Branch Out With Your Holiday Decorating!

Pinecones, branches and fresh greens are always a part of any holiday decorating scheme at the A&A house. I don't think I'd know where to start without these basics. I use them regardless of whether I am going with a rustic or more polished holiday look. It's what I add to these elements that change the design direction for me.

This year, two photos provided some inspiration for a space that is a hallway that separates two rooms in our house. The first was from the November/December issue of Veranda and this gorgeous aqua Chinoisere wallpaper in a bedroom done by Miles Redd.

The other came this past week from a foyer table from the December issue of Country Living. I loved the hand printed green toile wallpaper! It was a beautiful backdrop to the gold painted walnuts and chandelier prisms the homeowners used to decorate their tree branches. It must have taken a lot of patience to get those walnuts drilled or hot glued to hang up...maybe a project for my glittered nuts to try next year!

We've had several very windy days and fallen tree branches are all over the yard and deck...gotta love nature for doing the work for you!  I used 2 Beech Tree branches, tied them together at the base and put them in a French style galvanized planter. I've used urns and a champagne bucket before for branches and they are great alternatives if you want to give this a try.

I  hooked several mini Christmas balls using the colors in both wallpapers as a guide, teeny-tiny glass drops along with 3 pale green birds with teal and brown feathered tails. The best part of this project is that it requires no special skills or tools and it only took about 30 minutes to assemble!

A few other branch trees to inspire you!

For The Birds!

Springtime is always associated with birds singing outside our windows in the early morning hours.  But it seems as if our feathered friends are flocking indoors...in every room possible!  Everywhere you look birds have found a place in decor.  From the classic to the whimsical, they are seeking the spotlight!!! 

Here are some wonderful examples of birds in fabric, wallpapers, art, lighting and accessories:

A few now live in the A&A nest!  Anything chirping at your house?

Oh, and look at what flew all the way from Australia this weekend:

This is the beautiful work is by Coty Farquhar, stylist and photographer extraordinaire! I was lucky enough to win these in a blog contest!

Images courtesy of Calico Corners,Thibaut, Lee Jofa, RSH, Etsy, Oly and A&A