Deck the Table

It's officially time to deck the table!  I had grand ideas of a "White Christmas" setting uniformed in sculptural white pottery, but then a demanding year-end schedule stole my calendar and creativity.  Out of time, I dusted off some seasonal red books, threw in an assortment of candle baubles, lined the table with festive ribbon and finished with a grand assortment of farmer markets flowers.  A cheap and on the fly approach to decking the table this year. 

Now, I just have to figure out what to cook!  Happy Holidays!

{Images by Brooklyn Boheme}

California Christmas: Simple Chic

It's time to trim the mantel with seasonal flair.  When it comes to holiday decorating, I prefer to amp up my daily decor with simple chic seasonal layers - greenery, ornaments, ribbon and lighting (a quick and cheap holiday decor scheme, allowing more time and money to spend at the holiday sales!).  Starting with layers of lush iconic greenery is a quick way to set the holiday tone by filling the room with seasonal woodsy scents and textures.  Daily vessels filled with ornaments and vintage Christmas lights bring pops of color.  Add some ribbon for festivity and twinkle lights for an inviting warm glow, and you've got a simply chic Christmas - California style!  All the haute without the fuss.

Christmas tree trimmings are a zero cost alternative to garland, and one of my favorite ways to add holiday cheer to the home.  I grabbed some extra trimmings from the Christmas tree farm (for free!) and spread the branches on top of every cabinet, chest and cupboard in sight. 

Although I love traditional Christmas colors, I am still loving the Chinoiserie urn and peacocks from my Thanksgiving decor, so I infused metallic hues into my Christmas decor.  Using Christmas tree trimmings and some cuttings from the yard, I created a centerpiece bough of pine needles topped with a glittery peacock.  I littered the table with gilded pine cones (collected from our backyard and transformed with my favorite DIY tool - a can of gold spray paint).  Total cost for table top decor $0!

Metallic silver and gold paper wheels hang in the windows, keeping the room balanced with visual delights at varying heights.

I cut some holly from our garden and accessorized our candles, drapes and picture ledges with the holly's waxy green and beads of red. 

Simple trimmings from our holly tree casually displayed transforms this daily vignette into Santa-ready. 

Up on the mantel, I like to keep it simple with garland, candles, and family photos from previous years. When it comes to the main event, the tree, it's reserved for the boys (think Yoda tree topper and clumps of ornaments courtesy of my 2 year old). 

Ornaments are strung with care from a mossy branch. 

Wreaths - from boxwood, to berries and magnolias - are draped throughout the house as one final nod to the season.