WG Holiday House Tour 2014 – Sneak Peek!

I love the holidays!  So, I was very excited when my friend (& talented designer) Amy Herman asked me to be a part of the Webster Groves Holiday House Tour this year!!  The tour is December 7th from noon – 4:00 p.m. and it benefits the Hixon Middle School.

I’m part of a team of talented designers decorating 3 out of the 6 houses on the tour and I’m fortunate to be focusing on one homeowner in particular with the assistance of another super talented newbie designer, Julie Tesson!  Our homeowner has been phenomenal to work with and I’m very pleased with how her space is coming together!

Here’s a sneak peek at how we evolved her living room in preparation for the tour!

This is the before shot of her space…

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Step 1: We rotated the chairs 90 degrees in order to line up the 2 taller chairs with the fireplace as the focal point.  Immediate improvement!

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Step 2: We added the companion piece of art above the TV and raised the left piece of art so that they are centered horizontally with 4 over the fireplace.  Now the whole wall reads together.

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Step 3:  We added new pillows to the grey chairs which ties in the colors of the art and livens up the chairs.  We also added loose branches to the vases on the mantel which completes the visual of the art as a whole.

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Step 4:  For the holiday decorations, we decided to keep the mantel simple and added pieces of pine roping in loose layers and partially hanging off the front to balance with the art.

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Final look: With the tree and the beautiful red roses, the whole room looks ready for Christmas!

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To see the rest of the house, attend the Webster Groves Holiday House Tour on 12/7 from noon – 4:00!

Learn more about the tour here!

holiday 2013 – modern festive

So, you love the holidays but you don’t love the traditional decor elements?  Luckily, there are many other ways to dress up your space for the season without OD’ing on plaid & pine trees.  Unique color palettes, mod stylized shapes and unusual accents like peacocks and gemstones are building blocks of a non-traditional scheme.  Feel free to make a statement with your decor!

See below for inspiration photos and my favorite things on the market this season!

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 Shiny silver balls tied with a pink thread make for a festive entrance!

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Silver Ball Garland from CB2

 Amaryllis stems flourish in the peacock-inspired hues of these stunning vases!

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Faceted Glass Vases from West Elm

 Clear tree silhouettes grouped together would make a statement for a dining table or entry.

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Acrylic Trees from CB2

 Agate drops offer a hint of nature and can be hung anywhere or tied on a package for a color pop.

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Agate Ornaments from West Elm

 Spinning shapes in silver & gold delight audiences young & old!

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Wire Ornaments from CB2

Love the unique colors in these capiz shell ornaments!

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Capiz Paillette Ornaments from West Elm

Functional & retro in bold colors, these glasses are durable for kids & tipsy adults!

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Stacking Acrylic Wine Glasses from Crate & Barrel

Faceted cocktail glasses are great for retro entertaining with a twist…Manhattan, anyone?

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Cassiopeia Glassware from West Elm

We all love flameless candles and these new string light versions are a fun alternative!

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Embedded String Light Pillar Candles from Pottery Barn

Stemless flutes make great gifts and since they don’t scream “holidays”, they can be used all year round.

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Birch Flutes from CB2

 

holiday 2013 – rustic traditional

One of my favorite things about the holidays and winter in general is the transformation of the outdoors.  Sleigh rides and skating outdoors amidst pine trees, snow and barren branches makes warming up next to a fireplace all the more appealing.  Adding rustic traditional elements to your decor can take your interiors through the holidays and into the abyss of winter.  Pops of red, lots of textural elements and plenty of candles aglow will warm your spirits!

See below for inspiration photos and a few of my favorite things to buy for this season!

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I love this new collection of lit twig animals!  The polar bear is by far the cutest!

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Lit Twig Polar Bear from Pottery Barn

Who doesn’t need a sleigh that has no function other than to look pretty?

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Red Metal Sleigh from Pottery Barn

I love burlap and red plaid and together they make a festive combo!

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Burlap & Red Plaid Stockings from Ballard Designs

I had a cocker spaniel growing up and one of their signature features are their eyes.  PB captured the essence of them plus a few other breeds in these quirky ornaments!

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Bottlebrush Cocker Spaniel Ornament from Pottery Barn

I love this handwritten effect of the sentiment on this platter; perfect for a hostess or holiday gift.  Also, the warm color makes it ideal for fall and winter entertaining!

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Shanna Murray Platter from West Elm

With the upswing in craft breweries, these would make a great gift for your favorite beer drinker this season!

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Hoppy Holidays Beer Glasses from Crate & Barrel

With its traditional font, this festive runner feels as much at home on your dining room table as in your kitchen!

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Jingle Sentiment Runner from Pottery Barn