Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree what story are you telling?

What would Christmas be without a Christmas Tree?

 

We had always had a real tree downstairs and a flocked artificial tree 
 in the upstairs living room, when I was growing up.

I was not prepared for the out cry the year we got our first
artificial tree. My daughter was sixteen and I was sure she was never going
to forgive me!
It might have also had something to do with her age.
(Parents of teenage girls will understand!)
It was a beautiful tree and was so realistic. It even had tiny

pine cones on some of the limbs. It served us well for over twenty years!

Now we do something a bit unusual. We have all of our Christmas
ornaments on a garland that goes around our arched window.
We also have several other small trees. You can see one of them and my 
ornament garland in last years blog.

These are a few of my Favorite Things

We have had a number of small theme trees over the years. My husband had

a Car Tree with matchbox cars on it. We had a Dog Tree with pictures
of our dogs and doggie ornaments and milk bones. We have had a tree
with all crystal ornaments.
 

This year we have our kitchen tree with cookie cutters, cinnamon sticks,
tiny red apples, and old fashion bubble lights and plaid ribbon.
It sits in the kitchen bay window.

Kitchen Tree

 

Mother's Angel Card Tree
 

On my dining room sideboard, is a silver twig tree with a series of
Hallmark Angel cards. My Mother sent these cards out for a number of years.
We also still have the baby tree shown in my favorite things. It sits in our
guest bath on the vanity. All of these trees have a theme.
If you have never had a theme tree

you are missing out on a great chance to really let your creative side shine!

Theme trees come in all sizes and are only limited by your imagination.

 

Here are some ideas to help you get started!

 

Birds & Pine cones

 

 

Patriotic Tree

 

 

Christmas Tree with Letters

 

Close up of Letter Tree

 

 

Christmas Tree with Vintage Clocks

Close up of Vintage Clocks

Book Tree

Georgia Bulldog Tree

Folk Art Tree

 Bottle Tree

Edible Tree

Pink and Purple Tree

Beach Tree with Mermaid Topper

Starfish Tree

 

Beach Ornament Tree

Rustic Tree

 

 

What ideas can you think of for a theme tree?

Just remember to.....

 

 

Designs on Holiday Windows NYC 2012

 

 City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.

 Dressed in holiday style.

 In the air There's a feeling of Christmas!

 Children laughing,

 People passing,

 Meeting smile after smile

 and on every street corner

 you will "see"

 

that the big department stores have rolled out their annual holiday window displays!

Several years ago I was in New York City before Christmas and got to experience

the fantasy of these fabulous windows up close and personal! They are a

special treat for young and old! Here is a peak at the Windows of 2012!

 

Macy's:

 

 



 

Macy's was the first department store to have holiday windows. Their theme

this year is the Magic of Christmas.



Lord & Taylor:

 

 

 

It is Lord & Taylor's 75th Anniversary. Their windows this year depicts a

globe-trotting Santa Claus making the most of his day off and Holiday Traditions

around the world.They were the first store to have animated windows.

 

Tiffany & Company:

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffany is displaying Home for the Holidays and captures all of the allure of the Tiffany & Company's iconic blue box!

 

 

Saks Fifth Avenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saks Fifth Avenue's  window this year has a Snowflake Spectacular Light Show

and tells a story of the Snowflake and the Yeti against a backdrop of

high fashion!

 

 Bloomingdale's:

 

 

 

 

 

 Bloomingdale's takes this year’s inspiration from the soon to be released movie, “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D.” It will be in theaters on December 21.

 

 

Bergdorf Goodman:

 

 

 

 

 This years Bergdorf Goodman's windows are inspired by all things Jazz Age,

old Hollywood and glamorous. Their production takes nearly an entire year

of planning. It is the Follies on Fifth Avenue.

 

 

Henri Bendel:

 

 

 

Henri Bendel continues with the Roaring 20's theme.  The main window features a replica of the store’s main selling floor circa 1920. It includes a gold-plated chandelier with Swarovski elements and a grand staircase with mirror panels, inspired by the first Henri Bendel location on 57th Street.

 

 

Barney's:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Barney's holiday extravaganza this year is a salute to the Mouse! They partnered

with Walt Disney to show you Minnie's fashion adventure in Paris.

It is an Electric Holiday!

 

I hope you enjoyed your stroll down the streets of New York and you are getting

ready for a wonderful Holiday season!

 

If you would like to see more pictures of the 2012 Holiday Windows,

Click on this Link.

 

 



Interior Design and Honey Boo Boo!

What in the world would Interior Design and Honey Boo Boo be doing in the same post?

 

Well read on and I will attempt to explain! Last month the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center opened to the public and held an event called, The Southern Vernacular and Southern

Interior Design.  This was a panel discussion on design in the South. They brought up some good points as to why we do not want southern design to go the way of Honey Boo Boo! The panel included the following:

 

James Lowell Strickland:  Who has a new book out called Coming Home: The Southern Vernacular House. James Lowell Strickland is the president and senior partner of Historical Concepts. Established in Atlanta in 1982, the firm has designed plans and buildings for the South’s most respected communities. Their work has earned prestigious design awards and has been featured in numerous magazines

 

 

Kimberly Grigg: Is a vegetarian cross between Zsa Zsa Gabor and Goldie Hawn! 
Like those iconic blondes, this lady is smart, savvy and the epitome of style. She approaches life and work with a fierce focus and a heap of savior-faire. She is the
founder of Knotting Hills Interiors in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and author of the upcoming book, Livable Luxury.

Kimberly Grigg

 

 

 

Carolyn Hultman: Carolyn Hultman, founder of Carolyn Hultman Interior Design and featured in books such as Paula Deen’s Savannah Style. In this book  Carolyn offers tips on how to bring southern charm into all aspects of the home. Hultman collaborated with Deen to design and furnish two guest cottages on Deen’s riverside estate, which are prominently featured in the book.

Carolyn Hultman

 

 

 

 

Phoebe Howard: She is co-owner of retail stores Mrs. Howard and Max & Company,

and author of The Joy of Decorating. While Phoebe is recognized as one of the

foremost authorities on Southern style, she is well regarded for her business

acumen as well, catering to both clients and other members of the design

community who have embraced the Mrs. Howard aesthetic. Phoebe scours the globe

for new products for her stores and clients, and creates a custom line of pillows,

lamps, mirrors and case goods. She also has a furniture collection called Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture, which is available in her stores as well as retailers nationwide. She and her husband, Jim Howard, have stores in Jacksonville, Florida,  Atlanta, Georgia  and Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

 

 

Lindsay Bierman: Editor-in-chief of Southern Living Magazine, led the panel in their discussion.

Lindsay Bierman

 Here are some highlights from their discussion on Southern Design.

 

 

Jim, Carolyn, Kimberly, Phoebe and Lindsay

 What is Southern Vernecular?

 

Jim: It can be anything from very grand homes to farm houses. Many have add ons, such as a porch. They are eclectic, approachable and comfortable.

Carolyn: Southern homes tend to have seasonal changes by using different slipcovers, pillows and rugs for summer and winter.

Jim: They also have great doors!

Phoebe: Agrees with Jim about great doors that have beautiful hardware, surrounded by planters with fresh plants and a nice doormat.

 

What is the most important room in the southern home?

Jim: The dining room. He sees this as evolving into a dining room/library or study

multi use room.

Kimberly: The kitchen. It is the heart of the home! Also the foyer, it sets the tone for

the personalities of the owners.

Carolyn: The kitchen/keeping room where family and friends gather.

Phoebe: The kitchen is a place of nurturing and caring with food.

 

What do you think of first that says southern?

 

Jim: A dog to create puppy patina! It is people and pets that make a house a home.

Kimberly: The feeling of livable luxury and gentle graciousness.

Phoebe: Grand staircases and fireplaces.

Carolyn: A veranda or porch (if you are a Yankee) Surrounded by creeping fig or Confederate jasmine.

Lindsay: Commented that Phoebe taught him every room needs one good piece of furniture. To compliment it, something that is not quite so perfect.

 

What city says southern style?

 

Phoebe: Charleston (1st) and Savannah (2nd)

Carolyn: Savannah. There is something new to see everyday! It is eclectic. Also any

of the low country area.

Kimberly: Anywhere there is a southern plantation home with beautiful oak trees.

Jim: Beaufort, South Carolina. It has all the elements.

Lindsay: Charlottesville, Virginia. He went to school there and loves Monticello.

 

Has the style of the younger southern generation changed?

Phoebe: Yes, they do not embrace antiques like their parents and grandparents.

Carolyn: They don't want silver (to high maintenance.) There is to much of the Pottery

Barn look.

Kimberly: It is necessary to educate the younger generation that you can mix older (antiques) pieces with new more modern pieces.

Jim: Liked the Southern Living Idea House in Senoia because it takes the basics and

makes them work. He said he looks to Ballard Design and Stanley Furniture for good

style and taste.

 

How do we teach the younger generation that they need to become more than a

disposable generation?

 

Phoebe: HGTV has encouraged the disposable age. All the reality TV shows from

Honey Boo Boo to the Housewives. They need to decorate for who they are and

look very honestly at their lifestyle.

Jim: They are the new market and it is up to us, as designers, to steer them in the

right direction.

Carolyn: They need to gain confidence in their decisions.

Lindsay: Feels like Southern Living Magazine needs to do a column geared to the

younger generation. They need to hire a designer to help educate them and to be

their editors.  From the mail the magazine receives, people want to be educated. 

The designers know the rules and have learned when to break them.

 

Sources and the websites for these design professionals:

 

Kimberly Grigg: http://www.knottinghillinteriors.com/

 

Carolyn Hultman: http://www.carolynhultman.com/

 

Phoebe Howard: http://www.phoebehoward.net/home.aspx

 

*I apologize for the crazy spacing on this post. Sometimes it will not let me correct

these issues.