Dreaming of a Whitetail Christmas
With the holiday season in full swing, we thought we'd share a bit about how our team celebrates the most wonderful time of the year!
Mary Baude, Lead Designer:
Decking the Halls:
As a kid, I found that decorating my childhood bedroom or my families' living room were ways to express myself. Moving furniture, lamps, and plants around and creating a different visual was thrilling to me. Maybe it was to see "another way" to look at something or "something needs to change"? Whatever it was, the warm feeling that I got was part accomplishment and part joy!!! The same thing happens to me when I decorate my home for the holidays. I have a bigger home now, which means there are more rooms to decorate and more effort in general, especially finding the time. I still love doing it. Once the spaces are complete, the BEST part of the entire experience is sitting down at night with all of the twinkle lights on (the Christmas trees, mantles, staircases, console tables, ladders, shelves, etc. :-))
Celebrating the season:
Relaxing and enjoying company, or just watching my holiday movie favorites (YES please ... to Family Stone, The Holiday, and The Last Holiday). Creating that warmth for my friends and family brings joy to me. I want to share myself and host my loved ones! Decorating for me fills the house with LOVE, and I want everyone who enters my home to FEEL that love!
Meg Clarke, Inventory Manager:
Decking the halls:
Fresh greens and candles are a must. I love making my own garland and arrangements from what I find outside or at small local businesses. Not too much fluff. I like simple!
Celebrating the season:
Fav. part of Holidays is over abundance of holiday eats. I love grocery shopping and stocking up on nuts, cheeses, shrimp, figs, dates, seasonal fruit, and wine. It’s natural during that month to enjoy a glass of wine and snack with the husband and plan out our families festivities; that’s what it’s all about!! Oh, and I do love the hustle and bustle.
Kristin Brink, Sales Stylist:
Decking the halls:
Christmas lights are one of my favorite things. New lights and fresh decorations mixed with old ones gives a feeling of warmth and happiness. When these are up, everyone knows Christmas is near, and this is enough to brighten even the gloomiest of moods. Decorating a tree is a pleasure worth experiencing in life.
Celebrating the season:
Pat and I love going to my parents to decorate homemade Christmas cookies. My mom makes the cookies from scratch and my dad makes the frosting from scratch. We put Christmas music on, sit around the table and decorate cookies. It’s such a fun tradition we both look forward to.
Amanda Bell, Associate Designer:
Decking the halls:
James and I got our tree from the Dexter Lions Club this year and had such a blast picking it out; makes you feel like a little kid/kinda creepy when everyone else picking out trees IS a little kid. My mom has gifted me an ornament every year since I can remember, so we have a pretty eclectic collection of faves; each one brings back memories ... mostly of how awesome and thoughtful my mom is.
Celebrating the season:
Christmas is just another excuse to get together with everyone we love. My cousins are coming in from Santa Monica next week and we get to meet their new baby girl. We're doing our first Secret Santa with my many new Bell fam nieces and nephews and I CAN'T WAIT. Basically, my plan is to sit around, enjoy my people and drink too much wine.
Martin Staebler, Studio Assistant
Decking the halls:
My Christmas decorations at my house this year are a little lack-luster, so I've decided to put my parent's beautiful tree in the spotlight this year, especially since it will be the first thing I see Christmas morning. My mom decorates her tree with a mix of handmade ornaments, collected personalized ornaments, and then awesome store-bought ones. It always gives me an adorable eclectic, yet classic Christmas vibe.
Celebrating the season:
My favorite part of Christmas is spending time with family and friends that I don't get to see often. I have lots of amazing memories with my siblings and cousins from my childhood around this time of year. I have always appreciated my mom's Christmas decorations, too, and it was one of the first things that got me into interior design.
Annelise Luoma, Sales Stylist:
Decking the halls:
My favorite Christmas decoration is the homemade gingerbread houses that me and my siblings make and decorate every year. Over all, in my house we decorate with a lot of homemade things. I love being able to see everyone’s personality in the different ornaments and decorations.
Celebrating the season:
In my family we spend the holiday season crafting, cooking, and (most importantly) being together. Honestly, I love everything about Christmas, especially the time I get to spend with my family and all of the traditions we have. However, my favorite Holiday tradition would have to be waking up around four or five am on Christmas morning. There’s something so special about walking into the living room to see the tree all lit up and to know that your family is all together again and tucked away in their warm beds. I usually end up grabbing a big fluffy blanket, plopping down on the couch, and thinking about how grateful I am as I watch the sun rise (or until I fall back asleep).