December 5, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES
IV • Page 9
(ARA) - The holiday season doesn’t have to always involve the same old, same old when it comes to decorating your home. Take a few ideas from John Griffith. As the lead visual merchandiser for Replacements, Ltd., he spends the entire year scouting and developing innovative tips and techniques to deck the halls and trim the perfect tree. So far, Griffith’s team has adorned nearly a dozen trees throughout company’s retail store. Each tannenbaum is a story in itself, defined by color and style and unique looks created by combining ornaments with what some might consider nontraditional trimmings. “So many people settle for simply hanging ornaments on their trees, but there is so much more you can do by adding fillers that really reflect your own personal taste and style,” said Griffith. “Mixing in ribbon, fabrics, florals, feathers, and other natural elements creates flair and personality. Adding extra flourishes in the right places can make the difference between a pretty tree and an extraordinary tree.” Griffith said the hot colors for holiday 2012 range from soft pastels to rich jewel tones. Popular ornaments this season reflect the Victorian era, with glittering gemstones and rhinestones being extremely popular. Don’t be afraid to forgo the traditional tree topper. Instead, consider using twigs or other natural elements arranged out of the top of the tree. Griffith has even strategically placed a tree beneath a chandelier for extra glow.
Deck your halls with innovative tips and techniques
If you don’t have enough room for a traditional sized tree, corner trees or the flatter profile trees are an excellent fit for smaller spaces. Griffith also suggests going in an entirely different direction. “I am into repurposing and recycling, so I took the branches of an old artificial tree and wired them together to create swags, and then decorated those with combinations of fabrics, bows, and ornaments,” he said. “You can hang swags on a mantel or place them on top of a door frame. They’re a fun family project, and you can even create them with different color stories or themes for each room in your home.” Griffith literally has thousands of ornaments at his fingertips. While most people know Replacements as the world’s largest retailer of old and new china, crystal, silver, and collectibles, the company has a vast selection of ornaments from around the globe. These range from colorful blown glass to crystal and highly collected silver. “As individuals, we chose ornaments for so many different reasons. Decisions may be driven by color or theme, but many choices are shaped by past and future traditions,” said Keith Winkler, the company’s product marketing manager. “Many people reach back to ornaments that remind them of their childhood, while others are looking to start their own traditions with annual collectible ornaments. For instance, Wallace Silver makes an annual sleigh bell, while Gorham Silver releases an annual snowflake. These have been in production for more than four decades and are a great tradition to add every year.” Winkler added that popular dinnerware manufacturers, including Lenox, Wedgwood, and Waterford, all offer ornament lines. For those looking for popular blown glass, he suggests the Merck Family’s Old World Christmas line.
Those ornaments run the gamut from traditional holiday figures to birds, sports teams, and pretty much any theme you can imagine. More decorating and entertaining tips are available online at www.replacements.com. Additional ideas will be posted throughout the upcoming holiday season on the company’s Facebook page.