December 1, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 9 ������������������ The holidays are here! If you are looking for ways to decorate beyond the traditional trappings, here are a few great ideas to try. Consider your lighting. Is your family one that does the holidays in a big way? Consider making some changes to traditional accent lamps with white or cream-colored shades. Perhaps a lampshade style in one of today’s rich harvest hues would be the perfect “new” accent. Rich gold shades, for instance, will cast Get in the holiday spirit with great decorating ideas a beautiful warm glow throughout any room. On the other hand, if you enjoy going all out, you might want to exchange your current lampshades for ones with red or green shades. This kind of lighting design can be particularly appropriate in a room already decked out in a red and green color scheme. Beautiful tabletops. Today, fresh is in. Decorate your holiday table with a beautiful fresh flower arrangement. Even floating a few Celebrating the holidays as an interfaith family often works fine when it’s just the couple involved: each spouse follows his or her own traditions. But when a child is introduced into the family, there may be indecision over what is the right way to celebrate the holidays. There are mixed viewpoints from experts on the topic of the holidays in an interfaith family. Where most do agree is that open communication and compromise are the two most important components of making it work. Religious beliefs are not to be taken lightly, and most people have strong feelings about how they celebrate their faith. Many families choose to embrace the traditions of both religions. Therefore, they introduce the children to the mystery of the menorah and the joy of the Christmas tree. While one parent may not have much interest in the other’s religious beliefs, for the sake of the children, both should take an active role in highlighting the meaning behind these important traditions. Other families choose to adopt solidarity to one religion. Perhaps the decision is easy since they have already decided to raise the children in a particular faith. Many times parents raise the children in the mother’s faith because they are receiving the father’s last name, but this isn’t always the case. Even if one religion is celebrated in the home, the child should be familiar with his other parent’s beliefs so that things will not come as a surprise when visiting grandparents or other relatives of that particular faith. There is no one answer that fits all families, and there are no rules set in stone. It is a decision that only the family must make, speaking openly on the topic and finding an option that is agreed upon by all. carefully chosen flowers in a beautiful ceramic or fine art glass bowl will help your tabletop take center stage. The bowl could be filled with glass balls mixed with gold and silver leafed fruit, and even foods that reflect the shades of the season, like artichokes and pomegranates. Try adding bows to the stems of wine glasses. Fold napkins in a special way, and tie them with a gold tassel. Use gold or brass chargers under your special china. To complete your table settings, take a cue from the objects you’ve used to fill your decorative bowl to designate each place setting. For instance, if miniature pumpkins are a part of your holiday mix, give each guest his or her own. Carve out the centers and use them as mini-vases for appropriately scaled flowers. Or make openings large enough to accommodate votive candles. The same concept works equally well with artichokes. You might even feature seasonally-themed stationery as place cards, finishing each one with a keepsake stickpin. Glowing candles. If one pair of candlesticks on your fireplace mantle is good, then a collection is even better. If you collect crystal, pull together a grouping in all shapes and sizes, old and new. Add candles of varying heights, and you’re ready to set a romantic holiday mood in any room. As the seasons change, simply change the color of the candles. Don’t be afraid to mix and match the style of your candlesticks. An eclectic collection invariably says something about your personal style – something that is sure to make any holiday decorating scheme more memorable! This article was submitted by Lucia Palmeri, CID and Lauren Woods, CID of Decorating Den Interiors. For more information, phone (201) 661-8606, e-mail llinteriorsllc@yahoo.com, or visit online at www.decdens. com/llinteriorsllc. 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