The Language of Doors - Knock, Knock

I have always had a fascination with dutch doors and fell hard for this beautiful side entry decorated for the holidays by Nashville resident Jeannette Whitson. She has recently opened a new online store specializing in garden inspired antiques - Garden Variety Design.

You'll love her tips and advise...

to see more beautiful photographs and learn more visit: Style Blueprint.

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Inspired: Visiting New York City at Christmas Time

One of my most favorite things to do during the Christmas season is take a quick trip to New York. I come away filled with the holiday spirit and enough inspiration to last throughout the year. This year, my sister and I went in celebration of my 50th birthday for just a few days starting on a Sunday - note to self, this is a great way to avoid some of the traffic, crowds, expense of visiting NYC and you can start the trip with an over-the-top gorgeous Sunday brunch. The best in New York City has to be the elegant brunch at the historic Waldorf Astoria.

I plan to share some of my favorite things from our whirlwind trip but for now will just share a few of my favorite snapshots with hopes you share my enthusiasm for this wonderful city. 

I should also note that the New Yorkers we encountered during our trip were incredibly gracious hosts.  Thank you for the holiday cheer and kindness you showed us!

Love, love these glossy black doors adorned with natural evergreen wreaths...notice that the magnolia leaves have been painted gold.

Christmas trees planted in wine boxes adorn one of the street corners.

The ABC Carpet and Home Santa Claus with his latest visitor

Charming rabbits peek from under an antique garden chair in the window at ABC Carpet.

Stockings at ABC Carpet and Home.

The Christmas mantle in the Drawing Room of the Crosby Street Hotel.

I love the variety and scale of the greenery that is available from the neighborhood florists, especially the large bundles of sticks and branches.

A handsome pair of Labradors waiting patiently for their morning walk...reminds me of home!

Flowers and red berries at a street vendor on Lexington Avenue.

The Mecox Gardens window.

My favorite place to window shop, Treillage.

A gorgeous gift from Treillage elegantly wrapped and ready to gift.

The large illuminated wreath at the Waldorf Astoria.

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Cards

Do you love to receive Christmas Cards as much as I do?

I received my first card in yesterday's mail. My first is almost always from my friend Blair, a close friend from my college days. I have loved saving my Christmas Cards over the years and have accumulated a sizable collection. I like to see my friends' families grow and reflect on how they resemble their parents.

Every year as I get ready to send my own cards, I like to pull out the large basket of cards I have collected over the years and look through them. This year, I decided to use one of the ideas I discovered while blogging. I have bundled all my old cards and tied them with pretty ribbon and placed them on a silver tray at my back door. The original idea was to bundle old cards and tie them with ribbon and place them under the Christmas tree to fill the empty space before gifts arrive. We haven't put up our tree yet so they are filling the silver tray where this year's Christmas Cards will go.

I thought you might enjoy seeing yesterday's outtake from this year's Christmas Card photo shoot. Let's just say we will be taking pictures again today. 

Of course, I saw this really cute picture of a newlywed couple all wrapped in Christmas lights and thought it would make a nice Christmas card with my daughter and dog, Sadie. The photo shoot lasted all of five minutes because we promptly broke the bulbs. It wasn't even dark yet!

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Christmas Bulbs for the home or gifts

Merry Christmas!

Okay, that's the first Merry Christmas for me. I am getting in the spirit as I am making my wreath, draping the front door with evergreens and planting paperwhite bulbs. With everything on my holiday list, I always start by filling the house with beautiful evergreens and sweet smelling flowers.

Do you plant paperwhite bulbs?

It's a tradition I began the first year we were married and one of my favorite ways to bring natural decorations into my home for Christmas.

I love this simple picture from the blog antiqueaholics. 

It is exactly the way I want my home to look for Christmas. 

I think this creamware tureen is actually filled with white hyacinths but it would be equally gorgeous if filled with paperwhites. This is my inspiration for my container below. 

I love this simple holiday table. 

It's one of those great Pinterest images that anyone could use to inspire their own holiday table - natural, textural table runner, a series of blooming paperwhites, simple glass vases, hurricanes with candles, pine cones and white dishes.

A classic red and white striped holiday ribbon keeps these paperwhites upright.

Here's a snapshot of the paperwhite bulbs I am planting right now for my own home. I like to select a different container and use them in a new way each year. I bought this white tureen from TJ Maxx a long time ago for something like $9.00. It's not precious so does not need a liner.  I love these blue river stones I bought many years ago from the now defunct Gardener's Eden. I wash them and use them over and over.

Ideally, you need to allow three weeks for paperwhite bulbs to bloom. My favorite greenhouse owner recommends watering them with warm water and putting them near my gas logs to accelerate their blooming cycle. I bought a different variety of bulb this year that has a lighter scent.

Here is a picture of my living room mantle with the bulbs that I started a few weeks ago. They are planted in a pair of hand blown glass hurricanes from Belgium that I bought at the High Point Furniture Market.

I look forward to sharing more holiday inspiration as I begin to blog a little more. Sorry for my long absence! Life definitely gets in the way of blogging...it's a good thing!

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Wreaths a plenty..

Knock, Knock...can I come in?

Don't you just love visiting friends and family during the season, standing on their festive front porch and admiring their decor! I have to admit their are a few houses in town, I walk by on a daily basis that I would love an excuse to ring the bell and get a closer look! Every year I make the wreath for the front door and am always looking for creative new ideas to dress the door. I have been collecting ideas for next year already given I will need them well in advance of the holiday season. I learned something new this year, a florist's secret for creating the most lush, fresh wreath. You start with an oasis, floral foam wreath as the base and soak it in water and then grab your gardening sheers and head for the woods.

Here are just a few of the wreaths that have caught my attention this year followed by the wreath I created this Christmas for my new mud room entrance just off our new garage.

{Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles}

{Dana Wolter Interiors}

{Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles}

{Martha Stewart}

My Christmas wreath on my new mud room door.

Since I took this picture, I have added a big burlap bow. I started with boxwood and then added lots of greenery from my garden. A neighbor trimmed her curly willow bush earlier this fall and I came home with an armfull that I have been keeping in the basement for the right opportunity. I added the little birds that are covered in silver glitter, jewels and real feathers. I discovered the silver bell garland at World Market and also weaved it through the garland of greenery that surrounds my front door.

Here's a couple of before pictures...

 

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