Published: December 13, 2010, By Abbe Fenimore

Christmas Open House: The Russells

Today is the first day of Studio Ten 25’s Christmas Open House!!!  This year I have helped a few clients decorate for Christmas, attended parties in friend’s homes with gorgeous decorations and managed to throw up a tree and decorations at my own house. Whew….it has been a crazy few weeks!

If your like me, you love seeing design magazines full of gorgeous Christmas decorations. But, sometimes there is nothing better than seeing Christmas through the eyes of friends and family.  So, I asked my girlfriends and blog friends to share their own decorations to inspire each of you!   I will share these homes over the next few weeks and reveal the Home for the Holiday’s project on Christmas Day!

We are going to kick of the Christmas Open House at my friend Molly’s house.  Molly is a wife and mommy to her son William and fur baby Birdie. How she finds time to doll up her house for Christmas is beyond me, but you would never know she has her hands full. I have attended a few wedding and baby showers in her home, things are always so cozy and pulled together. Think Restoration Hardware, Lisa Luby Ryan and little bit of Wisteria!  A few weeks ago I attended yet another fabulous event at Molly’s house and fell in love with her Christmas decorations.

The dining room buffet already has a stunning mirror above it.  The magnolia leaf and pine garland looks perfect atop the buffet and the mercury glass candle holders tie in with the mirror.

Molly used vintage ornaments that she picked up on ebay and antique stores. The other pieces are odds and ends that she purchased from Pottery Barn. I love the multiple sizes of  vases she used too, it brings in height without overpowering the table or room.

The Christmas tree was a Costco purchase…I just love Costco!  The tree has ornaments that have been gathered over the years.

Molly used the magnolia and pine garland along her staircase and along the second floor railing.

My favorite part of her home has always been the living room and the stone fireplace. The fireplace sits at an angle and brings in the Texas Modern feel from the house’s architecture.  The wood beam mantle has been dressed with the magnolia and pine garland and is accented with more glass vases filled with red berries.

I love the initial tags on each stocking, Molly used the first letter of each of their names.  The broach on her stocking was a piece she wore in her hair on their wedding day…so sweet!   A big THANK YOU to Molly for opening up her home for our Christmas Open House!   Check back Wednesday for our second open house.  We are off to Emily’s house in Louisiana and I assure you, she does Christmas “Southern Style”!