Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a splendid holiday season and brought in 2011 with some great eats and good cheer with family & friends! Don’t feel guilty if you brought in a few pounds either, its added warmth that’s needed in this darn blistering cold weather!
Now some of you readers may have celebrated Christmas with a traditional tree, decorations and the whole nine yards. Some of you may have decided to just add bits n bobs (as the Brits say), few elements, to the holiday season with a wreath on the door, maybe some white icicle lights and few ornament type nik naks. For those of you who did nothing, don’t worry, its never too late to buy clearance items (up to 90% off at Pier 1) to incorporate these decorating ideas to your next dinner event!
To the left is a picture of the family tree in my household along with the ornaments I incorporated. It was a fresh tree I picked up from the local farm and applied some decorative items that I brought back from my last India trip. Some items even came out of my jewellery cabinet. I love the crystals, pearls and hand-made gold/silver sequence ornaments. It gives the tree some class. Mind you, it would have been mind-blasting to have the million dollar tree that was in one of the premiere hotels in Dubai in my digs. Sure Cartier, you can lend me some diamonds and pearls anytime for my tree!!!
Ok wishful thinking, now back to the blog.
I tend to remain in the ‘holiday spirit’ usually until the end of January as I like the house to stay glam’d for a bit. It keeps the spirits high. But when the time comes to put away the ornaments, back in storage, I’m selective.
If you love throwing dinner parties and wintertime is a very good time to invite friends over, as it beats the post-holiday blahs, hold back a few items.
I recommend keeping back the ornaments, long strand pearls, the icicle lights, organza fabrics, pinecones, chargers and branches from the fresh Christmas tree.
As the ornaments I selected were in gold and silver, I took the round hanging globes and placed them in a bamboo boat, along with the pinecones. It's a nice combination to have a rustic piece with some glitter.
To add some edge, I use the organza fabric as my base table runner.
This really sets the tone for a ‘winter glam’ theme to the dining table and home.
One can always use a woven basket or even those Christmas aluminum tins that someone put your shortbread biscuits in. Its endless! All you need is to lay a decorative organza fabric inside the tin and place the ornaments until it has that overflow look. Then I add the long pearl strands and dress around the bamboo boat. One can be really creative and tie the organza with the lights but be sure to use fire-retardant fabrics, as we don’t need any sudden hazards!
To continue with the ‘winter glam’ theme, I keep the gold and silver chargers and incorporate them at the dinner table. So charger, then dinner plate and salad plate on top.
To complete the look, I take my crystal ornaments and I loop them over my cloth napkins, thereby acting as napkin rings. To give it a bit of colour as the opaque in the crystals can blend with a white cloth, I then take my fresh tree branches, cut them down to napkin size and slide it through the ornament loop. Alternatively, just use a fusia colored napkin cloth and the crystal ornament will pop out.
Voila! A beautiful table-top setting, done on a dime!
So decorating divas, no need to hibernate in the house. DO throw some post-holiday dinner parties, recycle the seasonal décor and go glam this winter!
If you have any post holiday looks you’d like to share, feel free to send me photos and your story at [email protected].
BRAVO!
Only you could incorporate and marry Christmas into the Indian culture so glamorously - and make it affordable. You reign as Queen in that department.
Congrats on your first blog.... well done
Bolly good.... !!!!!
Posted by: [email protected] | 01/06/2011 at 02:56 PM
Wow...what amazing design ideas!!
I'm glad you've got a blog 'cause there is no way i could be this creative on my own.
Looking forward to your next post!
Posted by: Justine | 01/06/2011 at 03:02 PM
I love the idea of keeping the festivities going till the end of the month (why not the end of winter?).
Here's a multicultural nativity scene at our house (don't miss the Mountie nutcracker) http://picasaweb.google.com/rohaninpittsburgh/NativityScene#5559211058166738818
Posted by: Rohan Ganguli | 01/06/2011 at 05:59 PM
Great article and nice tips!
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