Sunday, 30 November 2014

Grace and Favor

My most recent post, Celebrating the Holidays With Aerin Lauder, includes a photo of a festive tablesetting in which Aerin has placed a marble acorn as a favor. Ms. Lauder's gift is beautiful, but homemade cookies make fun favors, too - whether you wrap them in burlap or pouches made of antique Fortuny fabric. Bulbs or seedlings are party gifts that will grow over time, and beribboned trinkets can serve as both favors and namecards for festive holiday tables. Sending home leftovers in pretty packages is another way to help guests enjoy your party long after it ends. 

"A silver bowl is filled with cookies Gregory bakes as favors for party guests."
 Gregory Van Boven and David Beck's home in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Interior design by Gregory Van Boven.
Photography by Eric Roth.
Written by Krissa Rossbund.
 "Christmas in Boston" produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick.

 "Place a tiny evergreen seedling at each seat to serve as both a placecard and a thank-you gift for dinner guests. Bundled in black burlap and tied with twine, the offering is a gesture that's both eco- and economically-friendly."
Photography by Michael Graydon.
Stylist: Stacey Smithers.
Canadian House and Home (November 2008).

 "Surprise your Christmas party guests with a thoughtful take-home gift. These so-Southern magnolia tree saplings from Florida-based Seeds of Life are an ecofriendly way to say 'thanks for coming.' The trees are packaged in natural jute and come with care instructions so that your gift will last way past the dinner party. Tie on personalized gift tags to each tree for the finishing touch."
Photography by Erica George Dines.

 "A glittering package containing the ingredients for a favorite family nut bread recipe sits at every place setting. CDs of holiday tunes or handmade ornaments are also great takeaway gifts for your guests. Glitter paper, ribbon, and tags are from Paper Source.
Apple green plates aren’t specific to Christmas but are well-suited for a holiday brunch. Metallic touches on the dinner ensemble—including service plates that anchor the porcelain, gold-rimmed amber wineglasses, and white linens hem-stitched in gold—give the basics a luxurious charge."

"China from Home James in a mix of patterns, a playful party favor in a bowl, a turtle napkin ring, and lime-green placemats make for a festive table in the breakfast room."
Interior design by Christopher Hyland.
Photography by John Bessler.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Visions of Sugarplums" produced by Ann McVicker.

"A clean-lined chartreuse palette keeps this table sweet and informal. The dining chairs are backed with a two-tone damask, lending a touch of texture. The citric hue is tempered by gold touches, like the floral detail on the salad plates. Little woolen polar bears grace each table setting—charming children and adults alike."
Photography by Helen Norman.

 "Send guests home with a breakfast treat of bagels and Belle Chèvre fig spread."
Tablesetting by Tasia Malakasis, author of Tasia's Table: Cooking with the Artisan Cheesemaker at Belle Chèvre.
Photography by Iain Bagwell.

 "Send guests home with a yummy care package of leftovers."
Tablesetting by Georgia designer and author James Farmer.
Photography by Hector Sanchez.

 "Leave gifts on each guest's chair. Little house boxes make a cute alternative to wrapping paper."

 "Make little bags of homemade festive cookies from greaseproof paper edged with ribbon and lay at each place setting."

"As a favor for each guest, burlap pockets adorned with pleated velvet ribbon and glittery snowflakes are filled with 'Kitchen Sink' cookies. The treats mix chocolate chips, pretzels, and potato chips."
Connecticut home of Capucine and David Gooding, founders of luxury tableware company Juliska.
Photography by John Bessler.
"Gorgeous Intergenerational Holiday Gathering" written by Krissa Rossbund.

"Team graphic fabrics like “Richelieu” from Fortuny with glam ribbons for a modern presentation. 'Maori' rectangular platter from L’Objet."
Event planner: Rachel Hollis.
Photography by Peter Krumhardt and Colleen Duffley.
"Entertaining: Enlivening a Traditional Holiday Dinnerwritten and produced by Krissa Rossbund.

Fortuny Pouch by B. Viz Design.
Size approx. 4in. wide x 4 1/2in. tall. Pouch created from antique and vintage textiles and trims. Great for holidays, gift packaging, and birthday parties. You can request color or type of textile. 
Photo via B. Viz Design website.

 "A bouquet place card doubles as a pretty favor for guests to take home. To keep the flowers looking fresh, insert the stems into floral tubes (available from your local florist) before arranging them in each cone."
Gridley & Graves.

 "Send each guest home with a token of your gratitude. Todd treats guests to scented candles in beribboned black boxes. The fun squirrel card reminds guests of his mascot and the wonderful meal they shared."
Tablesetting by Todd Fiscus.
Photography by Jennifer Davick.

"Each place setting usually has a small wrapped gift peeking out of a cup or bowl. 'It's fun when having a dinner to provide a little favor for each person,' Christopher says. 'It doesn't have to be expensive. It can be as simple as a candy silver coin or a miniature book.' "
Chelsea apartment of Manhattan interior and furnishings designer Christopher Hyland.
Interior design by Christopher Hyland.
Photography by John Bessler.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Visions of Sugarplums" produced by Ann McVicker.

 "Graceful champagne flutes from Home James stand ready for holiday toasts. 
Piling small wrapped boxes on a serving tray adds a little magic to your celebration. For entertaining a younger crowd, place small wrapped chocolates around the house for a festive scavenger hunt. The children will love it, and the adults might be grateful for the distraction!"
Chelsea apartment of Manhattan interior and furnishings designer Christopher Hyland.
Interior design by Christopher Hyland.
Photography by John Bessler.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Visions of Sugarplums" produced by Ann McVicker.


Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Celebrating the Holidays With Aerin Lauder

My recent blog post, A Fresh Look at Red and Green, included a photo of Aerin Lauder's Manhattan apartment decorated for Christmas. I found some additional photos of Aerin's homes decorated for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Please take a peek and have a happy Thanksgiving!

“ 'We moved into my grandmother’s home in the country twelve years ago,' Lauder says. 'We celebrated my oldest son’s first birthday here. It’s this wonderful spot, near Georgica Pond, where we spend time all year round.' ”
Photography by Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Vogue (November 23, 2011). 

“ 'I love incorporating velvets and animal prints,' says Lauder of her aesthetic. 'But in the summer, I put a warm, brown ikat slipcover over the couch, which is the perfect transition between seasons. It makes the whole room feel more beachy.' ”
Photography by Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Vogue (November 23, 2011).

“ 'I love cut flowers, branches, and plants, and I keep the rooms filled with regular visits to the Bridgehampton Florist,' Lauder says.  'I also think that this time of year any room can be made cozy and inviting when you add candles, a roaring fire, and, of course, good friends.' ”
Photography by Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Vogue (November 23, 2011).

“ 'I love to entertain in the country,' says Lauder, surveying her dining room table. 'The recipes for the holidays have been passed down from my grandmother, like roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and a Bûche de Noël.' ”
Photography by Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Vogue (November 23, 2011).

“ 'At holidays, we always have the same dinner and we celebrate using my grandmother’s dishes,' Lauder says of her place settings."
Photography by Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Vogue (November 23, 2011).

"When I'm dressing a table, I like to stay with one or two colors, in flowers as well as everything else. Gold - on the vases, bowls, and plates as well as the hand-blown Murano glasses - acts like a neutral. Then a zebra-patterned linen tablecloth adds an exotic touch. Marble acorns are a little favor for each guest." - Aerin Lauder.
Photography by Simon Upton.
Beauty at Home - Aerin Lauder written with Christine Pittel (Potter Style: 2013).
This photograph, which appears in Aerin Lauder's book, Beauty at Home, also appears in AERIN's Facebook timeline.

"With so many different ages at my own parties, I like to offer food that appeals to everyone whether they are 5 or 85.  I always serve pigs in blankets, smoked salmon on toast, cheese puffs, and crab cakes. Desserts like Christmas and gingerbread cookies, peppermint ice cream and brownies are impossible to resist. Vintage cocktail napkins in red and green embroidered with holly, Santas, or initials are stacked on tables. I always place treats like chocolate balls, peppermint sticks, ribbon candy, nuts and popcorn in gold nesting bowls around the apartment. I love how gold accents make everything feel more festive." - Aerin Lauder
Photo and text via World of AERIN blog.
A similar photo of ribbon candy (by Simon Upton) appears in Beauty at Home - Aerin Lauder written with Christine Pittel.

"I love using candy as table accents." - Aerin Lauder.
Aerin Lauder's Hamptons home photographed for House and Garden in 2007.
 Photo via Pinterest.

"My East Hampton home decorated for the holidays." - Aerin Lauder.
Aerin Lauder's Hamptons home photographed for House and Garden in 2007.
Photo via Pinterest.

"The table is set for a holiday dinner with plates Aerin Lauder inherited from her grandmother, Estée, and branches in vases from her Aerin line." 
Photography by Douglas Friedman. 
Written by Ingrid Abramovitch.

" 'My grandfather was born on Christmas Eve,'  Aerin Lauder says. Even though the family is Jewish, they would gather each year on his birthday for an old-fashioned repast of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and the classic French Yuletide dessert of bûche de Noël—a ritual they continue to this day. . . . 'It was a celebration of his birthday and of the holiday, all in one.' . . . For Lauder, who also celebrates Hanukkah, the key to holiday entertaining is to create a setting that feels both inviting and luxurious. 'But most of all, it's about tradition and the spirit of the season,' she says. 'I love to create a sense that this is a special time of year.' " 
 Photography by Douglas Friedman. 
Written by Ingrid Abramovitch.

 "[Aerin] Lauder, style and image director of her family's beauty business, has since gone on to launch a luxury home decor and accessories brand, Aerin. But she's never lost her passion for entertaining. She recently collaborated with the venerable china firm Lenox on a distinctively chic tableware collection. Platter, cheese board, and glasses, Aerin for Lenox."
"New Year's Toast: A Fashionable Lunch With Aerin Lauder" by Vicky Lowry.
Veranda

"Lunch unfolds at Aerin Lauder's family's Long Island compound, in an old barn with wide-plank wood floors and vintage lanterns. Her ideal gathering is small, eight to 10 guests, 'and preferably at a round table,' she says, 'so the conversation flows.' Tray, glasses, and accessories, Aerin."
"New Year's Toast: A Fashionable Lunch With Aerin Lauder" by Vicky Lowry.
Veranda

 "Golden accessories, including pinecone-filled bowls and decorative antlers, add gleam. 'Gold is a warm neutral; it's easy to live with,' [Aerin] Lauder says. 'I got that concept from my grandmother, who wore gold bedroom slippers and incorporated the tone into her decor. It's timeless.' Tablecloth in Aerin for Lee Jofa fabric. Antique Austrian chairs. Antique chandelier. Flowers and greenery throughout, Bridgehampton Florist."
"New Year's Toast: A Fashionable Lunch With Aerin Lauder" by Vicky Lowry.
Veranda.

 "[Aerin] Lauder conjures an Austrian-inspired woodland fantasy, with carved chairs and a chandelier wrapped with evergreen garlands. For the table, she mixes cherished heirlooms, such as antique stoneware pitchers and vintage Austrian linens, with new pieces from her collection, like wood chargers that recall the rich grain in vintage skis. Charger, plates, and glassware, Aerin for Lenox."
"New Year's Toast: A Fashionable Lunch With Aerin Lauder" by Vicky Lowry.
Veranda.

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Candy-Colored Christmas

My last post featured red and green holiday decor, but some homeowners prefer a pastel palette. If you are in the mood for a pink and blue Christmas - with an occasional shot of chartreuse - take a peek at these photos for inspiration . . .


"[Eileen Kathryn] Boyd adds texture to her Christmas tree by encircling it with magenta ribbon, placing spray-painted silver leaves within the greens, and hanging ornaments of various sizes. 'If a fancy, stylish tree is what you desire,' she advises, 'add continuity with color.' "
Long Island home of Eileen Kathryn Boyd and her family.
Interior decoration by Eileen Kathryn Boyd.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"An Artist's Interior" written by Shawn Gauthier.
Lonny (December 2010).

"Instead of permanently gluing wallpaper to the back of her secretary desk, [Eileen Kathryn] Boyd applied it to a fitted piece of poster board and then simply slid the poster board into place. 'It's a great layering [technique] and helps to create a landscape,' she says." 
Long Island home of Eileen Kathryn Boyd and her family.
Interior decoration by Eileen Kathryn Boyd.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"An Artist's Interior" written by Shawn Gauthier.
Lonny (December 2010).

"Because the homeowner decided she wanted to use pink to make a statement on her tree, she topped it with a giant, playful pink bow. An array of ornaments—many pink—in different sizes mix with white doves to create visual interest."
Design: Emily Janson.
Photography by Werner Straube.

"Attaching names to baubles and putting them in bowls rather than standing them upright is a quirky way to do place settings. Layer mismatched crockery - it looks sweeter than using a matching set."

 " 'I’m not a big fan of red at Christmas,' [homeowner/designer Tanya  Capello] says. 'My decorations tend more toward green, white, and silver, with natural elements that include eucalyptus, cedar, and other greens mixed throughout our home.' A pairing of chargers from Pottery Barn with vintage Wedgwood china marries casual and formal."
Wellesley, Massachusetts, home of designer Tanya Capello and her family.
Interior design by Tanya Capello, Capello Design.
Photography by Eric Roth.
Written by Krissa Rossbund
"New England Home with Hushed Holiday Palette" produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick.

"A beautiful antique French chandelier illuminates the room. Creamy Dedar draperies add intimacy to the space."
Wellesley, Massachusetts, home of designer Tanya Capello and her family.
Interior design by Tanya Capello, Capello Design.
Photography by Eric Roth.
Written by Krissa Rossbund
"New England Home with Hushed Holiday Palette" produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick.

"A simple collection of tall candlesticks and greenery makes an elegant holiday centerpiece."
Photo via Traditional Home's "Holiday Decorations" Pinterest board.

 "A soft, gray-blue secretary from Sweden was one of Ellisiv’s father’s Scandinavian finds, and McBrearty built the room’s color scheme around it. The blue headboard fabric is from Michael S Smith and the antique Swedish desk chair is upholstered in Duralee’s 'Chinchilla.' "
Tyler, Texas, home of Ellisiv and Chad McNeil.
 Interior design by Meredith McBrearty.
Photography by Emily Minton Redfield.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Scandinavian-Style Christmas: Pretty Texas Home" produced by Elizabeth R. Beeler.

 "The antique dining table is from Wisteria, and the reproduction chandelier is from Paul Ferrante."
Tyler, Texas, home of Ellisiv and Chad McNeil.
 Interior design by Meredith McBrearty.
Photography by Emily Minton Redfield.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Scandinavian-Style Christmas: Pretty Texas Home" produced by Elizabeth R. Beeler.

"The custom tufted ottoman in a gorgeous chocolate-brown invites kids to run and jump on it."
Tyler, Texas, home of Ellisiv and Chad McNeil.
 Interior design by Meredith McBrearty.
Photography by Emily Minton Redfield.
Written by Amy Elbert.
"Scandinavian-Style Christmas: Pretty Texas Home" produced by Elizabeth R. Beeler.

"For the last few years, I have smothered my tree in multicoloured woollen pompoms. I make mine myself, but the ones pictured are from Etsy." 
Pom Pom Tree by Jennifer Lister, art director at House and Garden.

"Decorate your Christmas tree with long, cascading tendrils of colorful ribbon, rickrack, and pom-pom fringe. Search the remnants section of a fabric-and-trim store for good deals on pieces that are at the end of a roll or odd-sized, and collect throughout the year. Attach ribbon directly to an embroidery hoop and then simply slide over the top of your tree."
Photography by Robbie Caponetto.

"And who doesn’t love a package wrapped in Tiffany Blue?"
Design by Tobi Fairley.
Tobi Fairley's blog (December 7, 2010). 

"Hang a disco ball from the ceiling to float above the Christmas tree. A flocked tree needs a festive punch, so it can’t get away with just a run-of-the-mill star. The bow, with its long ribbon tendrils, adds the real wow factor."
Photography by Monica Buck.

"Just remember that if you use an urn with a real tree, you will likely have to line it with loads of sturdy plastic so it doesn’t leak. You will also have to secure the base with rocks and such. It's a bit of a mess to clean up after the holidays, but it sure looks pretty. The artificial tree shown above is ideal as it can pop into the urn — no fuss."
"Christmas Tree Stands" by Morgan Michener.
Canadian House and Home (December 15, 2009).

"Take a holiday design cue from decorating editor Lindsey Ellis Beatty and trim a fabulously festive tree based on the colors of your own room, not Santa's coat. 'This year, I let the white walls direct my motif. I found a tree that looks like it's been dusted with fresh snow.' To coordinate with the peachy pink curtains (Island Ikat by China Seas; quadrillefabrics.com), she used candy-colored ornaments and garlands that look like jewelry. In lieu of a traditional skirt or stand, the tree is placed in a sculptural garden urn."
Photography by Laurey W. Glenn.

"Choose simple round ornaments in glossy peach and aqua that stand out just enough from the white branches. 'Any shade darker than pastel would look too harsh,' says Lindsey. And try a glitzy garland such as this metallic beaded variety that coordinates with all the other sherbet shades in the room. What a statement piece!"
Design by Lindsey Ellis Beatty.
Photography by Laurey W. Glenn.

"With a tree like this, red-and-green wrapping just wouldn't do. Give your gifts decor-worthy style with patterned papers, wide satin ribbons, and clever tie-ons."
Photography by Laurey W. Glenn.

"When it comes to gift-wrapping, think outside the box. The combination of red, blue and pink feels festive and offers a fresh take on traditional Christmas hues. 'I always love to see a mix of unexpected colors, especially for Noel,' says Nicola."
Stylist: Nicola Marc.
Photographer by Angus McRitchie.

"Many of us love to decorate with blue, so why not incorporate it into a holiday palette? 'The gorgeous shade of this wallpaper (Jute Grasscloth in Dungaree by Twenty2; twenty2.net) inspired this shimmery tree,' says Lindsey. 'To offset the rich colors with plenty of sparkle, I piled on the silver—glass ornaments, disco ball-esque garlands, and a quirky topper.' "
Photography by Laurey W. Glenn.

Cover of Blueprint magazine via Duck Duck Moose blog.

"It’s a testament to Catherine’s dynamic sensibility that she calls her office, outfitted with chartreuse lacquered walls and jolts of bright green, her 'nirvana place.”'A round wall of windows—each bearing a festive wreath—and a coffered ceiling provide the room with architectural drama."
Dover, Massachusetts, home of Catherine and Rod Walkey.
Photography by Eric Roth
Interior design by Gerald Pomeroy, Gerald Pomeroy Interiors. 
Photography by Eric Roth. 
Written by Kari Costas.
"Happy Holidays in a Cheerful New England Home" produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick.