My Christmas Wish for You!

To all my readers, those who celebrate Christmas and those who may not, I want to share with you my personal Christmas wish for all of us. A wish for peace and peacefulness.

Every few weeks I receive a very uplifting story from my friends, Joan, Katie and Meb of The Miracle Chase. I was so inspired reading their story of Rose Mapendo, recipient of the UN Humanitarian of Year Award, that I had to share it with you. Rose’s story brought tears to my eyes and her personal journey for peace filled my heart. Please take a moment and read Rose’s story HERE.

Over the next year my Christmas wish is that we all get better at achieving an inner peace so that we can all become more open, loving and accepting of others. Finding time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and slowing down to appreciate both beauty we bring to others and the beauty they bring to us.

In this humble quest for personal peace may our actions resonate outward – small and slow but begin to radiate and glow stronger throughout the year.

Thank you for continuing to let me into your homes and your lives through Willow Décor. I feel very blessed that we are sharing this journey together.

Much love to you and your families,

xox Gina

Holiday Window Boxes III and Giveaway Winner!!!

Every year one of Willow Décor’s most popular holiday posts is Decorating Holiday Window Boxes. Even if your house does not have outdoor window boxes you can use store bought containers to bring the look inside. Here are some new favorites I have collected over the year.

This first window box is beautiful, simple and inexpensive to create. Different pines and boxwood are easily in found out in your yard. Here the owner added blueberry branches and some glass icicle ornaments to add sparkle – Lovely!

From decorator extraordinaire, Martha Stewart, what caught my eye most were the branch trellises she added to hold up the pine branches. What a creative touch which adds so much interest and texture, as well as a wonderful place to thread the bow!

Another simple, beautiful collection of pines and pinecones. This would look as pretty on sideboard in your dining room or mantel as it does outside. Again very low cost to recreate.

Something a bit easier to find for my southern readers; here moss, magnolia leaves and ornaments make a pretty holiday window box.

On of my favorite ideas comes from the Bachman Holiday house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here an old shutter creates an indoor window box filled with potted poinsettias and highlighted by a row of birch branches. Simply gorgeous! This is a spectacular mantle piece and would look fabulous in any home!

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Another example of a more southern style here filled with pines, pineapples and citrus fruits. I adore these window boxes! To see more examples of great holiday window boxes read Willow Décor’s previous posts HERE and HERE

Finally, congratulations to 3 Peanuts for winning the German Grainsack Tree Skirt!!! Please send your mailing address to willowdecormail@gmail.com and we will send out the tree skirt in time for Christmas!! A special thanks again to Kym of A Beautiful Mess! If you are not a winner you can still order wonderful items from Kym by contacting her at (805) 630-3727. Enjoy!!!

(Photo Credit: P. Wexford, Bellewood Gardens, 65 Avenue, Container Gardening, Martha Stewart, Bachman's, Home Ideas, Lu Tapp -A Beautiful Mess)

Meeting Celeste and Our Best EVER 3 Fine Grains Giveaway!

What a busy few weeks I have had traveling around the US!! I just returned back from a wonderful visit to Palo Alto, California to visit my sister! I was also able to stop by and finally meet designer, Celeste Randolph of Ambiance Interiors. Here we are enjoying the spectacular California sunshine on her back patio!

I am sure you all remember Celeste’s gorgeous kitchen that was featured on WD last year! You can read more about it HERE! And if you missed it make sure you do take a peek – It is just awesome!! Celeste was such a wonderful host and we had a great time getting better acquainted! Thanks Celeste it was such a treat!!

I wish I could have traveled down to Southern California and had a visit with my dear friend, Kymberley Fraser, creator of the 3 Fine Grains textile line and the owner of the fabulous store, A Beautiful Mess.

Once again Kym has “wowed” us with her phenomenal designs made from authentic, original antique German grainsacks. Each year, like an angel from above, Kym gives WD readers a chance to own one of her gorgeous creations!

You might remember the wonderful Grainsack Christmas Tree we gave away last year; above is one of the trees available this year. Let’s have a look at the rest of Kym’s new Holiday Line:

She creates the most amazing ornaments, like these antique linen hearts with crowns. Perfect for the queen of the house!!!

And these fabulous monogram ornaments made from grainsack remnants!

Another new item are the grainsack covered photo albums - Love these!!

Kym has such incredible talent – here are her signature grainsack stockings! Aren’t they beautiful?!

And above is the GIVEWAY – I am so giddy just announcing it! Kym has given us a gorgeous Christmas Tree Skirt. It is handmade from authentic, original, antique German grainsacks. It is lined on the back side with burlap and has a burlap rope trim going all around it. It measures 60" and it retails for $725!!! Awesome, right?!!

To enter to win just leave a comment below. For an extra chance to win begin following A Beautiful Mess on Facebook click HERE. For a third chance to win begin following Willow Décor on my Facebook page HERE. Finally re-tweet this post on Twitter and have another chance!

If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, you can contact Kym at (805) 630-3727 and she will ship them out right away! A huge “Thank You” to Kym and best of luck to everyone! I will announce a winner next Saturday! Good Luck!!

(Photo credits: Lu Tapp Photography, French Kissed)

Dreamy Cape Cod Shingle Style Home

On a waterfront lot in Buzzards Bay, part of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Dewing and Schmid Architects designed the most amazing home.

The family wanted a compound and they created a perfect retreat. A main house has five bedrooms with a two car garage and apartment above the garage, as well as a pool and pool house/guest house.

Every room has direct views of the water and the shingle style house is designed with a wonderful abundance of porches to capture the spectacular views. Notice the covered porch on the second story to the right.

Here is a closer look. What an amazing view of the ocean!

Interior Designer, James Radin choose the gorgeous muted color palette. Soft blue accents in antique glass seltzer bottles and glass buoy floats compliment the blues of the ocean views. I love the step down dining and living areas.

Dewing and Schmid Architects are masters at creating wonderful nooks to capture views and provide an oasis for quiet moments of reflection, like this built in desk with porthole window.

Bathrooms are equally muted relying on the beauty of marble to speak for itself. Notice the curve of each vanity – almost as lovely as the ocean view.

No family compound is complete without a stunning pool/guest house. Again designer, Radin, keeps the palette soft and neutral so as not to compete with the lovely architecture or the views.

Finally a view of the pool – I know you'll agree this home adds to the beauty of Cape Cod. To learn more about this house click HERE. To see more of Dewing and Schmid Architects click HERE.

(all photos Dewing and Schmid Architects – Content property of Willow Décor and not to be copied with out permission)

Inspirational Shopping–Close by and On line!

I love finding new shops and on line sites with unique items– especially with the Holidays coming up. I wanted to share with a few of my all time favorites and some of my new finds!  First, for those of you in the Boston area one of my new favorite shops is Pine Straw in Wellesley!

This shop is decked out with cool architectural elements and walls covered in antique barn wood.  It is a perfect spot to find a unique hostess gift, or a great little home accessory.

I love the new tin place card holders I just bought-

and the old glass doorknob that is a wine stopper,  but there is so much more!!

Owner Tracy Cranley also has selected some beautiful jewelry, sweaters and bags – perfect gifts for the holidays!

You can read more about Pine Straw HERE.

 

For the most chic and stylish items all in one place you must double click over to Splendid Willow Avenue (SWA) .  Created by Famous Blogger, Monika Claassen of Splendid Willow, her on line store is a dream!

You might remember Monika started her store with her wonderful Isla Jacobsen boots which I featured last year – read about them HERE.  I own a pair myself, and following Monika’s keen advice I packed them for my trip last year to Aspen.  I wore them during Fashion Week and felt ever so cool and “in the know”!

Monika has since expanded to home furnishings, like this awesome sheepskin rug.

But what is so exciting is Monika’s new line of clothes by JARBO  – Europeans have a high standards for quality and style and these clothes are really stunning. I just love the new duster  – Wear it one way and it’s a great duster…

Upside down and it’s a chic wrap.  Love this!! Monika’s style is classy, cool and hip.

 

I also love this dress – just stunning!! ( Hubby, if you are reading this, please order one of these for me for the Holidays!) You can read Monika’s blog HERE, and connect to her store Splendid Willow Avenue HERE.

 

Next stop is a favorite for myself and for my clients:   Boston Consignment. What a huge inventory they have- every month it feels like a brand new store!! Here are some of their new items that caught my eye!

A great silver lamp by Barbara Cosgrove – What wonderful lines!

And they always have a fabulous selection of mirrors – like this one above

And this wonderful antique one!  You can see their inventory and get more contact information for Boston Consignments HERE.

I also wanted to share my most recent favorite ETSY find –  I adore these bowls from Suite One Studios –

Just a spectacular shade of turquoise in wonderful, organic shapes. You can see more of her beautiful work HERE.

Finally, I am cleaning out my attic and basement and have so many items that need new homes. Do you all think I should offer them for sale on WD or provide you the links to Craigslist or EBAY?? Very interested in your comments on this!

Hope you enjoyed our cyber shopping trip!! Would love to hear your favorite stops!

xxx-Gina

(all content property of Willow Décor and not be copied with out permission)