Saturday, December 3, 2011

Decking the Halls


I took advantage of the warm weather last weekend.


It was 67 degrees (19 C for the rest of the world) last Sunday so I thought it would be the perfect day to deck the halls outside.  

I love my Werner Ladder.  I got it with American Express Reward Points.  I swear it weighs 100 pounds and I pinch my finger at least once each time I use it, but it gets in to some really awkward places and I always feel safe.



I screwed really large cup hooks just above each of the porch columns from which I hung the cedar garland.


I think my house was made for Christmas.



We're quickly approaching the darkest days of winter--solstice is only two weeks away!-- so I love having white lights to brighten up the darkness.



Now I just need to get up the nerve to get up into the scary attic again to do my candles in the windows.



Someone asked if I was going to gussy up the wreath.  I was really liking the simple green square on the black door so I added a black and white striped ribbon and called it done.



I think the ribbon is all the gussy it needs.  



To stay with that reduced color palette, I flanked the door with pots of white pine and yellow dogwood twigs.  No green and red.  I think it's really refreshing.

I'll take a photo of the entire house as soon as there's no car parked in front.

I'll probably do a little decorating in the garden tomorrow and then I'll focus on the inside.

64 comments:

  1. The house looks gorgeous as usual. I love how you decorated your house on the blog header. Just don't go up in the attic at night.

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  2. Very nice Steve! Post a pic of the front of the house..need to see how your garland looked. I hear you on the scary attic ...I got some candle (battery) at Christmas Tree Shop...built in timers run 8hr on and16 off...batteries last for months! Picked up more this year...only $2.99each. LOVE them...
    Tami

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  3. Love your square wreath, I agree it is perfect simple and lovely. I too am using a tight color pallet this year. I am using green and white and black just like you!! My home is soft yellow with white shutters trimmed in black and black and white are my base colors. Love the dogwood branches, so pretty in your urns. Great job! I have a post up right now with outdoor decor that i think you might enjoy,
    Kathysue

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  4. It looks lovely Steve, and I lust after your ladder...

    A long time since I read/heard the word 'gussy'!

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  5. Everything looks so lovely. I can almost smell the fresh cedar garland from here. It's always a relief when the outside is finished. We are always sticking the ladder into a few inches of snow.

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  6. Love the simple box wreath...and the simple greens in the urns. Less is more. The beauty of the greenery and white lights is plenty.

    Can;t wait to see the whole house.

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  7. I love your decor and the wreath is perfect. The ribbon adds the right touch

    Have a great weekend

    Helen

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  8. I am all about simplicity this year. Love the rope garland. Can't wait to see it lit up.

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  9. Your house looks ah-MAZ-ing! AS always you know it best, and that wreath is all gussied up Urban Cottage style. THe garland is gorgeous. I just couldn't get in the mood with the warm weather, even though it would have been nice being in the warm air doing the task...but I waited. Heading out tomorrow to get my greens. Love it Steve!

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  10. Oh I so love the swag! Gotta love the swag! I would love to see this at night...ahem...cough.

    Square boy looks cool in stripes.

    You, sir, have been busy...Umhmm. Now the temps can officially drop for you. Show us what is going on in the inside....K?

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  11. Hm , hung a customer's square wreath without any ribbon, but might reconsider. Looks good, Steve!

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  12. Oh it is just beautiful. That wreath and ribbon are killer good!:)
    xo Dianne

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  13. The simplicity is gorgeous...the wreath and ribbon are perfect. You don't need all that glitz to make a beautiful statement.

    Yes, it snowed A LOT today! We've been lucky so far but got dumped on today. :)

    ps...I've been having the hardest time commenting on your posts. It takes me 3-4 times to get it on here.???

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  14. Your wreath is understated and classy.

    The whole frontage is gorgeous! So tasteful.

    What an affront parking out front. People these days.

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  15. Hi Steve,

    I kind of liked the wreath all on its own, but I do like the striped ribbon. I think your house was made for all seasons...it's a classic. It sure has been on the warm side for you guys. It's been colder here in Texas than in Boston. Don't be a wussy boy, go up in that attic like you own the place and put your candle up. It looks so serene and peaceful when it's lit up all by its lonesome.
    am

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  16. Steve, everything looks beautiful, and your garland is stunning! Your entry is so warm and welcoming! Happy Christmas!

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  17. Oh I love classic simplicity, the garland is beautiful, I would love one like that but I think it would be a fortune to buy from a florist here. And look the lines in the ribbon echo the lines of your columns, ah the beauty of symmetry.

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  18. Very classy. Love the restrained color palette. The bow is definitely enough gussy.

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  19. I am a big fan of the square wreath. I couldn't find a fresh square one here. I didn't actually look all that hard. I ended up with two artificial round ones hung like yours on a ribbon. I love the simplicity of your decorating.

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  20. Tres chic monsieur.

    Love the striped ribbon

    Less is waaaaay more in your nimble hands.

    xo Jane

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  21. I love the black and white simplicity.
    Pure Elegance.
    Refreshing after driving home past lawns with hideous blown-up penquins and snowmen bobbing in the wind.

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  22. Love the square wreath on your black door. The ribbon is the perfect touch.

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  23. Stunning - yes, your house was made for Christmas!! xo Terri

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  24. Beautiful. Simple. Classic. Love the wreath as is!
    Enjoy the season,
    Claudia

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  25. There's just no comparison to that rich cedar garland. I'm going to keep you to your word because I look forward to seeing the whole effect at more of a distance!

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  26. I love it. Just perfect. I believe your home was made for Christmas! I understand your angst about the attic. I think that sort of undertaking is somehow eery. You will enjoy the light once the candle is in place. I would take a big ole" flashlight with me up there!

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  27. I love your ideas for Christmas decorating ideas was searching the net and I came across your wonderful blog, congratulations and Merry Christmas from Spain.

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  28. Sigh...

    Karla from Ca

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  29. Mea culpa. I am so ashamed for having asked for gussy. It needs absolutely none, but the ribbon is lovely and the perfect touch. My only defense is that I have lived in the Land of the Tacky House Tour so long that I have forgotten my Williamsburg roots.

    The total elegance and simplicity is perfect for the season. Can't wait to see inside.

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  30. Beautiful, classy and stylish. It suits your house perfectly.

    xo
    Claudia

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  31. Webb,
    No mea culpa needed. I thought it needed some gussy too and it took me a week of looking at it to appreciate it's simplicity. I come from a place of "more is better" and I'm trying hard to restrain myself. I hope I didn't make you feel bad. I just loved your word "gussy" so I had to use it again.

    Appreciate you stopping by as always!

    Steve

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  32. Looks perfect to me. No gussying necessary.
    Best...Victoria

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  33. Perfect! A nice break from the blow-up Christmas decorations.

    Did you make the square wreath?

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  34. I'll probably do a blow-up Santa next year.

    I did not make the square wreath. It came from the garden center BUT I trimmed the edges to sharpen the square. I'm a little crazy like that.

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  35. Love the wreath with ribbon. It is so elegant and I agree it is perfect without any adornment.

    A wonderful sophisticated holiday look.

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  36. What they said. ^
    Truly inspiring. Every year I do less and like it more.

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  37. fabulous! just like you. love the ribbon and I agree... your house was made for xmas! you do it proud.

    j.

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  38. p.s....
    forgot to say that I LOVE the garland in your header!!

    j.

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  39. Simply beautiful (as always!) Cindy

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  40. You are a man of taste, Steve.

    So, I have to know where you got the striped ribbon. I have been looking for exactly that.

    Camille

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  41. GORGEOUS. Apparently I am not alone, judging my the number of comments so far. :) I agree - your house is definitely made for Christmas! I love the simple elegance of black, white and greenery at Christmas - very nice!

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  42. Steve,

    I love your perfectly square wreath with the black and white ribbon...the simple color palette and your garland with white lights! I remember a few times decorating the outside of our house in CT in the most gorgeous weather....I also remember having to drill holes into the frozen ground for our driveway stakes because I didn't take the opportunity to do it on the nice days in December. I also adore your house number which goes very nicely with your decor and your hanging light on your porch. I agree...i think your house was made for Christmas too!

    Also, love that you added a little garland to your blog header...

    annie

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  43. Your house is made for Christmas. The garland looks beautiful. I also love the black and white ribbon. Looks great!

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  44. That b&w ribbon is quite gussy enough for me! uber chic....

    PS...you give me ladder envy...

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  45. You're right, your house was made for Christmas. Beautiful! Looking forward to whole-house pictures.

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  46. I just stumbled across your blog and I"m so glad I did! Your house is stunning and I totally agree that it's made for Christmas.

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  47. Hi Steve,

    I'm new to your blog and am absolutely entranced by your vision(s). What treasures you have...your home AND your ladder! I'm so impressed to learn you bought it with points (the ladder...not the house although that would have been nice...).

    I know I will be visiting often!

    Warmly,
    Tracey

    P.S. To answer your question about the Christmas tree...the nursery calls it a Noble Fir...we've always called it "The Night Before Christmas Tree" as it looks like the one in our vintage TNBC book. Easy to decorate...and un~decorate as the ornaments don't get lost amidst the branches!

    P.P.S. My vote is for the un~gussied wreath...with the ribbon...perfect...also love your cup hooks suggestion!

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  48. Thanks to Webb for reminding us of what a great word fussy is and to you for appreciating the sometimes fine line between gussying and tarting!

    I've been pondering the Thanksgiving bowl of nuts in shells quandary. If you haven't, try "priming the pump" by putting a small bowl with a few empty shells in it to give folks the OK to help themselves.

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  49. I'll give the nuts another try at Christmas.

    I'll have to buy more. I ate all the Thanksgiving nuts!

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  50. Everything looks fantastic! Where did you find the roping and wreath? I have been all over Boston looking for a square boxwood wreath...

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  51. I think the ribbon is gussy enough, as well. I did the same thing on my house with a green and white striped ribbon. Great minds and all that, you know. Karin/lifeinsmallchunks.blogspot.com
    p.s. Love it.

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  52. Both the cedar garland and the square boxwood wreath are from Wilson Farm in Lexington. If you've never been, it's just off Route 2. Very easy to get to.

    Mahoney's in Brighton also has a few different kinds of evergreen garland/roping. No square wreaths though.

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  53. I love how you gussied it up.....she is real purdy now! What would we do without black and white???

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  54. OK, so I'm a little behind here. LOVE that ribbon! Of course the wreath is wonderful too. And, yes that is all the gussy you need :)

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  55. Your home is beautiful! So warm and inviting looking. I also love how you added greens to your blog heading. Adorable!

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  56. Simply pretty, I feel here Christmas mood.....
    http://aprettylife13.blogspot.com/

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  57. Can I ask a silly question? (Okay, gonna ask it anyway.) Is the wreath and garland from a living plant?
    I'm from the land of tacky, plastic Christmas decor. I have no idea if fresh greens can be bought easily in Oz... but would love to give it a go one year. Anyone else in Australia have any ideas?
    I know someone (from more than 20 years ago) who got a real tree in her house but it left such a mess she only did it the one time.

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