Christmas Wreaths

      Happy Holidays to all!

 I hope you are enjoying the journey to Christmas, after all, that is what it is all about. Christmas day is over so quickly; it is important to savor this time building up to it. 

One holiday custom that welcomes people to your home is the hanging of wreaths.  There are fancy, super embellished wreaths, and then there are the more natural and simple ones.

I have found a few I hope you enjoy.

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One thing I'd like to incorporate in my natural themed decor is dried oranges.  Here is a recipe for some to try. It can take up to 4+ hours in the oven but I can just imagine how great it will make the house smell!

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Sometimes simple is best.

We hope you all are having a great time prepping for the holidays!

Merry Christmas to all!

This year I went 'au naturel' with the decorations throughout our house, but since I started the weekend after Thanksgiving, I have already had to refresh my greens and Nandina berries with new cuttings.  Our 15' Norway Spruce is so gorgeous, and takes up the entire sunroom, but sadly it is dropping all of it's needles with the cats venturing underneath and the dog's tails wagging in it's boughs.  I fear it will have to come down right after Christmas. 

 [ We still will always have a fresh cut live tree.  We love the experience as a family to go out and cut one down the day after Thanksgiving.]

Here are some highlights of the decorations in our home.

 Here are the decorations in Bethany's home:

A true highlight of my holiday was offering the Christmas decorating service to clients. I decorated with the family's own trees, ornaments and lights but added the ribbon, branches and some extra touches. This family was so grateful and appreciative of what I did.  Bringing Christmas to their home was truly an honor.

I hope you are savoring the journey to Christmas!

Bethany and I wish you and your families a glorious holiday and a very happy New Year!

Thank you for your support and inspiration this year!

Book now to 'Deck your Halls'

Christmas is only 49 days away and the stores are already stocked with decorations! Does it get overwhelming to decorate your home for the holidays?  Do you run out of time or need a fresh new twist on your Christmas decor?

I love to decorate for Christmas and I start the day after Thanksgiving.  I try to add something new each year to my own holiday decorations, like this hanging branch over our living room mantle.

Choose a theme like "Winter White Wonderland", "Old Fashioned Toys"

or a specific color scheme.  It can be formal or rustic, animal or toy themed...full of luxurious ribbons, live greenery and fun props. The time to order new Christmas decor is rapidly approaching to optimize your choices and get the products on time.

If you're in the Northern Virginia area and would like us to transform your home for the holidays, email us at info@powellbrower.com for more details. 

 Bookings are very limited so don't delay!

Christmas house tour

Welcome to the Powell home this Christmas.  

Happy Holidays to you all! 

Thank you for a year of supportive comments and your blog friendship. For this we are truly appreciative. Happy countdown to Christmas and I hope you are savoring the journey, for it will be over all too soon. 

Holiday Mantels

I love to decorate mantels for Christmas.  Here are my living room mantels in 2013 and 2012. They are in my neutral formal living room, so I tend to match the decor.

My casual family room mantel houses my collection of 30+ Nutcrackers.

Of course there is always something to envy in the glossies and here some of my favorites.

Mercury glass surrounded by white lights... love this!

Simple, earthy with greenery- Mary Anne's mantel is perfect.

This one's fun, but my dogs would whine at it all season, just like they whine at the stuffed Santas I have on display.

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I think the simpler the better until I get into my hoard of Christmas decorations then I tend to go a little crazy. How about you? Do you keep it simple or do you put your collections on display?

P.S.check us out over at Stone Gable's Scoop!

Wreaths

One of the first things I put up for Christmas is a wreath (or two or twelve).  Here are some lovelies that keep me inspired to change it up every year.

{ images from my Christmas Decor pinterest board}

Here are a few around my home this year!

Have you stayed conventional or changed it up this year?  Tell us how!