With Christmas just two days away, here's a grand, old house in Greenwich my talented team and I decorate every year. Between the inside and out, we use ropes of thick, freshly cut garland—283 feet in all!—mixing juniper, Fraser fir and, new this year, magnolia. I love how its rich, copper tones pick up on the brick, while the greenery blends subtly with the color of the shutters and door.

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To enhance the wreath, we used cinnamon-colored ornament baubles, grouped into clusters.  

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Here's the before shot of the archway off the main foyer, leading to the living room.

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And here it is decorated with 44 feet of garland (front and back!), then embellished with faux glittered poinsettias in pretty hues of persimmon and burnt umber.   

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The staircase before…

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The staircase after…

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In my mind, decorating for the holidays, from Halloween all the way through Easter, should enhance your home, not take away from it. Here, I love how the garland picks up on the rugs and upholstery throughout the house. Even in the living room, with its rich, green striae wallpaper and persimmon-colored upholstery…

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…the garland enhances the decor in a subtle, sophisticated way.  

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Of course, I couldn't have done any of it without my trusted team of elves

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And finally, here's a moment I love that Ronny (middle-left) created out of greenery scraps, leftover baubles and ribbon, like a beautiful bird's nest nuzzled snuggly in a sconce. How pretty is that?     

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With every year at this holiday house different from the last, are there any ideas you'd like to share for next year?