Holidays at Home

I've decorated that gorgeous, old Georgian for the holidays six times now, and every year I forget how much work it is! We finished the job well after dark, but I am planning to return to the house next week to shoot it in better light. In the meantime, here's a spread of last year's design in the current issue of Serendipity, a great local magazine based in my hometown of Greenwich, CT. Remember their premiere issue with the pretty cupcake on the cover? How about this table setting story we produced back in April? The magazine, I'm happy to say, just gets better with time! 

We only take on a handful of private clients, and this one's a dream. She knows our style and trusts us completely. On the outside of the house, fresh garland with a handmade mix of magnolia, cedar and blue spruce creates a stunning entrance.  

On the inside, I took a cue from the house's rich palette of rust, gold and jade, draping the garland against the curve of the archway for an unexpected take on tradition. 

I've always loved this portrait of my client's grandmother over the fireplace, casually holding court. To add sparkle to the garland, we mixed in clusters of mercury glass ornaments, anchoring each corner with glittered poinsettias, tied with copper double-face satin ribbon.     

For parties especially, I love hanging a wreath on both sides of a front door. That way, guests get to enjoy it both coming and going. Sconces, too, are great places to add holiday charm to your house. Simply wrap a spring of fresh greenery around the base. You can either embellish it or leave it plain.    

Huge thanks to Alanna Jacobs, Suni Unger and Nicole Gull McElroy at Serendipity for including us in the magazine! Next week, we'll show you what we did this year! 

Comments

[Missy Bruns]

Thanks for the down Lowe's on updating furniture. I would love to an extra $100 to spend at my Lowe's store.

Eddie, I have been fallowing you since Design Star- and I am such a fan!

[Elise Lowerison]

I was browsing interior design blogs when I came across yours. Your take on this Christmas decor was very interesting. I was even more intrigued by your discussion of decorating the whole home so it has a feel of Christmas when you walk into every room. Window treatments also help dress up a home for the holidays; after all it is true that you must dress your windows appropriately to bring out their true beauty. Thank you for writing and as a special thanks to you and your readers, I would like to offer a 20% off coupon using this code upon checkout: BLG20.

[discount pools]

Somehow I always associated the rusty colors with fall, however paired with green they create a truly Christmas atmosphere. I would still contemplate if there's a way to incorporate some silver there.

[Melissa McLay]

Beautiful decorations for a beautiful home! Love the idea of hanging a wreath on both sides of the door.

[Jessica]

Such a stunning home and I'm sure your special touch is going bring that extra pizazz, as usual, to it once again! Looking forward to seeing the spectacualr results!
Thanks for the extra shot in the arm of Christmas beauty that I so desperately needed!
xo J~

[Design Elements]

absolutely wonderful! have a great weekend

[Lauren Liess]

Oh my gosh i just LOOOOOVE this house & what you do with it!!!!

I also can never get enough of the portrait of her grandmother... so amazing

xoxoxo

[susan@pocacosas]

GORGEOUS!

[Reggie Darling]

Reggie is MAD for magnolia and adores these photographs of what you and Jaithan and your team of elves have wrought. Beautiful!

[beth]

Congrats on another magazine feature! I can't wait to see how it all turned out this year - and I absolutely love magnolia!

[Design Love]

They are lucky to have you do it every year for them!

Looks amazing!I tell everyone how talented you are!

Come and see my christmas decor and tell me what you think!

Cindy
xo

[Privet and Holly]

That house is
a dream....and
you brought out
its dreaminess : )
Is ALL of that
magnolia real?
My goodness....
Lovely.
xx Suzanne

[Amy]

Gorgeous! Can you give us a how-to? I would love to know how you go about assembling a mixed garland like that - and how you fasten them in place.

[violin lessons in Mississauga]

good combination green color of walls with garland above fireplace

[pretty pink tulips]

Stunning. Every inch of it. I love the magnolia --- it's incorporated at my house for the holidays. A little nod to the South.

And, you my friend, like Serendipity, continue to get better and better, too!

xoxo e

[Jan Terri]

HUNS- can I move into this house??? It's sooo cold in Chicaaaaago xx

[Dolly]

I'm in-love with this house and you did a fantastic job decorating!!! Please come help me decorate my little place:)

[Jesse {GoodGirlGoneGlad}]

OH so pretty! =)

[Liz Morten]

E & J: We are oh, so, not too sweet to comment. We follow you because your work is in perfect taste, and combines an approachable design process with an affordable budget, remaing fresh. The fact that you are out there meeting all your followers, all the time, makes your work entirely unique. I avoid the vernacular, but you do truly rock.
Best,

[Deborah Milne]

Eddie that garland compliments your clients grandmothers portrait exquisitely. You never disappoint and constantly inspire.

Sending you & Jaithan much holiday cheer from Houston ~ Deb

[Acquired Objects]

You were in Greenwich, I was in Greenwich and we didn't meet up...darn! Love the mix in the greenery and can't wait to see what you did this year!

[Lila Ferraro]

That is gorgeous. The green walls are a gorgeous color. Great job on that garland!
xoxo
Lila Ferraro

[Kate]

gorgeous! looks so classic.

[Danielle]

One word: STUNNING!

[Liz Morten]

Without a doubt you have created the most beautiful garland I have ever seen, and I've made a million of them!
Best,
Liz

[Kate Dickerson]

Your gorgeous decorations are so perfect with the home's decor, I honestly think it's a shame they can't stay up all year long. They truly enhance the home!

[sandy@oohlafroufrou]

GORGEOUS, Eddie! I just love Georgians -- such beautiful architecture just begging to be draped in swags!! Thanks for sharing more fabulousness!

[Charlotta]

You guys did a great job. Loving the rusticity that the pine cones bring. Such a lovely dressed & warm feeling!

Looking forward to seeing this year's shoot.

Hugs from Summer-wonderland.

x Charlotta

[paige renee]

The house looks truly beautiful. I love the idea about hanging a wreath on both sides of the front door - I am definitely making a mental note to do that.

[Carrie Waller]

Stunning!!!! Of course they your client trusts you completely, you are fabulous!!!! Beautiful:)

[Wendy Bogarde]

I am breathing heavy!!!!!

When will you put your feet up and have a glass of egg nog?

Wendy

[Karena]

Eddie and Jaithan,

The magnolia garlands and wreathes are so fabulous. I have a wreath on my mantle. Mercury glass I simply adore!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

[Laura Casey Interiors]

The magnolias are beautiful! It looks so fantastic!

[Adrienne]

Its a beautiful house and you make it even better for the Holidays. Thanks for sharing this - you're blog is an inspiration.

[quintessence]

Remember this so well and saw it in Serendipity. It is just so classically beautiful, elegant and festive- doesn't get any better! Can't wait to see this year's version!!

[Janell Beals]

Looking forward to this year's version! Janell

[Carol@SofasandSage]

Hi Eddie, those garlands are soooo lush. Did you and J put them all together yourselves? What work that must have been. I love the illusion of the garland going through the arch outside and then coming down the columns as though it were threaded on a needle and came out the front! I want this client's Christmas decorating budget :)

[Virginia]

Kerplunk. (jaw dropping in Texas!).
Goodness gracious.
Simply deeee-vine!

[Mona Thompson]

That is some of the most gorgeous Christmas decorating I have ever seen. You got it just right. It normally takes fake to get it that lush. Ugh!! Natural is so much better but most people do it too skimpy. That hand full of clients you have are very, very lucky. Merry Christmas! Mona

[Sally@DivineDistractions]

OMG! Did you make all that garland??? fabulous! but do you have any skin left on your fingers? Just beautiful, and SOOOO my style! Can't wait to see what you've done this year!

[pamela]

Holiday perfection for a grand house!

[plastic ink containers]

mm
I want to live there:)

[Trina]

Love the rich warm colors! Can't wait to see what you did this year!
Happy holiday season to you and Jaithan!
xoTrina

[Kristie]

Divine! I am truly enjoying your blog-Thanks so much!

[abby jenkins]

How can it get any better? You are a genius. Can't wait to see this years' rendition!

[pam robinson]

so amazing... and my little friend sarah kaplan told me you are a genius... and hilarious... xx pam

[Marianne - Style For Living]

The magnolia garland is stunning! You never disappoint. The front porch is truly breathtaking!!!

[Anne S.]

That house really is beautiful and you make it more beautiful with the greenery and flowers. I really love the colors. I wish I had the patience to pull off something like this (on a smaller scale for my much smaller house). I've gotten to a point where I just put out minimal table top decorations and a wreath or two around the house. No tree this year and that's ok -- I'll live vicariously through you and others. Can't wait to see your new pictures from this year! (I love the picture over the mantel -- gorgeous!!)

[Hamptontoes]

I need to be invited to a holiday gathering in that house! Everything about the design and your seasonal decor is fabulous!

[elz]

I loved 'watching" you decorate via twitter. What an awesome house; your decorations make it awesome(r).

[Sherry]

I love the mantel. The garland drapes on the mantel just like the clothing drapes on the woman in the portrait. It is interior high fashion and looks very elegant and rich. The colors were perfect and the texture a treat but, it is the chosen form of the decorations that fit this home so well. Perfect for an old charming home that has such good bones.

[Stitchfork]

So pretty! Can't wait to see how you decked those halls this year! xo Cathy

[down-sizingboomer]

Love the look. It is so classy and tasteful yet over the top! - Jay

[Decor Arts Now]

Lots of work, yes. But doing it up for Christmas is such fun , isn't it!?
Can't wait to see what you did this year.
Lynn

[julie]

So excited to view this year's decorations. Last year's palette was fabulous. Hope you're enjoying all of the festivities leading up to Christmas.

[linda @ Lime in the coconut]

beautiful and so classic! Cannot wait to see what you do this year!

[Jennifer John]

OH gorgeous! Can't wait to see what you did this year!

Jennifer

[Will]

The way you have decorated the porch area wins it for me: stunning.

[Delores]

Thanks for sharing Eddie. I love what you did with all that live magnolia garland. Wow! Just fabulous! ~Delores