I had really promised myself I would slow down and let each holiday be given its own due. Halloween? That was pretty easy. The pumpkins, gourds, and harvest accents were properly placed and enjoyed, as the month of September rolled into October. November? Well, that’s a different story. Christmas Carols are already playing on several radio stations - and non-stop, I might add. It goes without saying the stores have been decked out. In Charlotte, we are also in the midst of the Southern Christmas Show.
I looked at the calendar and calculated the days before my Wyoming in-laws will be in town, for Thanksgiving week, and then the number of weeks, in between, when my folks will be arriving for Christmas. Okay, I give up! I guess it’s just time to crank up the music and warm up the wassail. It IS beginning to look at lot like Christmas and I’ll share with you some sights to help you get in the spirit, too!
Give your guests a sneak preview as to what to expect, inside. This is the entry to a client’s home and we honored her mountain-inspired retreat with cones and long-leaf pine – a tree indigenous to North Carolina.
I love white ironstone for its versatility. (And, I can’t help it, I still love clocks! See my previous post on the subject.)
I’m a fan of Carolyne Roehm and her Christmas Canine wreath is so “bow-wow-tiful”! (A good sense of humor goes a long way towards maintaining the holiday spirit, don’t you think?)
This Colonial Candle display certainly gets the message across regarding what they are all about. What happy color combinations and you’ll always be prepared for a power outage!
There’s something about a farmhouse table, laden with goodies, graced with topiaries and crowned with a chandelier. Red is definitely one of my favorite colors . . . Like a moth to a flame, is a pretty accurate description, for me!
The decorations, on this mantel, are a lovely extension of the wintery scene. Couldn’t you just get lost for hours, here?
A contrast of textures, to the previous mantel photo. The asymmetrical groupings of potted conifers and obelisks compliment the rustic fireplace. A comfy, casual spot!
A gathering of pinecones, accented by either a pile of apples and magnolia leaves, or placed around a planted amaryllis, are a quick and easy way to add an earthy touch to your seasonal greens and flowers.
What? Never heard of the Christmas Bunny? If your storage space is limited or you can’t bear to put your favorite everyday decorations away – go ahead, break the rules. I “triple dog dare you”!
I always say, the holidays are like the Bermuda Triangle of sweets. Who could resist saying no to this?
Speaking of treats, I do enjoy spreading the seasonal joy to the kitchen. This is not a case for “less is more”.
For those of you who prefer an option to the traditional reds and greens, Carolyne Roehme offers up her version of a blue and white Christmas. So wintery and magical!
How about a “green” Christmas? I can see this room being an homage to an eco-friendly holiday. Recycled floors and stone from an old farmstead. The antique coffee table, had a previous life as a kitchen table. Organic linen slipcovers placed on the sofa and chairs made of soy foam and renewable frame materials. Even the tree is sustainable as it is a live version, to be planted later!
Finishing touches can be created from a bit of this and a bit of that!
While this post may be longer than the Twelve Days of Christmas, I hope you’ll enjoy my gift to you and will take away something to inspire you for a season, merry and bright!
“It is not our things which make us happy, but rather the people with whom we share them.” Wanda Horton
(Thanks to: House Beautiful, Home and Garden, Traditional Homes, Colonial Candles, Veranda and Interior Concepts by Wanda for the photo sources.)
