The Perfect Christmas Party

 

 The Romancing the Home girls and friends were invited to the city last night for a Holiday Soiree- one that did indeed "exceed" our expectations!   Imagine walking up to a Chicago brownstone that is so gloriously lit with white lights and looking up and seeing a magical tree and huge crystal chandelier in the window- twinkling away and just waiting for us!  That was the beginning of the extraordinary Christmas party that Mariterese- the hostess with the mostest-hostess extraordinaire- good friend and fun companion- had ready for us! 

 

 

 

Let me share with you some of the elements that made this party so memorable.

 





Champagne cocktail waiting for us as we entered the home

enter the family room for appetizers and cocktails and to share  a few hostess gifts


 

Christy's pretty wrapped gift with the embellished egg and crown tag

Precious gift- assortment of different size candy canes in a silver mug and tied with a vintage Christmas tree pin.

tartan and rhinestone hat box by Candy

olive oil and candle in gold lame fabric wrap





up the stairs to the dining room for dinner

 

gorgeous salad served with roasted brussel sprouts with bourbon balsamic reduction and the most delicious chicken casserole that we have ever tasted -  need the recipes so much!

 

 

beautiful silver bowl filled with drink of our choice

 

 

enter the kitchen for dessert

 

study the beautiful dishes for daily use

 

so pretty - anyone could learn to love to cook in this kitchen

 

perched above on the banister overlooking the dessert table - the bird of the year

 

the dessert table - oh my!

 

chocolate torte with sugared roses and 14 karat gold sprinkles

 

Hummingbird Cake from Table 52 - moist and deelish

 

 

 

view out the back door from the kitchen- breathtaking angel with snow dusted bouquet

This was my favorite "peek" of the evening

 

 

Off to the powder room to get ready for the long drive home and look what awaits us1

only Mariterese would send us home with red toilet paper!

Oh - a box of caramels from Vosges! 

 

A magical evening in the city for all of us- thank you so so so much .  Holiday memories were made that are not to be forgotten!

 

 

Christmas Gift Wrap Inspirations

 

top of box inspired by the store windows in New York city this season

found this set of hat boxes at Home Goods this week and knew it was perfect for embellishing!

Peacocks and feathers remind me of the Christmas  windows at Bergdorfs



vintage hand towel is garnished with an antique pin and covers the gift box.

rhinestone pin found earlier this year is placed in the center of the French Script bow
soft pink and gold paper from Home Goods - simply the best quality paper out there!

too pretty to open

 a bevy of presents in the back room of the store- ready to be picked up by Santa

vintage leaves enhanced with iridescent rhinestones on leopard paper.

gold lace orchid on black and gold leopard paper from Home Goods

Who's gift is this?

grouping of gifts ready to be mailed South for Christmas

rhinestone embellished meat fork placed as a bow on gift

Stocking from Etsy filled with goodies

special gift tags for our most important customers

tartan, velvet ribbon,  feathers and rhinestones- the perfect gift wrap combination

embellished box ready for gift duty

vintage ribbon- saved for special boxes

heading to a party tonight in the city- this wine is dressed and ready to dance!

wine is placed in the wine bag with white tissue paper that has been embellished with soft
white feathers on the corners and tips.  After all, that bottle of wine needs a boa for the evening!

Gift wrapping is an art form. Creating a beautiful box is almost secondary to what is in the box.  Throughout the year, I gather little bits and pieces to use on my gift presentations.  Many times I just embellish boxes to use for gifts- ready to go anytime I need one. These past couple of days, gift wrapping has become a priority.  Husbands shopping in the store appreciate having their gifts wrapped for their ladies- one told me yesterday that the wrapping was so gorgeous that he didn't want to let her open them!  It's time for mailing gifts to friends far away so they get them in time for Christmas and there's lots of holiday celebrations next week!  So let me finish this post with  the following picture.  In a home where the mother is obsessed with beautiful gift wraps- let me share with you the ultimate wrap created by my young adult son for his little niece. He has taken gift wrapping to a new art form.   I almost dyed laughing when I saw this little masterpiece.  Anyone guess what it is????

Santa Delivers a New Family Room

Front Entrance to this charming vintage home

New heated stone floors, a new comfy slipcovered sectional and new leather chairs arrived in time for Christmas

Love these Aidan Grey lamps on the console behind the sofa

A collection of interesting artifacts covers the center of the mirrored console

new down pillows of cotton velvets and a great faux bois print are added to the textured linen sofa

a little bit of Asian influence in the perfect sized console for between the doors.
The tall zinc mirror emphasizes the new height of the ceiling.

Holiday Owl swag is perfect on the top for the season

find me nesting  at Romancing the Home

a big dough bowl of antlers, pine cones, moss balls and mercury balls dusted with snow

snow and little battery operated lights turn this everyday setting into a magical winter wonderland

faux amaryllis from the store really do fool the eye

oh my  - my favorite part of the room. Horns with perfectly real looking cedar garland
from Romancing the Home lit  with battery operated little white lights
over a new set of gas logs!

ready to party???

Debbie and Jim were ready for a new family room and called me to help.What started as a simple replacement of family room furniture, turned into a major re-model job.  We took the opportunity to add height to the room addition and dug out the old floor about 8 inches lower and added a heated stone floor.  The fireplace could then be converted to gas.  The entire room gained height and a better entrance to the outside terrace. Laurell worked her magic on the ceiling to create a weathered timber look.  While quite a project, the results were worth the hassle and wait.  We purchased a slipcovered sectional to be the center of the room- deep and luxurious seating- very very comfortable.  I love the quiet colors in the room. I think its the perfect setting to read, watch TV or just listen to music and watch the snow come down.  Yes- Debbie- there is a Santa Claus!

A New York Christmas

Breathtaking!

Truly shows the magic of the season

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariterese is in New York City this week and sent me these pictures from her IPhone this morning.

I am so jealous.  These  pictures are from the windows at Bergdorfs and from ABC Carpet and Home, simply 2 of the best retailers in the country.  It is so wonderful to know that they are keeping the tradition of "over the top" Christmas decor in a day where most retailers are pulling back! Owls and peacocks - I think we are on it!    Okay girlfriends - next year's Christmas shopping get away must be a trip to this incredible city!  Thanks Mariterese for sharing these- now where can I get some wispy white feathers??????