Some of the area’s top interior designers went back to the rooms they created for the Washington Design Center‘s Design House and gave them a holiday update. You can tour the rooms through Saturday and pick up some easy and creative ways to add instant holiday flair to your home. David Herchik of JDS Designs dressed up the luxurious living room with modest accessories, including a simple Kmart garland and wreaths with matching ornaments nestled into them, Martha Stewart organza ribbon, battery-operated candles and crystal snowflake pillows from Pier 1.
“Have fresh flowers and candles. They always say ‘cheer,’ ” Herchik advised. “Place ornaments on ribbons and hang them around your lamps or drape them on mantles. Use a wreath as a centerpiece, or just fill a bowl with ornaments. Casual touches speak volumes.”
When it comes to color, Herchik suggested using the “entire spectrum.”
“I love to do a traditional tree filled with family memories, and love to have a tree that is a theme-colored tree to blend with a room. If your room is blue, there is no problem having a blue-themed holiday.”
Frank Babb Randolph, of Frank Babb Randolph Interior Design, used fruits for the portico he designed.
| Where and when |
| The Washington Design Center is located at 300 D St. SW. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. |
“Centerpieces of apples and pears with sprigs of fresh evergreens, holly and a few ornaments do the trick,” Herchik confirmed.
Mantles often are focal points for holiday decor and make great canvases to express creativity.
“The easiest way is to use a reasonably priced lit garland, then just take extra ornaments and nestle them into branches. You can always personalize it by adding family photos without frames or cherished toys from your childhood,” Herchik said.
Rita St. Clair, of Rita St. Clair Associates Inc., designed the family room mantle with a bounty of colorful fruits and leaves.
“Adding berries and small fruits can add color and interest. I like to frame the entire mantle in this way,” St. Clair said. “With this rope treatment, I like to include candles, — odorless please — in various sizes and various candleholders.”
Consider the room’s purpose when adding holiday decorations.
“An appropriate holiday touch in a guest room is the obvious holiday-colored candle surrounded by edible fruits and candies,” St. Clair said. “In a bath I can only think of a scented red or green candle.”
Size is a concern, however, with any holiday decorating plan.
“If you wish to make a statement, it should be large in size and simple in design,” St. Clair said. “By that I mean that a lot of bits and pieces will never make it whereas a large display of seasonal fruits, berries, pomegranates in a beautiful bowl on a table surrounded by candles can be more than appropriate for any public room in the house.”
Herchik said going overboard is a matter of taste, instead of a rule.
“I have been known to put up five trees in my house. But on the other hand, after 9/11 a beautiful real tree covered in lights and just one ornament of an American flag seemed sufficient,” he added.
