Rustic Christmas - Holiday Decorating Ideas



Creating a rustic Christmas decor in your home and outdoor spaces this holiday season. 
Thinking about the holidays and our trips to the North Carolina mountains during fall, and Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate the holiday with the family. So when I found this article decorating with a rustic theme and photos below from Southern Living.com ..it was right up my alley this year! Those that know me and my family know we are huge outdoor people, and love to be in the mountains or on the beach. This article makes me think about our mountain house at the lake and how I can bring that rustic feel to our home in Charlotte, NC. I love the natural feel of using fresh garlands, pinecones, magnolia leaves, cedar, wide ribbons, birds nest and so on. Of course you know me, I will add my own holiday decorating twist but these photos from Southern Living are a great inspiration to start the thought process on how I want to achieve that rustic holiday decor at our home. 

 Woodland Entry
A doorway festooned with pinecones and garland sets a rustic tone for your holiday decor. Birch logs on the railings, simple white candles, and a vintage-style sled on the porch add subtle winter touches for a front door that says "happy holidays" without screaming with red and green.

 Custom Pine Cone Wreath
Position large pine cones, with the tips facing outward, in a tight ring around a grapevine wreath, and then attach the cones with florist wire. Nestle pieces of garland and smaller pine cones between the large cones to hide empty spots and create a lush look. Hang the wreath with wide satin ribbon, or add pieces of ribbon for a pop of color.

 Lush Pine Garland
Drape your front door with fragrant pine garland. An average doorway requires about 20 feet of garland. Measure the length of your railings and banisters to determine how much additional garland you’ll need to complete the look. Save leftover pieces to use on the mantel or as seasonal filler in floral arrangements.

 Ample Pinecones
Stock up on pinecones of all sizes for a woodland vibe. Bunch a few large cones together with florist wire, and then use clear fishing line to attach the cones to the garland along the top of the doorway. Stagger smaller single pinecones down the length of the draped garland for a unified look.

 Old-fashioned Sled
Accessorize the entry with a nostalgic winter sled. This one, made of birch wood and powder coated steel, recalls memories of childhood snow days.

 Wide Satin Ribbon
Add a polished look to your décor with satin ribbon. Just a few yards go a long way: tie a bow on a wreath, wrap around candles, and tie up your gifts. The 3-inch width makes an elegant statement.

 Tall Votive Candles
Dress up these simple, extra-tall candle votives with stripes of burlap and ribbon, and then insert them into your pre-drilled birch logs. If you opt not to create birch candleholders, try staggering the candles on your front steps for an evening glow.

 Rustic Birch Logs
For this look, drill evenly spaced holes into birch logs using a 3-inch Forstner bit – the holes will hold 2 ½-inch votives. Attach the logs to your railing using large zip ties, then dress with greenery.

 Copper Birdbath
As a final festive touch, suspend a copper birdbath from the porch ceiling and fill it with pinecones. Try replacing the chain with clear fishing line and satin ribbon for a more refined effect.

 Woven Basket Tree-Holder
The woven raffia basket at the base of the tree is wide enough to fit a standard tree stand, and tall enough to obscure the tree trunk. The basket’s height lifts the branches and clears lots of room at the base of the tree for gifts.

 Mercury Glass Ornaments
Add a bit of subtle shimmer to the neutral tree with silvery-gray mercury glass ornaments in various sizes. Antique mercury glass can be pricey, but this set is available for a song.

 Bronze Gift Wrap
In addition to basic craft paper and solid white wrap, incorporate shades of bronze and silver into your packaging. A bit of sheen will keep your gifts from looking dull.


 If you need help creating a Rustic Christmas Holiday theme for your interior or outdoor living spaces or need other ideas for Holiday-Seasonal decorating themes, give Tonia Mosteller Charlotte Holiday Decorator a call at Innovative Holiday Decorating @ 704-651-8878. 
Providing Holiday - Seasonal - Event Decorating free Consultations in Charlotte, NC and Metro area, and including upper SC. Looking forward to hearing from you!




















Spice Up The Holidays!

Nothings states holidays like cool evenings, a crackling fire, baking yummy, holiday decorations, treats and sipping on a hot beverage. Spice up the holidays with a hot chocolate or some may call it, "Hot Cocoa" and some fabulous chocolate hazelnut cookies. Below are some great recipes I found and must share with you. Plus a recipe with homemade maple marshmallows. YUM! It want be long before I will be in my kitchen in Charlotte, NC making these delicious recipes and baking up a storm with my son. :) The count down is on!

White Hot Chocolate Recipe courtesy of Paula Dean

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups half-and-half
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Vanilla whipped topping, for garnish
  • Mint leaf, for garnish

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine white chocolate chips and heavy cream. Stir continuously until white chocolate chips have completely melted. Stir in the half-and-half, and vanilla extract. Stir occasionally until heated through. Pour into mugs and top with a dollop of vanilla whipped topping and garnish with mint leaf.


Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe courtesy of Munchin With Munchkin
  • 3 cups non fat dry milk powder
  • 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ cups cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup white chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ Tsp. salt
  • 2 Tsp. corn starch
  • ½ Tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ Tsp. cayenne pepper
In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients.
In batches, pulse mixture in a food processor until smooth and well combined.
Store in a sealed container in a dry and dark place.
To make hot chocolate, put 1/3 cup of mixture into a mug and mix with hot water or milk.
Top with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Maple Marshmallows Recipe courtesy of Munchin With Munchkin
  • 3 Tbsp. unflavoured gelatin powder (3 packets)
  • ½ cup and 2 tablespoons of cold water
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tsp. maple extract
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 ¼ cup dark corn syrup
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • pinch salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, divided
  • 1 cup corn starch, divided
Prepare a 9×13 in baking pan with cooking spray. (Ensure the entire dish is coated, as the marshmallow mixture is very sticky. Combine ½ cup of powdered sugar with ¼ cup cornstarch. Sift mixture into the baking dish and shake so the dish is coated. Set aside.
In a large bowl combine gelatin, vanilla extract, and maple extract with ½ cup and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Gently whisk mixture until well combined and no lumps remain. Continue to whisk until the gelatin reaches a consistency similar to baby food (about one minute). Set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine ¾ cup water, corn syrup, granulated sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cover pot, reduce heat and simmer for about 2 and a half minutes. Remove from heat.
Pour mixture over gelatin and beat on medium with an electric mixer until combined, about one minute. Increase speed to maximum and beat for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is glossy and makes meringue like peaks.
Pour marshmallow mixture into prepared 9×13 inch dish and spread evenly. Wet spatula and smooth the top until it’s even.
Leave the marshmallow mixture uncovered on a counter for 24 hours to set.
Once the marshmallows have set, prepare your workspace. Combine remaining powdered sugar and cornstarch in a medium sized bowl. Dust some of the mixture onto a cutting board.
Wet a sharp knife and drag it along the edges of the 9×13 inch dish to loosen the marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle some of the powdered sugar onto the top of the marshmallows and flip the dish onto prepared cutting board.
Cut the marshmallows into squares, occasionally wetting the knife to make more precise cuts. Toss marshmallow squares in the cornstarch sugar mixture until well coated.
Store marshmallows in a sealed container, layered between wax paper.

Alcoholic Hot Chocolate Recipe courtesy of Food.com 
and photo courtesy of The Style Dossier.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 1/2 ounces best-quality dark chocolate, bittersweet or semisweet, as preferred
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons dark rum, or to taste

Directions

Put the milk into a saucepan and break the chocolate into pieces and add to the milk along with a cinnamon stick, honey, and sugar and heat gently until the chocolate is melted.
Add the vanilla and mix with a small hand whisk and still whisking, add a spoonful of the rum first and taste to see if you want more. Add more sugar if you want this sweeter, too. Take out the cinnamon stick and pour into 2 cappuccino or caffe latte cups.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread, at room temperature (recommended: Nutella)

Directions

For the cookies: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. With the machine running, gradually add the flour until incorporated. Beat in the chocolate-hazelnut spread. Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop 12 balls of dough onto each baking sheet. Bake until the bottoms of the cookies flatten out slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Place 1 cup of powdered sugar in a medium bowl. In batches, roll the cookies in the sugar until coated. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Per cookie (38); Calories: 104; Total Fat: 6 grams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Protein: 1 gram; Total carbohydrates: 11 grams; Sugar: 6 grams; Fiber: 0 grams; Cholesterol: 13 milligrams; Sodium: 2 milligrams

Holidays Made In The South




During autumn, temperatures fall, days shorten and holidays are approaching in the south, bringing the need to get our homes decorated for the holidays.  Maybe this is why we associate the coming of the season with more family time and wool clothing, rugs, and upholstery keep us warm, as do sweater-knit throws. It's such a busy time of year for us all, we gather our menus, our guest list, Christmas list, mailing out Christmas cards, decorating our homes, shopping and make travel arrangements to celebrate the holidays with our family and friends.



We all know that fireplaces in a room is considered to be a focal point and is a wonderful place to decorate mantels for the holiday season. A few decorative additions like the magnolia branches on the mantle and the subtle use of branch motifs help change this space from a well appointed room, to a favorably seasonal one. I mentioned in another post mother nature is great source to get decorating materials and is budget friendly because it is free (most of the time). Look at the picture above by adding pine branches, running cedar, green apples and pine-cones you transform this mantel to a beautiful and natural mantel for the holiday season without spending tons of money to decorate. Fire screens protect our homes from any stray embers that spark, and should complement the fireplace, both in style and in scale. A good quality leather chair is a bonus, but any chair that is snug and welcoming can be used, changing the current color to a seasonal hue is easy to do with slip-covers. Add a fluffy pillow and a soft throw into the mix, set it in front of a warm fireplace, and snooze your Sunday away. A cozy fire and soft textiles are essential to autumn nap taking especially after having your holiday feast.

Candles should have spicy or bakery style scents, and simple shapes, what a wonderful way to add a nice fragrance in your home for during the holiday season. Accessories can be as sleek or as artistic as your memories recall them to be, bring out your favorite past holiday family pictures and have them displayed through out your home. I like to add them under a glass table top (this could be a side table, dining table, entrance table or coffee table) displaying events from Thanksgiving through New Years, I make them all black and white matte and cluster them on the table top and gently place the glass top on them.  This is a personal, family filled season, so don't let traditional design rules dictate all of your decisions, listen to your heart and create beautiful rooms that fit the lifestyle of your family. Most importantly create beautiful memories with your family and friends. 

Most people have fond childhood memories of making cookies and having hot chocolate with their parents or siblings during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, so it's no wonder we try in many different ways to recreate these feelings every year. Below is a wonderful recipe I must share with you. This hot chocolate is heaven on earth!
Heaven on earth! 
Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate- from tidymom.net 
1 1/2 cups of whole milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of ground cloves
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of sea salt
2 ounces white chocolate (roughly chopped)
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, pumpkin and spices. Cook stirring constantly until just simmering.
Remove from heat and add chocolate. Save some for garnishing.
Just before serving, top each mug with a generous mound of whipped cream, a few shavings of the white chocolate. Add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. Serve immediately.




Home Decorating in Charlotte NC for the holidays.

Holiday Housecleaning Tips!

Finding time to fit everything into your busy schedule and keep your home looking top notch for the holidays? Well, you're not alone. Even as a holiday decorator in Charlotte, NC...I too find it hard sometimes to juggle everything that the holidays brings to my household. Now don't get me wrong, it's my favorite time of year but just thinking about what needs to be done to prepare my home for the holidays this season is a little nerve wrecking. Considering the holidays are so busy for me and my family, like everyone else...being pulled in a million directions as we prepare for fast pace of the holiday season.  Thanks to BHG.com and their great tips below, these holiday house tips are sure to help me stay on track.



7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 1

1. Walk through your home with a visitor's eye, making notes of any imperfections you may be used to but guests may notice, such as houseplants with dead leaves.

2. Turn do-it-yourself tasks into a do-it-ourselves effort -- gather family members, go over the plan, and assign chores. Remember: many hands make light work.













 7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 2

1. Wash windows and vacuum window screens.

2. Damp-mop baseboards.

3. Launder and press window and shower curtains.

4. Launder bedspreads if needed.













7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 3

1. Deep-clean bathrooms and medicine cabinets (yes, people will look).

2. Straighten bedrooms; remove clutter and donate or store out of sight.













7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 4

1. Straighten coat closet, making room for guests' coats. Add extra hangers if needed.

2. Wash throw rugs; set aside so they are nice and fluffy for party day.













7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 5

1. Clean range or stove top, surfaces, and grates.

2. Clean out the refrigerator, making room for party foods; dust top of refrigerator.

3. Wipe down all large and small appliances.

4. Wipe down kitchen cabinets.

5. Take recycling to recycling bins or facilities.













7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 6

1. Sweep entryway, polish the doorknob, and decorate the entry with seasonal touches.

2. Dust all surfaces, including bookshelves, photo frames, and art. Don't forget the ceiling fans.

3. Clean kitchen sink and dish drainer.














7-Day Cleaning Plan: Day 7

Time to party! Here are a few day-of touch-ups:

1. Clean trash receptacles and add fresh liners.

2. Wipe down any dirty areas in the bathroom using household cleaner and paper towels.

3. Wipe down bathroom mirrors and counters. Wipe down floors with a damp towel.

4. Put toilet bowl cleaner in the toilets; brush.

5. Hang fresh towels and put out fresh hand soap.

6. Damp-mop the kitchen floor.

7. Vacuum carpets and dry-mop wood floors.

8. Fluff sofa cushions and pillows.

9. Decorate with special touches, such as flowers or candles.

Article and photos courtesy of BHG.com.

Tis The Season To Decorate!


Courtesy of House Beautiful.com
Fall in love with the glorious color that "fall" brings and decorate for the holidays. Tis the season to decorate the interior and exterior of your homes for the change of seasons that are fast approaching us. Fall is in the air and what better way to display this beautiful season with fall color from mother nature! Decorate your home for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with pumpkins, gourds, and so many other great resources that mother nature provides us. Thanks to the help of a favorite on-line resource and their magazine that comes to my mailbox every month...Better Homes and Garden are great to share ideas for fall and seasonal holiday decorating. As Tonia Mosteller with Innovative Holiday Decorating and Interiors of Charlotte, NC would say, "No time like the present, to be thinking about your holiday decorating."  Remember, many elements from mother nature can be carried over from the fall and holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving into Christmas holiday decorating! Tip...pine-cones, urns, etc! 
Check out these adorable ideas below from BHG.com! 
Piled-High Pumpkins
Set a festive tone with a table piled with pumpkins, gourds, and bittersweet. Raid the cupboard for display ideas such as bowls or cake plates. The rich fall colors of gourds and pumpkins make it easy to create an elegant centerpiece.

Pumpkins on White Dishes
Stack squatty gourds among your favorite white china. Dishes with ridges complement the natural elements in the display. Mixing and matching is in and is a great way to use your collectibles. 

Pumpkin Garland (LOVE THIS ONE!)
A festive fall feel is easy to create in any room by dressing windows with a pumpkin-laden garland. Simply knot clusters of fresh leaves and mini pumpkins onto a length of twine and swag along the top of a window.

Gourd Candleholders 
Craft a set of candleholders from gourds by simply cutting off the tops and hollowing out the centers. For an easy autumn display, arrange them in a metal tray filled with green hedge apples.

Prettiest Pumpkin Vases
White pumpkins double as vases and make for an artful, natural fall display. Tuck leaves, orange flowers, and cattails into a vase hidden inside the hollowed-out pumpkins.

Wheelbarrow Pumpkin Welcoming Display 
Put an old wheelbarrow to use by filling it with an assortment of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Use black acrylic paint or a permanent marker to decorate one of the pumpkins with a welcoming message.

Etched Pumpkin (Love both of these, okay LOVE them all).
Dress up a simple pumpkin with a carved design, such as birds or leaves. Simply trace your design on the pumpkin and gouge out the pumpkin skin within the outline. Nestle the pumpkin inside a lush wreath of fall blooms.

Articles about photos courtesy of BHG.com. 
                        Carved Gourd
Take a gourd to the next level with a skin-deep cut in the shape of a leaf. Simply trace a sugar maple leaf (or other found-on-the-ground variety) with a permanent pen. Cut lightly around the outline with a knife, being sure not to cut all the way through the gourd. A simple scraping tool (such as an inexpensive clayworkers' ribbon tool) will help you trim out the shape.
Editor's Tip: When buying a gourd, pick one in a shape and color that you like. More often than not, the color of the flesh will be different enough from the color of the skin to create a nice contrast.




Now...grab your shoes and bag, and go searching in Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas for fall colors and decorate your homes this holiday season. 

Happy Decorating!









Fall into Thanksgiving

Fall into Thanksgiving 

It's that time of year, where we all start looking for ideas on decorating and recipes. Yes, I also look for recipes on-line...hoping to add a twist on our family Thanksgiving meal. As a family tradition we head to Blowing Rock, NC for a long Thanksgiving weekend. We love to be in the mountains during the holidays; spending time with family, shopping, and searching for the perfectChristmas Tree. Now that we are in September, no better time like the present to look for recipes. So, I go searching for great recipes on Southern Living.com and found so many, now I have to decide which will be the winner for our family. Thinking I will make a couple of these recipes as our season changes and cooler weather moves in for fall. This way, we can sample them before actually having the meal for our Thanksgiving feast. :)


 Grilled Pork Roast With Fruit Compote 


Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is always a favorite in my family, and often on sale during the holidays. So you are sure to save some money during the holidays when purchasing this vegetable.   

Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry Sauce 

Another favorite in our family, and I'm sure I can't leave it off the Thanksgiving table this year BUT...looks like I can change it up a bit...thanks to the great recipes on Southern Living!

YUM! One for me! ;)

Mocha-Pecan Mud Pie 

My son and family will be in heaven! Nothing like a delicious combination of coffee, chocolate, and ice-cream! 

Of course, our family loves pumpkin pie, and Mimi makes amazing pumpkin pies....so I think we may try both desserts this year! After all, it’s Thanksgiving.

Now, let's look for some warm beverages that are sure to knock off the cool fall evenings that follow around Thanksgiving and in the mountains of North Carolina. 

Holiday meal planner for our family. Thanks Southern Living...you are the best! Well, after viewing all those fabulous recipes, looks like I have my work cut out for me...not to mention now I am starving! ;) Wishing everyone "best dishes" as Mrs. Paula Dean would say. 

Commercial Holiday - Event Decorating Services Charlotte NC



Let Innovative Interiors Holiday Decorating in Charlotte, NC sprinkle some holiday magic over your business and holiday event.

Holidays are a wonderful chance to surprise and delight your customers, clients and colleagues. Let the Innovative Holiday Decorators create stunning seasonal holiday décor displays to enhance your environment.
Not only will your own colleagues feel like their employer really cares, your brand will receive a bit of a boost because of the positive impression you’ll make on visitors.
Innovative Interiors Holiday Decorating offers dazzling holiday decorations for any size business or event. Choose from a variety of pre-packaged options, or let us customize the decorations to fit your holiday event or office needs. No project too large or too small for our services!
Holiday Exterior Lighting from one of our professional suppliers. 
Our holiday decorating team creates interiors that stimulate the senses. Our goal is to maximize the positive impact on your employees, guests, and clients by creating business environments that inspire your senses. One of our dedicated professionals will work with you to make sure your office or event sparkles this holiday season. Choose from decorated trees, holiday lights, distinctive wreaths, fresh poinsettias, and more. 
Take a minute and let us help beautify your business interior - exterior for the holidays. Contact our holiday decorating consultant today 704-651-8878 or email us tonia.ihdecorating@gmail.com, and one of our professional holiday decorators will be happy to assist you with your Commercial Christmas Holiday - Event Decorating needs. Thank you!


Blessings and Smiles,
Tonia Mosteller
704.651.8878
Owner/Founder of:
Innovative Interiors
& Innovative Interiors Holiday Decorating
 
tonia.ihdecorating@gmail.com

 Charlotte NC Company providing Affordable Interior Room Redesign - Interior Design - Real Estate Home Staging - Holiday Decorating - Event Decorating to Charlotte NC -SC and surrounding counties.

 

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