The holidays are upon us and once again I have created a Christmas garland for our front hall.
This year's color theme was inspired by the red, gold, and green of the metallic Tartan wrapping paper I found at a local pharmacy and a pre-loved Federal mirror that I purchased at a consignment shop.

To view this and additional photos of Christmas garlands used on stairways, doorways, and over fireplace mantels, click here to be magically transported to New England Fine Living's blog.
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Christmas in Boston MA New England

I wanted to share these photos of Boston during the Christmas season.  They are unedited and out of order, but I wanted to make sure I got them up to enjoy before Christmas arrives, which is in a few days.  

I love this photo.  I just wish I was able to ask all of the car owners to move their cars :-). 

Getting Ready For A Christmas Open House

It's Here!  Christmas time!  I love the holidays and this year will be a little extra special.  We are hosting a Christmas open house with about 60 guests and I have been a busy little elf decorating the house, buying food, and setting up the two bars.  I hope I find time to take some photos with the food set out and bars set up to post later.  

Glitter Truck Centerpieces For A Christmas Party

Here is a unique idea for a Christmas party.  Large glittered trucks used as a centerpiece.  Can you imagine all of the other things you can use glitter on?  Oh My!

Here is a video tutorial of how I made these glitter trucks for centerpieces.  

Merry Christmas From New England Fine Living

                                     Merry Christmas!  Photo Found on VT Interiors

A relaxing night in my New England home during the busy season.

I still have to figure out the settings on my camera to find out why most of my photos are coming out blurry, especially with evening photos, but I thought I would share my cozy night with you.  I had made the decision to just relax and allow myself to enjoy the season vs the busy hustle and bustle I have been enduring.  So with my fur baby by the tree, my guy sitting next to me, and my grown children tucked safely in their rooms, we enjoyed some wine, Christmas music, candle light, and a roaring fire.    A motto, which I sometimes forget is SIMPLIFY.

My Partridge salt and pepper shakers are not extinct!

Can I tell you how excited I was when I found out my Partridges were not extinct!  Others do exist!  Well ENsame breed, but mine are a little less detailed.  I found their mates on a fabulous New England based blog  called An Urban Cottage . When searching my home for these two, I realized I have a few bird couples.  I had no idea I had a collection pattern.  I do not consider myself a collector, but I will admit... I have a fairy hiding in every one of my rooms.  I collected them at one point in my life when I needed a little magic.   Collecting bird couples must be the hopeless romantic in me.

  Now check out what Steve did with his Partridge.  I love it!  He created an advent wreath.  Here is a link to his page on how he did it.

Photo source - An Urban Cottage

Photo Source - An Urban Cottage

Aluminum tree with pink

I remember as a young child, I thought the silver aluminum tree was tacky.  I had a neighbor that had a tree with a spinning light that changed the color, but with that said... I love them now!  If I have the opportunity to use one I will be so excited (maybe I will have to put one in my office next year).   I have been tempted in years past to pick one up at thrift stores, but with my limited storage, I passed.

Photo Via - Source

Entertaining with a gold and cream monochromatic look

When I came across this photo on a Web site called Camille Styles  I couldn't help but get caught up in the beauty of the colors and how festive it looks.  I can't wait to use this color grouping with a client some day.  A link list of product information can be found on Camille's blog page.  

The old Ford gets a holiday wreath.

A live wreath was going to adorn the grill of my boyfriend's 16 year old son's 1951 Ford, but they could not find the size I suggested and he was afraid the wind would blow off the needles (hmmm not sure if this old gal could go that fast).  As luck would have it (well not really luck, I was decorating their house for Christmas), I had a faux wreath in my car that was a perfect fit.  The big decision now is bow or no bow?  I am going to let the driver decide. 

Christmas Shopping at Mill River Winery

For the past couple of weeks, I have been helping the owners of Mill River Winery in Rowley, MA prepare for the holidays and for their Sip, Snack, and Shop ( dare you to say that 10 times fast!).

Yesterday I put up a tree on their front porch and adorned it with maroon and copper colored ornaments that were satin, shiny, and glittery in finish (come on.... ye gotta have glitta!).  Within the tree, I also stuck red colored twigs.  I have a full length photo, but not gonna show that one, it is blurrier than my own vision without glasses!

Three urns went from Fall grasses and flowers to several types of greens and twigs tucked in that I purchased at Wolf Hill in Ipswich.  This is the smallest of three.  Don't look at the leaves in the photo... they are a figment of your imagination.   My plan was to put a bow around this urn, but I ran out of ribbon (most was used on the barn door you will see in a moment.).  Can I add that I tried to make a bow for the tree and I couldn't do it!  This ribbon was tough to work with, but come on... I failed at making a bow?  I must go back to bow making class!

This picture was taken last week before I put lights on the beams, prettied up the urns for winter, and added the tree.  The winery is all wrapped up in a gift bow. Who wouldn't want a winery for a present? 

I took this on my way out last night.   I am going to try to get a photo when it is completely dark. 

You might have seen this photo before in a previous post, but I thought I would include the inside of the winery all decorated for Christmas.

I know this photo is a bit out of place, but I thought I would show you this.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Donna, one of the owners had a vision for a wall unit and we brainstormed with her amazing carpenter.  Below is the "almost there" photo of what was built.  Still to be added are lights, shelves, and frame work, but this is how it will be for the Shopping party with a few more adornments.

Creating an enchanted holiday dinner for guests

This photo is from Veranda Magazine

Enchanted Entertaining 

By Linda Smith Davis

The guests have arrived, and as they cross the threshold they are greeted by the soft, sweet sound of holiday music and the beauty of the seasonal decoration.  The family evergreen, recently adorned with treasures from holidays past, fills the room with a calming scent that brings back wonderful memories.  As guests make their way down the hall to see the holiday table, they are awestruck my what they see.  

At each seat are small gifts wrapped in silver and gold which contain a gleaming keepsake ornament, napkins have been folded and adorned with ribbons and bells.   The wax dripping from the flickering flame of white candles creates lace patterns as it trickles down the side, and the fresh flowers of the centerpiece add another incredible scent to the room. Visitors feel like children again as they wonder what is inside the little packages.  Better yet, they feel the warmth of knowing that you took the time to welcome each and every one of them into your home.  Little do they know that you were able to achieve this look with just a few stolen moments, and while you were relaxing.    Read More....

A Few Christmas Decorating Ideas From New England Fine Living.

A Few Decorating Tips From New England Fine Living

Strapped for time and you need some quick Christmas decorating ideas?  Have the time, but you want a few fun ideas?  Here are a few tips I have used myself that would make an elf proud!

Tie beautiful french ribbons around pillows to make them look like Christmas packages.

Tie candy canes around a short vase and fill with greenery and red berries or more candy canes.

Make luminaries out of paper bags, sand, and votives then line your front stairs for holiday guests

Tie red ribbons the ends of pine cones, spread peanut butter on them, then roll in bird seed, hang them outside for  the birds to enjoy.

Place a large candle in an empty half gallon milk carton (you might need to tape it in), fill the carton with water (do not cover your candle) and cranberries... freeze... and use outside as luminaries or in your holiday buffet.

Using a large decorative bowl, fill with beautiful red apples and glass ornaments for a quick holiday display.

Tuck fresh greens into artificial greens to add volume, scent, and beauty.  Add baubles, ornaments, berries, and miniature wrapped boxes for a festive holiday garland or wreath.

Let children freeze water and food coloring in small or medium sized paper and wax drinking cups... add festive ribbon to the top.... freeze... then remove them from the cups and hang outside on trees for temporary ornaments.

Make a snowman kit.  Gather with the children items for the face and buttons, clothes, and a hat.  Put aside some hot cocoa and wait for the weather man to promise a beautiful snow fall.

Christmas Decorating By New England Fine Living

Here is a little video of some Christmas decorating that has been done over the years by New England Fine Living.  Enjoy and I hope it inspires you for your holiday decorating.

The Lazy Christmas Decorator

Lazy?  I think not!  I think these neighbors have got the right idea!  LOL  

 This poor holiday elf gave up just a little too soon.

A Farmhouse Christmas Party

 

Sure I love working with my New England interior design clients, but I LOVE New England event and party styling.

Here are some photos of a class New England style Christmas party I styled for a client and their 60 guests.  This particular event was in a private New England home, so I created items they could use every year.  Getting out my glue gun, scissors, and wire, and got to work on this event.  I can't wait to get photos from my client with pictures of the food buffets and bar area.

New England Style Christmas or Natural Theme Party Favors

 For favors, I decided to wrap evergreen scented candles in burlap (burlap was a large part of the decor for this party) with small pine cones.   After they were complete, I attached a note on the back of each one from the host and hostess.  Below, you will see a picture of the favors in a basket that was placed in the front foyer. 

 

The candy buffet, as you can probably tell, had a theme of red, green, and white.  Custom labels were created, for each candy, with cute sayings that had to do with each treat.

  

I am so glad the candy is out of my house now.  Keeping it in my home was such a tease to candy taste testers.  

For the table that was going to be used for the appetizers, I hung a twig, greenery, and berry wreath upside down off of the chandelier.  Tiny checkered bows were used to cover the wire.  

For the dessert station, I found an old sled and embellished it with greens, red jingle bells, pine cones, and a burlap bow.  I can't wait to see photos on how this looked once the caterer placed the desserts on top and around this piece.  My client informed me that many of the guests are going to put sled on their dining room tables now just for decoration.  

Yup.... I used a lot of burlap for this job.  Some was a higher grade from a fabric store and some of it was from a local feed and grain store.

I wished the decorations showed up in the photo, but for some reason a lot seemed to disappear once the flash went off, but this simple tree had pine cones, twigs, red ornaments, red jingle bells, metal stars that I painted an antique  gold, and a burlap bow and cascading ribbon 

For the front hall that was lacking an item on the wall, I found a pair of old wooden skis, screwed them together and added greens, pine cones, bells, and what else?  Say it with me now........ a burlap bow.  the basket on the table is holding all of the candle party favors that I mentioned earlier.

 Two of the mantel in the home were decorated.  Here I added greens,  amber ornaments, pine cones, candles, and sticks.  Note the tall candle holder to keep the flame higher than the greenery. 

 In an older post, you might have seen this wreath already, but it was created for this party.  I found vintage kitchen accessories and placed them on a faux wreath with wire.  Then I added berries and bows to complete the look.

 

This sled was made for a different client, for the outside, but I thought I would share it here on this post.  

Less is More in this home for the holidays

 

The following photos are the talented work of  Mary McDonald as shown in Veranda Magazine

One of the most visited pages on my web site, New England Fine Living,  is the PEACOCK WEDDING and Party page, so I was thrilled when my eyes caught a glimpse of this New England style room with the simple peacocks, fruits, ornaments, and greenery surrounding the entryway to the dining room of this magnificent home.   The bright and stately colors show beautifully against the wood and guilded furniture.  This look could transition easily from pre-Thanksgiving right through to New Years Eve. 

The mansion by my home, Turner Hill Mansion, has a peacock as it's logo.  The previous owner used to raise them on the property (they have a stuffed one inside that I was told was one of the "original" peacock pets), so the first masquerade ball I styled there, for the Ipswich Rotary Fundraiser, had peacock wreaths and candles as the dining table centerpieces.  I even took the peacock statue from my garden and added him to the front entryway of my store. 

The two pictures above look as if the wood has been whitewashed or pickled which is setting off the stunning greens just as much as the dark wood in the first photo. I can't help but wonder if this home is in New England due to a lot of the styling shown in side.

In the dining room, what looks like cedar and fir evergreen takes center stage with just a few touches of white and clear baubles and white flowers, showing us that less really can be more.    You can find more information and photos of other New England style entertaining ideas on my web site, New England Fine Living.com