Come on a house tour with me! We often see photos of decorated rooms for the holidays in our favorite magazines, but we don’t see the rooms before the twinkle was sprinkled. So I thought I’d show you just how I take a a room from every day lovely to holiday fabulous in three very different homes. Let’s go!
Your holiday greeting begins at the door. I love the cheeriness of red bows, but you can use any number of colors: red or green, blue or white, silver or gold. Let your own holiday spirit shine!
Let’s head inside!
Photo Credit: Durston Taylor
The foyer of my home in Connecticut is serenely welcoming, with soft neutral shades, and three wooden newel post lighthouses, all fiber-optically lit with softly changing colors at the base of the staircase. See the entry go from this…
…to this! For Yuletide, I’ve twined brightly lit garland and colorful ornaments around the staircase and added two more bright red bows! I believe in selecting a color theme and staying with it from the front porch throughout the home for sumptuous simplicity.
Photo credit: Durston Saylor
My eco-elegant home is the deepest shade of “green,” with everything selected as natural and close to toxin-free as possible.
But for the holidays, my favorite color is red!
Using red pillows behind the “Merry” pillows adds a touch of cozy warmth. The letters are embroidered with colorful threads from a local artisan.
Photo credit: Durston Taylor
The rattan chairs by McGuire and white skirted side chairs by Giorgetti provide comfortable seating and a tranquil setting in my everyday life. At the holidays, though, I’m going for the glow!
What I love best is preparing to host friends and neighbors–old and new– for an evening of food, music and merriment. Fa la la!
Don’t forget to decorate the dogs!
Photo credit: Erik Rank
Now we’re off to Greenwich, Connecticut, where this lovely estate seems ready made for Christmas decorations, with its stately fir trees and columns begging to be covered in greenery and lights.
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
Wrapping columns in evergreens is always an elegant touch, and brings life and color back when the flowers are long gone.
Photo credit: Erik Rank
My team and I take rooms from daily…
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
..to dashing! (Dasher, Prancer, and Vixen would be right at home here.)
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
We always want to dine in style–
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
but as the holidays arrive, we need a festive flourish! Gold stars are snug in evergreen beds on the mantle and in the wreath above, adding a golden shimmer to the evening. Brown pinecones blend naturally with gold.
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
A love of music was behind the design for this room, as you’ll see in the framed awards on the wall in the next photo.
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
Now the melody is enhanced with gold and white decor: a harmonious palette accented by the bouquet of elegant Green Parrot tulips.
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
One more example of adding boughs of greenery to bannister and stairs! The gold theme is added to the red: the two-colored bows with seasonal evergreens are an eye-catching display!
Ready to head to Nantucket Island? Let’s go!
Photo Credit: Terry Pommet
It’s hard to improve on a Nantucket harbor view.
Photo Credit: Thibaut Jeanson
But I think these evergreen swags just might do it. Slipcovers on chairs and matching shades on the light fixture add holiday warmth!
Photo Credit: Terry Pommet
Time to add some comfort and joy here…
Photo Credit: Thibaut Jeanson
with red slipcovers and floor covering, plus poinsettias festooning a corner! We’re ready for a visit from Santa and his elves.
Photo Credit: Erik Rank
Don’t forget to put out the cookies…whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or the beauty of the winter season!
Our three-house tour has come to an end, but when you step outside, be sure to turn and take a closer look at this beautiful wreath. More is more at the holidays!
And if you have a little boat, by all means, decorate that, too.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
Watch for my new blogs once a month, and Instagram (@dujardin_design) and Facebook (@DujardinDesign) posts on Thursdays. Once a season I send a newsy email letter to you, too! Be sure to subscribe to get all the best design advice and beautiful inspiration through photos of our projects. I want all of us to live in happy, well-designed, healthy homes!