Tis the Season ... to Deck the Halls!

As promised...here are a few shots from the house we switched from fall to Christmas decor the week after Thanksgiving.  It was too dark by the time we finished to take photo's of the outside, but perhaps we'll get back to shoot those later!  Above and below are shots of the family room mantel all decked out in traditional red and green and gold for Christmas!

mantel reindeer detail
mantel reindeer detail
mantle mirror swag detail
mantle mirror swag detail
mantle candlestick detail
mantle candlestick detail

And here is one of the pair of matching wreaths being finished up and ready to hang in the arched tops of the family room windows.

family room wreath assembly
family room wreath assembly
finished family room wreaths
finished family room wreaths

Because the dining room is a dramatic eggplant color with white trim and wainscoting, we opted for a wintery wonderland feel with greenery accented with silver and white.  Mercury glass candlesticks from fall hold new silver candles and mix with a series of mercury glass and metal trees.  The wreath over the mirror is a revamped faux wreath with new flocked boxwood and white snowflakes, white glittery berry/leaf sprigs and mercury glass pinecones all topped with an elegant silver and white lavish bow.

sideboard detail
sideboard detail

Even the chandelier got in on the action with a faux evergreen and pine cone garland and sprigs of flocked boxwood - all artificial so no stray pine needles wind up in the food!

Weix DR chandelier
Weix DR chandelier

The kitchen got a silver and gold makeover - filling a trio of glass jars from the homeowners collection with silver and gold ornaments and jingle bells, and flanking the assortment with her gold angel candleholders.   And even the kitchen chandelier got a faux evergreen garland wound with silver and gold ribbon and with a jingle bell accenting the center finial.  The kitchen hall sideboard was arranged with antique shutters to corral Christmas cards, and a be-ribbonned rustic tree, alongside some family heirloom wooden decorative pieces.

Even the powder room received festive treatment arranging the homeowners Christmas towels, gingerbread ceramics, and metallic trees along with some new monogrammed Christmas guest towels.

kitchen island
kitchen island
powder room
powder room
foyer progress shot
foyer progress shot

A stair garland topped with ribbons and berries and finished with a lush bow greets guests in the main foyer, along with an entry table displaying a collection of caroler Christmas figures.

garage swag
garage swag

The outside received swags of mixed greens, pine cones, and ribbons for the garage and lamppost, a noble fir wreath with mixed greens and berries with a large bow for the door, and mixed green garlands with berries and ribbons adorning the railing for a welcoming entry to visitors throughout the season!

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!

Getting Ready for Holiday Decorating ...

We've been busy shopping for our Holiday Decorating installations ... scheduled for set up during the first week after Thanksgiving.  From our wholesalers for live and faux greens, wreaths, garlands and berries, to scouring the retail shops for some additional items, we have been busier than Santa's elves! Here is a sneak preview of some of our finds; The live greens made the car smell divine!

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And the faux greens will be perfect for those spots where it is too hot or sunny or over the dining area where you don't want pine needles and berries dropping into your dinner!

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A tiny peek at a few of the other treasures we collected...

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And finally a couple of music and bird themed items I could not resist for my own Christmas tree decoration collection!

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Stay tuned ... We'll be back with some before and after pictures once the installations are completed!

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays this Thanksgiving Season!

World Market has made it to the Northeast!

A sort of Anthropologie meets IKEA with a little Pier One and Crate and Barrel thrown in ... along with some Williams Sonoma gourmet food and a remarkable assortment of beer and wine ... there is something here for just about everyone!  The store is brand new so there are stretches of empty shelves still waiting to be filled with product, but so far, it has an impressive variety of well designed stuff at reasonable and often bargain prices. Let me take you on an iphone tour of the store as seen last weekend ...

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Dining chairs and stools with great lines in a variety of colors and styles for less than $200 each

and a rainbow of chair pads

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2015-10-10 11.34.08

Adorable bird-adorned teacups

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A sampling of the large variety of serving pieces and dishware

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A fantastic array of sizeable serving trays

Assorted flatware and another bird-decorated piece ...

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this time a cookbook holder

And MORE birds ... on ring dishes, bath trays, and bath canisters

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Some of the unusual beverages for sale as well as all kinds of gourmet sweets and snacks, coffee, tea, beer, and wine ... great gift basket fodder

Office and shelf decor

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A wall of throw pillows as well as some coverlets and, not shown, shower curtains and window panels and rods, and area rugs

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2015-10-10 11.50.19

Glass containers, vases, cloches and candles in every color and flavor

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2015-10-10 11.56.06

A variety of inexpensive furnishings that have interesting lines, if not quality construction ... but great style for the price

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Soaps and lotions with beautiful packaging

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2015-10-10 11.57.16

The obligatory seasonal items - some really charming, some appalling (no pictures of those)

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2015-10-10 12.15.44

Interesting paper goods, gift packaging, and cards

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A series of clever stocking stuffers

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A large display of decorative knobs, handles and hooks with great style and great pricing

All in all, very excited to have a new home store kid on the block!  The experience is marred only by the unfortunate fluorescent lighting and warehouse-box proportions of the building itself ... but the merchandise is most definitely worth a visit!

World Market, Shoppers World, Framingham, MA

Happy shopping!

Happy Fall!

Crisp fall days ... perfect weather, sunny skies, fall colors starting to appear in the landscape and the scent of apple cider ... all cause to revel in this beautiful, quintessentially New England season!

Adding fall touches throughout the house seems an ideal way to celebrate.

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Mercury glass pumpkins, fall leaves and fruit, and a trio of pillar candles combine to create a stunning, sparkling arrangement on a sideboard in this dramatically eggplant-toned dining room.  Odd numbers of like items, and variety in shape, size and texture strike just the right balance for a visually interesting display.

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This family room mantle was given a fall makeover with the addition of ceramic pumpkin and sunflower pieces and a fall colored whimsical burlap sunflower wreath hung on the mirror.

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Version 2

Three ribbon textures; burlap, metallic gold, and burgundy organza,  combine to create lavish bows for the fall wreath on the front door and the leaf garland on the lamp post.

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Enjoy every minute of this glorious season!