Wreath Inspiration -- Out the Door...

Or maybe I should say "off the door."  This was the natural look I thought I wanted...

From Plow & Hearth

So what did I do?  I bought something similar, hung it, accepted the fact that natural doesn't do it on my black door in the woods (too much in the shadow), and made this instead...

I've always loved the look of ornament wreaths.  Finally made one.  Just love it.  And, it shows up on my house in the shade.  I can actually see it from the street!

Hope you are getting all your shopping, baking, wrapping, running, done without stress.  Hmmm.  Is that really possible?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

The Chandelier's All A Glitter...

What's your favorite room to decorate for Christmas?  Mine's the dining room.  Hands down.  Every year.  I love to do something different as the cold wind blows, and this year, I went for subtle sparkle.  A bit of dazzle.  The chandelier's all a glitter...

 First, the gold glitter pine cones and some snow flakes.  This is how it all started...

Then,  the carols on the stereo got turned up and all kinds of Christmas crazy happened.  I piled on the colors, the textures, the ornaments, and fa la la la la (did the mirror in the background as the sparkles flew), and this is how she looks...

It's all about soft green, winter white and gold this year.  This snowflake seems like a star to me.  I like to think of it as a little bit of Bethlehem over my table...

Now, on to the table, on servers and plates, on salt shakers and cakes...

What do you wrap your chandelier in for Christmas?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

PS  For a look at last year's chandelier, click here.

Need help defining your home?  I've been doing this a long time.  Click here to chat with me.


Thank you to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for the cookbook I won in her giveaway.  If you've never read Southern Hospitality, click here and go visit.  You'll love it! 


 

Season's Best FREE Decoration

Let's start with putting your pride aside.  It's a must for this one.

See these fabulous little pine logs?  You can probably score them for free, just like I did, at your local Christmas Tree stand (or wherever live trees are sold near you).  They are the trunk pieces that are cut from the bottom of the tree when someone has their tree cut to size or just wants a fresh cut.  Most tree places toss them in a barrel to be thrown away!  What??  And waste these beauties?  Bonus -- they smell great.

As you can see, I used them on my hearth, but I can also see them in some kind of candle arrangement or as part of a tablescape.  The uses are endless!

I must confess,  it was my friend Charlene (from this post about our client) who showed me the way.  Just picture her rummaging through a big bucket at the stand where we bought our birch branches for this job. It wasn't pretty, people.  But then I joined in and, well, it was quite a vision.

Please share in the comments -- how would you use them in your decorating?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Need help defining your home?  I've been doing this a long time.  Click here to chat with me.

Before & After: Christmas Decorating Client

Me and Charlene

Last week I was offered a referral to do some Christmas decorating.  Here's me and my holiday decorating partner in crime, Charlene, at the home of this fabulous, fun client.  (You might remember Charlene from this post last November, when we did a tablescape workshop.)  Me, Charlene and Christmas?  Bring it on!

The home is a beautifully appointed contemporary.  We were asked to transform the tree and the foyer using as much as we could of what the client already owned.  We bought what we needed to fill in, and used what we had left to add some Christmas magic to the mantel.             

Here was the foyer when we arrived...

With our theme of white and silver,  here is the foyer now...

I wrapped some boxes with silver and glitter, and Charlene put together the white birch arrangement with a great deal of sparkle...

The transition space between the foyer and the living room was a little bare,

so we embellished the mirror, brought some candle holders up from the lower level, and gave them all a little glam...

This home is very clean-lined and minimal.  This was the mantel when we started...

Inspiration for the mantel came from this beautiful artwork.  It was created by the client's son, and the subject of the white birch was the perfect foil to the birch in the foyer!  We kept it simple on the mantel.  If felt right with the lines of the house. 

And then, of course, there was the 10 foot tree. 

We used the client's white, silver and glass ornaments, and added a really cool, sparkly netting-like ribbon down the tree in vertical "srtipes."  I couldn't capture it well, honestly, so here's a closeup of the shimmer...

Here's a final look from the far side of the foyer through to the mantel.  Before...

And after...

Whether you are a contemporary minimalist or a cluttered traditionalist, Christmas decorating makes a home feel like a wonderland at the holidays.   What's your theme this year?

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Need help defining your home?  I've been doing this a long time.  Click here to chat with me.

My Desk is Decked

Do you decorate your workspace for the holidays?  I never have.  Until yesterday.  Now I'm hooked.

It started because I've been a bit housebound from knee surgery.  What to do?  I took out a pitcher I'd bought this fall at an antique shop in Connecticut.   (Love. At. First. Sight.)  It's Spode "Fox Hunt" from the 50's.

Ridiculously me, this pitcher.  Anyway,  I hobbled out to the yard for the greenery (okay, not really, my knee is doing surprisingly great).  I love the smell of fresh pine (with some some fake winterberry for color).

When my perfectly imperfect arrangement was done, it dawned on me that it was the perfect color combination for my desk.  Why not?  I sit there so much it would be nice to be surrounded by some holiday.  So, off I limped (exaggeration, but are you getting the effect?) up the stairs and found her a perfect spot.

Zoom out?  Okay...

Zoom in...

I'm delighted by how much joy decorating this new spot is giving me.  It is where I am sitting, typing at the computer, as I write this post.  I am totally holidayed by it!

Do you decorate your workspace?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Need help defining your home?  I've been doing this a long time.  Click here to chat with me.

A Classic Christmas Wreath, Online

I went online today in search of Christmas wreath inspiration.  Something fresh and classic.  I've done glittery, white, natural, artificial, ornament-donned, one for every window of the house, and just a single one for the front door.  You could say I've done them all over the years.  This year, I want to make something traditional.  No fuss.  Elegant.

I went looking online for inspiration, and this what I loved... 

 Plow & Hearth

At heart I am a traditional girl, and plaid always steals my heart.  My front door is black, and I'm thinking this is my look for 2011.   Back to basics this year.  Feels comfortable.

What's inspiring your front door decor this year?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

 Let's work together to define your home.  Contact me by clicking here.

The World's Best Barstool by Theodore Alexander

In my opinion, anyway. It can go with most any decor.  Best of all, it is one very comfortable spot to park your tush.




The Norfolk Cottage Stool

  I used it in this project, and let me tell you I searched for a while for the perfect seat.  I found it while in High Point at the furniture market in October.  Theodore Alexander says it is "A rustic Byron finish bar stool, the shaped saddle seat above turned legs and stretchers. The original French Provincial."  I love this baby, and I'll be using it again.  Simple, perfectly finished, comfortable.

Have yourself a great weekend!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

 Let's work together to define your home.  Contact me by clicking here.