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WINTER 2014
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PhOtOs COuRtEsY PIER 1 ImPORts
PhOtOs COuRtEsY DECORAtIng DEn
Ideas from Pier 1 Imports to add cheer to the holidays include a Peppermint Snowman Hand Soap, Vanilla Gingerbread Hand Soap, Holiday Forest Tree Hand Soap, Mosaic Snowman Floor Pillar Holder, Smoke & Gold Vanity Tray, Fashionista Reindeer Tea Towel, Peppermint Creme Filled Candles and a Silver Filled Candle in Cranberry Balsam.
of merry
CARRIE KELLY DECOR
When hosting guests for the holidays, it’s fun to fit in a few surprises and add some extra special touches to your holiday decor. Since your bathroom is a space you can expect your guests to visit, don’t forget to add some festive flair for uninterrupted ambience throughout your home. Katie O’Dwyer, owner of Calgary’s Decorating Den Interiors, has ideas that range from minimal in cost and effort to more detailed and extravagant. If your bathroom is showing its age and you’ve been considering giving it a facelift, getting it ready for friends and family to use over the holidays might be the push you need. “You can get a freestanding vanity fairly inexpensively,” O’Dwyer says. If you’re not ready to change the cabinet or don’t have time, you can add new hardware for a more modern touch. Replacing a laminate countertop with granite will change the whole look of your bathroom and be an investment you can enjoy for years to come. If your bathroom is already beautiful, getting ready for the holidays will be simple and fast. “Add a couple of scented candles to create that warm feeling,” O’Dwyer suggests. Fresh flowers or a small
poinsettia will add seasonal style to the bathroom. Try a white orchid, white hydrangeas or even red tulips if available. If you have a shelf in your bathroom, a long, narrow arrangement of fresh greenery will make the room smell like Christmas. Fragrance is definitely a factor that shouldn’t be neglected, says Rhys Walters, spokesperson for Pier 1 Imports. “Set the mood with seasonal fragrances, seasonal hand soaps and lotions,” she says. Scented candles provide a pleasant fragrance even when not lit. Pier 1’s frosted tree candlescape creates a beautiful anchor for both candles and ornaments. Adding a dimmer switch to the bathroom lighting will allow guests to appreciate the glow of the candles. If your space is small, make sure the accessories and decorations aren’t obstructive. Maximize the impact by choosing items of the same colour. “Pick a festive colour and then commit to it and go all out in picking soap dispensers, towels and candles in the same tint,” says Walters. If you have a large bathroom, you can really up the festive feel. “If your guest bathroom is big, you can set up a small Christmas tree,” Walters says. “It’s an unexpected move and is sure to surprise your guests.”
WINTER 2014
PhOtOs COuRtEsY PIER 1 IMPORts
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SOPHISTICATED A few key pieces welcome the holiday spirit
CARRIE KELLY Decor
PhOtOs COuRtEsY DECORAtIng DEn
The holidays can be a time of excess, but for the most dramatic impact, less is often more. Simple touches that complement your existing décor will create a visual that announces the holidays are coming. Rhys Walters, spokesperson for Pier 1 Imports, notes small changes can create a significant effect. “Pick your top two or three rooms in your home and add a few key pieces to transform the space, while staying true to the existing design,” she says. Silver is a prominent colour for decorating this holiday season and works seamlessly with almost any existing decor. “Silver shimmers with holiday spirit,” Walters says.
Pier 1 Imports has silvery pieces that are perfect for a simple, yet elegant place setting for a holiday feast with family and friends, and look stunning all on their own. Add reusable silver napkins to dress up the dining table, wrapped like a gift in a silver beaded napkin ring. In a d d i t i o n t o making your dining room table a focal point, the Christmas tree will be what captures everyone’s attention. Themed Christmas trees are big statements on their own. “Pick a core ornament that you love and get 20 ornaments,” says Walters. “Choose about two accent ornaments and get 10 of one and five of the other ornaments.”
At left, an elegant tree and mantel by Decorating Den blend with existing decor. Pieces to create a holiday mood include Pier 1 Imports’ Winter Ice Nutcrackers, Glimmer String Mercury Glass Trees, a Reindeer Pillar Stand, Ceramic Tree Tealight Holder, Silver Snowflake Cuff Stocking and beaded and embroidered pillows.
Katie O’Dwyer, owner of the Decorating Den in Calgary, says that while some people love to put up trees in multiple rooms of their home, all that work isn’t necessary to make your home feel like Christmas. “You don’t need to overdo it,” she says. “You don’t want to compromise your current design, but build on what you already have.” Modify your existing accessories by changing out the lampshade to a red or merlot hue. Add a few throw pillows to your sofa and loveseat. Fresh flowers go with any interior design and colour scheme. “I really like fresh versus fake. It’s amazing what fresh greenery and floral will do,” O’Dwyer says. Seasonal scents are just as important as the visuals created, and pine branches and flowers will help bring the smells of the season to life and set the mood. You can also bring the fragrances of the holidays to your home through scented candles, including Pier 1 Imports’ special holiday fragrances — Apple Crisp and Holiday Forest.