HOLIDAY JEWELS

DECK THE HALLS WITH THESE PROFESSIONAL DECORATING TIPS

BY KEITH LLOYd PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGrAPHY

Every design project begins with a client consultation and budget discussion. This helps when making product selections from various suppliers. It also helps set ground rules in order to realistically meet everyone’s expectations.

When it comes to holiday decorating, many clients want to coordinate their festive additions with their home’s interior design elements, colors and architecture. Scale is also very important.

As you prepare to decorate your home for the holidays, think like a professional. Here are six factors I always keep in mind when approaching client holiday design projects:

1. Client consult and budget. 2. Interior design elements and room colors. 3. Scale of the space. 4. Inspiration and creativity. 5. Quality trees and decorations. 6. After-season storage.

With that said, let the magic of design and creativity begin! Here are some tips for you to consider as you plan your holiday decor.

1. Decorations should accent the space— not dominate it. When I design decorations for a home, I try to nestle trees and garlands without moving furniture, if possible.

2. Gather inspiration for the room’s design schematic. Consider the wallpaper pattern or fabrics found in the room, or jeweled and embroidered ribbons that “tell the story” of the season in that room. Don’t be afraid to be creative and think outside the box using conventional items in unconventional ways.

3. Use quality products. Your decor is only as good as the products you use. Always choose quality trees, garlands and ornaments. They will last much longer than inexpensive ones.

4. Store your decorations properly. After-season storage will determine next year’s headaches and the shelf life of your holiday decorations. Always store them in a climate controlled area—never in an attic.

The North Raleigh home pictured here features five glorious Christmas trees, all fashioned to match the colors and interior design elements in the home’s rooms.

ABOVE MUSIC ROOM. One of the home’s five Christmas trees is matched to the design and scale of the Music Room.

ON THE RIGHT FOYER TREE. This magnificent and massive foyer tree that we named “The Golden Age” represents just that. PAGE 56 ORNAMENTS. Hundreds of beautiful, large-scale antique gold ornaments, branches, metallic foliage and jeweled ribbons bedeck the foyer tree. PAGE 57 DINING MIRROR. Most dining rooms have mirrors. Use them! Two swags fit together with glittered branches that tower over this mirror. The swags feature ornaments in various sizes and shapes hanging from French satin ribbons that were customdyed to match the fabrics of the room.

Keith Lloyd is the owner of Lloyd & Lady Boutiques, located at 8847 Six Forks Road in Raleigh. The holiday decorations and ribbons shown in these photos can be found at his boutique. Learn more at lloydandladync.com.