Making A List
Six top designers offer holiday ideas
Whether the holidays loom with a specter of mayhem or wash over you with sparkle and warmth, setting down a record of what needs to be done ahead of time adds a sense of peace on earth and good will to all.
PICK A UNIQUE COLOR STORY for your holiday decorating design like warm colors, cool colors, ocean colors or even makeup colors. Stick with one scheme and expand it with several shades and hues of the same colors.
Silver and crystal are always great pop elements to add sparkle and shine. This gives you a modern touch with a glamorous feel.
Esteban Lopez
Esteban Interiors
CHRISTMAS IS THE ONLY HOLIDAY for which we decorate. We focus on the tree and our collection of Nativity scenes. We always have a tall, flocked Nobel fir from Walter Andersen Nursery. The white lights make the tree and room glow and the ornaments sparkle. Prune the tree before it is flocked for a laced and layered silhouette.
We start the holidays with Thanksgiving in Aspen and love to spend Christmas break in Park City, at the Washington School House Hotel. (Ed Note: Paul Allen Design did the interiors of this hotel.)
Paul Allen Wehsener
Shannon Crane Wehsener, Asid
Paul Allen Design
MAKE HOLIDAY DECORATING TIMELESS by mixing old and new. When tradition meets modern, warm and fuzzy memories spill over into the merry future. Instead of red and green, go more unexpected with persimmon and chartreuse.Balance soft against hard textures — felt and reclaimed wood are big this holiday season. Shop at independent local boutiques to find that special something for your holiday décor.
Sean Barnes
Love & Aesthetics
ADD A VINTAGE TOUCH to your giftwrap using sheet music, a brown paper bag stamped with a festive rubber stamp or newsprint. Tie with a knot using mesh or netting and clip on a piece of costume jewelry you’ve found at a garage sale or thrift store.It also is special to give a gift within a gift. Put your gift in an unusual container, a decorative bucket, flowerpot, canvas bag, canister or basket. Add some lovely ribbon, holly, bells or a sprig of greenery along with the gift tag.
Robbie Harbert Maynard, Asid, Cid
Robbie Interiors
MAKE THREE DECISIONS well in advance of the season: pick a sparkle factor, a color scheme and a theme. Choose two main colors, then a glittery silver, shimmery gold or clear sparkle. Themes can be as diverse as “Winter in Montana” or “A Children’s Fantasy.”Provide your holiday guests with small note cards and envelopes of many different colors decorated with cutouts from old vintage cards. Have them write a wish for themselves on one card, a wish for others on another, and put these in different colored envelopes. Hang the envelopes among your other ornaments on the tree for all the guests to open.
Warren Sheets
Warren Sheets Design, Inc.
