holiday decor

Kicking off the Festive Feeling at Filoli and Joules Coats

December 3, 2016 By kimwheeler No Comments

Each year I love visiting the gorgeous Woodside’s Filoli Mansion and their annual Christmas shopping days. The 1915 estate and 654 acre grounds are a California Landmark and on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Bourns who built it were prominent San Franciscans that owned a gold mine in Grass Valley and the Crystal Springs Water Company and Crystal Springs Lake.

In the 1930’s the property was purchased by the Roth family who made the formal gardens famous. Mrs Roth lived there until 1975 when she donated it to The National Trust for Historic Preservation. There are events happening at Filoli all year long as well as classes and tours of this beautifully preserved home and property. It’s an easy jaunt off freeway 280, but enter the gates and you are in a magical place surrounded by green rolling hill, moss-covered oaks and little deer!

The holiday shopping days are usually sold out a few months ahead. So you need to plan by October to go to this. All of the rooms are transformed into seasonal boutiques which are really well done, beautifully decorated and filled with unique finds from cooking items, to holiday gifts and home decor and even some furniture.

The estate inside is just beautiful and in it’s original state. You can even see the old servants buttons and cloak rooms, etc.

Check out Filoli’s site for any upcoming holiday lunches and brunches. They have things for Easter and Mother’s Day and fun summer events too.

One of the shops was scarves, coats, bags and wonderful sweaters. They were carrying the cute line Joules from Great Britain. I had never heard of them before and we fell in love with their perfect vests, raincoats and even rain ponchos. I was in need of a winter jacket and bought this floral number.

It’s extremely warm and I love the floral of course. Check out their website, which has outerwear with the nicest trim and details. I especially like the leather trimmed capes and vests.

Have a cozy weekend everyone!

Kim

A Northern California Natural Christmas

December 2, 2012 By kimwheeler No Comments

Hope you are having a cozy weekend. We’ve had a wet and stormy week and today looks like much of the same. Today is our town’s annual Christmas parade, but I think I may stay in while the Cub Scouts brave the elements. Yesterday I spent the better part of the day picking up remains from the storm that hit Thursday night. The winds had brought gifts of sequoia and redwood branches and pinecones of all sizes. Cleaning up got me inspired to begin my Christmas decor and so out with the orange! I started going for a more Christmas zen feel with branches and naturals and neutrals.

The English use clips of trees and holly to frame pictures and mirrors in the home. This is a tradition that dates back to the Druids who believed bringing greens into the home brought fertility and warded off evil spirits! Well, okay. No fertility needed here please, but I do think they look lovely and festive. I just like tucking them in a few spots for Winter welcome.

How lovely if we just let nature dictate the decor? I think all these greens look right with burlap, walnuts and my pretty mercury glass. All colorless really. I haven’t unpacked the big boys yet and may just have to keep some brights in the boxes this year. The light feel of this all just calms me. (Yes I’m trying to forget the Christmas timetable here people!)

Leaving out my seashells and popped in a few of these antique looking little ornaments I bought in mesh baggies from Restoration Hardware last year.

Just a few of these and more redwood discards on the living room mantle…Haven’t gotten the stockings or tree up yet…

Sequoias above are one of the prettiest conifers in my opinion.

In this grey wooden box I bought from Bunches florist, I stuck in the remains of the yard disaster- pinecones and tree bits. I think I like this best of all. It’s in my entry and smells so good when you open the front door. Juniper bushes have pretty little white pinecone like berries right now. Cypress bushes are also a good filler and cuttings can look mini tree like.

More evergreens… I’m noticing everything looks a bit crooked here. Hmm, could be my photography or possibly my house!

I’m loving my boxwood wreath from Trader Joes. So pretty and different for $9.99. I added my own burlap wired ribbon. The Container Store is my go to for ribbons this time of year. Their lovely wooden spools of dreamy colors make wrapping so fun.

How about a holiday posy? This mustard jar was perfect for the tiny bits of greenery. Tie with a whispy burlap thread and you’ve got a little Christmas for next to your bed or the powder room. Instagram makes everything look cool doesn’t it?

So before you go all out on Christmas decor, consider you surroundings. you might just have the most beautiful things right outside your window! It’s better for the earth and your wallet. If you don’t have evergreens like Northern California, you could use other greens like olives branches and even succulents. It’s all about bringing the nature indoors in the winter. Mix your greens with a minimal amount of silver or gold add neutrals and you have got a Northern California look!

Happy foraging!

Kim

Wreath Style!

December 12, 2011 By kimwheeler No Comments

via An Urban Cottage. Love the branches and this looks like boxwood.

Another crazy day, but I thought I’d post a few pics of wreaths and doors I’m loving right now. Seems like a small thing, but how cute are some of these homes? Makes you really want to rethink your door color and more. I may be needing to up my curb appeal soon.

Enjoy!

I’ve added some more wreaths that were accidently left out yesterday.