JENNIFER DECLEENE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEIR CHRISTMAS DECOR TO FLOW NATURALLY OUT OF THEIR YEAR-ROUND DECOR, SO WHEN DECEMBER HITS, SHE ALWAYS THINKS PINK.
Oh, and mint green and aqua blue too all the candystore colors she surrounds herself with full-time at the suburban Chicago home she shares with her husband, Mike, and two young sons.
"I'm not an earthy and organic girl," the longtime photo stylist says, in case her strawberry pink sofa didn't give it away. "I love color.
I love lots of colors, lots of pattern." You'll see florals and stripes and block prints at Jennifer's house, but this Christmas she added one more motif: marbled patterns.
Their dramatic swirls and veining show up on and under the tree, on wreaths, and even on sugar cookies and peppermint bark-all in Jennifer's signature happy color palette.
"A marble pattern is so versatile," she says. "The fluidity of it pulls everything together." This mild obsession with marbling started with some handmade Florentine papers she brought home from a vacation in Italy. "That's the real, legit, centuries-old technique that I'm just trying to replicate," she says.
And replicate it she did. Using a $25 watermarbling kit from Michaels, the intrepid DIYer turned cheap balsa wood cutouts into a passel of pastel baubles, which she tied onto tree branches with ribbon bows.
That was just the beginning.
Denne historien er fra December 2024-utgaven av Better Homes & Gardens US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2024-utgaven av Better Homes & Gardens US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A Very MERRY MORNING
When hosting overnight guests, it helps to have a crowdpleasing breakfast recipe in your back pocket.
Party READY
'Tis the season to take some smart cooking shortcuts. Food stylist Susie Theodorou shows how to transform pantry staples into impressive holiday apps in minutes.
Wanda Wen
The expert gift wrapper and owner of stationery store Soolip shares the secrets to creating a beautifully packaged present. (Hint: It's not about the biggest bow.)
COOKIES of the Season
In our quest for the season's best cookies, we scoured new and classic cookbooks and asked creative bakers from around the globe to share favorites. Prepare to steal the show at this year's cookie swap with any of these small wonders.
That's the Spirit!
A FAMILY OF SIX TAKES A HOMESPUN AND ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK APPROACH TO DECORATING THEIR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
hanging up holiday cheer by the yard
Get your people together for a crafty afternoon to make handmade garlands.
Swirling Up -CHRISTMAS
Marbled papers and ribbons in candy colors were all the inspiration stylist Jennifer DeCleene needed for her Christmas look this year. See how she weaves the theme through every part of her holiday decor.
Showstopping Roasts
Go all out for the oohs, aahs, and yums at this year's holiday feast. Admittedly these special cuts cost a little more and take a bit of extra effort, but think of them as another gift to those you love one that will be the talk of the table.
POSH PALETTE
Trimmings in muted jewel tones and soft, chalky finishes set the stage for a handmade holiday. We'll show you how to make these sophisticated beauties for a look that's no glitz but all glamour.
A Sweet Tradition
Inspired by a beloved family friend, writer Riche Holmes Grant shares how a day of decorating gingerbread houses can build lasting memories.
