Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Deck the Halls

versehead.com
One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to go on house tours to see all the festive decorations and get ideas to share with my clients.  Today there are many creative ways to make a holiday environment in our homes.  Recently, I visited an historic mansion where all the rooms were decorated by local garden clubs with the theme "Fire and Ice".  The photo above illustrates a similar theme with the hot red stars and cool white snowflakes which repeat the colors in the upholstered chairs, painted walls and woodwork.  A charming and unusual way to display the traditional colors of red and green on a front porch can be seen in the photo below.
blog.hgtv.com
Another whimsical way to decorate stairs can be seen in the next photo where brightly-colored packages and ribbons festoon an interior staircase.  The color pink is used as an alternative to red and leads the eye upwards.  Pink is the preferred color in the following living room where the fanciful tree brings a smile to my face.
allyou.com

denoxa.com
Another example of using favorite colors to enliven a holiday home is the teal blue living room in the following photo where accents of purple and turquoise glow like jewels in the space.

aldovega.com

Mantels are a favorite place to display beautiful swags and candlesticks which often provide a theme
to the holiday decor in the home.  The photo below highlights a swag of multi-colored glass balls and a collection of white vases.  Note how the balls repeat the colors of flowers in the painting while the vases reference the white sofas.  The second mantel announces the homeowner's love of music with the candles and simpler display of natural greens.  The third mantel showcases the homeowner's paper artistry and craft skills with the two wreaths flanking the stag head in a refreshing green and white color scheme.
decorationstree.com

improvement-home.org


kuwans.com

Tablescapes can be sparkling and dramatic like the gold and silver display below.  The candles and  cone trees are artfully placed in varying heights for a glamourous centerpiece.  In contrast, the following photo presents the beauty of unadorned flowers for an equally dramatic but natural setting.  Both are good examples of the designer's skill in repeating the same elements in a stunning pattern.

homedesigning.com
nameithouse.com
Most people like to decorate every room in the home and bedrooms can certainly be included in the design scheme.  All the elements used in the entertainment spaces are also displayed in the photos below...fragrant evergreen swags, a tree covered with favorite ornaments, and wreaths hung in the windows.
countryliving.com

femaleways.com

For those who prefer simplicity in their seasonal decor, the Scandinavian style displayed in the next two photos is subdued but equally as beautiful as in more lavish and abundant visual statements.
trunkfulloftreasure.blogspot.com

examiner.com
Every holiday home is like an artist's palette with colors to suit every style and mood.  Do you prefer the warm and cheery natural setting of the living room below, or the wintry elegance in the following photo?
onekindesign.com

popsugar.com
For everyone, the only rule is to have fun while expressing a personal vision...after all, the season is short so make the most of it.
ballklick.com