go here and see what we did in 2011.).

Last year, it was all about silver and white.  This year, we brought in red, spruced up the front door, and again kept it streamlined and simple for this warm, contemporary home.  Here's a peek...

A square wreath was a must for this linear front entry.  My special events partner, Charlene, created this baby, and it smelled so good...

When you open the front door...

I love creating gorgeous packages.  You can make a strong statement with very little, and I go nuts with a glue gun, ribbon and floral decorations...

The entry mirror got a little bling...

Here's the tree, done, with the mirror...

The tree is enormous, and the pictures just don't do it justice.

I love using sprigs of berries, sparkly greens and such within the tree.  It creates great texture and interest, and is such a nice balance to the expected ornaments.  This red and silver wire-mesh ribbon came from Michael's, and it's fantastic for a large tree.

The mantle went from this...

To this...

Charlene put that pinecone garland together -- isn't it gorgeous?

When Charlene and I do special event decorating together, whether its for holidays or tablescapes for clients' entertaining,  we work in perfect sync.  We get each other so uniquely, that we barely discuss what we're doing as we go along -- we just get it done.  Check out my Decorating Services if you need our help in your holiday home!

Thanks for coming back and reading.  I promise you a great December, full of inspiration.

Carol