{ Posts Tagged ‘holiday decorating’ }

decorating my christmas tree

We’re talking Christmas trees here at the Style at Home offices. I put mine up a few weeks ago and thought I’d share some photos.

christmas tree decorating my christmas treeGrowing up, my parents always put up a real Christmas tree. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh pine in the house during the holidays. But now I put up an artificial tree. I wasn’t keen on the idea at first but I found a beautiful 7-foot tree at Loblaws (part of their PC Home collection) and I must admit, I love it!

christmas tree 2 decorating my christmas treeMy tree is decorated very simply. My colour palette is red, silver and white. White lights, a silver bead garland and sparkly icicles add the perfect finishing touch.

christmas tree 1 decorating my christmas treeTa-da! The end result. It’s simple but I love it.

What’s your Christmas tree colour palette?

cityline – grocery store decor for the holidays

If you’ve got time to dash down to the grocery store, you’ve got time to dress up your dining table for the holidays! Check out my grocery store decor tips from today’s episode of CityLine!

meandtracy cityline grocery store decor for the holidays

And, as promised, here’s a step-by-step diagram of how I managed that lovely furoshiki-style napkin fold…

instructions cityline grocery store decor for the holidays

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deck the halls with steven and chris

stevenchris deck the halls with steven and chris

As you read on Style Sleuth back in October, Steven and Chris are back — but before they get back into the routine of their daily show (which begins on Monday, January 4, 2010), they’re hosting a faboosh festive special.

Deck The Halls With Steven & Chris is set to air on CBC on Thursday, December 10 at 8PM, and pulls together some of the country’s biggest names — George Stroumboulopoulos, Jully Black and the divine DT herself… Debbie Travis!!! YAY! — to share in the celebrations.

With Steven and Chris playing host for this special, I only thought it fair that they share some of their top entertaining tips with us. Here goes!

Steven & Chris’s Holiday Entertaining Tips

1.  Choose your holiday theme colours and adopt them for the season. Go from head to toe – everything from the tree to the giftwrapping in the same palette will give you that professional look. Don’t forget to look for things you already have to incorporate into your holiday decor – a silver teapot, some books, even your existing plates – the possibilities are endless!

2. Simple centrepieces can be made using everyday grocery store items. From beautiful pears in green or red, green grapes, even clementines – you can mix them with inexpensive greenery from the floral section of your supermarket (lemon leaves, eucalyptus) for an elegant and natural feel for your table.

3. Save your scraps of ribbon from giftwrapping, even if they’re only four inches long. These can be used to make a ribbon chain – an elegant and fun version of this childhood tradition can be wonderful for trimming the tree.

4. This year, why not try and avoid the bloated feeling you get after Christmas dinner? Try serving a salad in between the starter and main course. It cleanses the palate and gives you a break so you don’t feel as if you’re continuously eating and eating.

5. It can be frustrating to slave over a hot stove all day, just to see a fabulous meal devoured in 10 minutes. Why not slow it down by playing a party game? Place a Trivial Pursuit card under each person’s plate and take turns reading questions to the table.

Fun ideas! Thanks guys!

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holiday palettes with maria killam

We’re forever preaching that the first step in decorating for the holidays is to pick a palette – a colour scheme that you’ll be comfortable sticking with (for this season, anyway!), and that will guide your hand as you shop for bits and baubles for the tree and throughout the home.

But this year – more than any before – the colour options in ornaments and decorations seem completely overwhelming. Where to begin?

mariakillam holiday palettes with maria killamMaria Killam portrait by Anna Beaudry Photography

Vancouver-based colour designer Maria Killam advises clients on harmonious hues for a living, and shares her design expertise on her hugely popular blog, Colour Me Happy. Who better to ask for suggestions for a hot, three-colour holiday palette?

“Colour creates a feeling,” Maria says of the three colours she selected for my festive scheme. ”Royal blue is energizing and electric; turquoise is cool, upscale and sophisticated and gold is luminous and joyful.”

peacocks holiday palettes with maria killam

MARIA’S ROYAL BLUE: Big Country Blue 2066-30, Benjamin Moore, 800-361-5898:

royalblue holiday palettes with maria killam

TURQUOISE: Aquarium 6767, Sherwin Williams, 800-474-3794:

turquoise holiday palettes with maria killam

GOLD: Ale 12-9, Pratt & Lambert, 877-772-8898

gold holiday palettes with maria killam

“It`s the perfect combination for conversations that sparkle at the dinner table,” says Maria.

Taking Maria’s colour cues, I scoured the market for ornaments in similar shades… Here’s what I came up with! I can’t WAIT to decorate!

steveornaments holiday palettes with maria killam

Photography by Steve Rhodes

Holiday Collection hand-decorated blue and turquoise glass ornaments, $10 per pack of four, Canadian Tire

101 Glass Ornaments in gold, $20, President`s Choice Home Collection

Thanks so much, Maria!

For more of Maria’s colourful design advice, check out Colour Me Happy!

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potted pines at pottery barn

Pint-sized (they run up to 48″ – perfect for apartments and other small spaces!) and oh-so-so pretty, Pottery Barn has revived its popular faux firs for another holiday season.

trees potted pines at pottery barn

Amidst all the glimmer and glamour of the holidays, these petite pines exude a simple charm. They hit just the right rustic note in their burlap-wrapped pots, and look just as great on their own as they do decorated. I’m actually partial to the minimal dusting of pinecones throughout the trio above, which is how the trees come – totally in-keeping with the back-to-basics appeal of the trees themselves.

Here’s my snap of one of the pines in situ at the Bloor Street Pottery Barn in Toronto, sprinkled liberally with Pottery Barn’s ornament collection.

trees2 potted pines at pottery barn

must have: pawprint pet ornament

pawprint only2 must have: pawprint pet ornament

A Christmas tree can be fully decked out in a cohesive colourway of ornaments, loaded with bells, balls and baubles, and radiant with twinkling lights, but unless there’s something personal in the mix, it can still feel empty. If you’re anything like me, your pets are your babies, and Bed Bath & Beyond offers a too-cute kit to allow your four-legged friend leave an impression (geddit? haha) on your holiday decorating. A DIY kit includes everything you need to make a pawprint ornament: lightweight clay, wooden rolling pin, shaping ruler, festive ribbons for hanging, and a plastic hole punch. What’s more, there’s no mixing because the clay is ready-to-use! 

5.5-inch Pawprint pet ornament kit

Price: $14

Available at: Bed Bath & Beyond

holiday inspiration

picture 1 holiday inspirationBlame it on the first snowfall of the year: I’m already thinking of holiday sparkle, and how I’m going to be working merry metals into my festive decor. I’m dealing with huge expanses of warm, honey-tone parquet floor in my new small space, so I’m going to work with what I’ve got and go gold, copper and bronze instead of my old standby, silver. My inspiration piece for the entire approach to decking my halls is this stunning copper-painted glass vase — simple, sleek, and stunning on a grand scale (it’s 18-inches high!). Do you start with an inspiration piece for your holiday decorating? I want to hear what it is!

Alba handblown cased glass vase

Price: $70

Available at: Crate and Barrel, 888-657-4108