Off the Page: Inspired Christmas Decor

Last week I showed photos of what was inspiring me this holiday season. This is the post where I show how that inspiration manifested itself in real life. What I loved about this little design exercise was how easy it was to work with the items I already owned, and how easy and inexpensive it was to fill in the details. 

I already own a decent amount of mercury glass, collected over the countless seasons this particular trend has been going strong. But I didn't have any vases or flower pots, so I took a trip to my local Pottery Barn, where I found small etched pots for $10. A trip to Lowe's yielded paperwhites and small flats of Dusty Miller (both of which, I might add, seem to have a long vase life). Because I don't like to put water in my mercury glass, I used wide mouthed glass votive holders and juice glasses to line my pots and put the flowers in. 

The other detail that inspired me was the beautiful gray mirror in the Martha Stewart Living feature. As I've shown you before, I had that heavy, dark frame in place on my mantel, which didn't create the effect I was going for. I decided that I'd take a trip to the thrift store and if I could find a suitable mirror for under $25, I would take it home and give it a makeover.  Success! I found a simple, honey colored wood frame for $15, which I primed and painted a pale gray (Silver Birch by Glidden). But I wanted it to have a slight sheen, so I gave it a coat of Make It Pearl, which softened the color even more and gave it a subtle shimmer. When the holidays are over, it will find a home in a hallway.

I added other bits of nature to my decor, mixing in the embossed velvet holly garland that I made a few years back, a beaded leaf wreath (I spent 80 hours making mine, but you can buy yours at Ballard Designs), my glittered pinecone centerpiece, white flocked snowflake ornaments, and glass acorn ornaments. I think the end result is every bit as serene as I'd hoped it would be.

 

 

 

Comments

[Suzonne]

Shaye, it was published in an older Christmas decorating book by Martha Stewart (Oxmoor House). I believe the title was "Decorating for the Holidays."

[Shaye]

I saw that beaded wreath pattern in a book somewhere but can't remember what it was. Do you have the name of the book?

[Whitney @ WhiskerGraphics.com]

So beautiful!

[Wendy]

You *made* that wreath?! You are so talented... and patient! :)

[candace]

eighty hours!? The beaded wreath is gorgeous, what a keepsake!