Purple Hyacinth  -  David Sherwood, Sherwood’s Forest
“Purple Hyacinth have a great sweet fragrance. They are an early bloomer and excellent for indoor bloom forcing.”

‘Tis the season for creating holiday magic by adding sparkle and spice all through the house. But decking the halls often relies on holiday décor collections built over many years, and making sense of all the mismatched pieces and disparate elements can sometimes make this annual ritual a bit of an overwhelming task.

Italy is probably the longest peninsula in the world and certain the only one shaped like a boot. The heel of the boot forms another much smaller and thinner peninsula of its own called the Salento. It is the southernmost part of Puglia, bordered by the Ionian Sea to the east and the Adriatic Sea to the west.

Table setting provided by Byron Cade. China by Herend. Dinner and butter plates, fishscale gold. Dessert plates, Herend golden laurel. Sterling silver silverware by Lunt Eloquence. Stemware by Moser, Splendid and Royal.

French Country
Styling by Three French Hens

When two Frontenac homeowners added serious square footage to their estate, a crowded mudroom found new purpose as a handsome, centralized anteroom – both bar and Butler’s pantry – inspired by the rich feel of the old Westchester gentlemen’s clubs.

Decorator Garison Salinas of Garrison, Ltd. dubs the room denim-and-diamonds dapper. “The homeowners don’t entertain black tie or even coat and tie all the time, so they were interested in a bar that was elegant but also warm,” he says of a space suitable for lavish soirees and family get-togethers alike.

Moonrise Hotel, Saint Louis, MO. Photography by Debbie Franke

Opened in April 2009, the Moonrise Hotel brings a unique hotel experience to the Delmar Loop neighborhood. The hotel is the creation of developer Joe Edwards as part of his vision to bring vibrancy to The Loop. “I brought the idea of a hotel to several hi rise owners in the Loop, but no one was interested in converting to a hotel,” Edwards says. “I thought it was important for the area to have a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel. Owner-operated businesses are what makes the Loop strong.”