Royal Dining in an Historical Home

Of all the opportunities to decorate for the holidays, my absolute favorite is to set the holiday table. This year we were having a large dinner party for the Lake Bluff Historical Society, Christmas Dinner in an Historical Home. Earlier this year, I had been lucky to find a set of vintage hotel china from the Helmsley Hotel in New York. They are white with a gold rim and a simple crown embellishment. Using the crown as my focus, we put together the table with more gold, crystal, and threw in a touch of the royal color purple. Fresh white roses and hydrangeas filled antique water goblets.

The old french bistro mirror shines behind a wonderful old silver dome . Mercury glass ornaments hang from a platinum garland and add sparkle to the dining room.

Powder Room in Holiday Dress

Scented candles, beautiful hand towels, and luscious soaps are obvious necessities for the powder room. But at Romancing the Home we love to "dress" the sconces in beautiful ribbons and garlands. A hand made doll from Venice graces the table in the powder room. Petite angels with velvet sachets sit in the soap dish above the sink. Soft lights create a romantic ambiance for the holiday season.

Gift Wrap Inspirations

The art and joy of wrapping a gift is a gift itself. I am constantly collecting beautiful papers, but this past year I found one that has become my all time favorite. I bought the store out! It is an embossed gold or silver croco print and looks great with my chocolate ribbons. Making fun labels on your computer, edging them with decorative edge scissors, and dipping them in glitter is a fun project. Old silver pieces can be found at flea markets for less money than a store made bow! Throughout the year I collect little trinkets to tie on the outside of my gifts. Old brooches are one of the favorite things to add to the outside of a package because they add a magical sparkle.

Special Cover-ups!

Last minute wrapping of gifts is sometimes an unwanted task. So I have created several pre-wrapped boxes, that you can simply add tissue inside and just drop in your gift! They add instant Christmas decor just simply sitting under the tree, on an ottoman, or on a table scape. I just save them from year to year, and am constantly adding new ones because I enjoy making them. Either cover a sturdy box with a beautiful fabric using a spray adhesive, or simply buy decorative box from a store. Then the fun begins! All throughout the year, gather small vintage treasures, scraps of lace, old buckles, silk flowers, and whatever else catches your fancy. Then assemble a collage together and hot glue it to the box top. I love making and presenting gifts in these magical boxes. Sometimes, you can judge a gift by it's cover!

Winter Wines

My husband purchased wine from his favorite winery for his staff. Rather than giving them in the traditional wine bag, I decided to wrap them in a winter blanket! Using a men's tartan scarf and raffia and boxwood, I tied the cut pieces of tartan around the bottles. Then using my Christmas stamps and plaid papers, I created the special tag for his gifts. They look festive and ready for the holidays.

Romancing the Mantel

The focal point of any room in winter is the fireplace. Dressing the top of the mantel is one of my most cherished tasks of the Christmas season. These are the fireplaces in my living room and library. Both are first layered with pre lit garlands and then glittered leaves, ferns, and feathers are tucked in the garland. The living room mantel has 2 glittered rose wreaths with rhinestone brooches and cherubs embellishing it. Vintage angels, glass bobeches from old lamps,and

candlesticks complete the look.

The library fireplace has vintage mercury glass and iced pomegranates tucked in the garland.

The large gold sconces and old round mirror cast a warm glow in the room. All of these items or similar items can be found at Romancing the Home. We always like to mix antiques on our mantel scapes to add the old patina to the mix. The crystal bobeches add contrast to the dull patina on the covered urns.

First Snow of the Season

I love the smell and look of the first snow of the season. Fresh greens and garden statues look beautiful with fresh snow on them. These are pictures of my front porch this morning, taken while the snow was falling. What a great way to bring in the spirit of the Christmas season!

Fresh greens are layered with lit garlands, iced branches, and chartreuse mercury balls.

Red berries pop the colors- and the velvet ribbon is opulent with it's silk lining. We carry this beautiful ribbon in the store in many colors this season, just call us with inquiries.