Good evening everyone… every now and then I like to pop in during the evening. Something about the quiet feels inspiring, and when I get a sudden burst of energy to write or share pictures, I’ve learned to seize the moment!
First off the winner of our contest for the box of ornaments and gift toppers is-
# 23 Laura says:
________________________________________
This is a long post with a lot of writing and lots of pictures so you will want to take some time to read it:) I’m going to be the first to admit that, for whatever reason, I haven’t quite felt the holiday spirit this year. A few people close to me are dealing with some serious health issues, which naturally weighs heavily on my mind, and there are also some big life decisions swirling around—thankfully nothing related to my health or my immediate family. Still, it all adds up. And stress is not something I deal with the way I did when I was 30!
But being in the home accessories business has a way of snapping you back into the season quickly. Our warehouse is humming along—ornaments flying out the door, trees and stockings being packed, gift wrap rolls are rolling off the shelves. Your messages about how excited you are to open a box from us truly feel like the icing on the cake. It means so much to know our pieces are adding joy to your holidays.
Meanwhile, here at home, I was feeling—let’s say—underwhelmed. So many of our holiday boxes are still in storage or stored away in the basement of the house we’re renovating. Not ideal! I had set up the center hall table the other day with minimal enthusiasm and it just wasn’t working. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but I wasn’t loving it. Every time I walked in door, it felt off to. me. This is it below-
But a small miracle happened the other day when we hired two guys went over and brought back a bunch of boxes. Suddenly, I was reunited with some of my oldies but goodies… many from my brief “red phase” two years ago. I embraced red then—it was beautiful, especially paired with the blue and white—but I’ve always been drawn to softer tones. Still, this current house that we are living in has a completely different mood, and this morning I finally decided to lean into it and embrace it full throttle!
Once the red décor resurfaced, it felt like divine intervention—a little nudge to rethink everything. I grabbed an iced coffee, dismantled the whole table, and started fresh. And of course, I asked myself the age-old question: What would Ralph do? As in Ralph Lauren—because his taste is impeccable. You simply cannot go wrong with a grand ginger jar overflowing with greenery and berries. He uses this look constantly in his stores, and it always feels timeless.
Love my trusty rolling cart, I use it for everything. SO useful! Click here to see it
Let the dismantling begin!
Took off the tablecloth, the pale blue looks amazing in our house under renovation but this one it just didn’t jive
The rich wood made sense as did….you guessed it, blue and white
I had forgotten how much faux greenery and how many berry branches I actually owned… enough to fill a massive ginger jar, several smaller jars, and even a piece for the dining room. I completely embraced this darker, moodier, very traditional Christmas palette—and you know what? It works. This home is old, with dark woods and a cozy, traditional feel. It may not be my ideal design style, but by embracing what the house is, instead of fighting it, the holiday décor finally clicked.
And then it started coming together beautifully…
Even had enough left to make a duplicate arrangement for the dining room sideboard!
And this too came together and even had enough for my small blue/white box planters-
And then the cleanup began, and as I am not one to waste I saw all these little berries that had come off so I decided to stick them in my large tulipiere and I love it, I am not done- will be adding more with some greens but what a great (and easy/cheap) alternative to fresh flowers that I have to worry about watering. The theme this year is the saier the better!
And I do love our chinoiserie tree collars! Really elevates any tree stand:)
Now, walking through the door gives me a little pep in my step. It is starting to really feel like Christmas and I think Ralph would approve! Something to be said for embracing the present and not fighting it. In this case the rich reds were the right choice.
Will put the finishing touch on this tomorrow and finish my tree and then I will call it a wrap. Only thing is my paper whites which are starting to show growth, maybe with luck they will bloom in time for Christmas and if not, then they will be in bloom for New Years! I always buy some fresh greenery around Dec 10th or so to nestle into the faux, can’t do it too early though. I will do a little tweaking here and there, and will be sure to share.
I’ll even be setting our holiday table with the gorgeous new red linens—they’re perfect for this look. So that’s where we are: where things started… and where things are now. A total transformation and one that feels right.
Hope you’re finding your own holiday rhythm, wherever you are and whatever your season looks like. Thanks for stopping in, wishing everyone a nice evening. Until next time…..
FRIDAY ONLY- OUR DEAL OF THE DAY #3 ALL OF OUR COOKIE JAR/CANISTER SETS ARE $80.00.
Your ‘red’ berry additions are just fabulous!
Thank you for sharing! I am inspired to also add more ‘red’ to my Christmas decor this year as well! 🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄❤️
It’s perfect and will be gorgeous. I think this year many of us have many things going on . Just do what you can do , each Christmas is designed differently. Yours as always will be perfect .
The red really brings the holiday in. The yellow pears, of your first table scape, really threw me off. The greenery around the table looked forced. It was smart to start over and keep it simple with the red berries and greens.
You can never go wrong decorating with red to me. Greenery and red berries is classic for Christmas/Winter. Also the ginger jar lifted the height plus filling the jar full looks great. And adding more red in your side containers. Beautiful!
Not surprised that again you hit a home run. You are extremely talented. Get so many great ideas from you! Love the before but love the after even more The red in that home was a great call. Hope this lifted your spirits- so hard when those we love are suffering. Great idea for the tulipiere with berries, I am going to do that.
Your instincts always come through…the rich reds are stunning and very festive! Sometimes a tablecloth isn’t necessary, your center hall table is beautiful. Regarding all the stress…Try to remind yourself, it’s not always the Christmas tree, it’s who’s around it. We tend to put so much pressure on ourselves. I know it is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but sometimes it can be the most overwhelming. You’re in the middle of a renovation and that’s not always easy. Pace yourself and taking time throughout the day for a little prayer can always help!
P.S. I love your Blog and appreciate the time you take to keep in touch with us. Best Wishes for a beautiful holiday with your family!
So enjoyed reading/seeing your post tonight ! Yes- the traditional red & greens did the trick in your home this year !! It’s a classic for a reason !! ❤️
How gorgeous! Your instincts were spot on, the red looks festive and appropriate there. Good for you for embracing the character of the home. You have inspired me in this post to get busy myself. In my office, many of us are saying we aren’t feeling Christmas-y this year either. Not sure why. But my twins are coming home from college in a few days and they are expecting to see a decorated home:) Thanks always for the beautiful inspiration, you never cease to amaze me.
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Good evening everyone… every now and then I like to pop in during the evening. Something about the quiet feels inspiring, and when I get a sudden burst of energy to write or share pictures, I’ve learned to seize the moment!
First off the winner of our contest for the box of ornaments and gift toppers is-
# 23 Laura says:
________________________________________
This is a long post with a lot of writing and lots of pictures so you will want to take some time to read it:) I’m going to be the first to admit that, for whatever reason, I haven’t quite felt the holiday spirit this year. A few people close to me are dealing with some serious health issues, which naturally weighs heavily on my mind, and there are also some big life decisions swirling around—thankfully nothing related to my health or my immediate family. Still, it all adds up. And stress is not something I deal with the way I did when I was 30!
But being in the home accessories business has a way of snapping you back into the season quickly. Our warehouse is humming along—ornaments flying out the door, trees and stockings being packed, gift wrap rolls are rolling off the shelves. Your messages about how excited you are to open a box from us truly feel like the icing on the cake. It means so much to know our pieces are adding joy to your holidays.
Meanwhile, here at home, I was feeling—let’s say—underwhelmed. So many of our holiday boxes are still in storage or stored away in the basement of the house we’re renovating. Not ideal! I had set up the center hall table the other day with minimal enthusiasm and it just wasn’t working. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but I wasn’t loving it. Every time I walked in door, it felt off to. me. This is it below-
But a small miracle happened the other day when we hired two guys went over and brought back a bunch of boxes. Suddenly, I was reunited with some of my oldies but goodies… many from my brief “red phase” two years ago. I embraced red then—it was beautiful, especially paired with the blue and white—but I’ve always been drawn to softer tones. Still, this current house that we are living in has a completely different mood, and this morning I finally decided to lean into it and embrace it full throttle!
Once the red décor resurfaced, it felt like divine intervention—a little nudge to rethink everything. I grabbed an iced coffee, dismantled the whole table, and started fresh. And of course, I asked myself the age-old question: What would Ralph do? As in Ralph Lauren—because his taste is impeccable. You simply cannot go wrong with a grand ginger jar overflowing with greenery and berries. He uses this look constantly in his stores, and it always feels timeless.
Love my trusty rolling cart, I use it for everything. SO useful! Click here to see it
Let the dismantling begin!
Took off the tablecloth, the pale blue looks amazing in our house under renovation but this one it just didn’t jive
The rich wood made sense as did….you guessed it, blue and white
I had forgotten how much faux greenery and how many berry branches I actually owned… enough to fill a massive ginger jar, several smaller jars, and even a piece for the dining room. I completely embraced this darker, moodier, very traditional Christmas palette—and you know what? It works. This home is old, with dark woods and a cozy, traditional feel. It may not be my ideal design style, but by embracing what the house is, instead of fighting it, the holiday décor finally clicked.
And then it started coming together beautifully…
Even had enough left to make a duplicate arrangement for the dining room sideboard!
And this too came together and even had enough for my small blue/white box planters-
And then the cleanup began, and as I am not one to waste I saw all these little berries that had come off so I decided to stick them in my large tulipiere and I love it, I am not done- will be adding more with some greens but what a great (and easy/cheap) alternative to fresh flowers that I have to worry about watering. The theme this year is the saier the better!
And I do love our chinoiserie tree collars! Really elevates any tree stand:)
Now, walking through the door gives me a little pep in my step. It is starting to really feel like Christmas and I think Ralph would approve! Something to be said for embracing the present and not fighting it. In this case the rich reds were the right choice.
Will put the finishing touch on this tomorrow and finish my tree and then I will call it a wrap. Only thing is my paper whites which are starting to show growth, maybe with luck they will bloom in time for Christmas and if not, then they will be in bloom for New Years! I always buy some fresh greenery around Dec 10th or so to nestle into the faux, can’t do it too early though. I will do a little tweaking here and there, and will be sure to share.
I’ll even be setting our holiday table with the gorgeous new red linens—they’re perfect for this look. So that’s where we are: where things started… and where things are now. A total transformation and one that feels right.
Hope you’re finding your own holiday rhythm, wherever you are and whatever your season looks like. Thanks for stopping in, wishing everyone a nice evening. Until next time…..
FRIDAY ONLY- OUR DEAL OF THE DAY #3 ALL OF OUR COOKIE JAR/CANISTER SETS ARE $80.00.
MAKES A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY GIFT!
CLICK HERE
Your ‘red’ berry additions are just fabulous!
Thank you for sharing! I am inspired to also add more ‘red’ to my Christmas decor this year as well! 🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄❤️
It’s perfect and will be gorgeous. I think this year many of us have many things going on . Just do what you can do , each Christmas is designed differently. Yours as always will be perfect .
Lovely!
The red really brings the holiday in. The yellow pears, of your first table scape, really threw me off. The greenery around the table looked forced. It was smart to start over and keep it simple with the red berries and greens.
As beautiful as your “current” home is, agree that the richness of the dark wood foyer table shines. Very pretty tablescape, as always!
You can never go wrong decorating with red to me. Greenery and red berries is classic for Christmas/Winter. Also the ginger jar lifted the height plus filling the jar full looks great. And adding more red in your side containers. Beautiful!
The table looks great! You were on target when you felt ‘something was not quite right”.
Not surprised that again you hit a home run. You are extremely talented. Get so many great ideas from you! Love the before but love the after even more The red in that home was a great call. Hope this lifted your spirits- so hard when those we love are suffering. Great idea for the tulipiere with berries, I am going to do that.
Your instincts always come through…the rich reds are stunning and very festive! Sometimes a tablecloth isn’t necessary, your center hall table is beautiful. Regarding all the stress…Try to remind yourself, it’s not always the Christmas tree, it’s who’s around it. We tend to put so much pressure on ourselves. I know it is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but sometimes it can be the most overwhelming. You’re in the middle of a renovation and that’s not always easy. Pace yourself and taking time throughout the day for a little prayer can always help!
P.S. I love your Blog and appreciate the time you take to keep in touch with us. Best Wishes for a beautiful holiday with your family!
Version 2 is absolutely stunning. Bravo!
So enjoyed reading/seeing your post tonight ! Yes- the traditional red & greens did the trick in your home this year !! It’s a classic for a reason !! ❤️
So glad you “listened to your gut”…am loving the redo!
Elegant and beautiful tablescape and floral arrangements, as always. Thank you for the inspiration!
How gorgeous! Your instincts were spot on, the red looks festive and appropriate there. Good for you for embracing the character of the home. You have inspired me in this post to get busy myself. In my office, many of us are saying we aren’t feeling Christmas-y this year either. Not sure why. But my twins are coming home from college in a few days and they are expecting to see a decorated home:) Thanks always for the beautiful inspiration, you never cease to amaze me.
When I first saw your table I thought it needed a pop of red. Then I scrolled down and saw you had the same idea. What a difference! Looks amazing!
Well…it ALL speaks to me… I ❤️ it!!!
franki
Absolutely thrilled that you liked our holiday tradition and to be the WINNER of the ornaments and gift toppers!
Merry, Merry!