Covet Living

If you’re like me, you were probably in food coma far too drastic last weekend to decorate, but are perhaps decking the halls this weekend.  I generally adhere to the idea that when it comes to Christmas decorations, the more the merrier…  and the tackier, the better.  Just hang that $#*% up everywhere.  Kinda like this, which I think is totally rad.

However, on a more rustic and refined level, the following shots from Ballard Designs’ creative director Jill Sharp Brinson’s Atlanta cottage (as featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles – and with the help of rock star designer Suzanne Kasler) just fanned up my Christmas tree skirt, BIG time.  Check it:

(Look at the metallic ornaments inside the lanterns around the candles!  A little added sparkle in an unexpected spot.  Genius.  PS: that tablecloth is killing me.)

(I would be swooning over this kitchen anyway, but oh…  those sunbursts + that garland…)

(The wee potted tree!  The wee potted tree!)

(I love J-O-Y spelled out with garland so much it hurts.)

Love it?  Wanna recreate something similar?  Take a cue from Kasler and Brinson:

1.  Start with lush, earthy, textured neutrals (weathered woods, furry throws and rugs, maybe a little wicker)…

(For wicker I always defer to Marshalls/TJ Maxx… Faux Sheepskin rug available here.)

2. Layer in tons of greenery and garland…  (I just used all the branches and twigs that fell of my Christmas tree while I was rassling with it to hoist that 200 lb. bad boy up into a rinky-dink teacup of a stand…)

This is also a good use of backyard twigs…

3.  Pepper it with a few modern graphic elements…  if you liked the black and white chevron tablecloth, try a pair of chairs like zeese (!)

Or just drape some pretty fabric over a table…  or plop a few little pillows on the sofa.

(Clockwise from top left:  Angeline / Les Indiennes…  Hedgehog via Neisha Crosland…  Pillow via Etsy…  Delicata / Peter Fasano…  Ebony by Greenhouse Design.)

4.  Last but certainly not least, top it all off with some sparkle.  Tarnished golds and antique brass fixtures…  or if you’re on a budget, take a cue from Kasler & Brinson, and toss some mixed metal ornaments in a glass jar around a plain ‘ol candle, or inside a lantern.  Here it is again…  you can find lanterns like that all day long at Marshalls, HomeGoods, TJ Smacks, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.  And a few boxes of silver, gold and glittered ornaments at Wal-Mart for a song.  Or, my favorite store in the world:  Goodwill.

OR, shoot.  Just spray paint some branches from the backyard with glitter spray paint and arrange ’em in a pretty container.  Who knew such a thing even existed??

Happy Decorating!

xoxo,

photo credits:  (1) Nostalgic tree via Pinterest (2) Scanned image of inflatable yard decorations via Real Simple Dec 2010 / photo by Kathryn Allen Hurni (3-6) Jill Sharp Brinson’s Atlanta Cottage / Decor by Suzanne Kasler via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles (7) Front Door – Pinterest via Martha Stewart (8) Twig candles via Sadie & Stella (9) Chevron Chairs via Instagram (10) Fabrics and pillow found via Pinterest.  (11) Sparkly twigs via Pinterest.  Sparkle Spray paint available through Krylon.