Silver Solstice

Winter Solstice has arrived, and that brings us less daylight... only about 9 hours on December 22nd! Since we are the farthest away from the sun, and it's elevation is lowest in the sky, we naturally experience the longest night of the year. But just because it's dark outside, our interiors can still shine brilliantly.

Nothing brings sparkle to the darkness like the glint of silver... it can be glossy and bright, or satiny and lustrous... those qualities make it perfect to add some dazzle to your home for Winter celebrations...

Mercury glass votives lining the stairs in the foyer

invite you in from the darkness & cold

Silver, blue & turquoise ornaments adorn our blue Christmas tree

Soft candle light glows from a silver hurricane lantern

Silver poinsettias might not be found in nature...

but look great as a decoration on our stairway!

A glittery silver candle surrounded by greens & silvery pine cones

Tiny white tree decoration with silver snow on its boughs

is right at home on this table covered with blue snowflakes

Snow covered greenery in a silver urn

Sparkly sequins make this pillow ready to celebrate winter's festivities

A silvery arrangement with cobalt & turquoise ornaments

makes a bold, contemporary statement

This wreather with silver ribbons & bows, & coastal themed adornments

liven up an otherwise plain interior door

This silver swirl tree is magical against the dreamy silk drapes!

Silver "presents" & silver rimmed candle holders warm up the fireplace mantle

I hope that these images make you excited about adding a touch of silver to your winter decor!

Wishing you a cozy and warm season!

Deck The Halls… & Showrooms

I spent the day at the Boston Design Center on Tuesday, December 6th and enjoyed seeing little hints of the holidays as I wandered the hallways and through the showrooms.

Thought that I would share some of the inspiration with you...

An icy, luxurious dream from The Patterson Group

A blanket of snowy delights

Stark Carpet's holiday treasures for under foot

"Gift wrapped" carpets and fabrics

A snowflake adorns a chilly blue rug and silky fabric

The holidays glitter at Studio 534

Simple and elegant silvery pinecones

Christmas trees at home on a tree trunk cross-section table

M-Geough combines land and sea in this inviting centerpiece

So, now, in spite of the 50 degree temperatures and rain that don't have me feeling Christmassy at all, I have a renewed sense of enthusiasm for delving into my own holiday decorating! I hope that you feel that way too!

I’ll Have A Blue Christmas

I’ve Got the Christmas Blues, and Turquoises, and Silvers… and even the White stuff I’ve been dreaming of! It is uncanny that on the very last day of autumn, snow flakes began to fall outside my window as if to welcome the Winter Solstice.

So this afternoon, when Winter officially arrived, all of the holiday decorations seemed to sparkle just a little more under the light of the full moon, and look a little happier… and in my home, a Blue Christmas is not a sad thing! Something magical happens when you combine the “Blues” with the reflection of the snow and some twinkling lights!

The influences for my Blue Christmas are a little bit retro modern, a little bit coastal, and a little bit whimsical.

Cocktail table set for a little Christmas Cheer

If a Blue Christmas Tree doesn’t look “retro” or “modern,” I don’t know what does! I can remember that as a little girl, my ultra hip parents would get a fresh tree, but they would never consider leaving it green… each year they chose a different paint color to have it sprayed, and some years even flocked in the corresponding hue. One year it was blue, the next white, the next turquoise, and another, silver. They of course also selected just the right shiny and frosted ornaments to create a dramatic but lively monochromatic masterpiece highlighted by the oversized lights and shimmery tinsel so chic in the day. If you love "Mad Men," you would have adored attending a holiday party at my parent’s house! My blue tree is a much smaller scale than in my childhood home, but still has its own mod vibe…

Blue Christmas tree

Other decorative elements of Christmas Blues, and Turquoises, and Silvers…

Jingle bells in a crystal bowl

Silver candle on lacquer tray

Mercury glass floral arrangement

Silvery mesh gift with ribbon and poinsettia

Silver floral arrangement with blue pine cones & turquoise ornaments

Holiday decor with a decidedly coastal flair…

Watery blue & turquoise sea glass wreath

Wreath with sea shells and silver net & ribbon

And a bit of Winter Whimsy…

Cute Christmas visitors in blue scarves and hats along with coastal elements

Adorable Christmas princess decked out in silvery tulle and pale blue feathers

Today is the Winter Solstice… we are the farthest from the sun… daylight is short, but happily will get longer as the season progresses. Temperatures are cold, but our interiors are warm and sparkle with holiday joviality. Cheers!