It's an " ALL RED " Christmas Tree at Jan's House

One thing I remember as a little girl is the beautifully decorated Christmas tree that filled our living room.  The entire room glistened with hues of red from a fresh blue spruce tree that towered toward the ceiling.  Capturing the same look years later is the theme of this "ALL RED" tree.

  The Fraser Fir stands 8 feet tall and is filled with 24 strands of tiny red lights. 

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     You'll find red poinsettias, roses and berry sprigs scattered throughout the tree.
     Clustering together groups of flowers and berries add soft touches to the design.

 

 

                            Feather cardinals sit atop the branches of berries and twigs.

 

Glitter red bells and jumbo red ball ornaments add a traditional touch to the elegance.
Twigs, red organza ribbon and a red velvet tree shirt complete the ALL RED theme.

 

Changing the color of the lights and decorations will add a whole different feel to the design.
Purple would give the tree a contemporary theme while all gold would give the tree a regal opulent theme.
                                                     Create the color of your dreams! 
                                                             You're the designer!

It's Fresh Greens on Ronnie's Holiday Table

This simple yet elegant table décor idea has all the makings for a festive holiday dinner.
Fresh greens, plus shiny red and green balls keep the tradition of Christmas in this design.
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    THE THEME
                              TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS - IT'S FRESH GREENS
Ronnie used white candles in brass candlesticks surrounding fragrant greens and bright balls on each side of an elevated crystal bowl.  The bowl is full of Christmas balls and placed in the center of the table atop a stemmed glass cake plate.

 

 

A tall crystal cake plate in the center of the table holds water that keeps the greens fresh the entire month of December.   Local markets sell greens or you could use pines from your backyard.  These greens came from The Fresh Market.  A beautiful crystal bowl holds red and green shiny Christmas balls just below eye level which is perfect for the dinner table.  The balls were purchased at Target.  The Dollar Store is also a good choice or a craft store where there are great savings this time of year.

A low glass bowl holds water to keep greens fresh on either side of the center bowl.  Place the lower third of the brass candleholder in a small plastic bag and secure with floral tape to keep it dry.  Place 3 to 5 balls in greens around the candle.  Secure balls with floral wire.

Each place setting is very elegant.  The rectangular placemat is a shimmering gold and silver basket weave design.  The mother of pearl border embedded in the silver dinner plate charger is absolutely gorgeous. The decorative salad plate which has an open weave pattern sits atop the dinner plate.
Water, wine and champagne glasses surround the place setting while silverware is perfectly placed.

Finally, a crisp green cotton napkin completes the setting.   Using the bishop napkin fold,  you can see how stately it stands in the center of the place setting.



THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION "LIVE GREENS AND SHINY BALL ORNAMENTS"  

Have Fun Designing Your Christmas Dining Table

 

 

Living Room Holiday Decor

In my last blog, I chose Winter White and Gold for the dining room table so I am continuing with the same color scheme in the adjoining living room.  The colors compliment the dark wood and soft colors of the sofa and chairs.

Starting with the coffee table, an all white and gold Santa stands next to a fresh Rosemary tree surrounded by stacked gold packages nestled in moss, candle votives and small ceramic fur covered animals.

 

To the left of Santa, two large gold bead crusted balls and a twig ball surround moss and branches in a low silver bowl.  Wrapped in drapery roping adds elegance to the bowl.

The buffet runner is silver silk with beading on each end (Marshall's $15).The silver candle holders with Christmas tree embellishments also came from Marshall's ($6 each)  I used a variety of silver and gold balls in a large fish bowl with cascading balls to each side of the bowl.  Most of the balls came from The Dollar Store.
The display is symmetrical but by placing balls around the bowl I've added some dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

 I used several variety of balls in an amber glass bowl on the sofa table.  These were collected from many Christmas stores over the years.   Collecting ornaments is a great hobby.   Gold candles on each side of the bowl stand in gold metal candlesticks and are embellished with ornate drapery ropes.                      









 

 

 

 

                                              ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATING 

 

Holiday Table decor - Elegant Winter White

Rich winter white, brushed silver and opulent gold accents complete a table scape for Option 3 on a holiday dining room table.  This is the décor option I chose for this Christmas.  I love the elegant look.
Here are the steps to achieving a Winter White Centerpiece..
1.  Santas in white fur start the building process.
2.  A beautiful gold organza table runner shows well on a dark wood table.
3.  Choose "key" accents to complete décor - large lantern, gold wicker sleigh, gold metal reindeer and the softness of feather birds.
4.  Use additional small gold accents as fillers - beading, candles, votives, berries, pine cones, trees and angel hair.
5.   Large round white live hydrangea flowers are used in low vases to complete the elegant look (artificial flowers will also work - keep them low and full in the vase) 

 

 

To change the décor:
- pick a color other than white to use with all the accents {maybe red and green}
- use silver rather than gold accents
- use angels, stuffed animals, assorted sleighs, trees or trains instead of the Santas
- be creative and have fun

                          PICK YOUR OPTION-------------------IT'S TIME TO DECORATE

Holiday Table Decor - Rustic Nature Theme

Let's decorate the dining room table with another option, using nature.  Our first option was ultra modern now it's a rustic theme.  We're bringing the outside indoors by incorporating fresh pine, moss and tree trunks into this table scape.  Santa and his wooden sleigh is our focal point.
The table runner is burlap which is inexpensive and no sewing required.  Pull and remove 5 rows of thread from each edge and you get a great looking fringe.
During the holiday season fresh pine is readily available.  You can also use artificial greens purchased from a craft store.  I cut branches from a live pine tree in the backyard for the table.

 

Steps to Rustic Theme Table
1.  Place Santa and decorative package on a low 12 inch tree trunk in the center of the table on top of burlap runner.
2.  Low red vases stand on each side of Santa.  Beautiful bowls, candles or fresh flowers would also look good.
3.  Spread greens along the length of the table runner.
4.  Decorate with red berries, small tree trunks, pine cones, moss and votives with pine candles.

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Table Decor - Ultra Modern Gold and Silver

The winter holidays are here.  I love this time of year.   Now that Thanksgiving is over, let's decorate for Christmas.
The house looks so festive when you add special touches of the season.   So, let's start with the dining room table.  I'm showing three different looks on one table.  This is Option 1, for that ultra modern touch.   Gold and silver ornaments, that's the focal point for this table scape. 
Using different size ornaments add dimension to the centerpiece.  A large glass fish bowl works great or if you have a special family heirloom use that. 
You can purchase ornaments at high end department stores, Target and even The Dollar Store.  Expensive ornaments aren't necessary.   Mix them together.  That's the beauty of this look.   And use lots and lots of balls.
Start with a gorgeous runner.  The silver satin fabric in this runner has lots of shine and the beading border on both ends is stunning.  Marshall's has this piece for $15, a real bargain.
I found the tray at a thrift store.  It's a 24 inch square picture that cost $5.  I removed the glass from the picture and painted the picture and frame a shiny silver color.  Putting the glass back and adding silver crystals around the frame changes a picture to a tray.  Great tip!!!
Add small square glass votives with candles to the table.  Spray the glass with a spray adhesive and roll in silver glitter.  Roll the candles in glitter too.  It  really works !!!

 

A Thankful Thanksgiving

                                               Thanksgiving with Family and Friends
There is good food, conversation and memories this Thanksgiving - PERFECT!.    The holiday is even more festive for us because we are invited to friends that celebrate the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, which this year coincides with Thanksgiving.  
We arrive for dinner at 5 PM and are greeted with a warm welcome by the host and hostess.  We stop by the living room coffee table where an adorable small tree is set up as a "thankful tree".  We select a fall leaf, write what we are thankful for and hang it on the tree.  Cute idea!

 

Appetizers and drinks are waiting. All guests contribute to the wonderful meal.  I bring a veggie tray to add to the appetizer table where there are latkes (potato pancakes) and a warm spinach dip with chips.

 

The dining room table is most impressive.  It's my style of decorating - crystal, china, silver and decorations with a chic contemporary nature theme.  Crisp white linens topped with pieces of wood, homemade pine cone place cards made by hostess and daughter and a variety of greens set the scene.  The Hanukkah Menorah is even included on the table.  - LOVE IT ALL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a special table for the kids.  Crayons, books and activities continue the Thanksgiving theme.
The kids love it.  This table also stores "to go" boxes for guests to fill with leftover food.

 

Dinner is organic turkey, whipped mashed potatoes, creamy gravy, sweet cranberry sauce, oven roasted brussel sprouts, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and my corn soufflé.

 

 

 

 

 For dessert, we have many choices.  There are homemade pumpkin and pecan pies, banana cream and key lime pies, chocolate chip cookies made from 1940's recipe (they're crispy wonders!),  assorted sweet breads, mini cupcakes, raspberry franche pans and my holiday traditional favorites -  strawberry banana salad and chocolate fudge.  Wow, what a dessert buffet!!!!

 

 

 

                                                A THANKSGIVING TO REMEMBER