The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
And Driving Myself Crazy Decorating
Sorry for the delay, but I’ve been busy decking the halls today! Even though this will be my third Christmas in this house, I’m still figuring out how I want it decorated and am collecting festive bits and bobs as I go along. This year, I decided to try my hand at making a real magnolia garland (thanks to my tree being pruned last week) and I still haven’t perfected how I want it to look. So far I’ve settled on adding some silver and gold ornaments (next year I will do disco balls, which are my favorite), twinkle lights, and bows. Making big, velvet bows almost killed me and frustrated me to no end (why are they so hard to make??), so I gave up. Last night, I ordered thin, velvet ribbon to try my hand at the floppy bows you often see in the UK. I may add in some dehydrated oranges to spice it up even more, but I am sitting with what I have for a little bit to see if it needs that extra layer.
In order to stop picking at my magnolia garland, I’m obsessing over my potted boxwoods on my front porch. I added a glitter, foam bow to each pot from Michael’s, and I don’t know how I feel about them. Tacky? I tried my hand at some tinsel garland spiraled into the boxwoods and it immediately ended up in the trash, because it was immediately against my design religion.
Now I’m going to avoid these projects and transfer my energy into winter housekeeping reminders…
-I had my hot water heater flushed (haven’t done that since I moved in almost 4 years ago). The plumber said it’s more important to flush tankless water heaters, so make sure you do that every year or as often as your plumber recommends.
-HVAC maintenance (make sure you’ve had your HVAC checked before the winter season so you know your heat isn’t going to crap out on you). It’s better to be prepared for the winter than have a situation where you have an emergency and either have to pay more to get someone out ASAP or be in a situation where you don’t have heat!
-Winter is a great time for tree pruning and maintenance. I have an 80 year old oak tree that needed pruning and cabling to keep her happy (and so it doesn’t fall on my house in a storm). At the least, I recommend getting quotes for trees and come up with a plan for what needs to be done and how often.
-Sprinkler winterization (do so if you haven’t already). This is very important! You don’t want pipes freezing, bursting, or getting damaged. While you’re at it, remove and drain outdoor hoses and store them somewhere dry. If you leave them connected to a spigot, you can have damage in a major freeze.
-Check for any drafts or insulation needs for winter. Do your weather seals need replacing? If you any exposed pipes outside (for instance there is often pvc condensate lines running from hvac to drain outside) insulate! I learned this the hard way last year when my outdoor pipes froze and it shut down my heat downstairs (due to a safety switch that was activated). I ended up disassembling the pvc pipes and pouring my hot tea kettle down them to thaw the ice, which was not a pleasant experience. My plumber told me I could have an electrician install a trace wire or I could insulate the outdoor pipes with insulation that looks like pool noodles to prevent this from happening again. He said the insulation route was just as effective as the trace wire. I now have pipes surrounded in “pool noodles” for about $2 for 6 feet from Home Depot.
Because of the cold weather we’ve experienced and that is to come, I’ve been drawn to cozy, warm interiors. Things that bring a space warmth are fabrics, paint colors, textures, layers, and materials. Below are some of my favorite spaces that make me feel warm and cozy…
1. Cave Interiors (designer), Paul Massey (image) 2. Zoe Feldman (designer) 3. Kitchen- Octavia Dickinson (designer), Helen Cathcart (image) 4. Angelica Squire (designer), Christopher Horwood (image) 5. Sarah Brown (designer) 6. Kate Guinness (designer), James McDonald (image) 7. Hatta Byng (house), Christopher Horwood (image) 8. Potting- Allison Abney (designer), Tim Williams (image) 9. Laura Gonzalez (designer), Jerome Galland (image)
10. Brandon Schubert (designer), Boz Gagovski (image) 11. Carlos Sanchez-Garcia (designer) 12. Ben Pentreath (designer), Paul Massey (image) 13. Sarah Hiscox, Frances Penn (designer),Paul Massey (image) 14. Laura Butler-Madden (designer) 15. Nadine Finnegan (designer), Paul Massey (image) 16. David Lucido (designer) 17. Anna Hewitson (designer), Boz Gagovski (image) 18. Camilla Guinness (designer), Simon Brown (image)
Here are this week’s interior finds…
1. Bezel Mirror 2. Clay Vessel 3. "Expensive Shit" Engraved Trinket Box 4. Schoolhouse x Clare V. Sonia Rectangle Laquer Tray 5. Solis Lamp 6. Puffer Mirror 7. Lily of the Valley Sculpture 8. Mini Elm Wood Stool 9. Scallop Waste Bin 10. Nickey Kehoe Mini Ice Bucket 11. Cloud Lacquer Tray 12. Wood Bowl 13. Water Green Spiral Dinner Plate
14. The Forst Candle 15. Nickey Kehoe Crescent Napkins 16. Round Placemats 17. Quail Ceramics Pug Egg Cup 18. Chambray Round Scalloped Tray 19. Edera Butter Dish 20. Confetti Tumblers 21. Elio Dinner Plate 22. Luna Wall Light 23. Cloud Pillow Case 24. Margherita Dinner Plate Set 25. Teig Lamp
Here are this week’s fashion finds…And if you need holiday fashion inspiration, take a look here (I’ve added some pieces)!
1. Mirabelle Maxi Dress 2. Shiny Blouse 3. Blair Block Pump 4. Mylie Metallic Mock Turtleneck Top 5. Piper Dress 6. Alice Tee 7. Metallic Tote Bag 8. Ruby Paillette Mona Maxi Skirt 9. Clara Cashmere Crew Cardigan 10. Sequin Embroidered Jacket 11. Sylvie Slip Skirt 12. Meadowbrook Stripe Dulcie Cardigan
13. Box Tote 14. Manteco Wool Blend Coat 15. Palazzo Mini Bag 16. Miramar Terry Sofie Ankle-Length Pant 17. Faux-fur Trimmed Leather Gloves 18. So Soft Cardigan & Lounge Pants Set 19. Chunky Pure Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater 20. Kiruna Boots 21. Chunky Pure Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater 22. Animal Print Leather Shoes x Kate Moss 23. Cheetah Abbott Wrap Coat 24. Coto Cardigan 25. Bodega Clog
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Current Obsessions
-How an English mansion in the country is decorated for Christmas
-Ann Mashburn’s house in Atlanta (thanks for this, Lexie!)
-Mr. Armani opened a restaurant in NYC
-Tibi and L.L. Bean collaborated on a tote!
-Design Miami has the coolest furniture on exhibit
-Skims and The North Face are dropping a collab TOMORROW
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