Dress up the dining room

Southern Living, Dec 1997 by Thomason, Julia H

Use these easy yet artful touches to set the stage for memorable meals and celebrations.

A welcoming wreath at the door, a fragrant garland on the mantelpiece, and a festive tree in the living room are beloved traditions that fill our homes with style and spirit. This year, take a different approach and explore some classic new ways of decorating.

The fresh materials that dress this sunny dining room for a homes tour are not really that exceptional. It's the inventive placement of the decorations, especially the treatment of the brass chandelier, that merits your attention.

The homeowners suggested accenting the light fixture to create a dramatic point of interest overhead. (It's a treatment that would also work well in an entry hall.) Here's how embellishments of magnolia leaves, poinsettias, corkscrew willow, and nandina berries were assembled by volunteers for that special event.

HIGHLIGHT THE CHANDELIER

The group ordered several long bunches of corkscrew willow from a florist; then they used florist wire to attach each branch to the chandelier's center. (You can also use branches cut from a friend's tree.)

Magnolia leaves cover the wiring, and colorful ribbons swag between the chandelier's arms. Shortly before the tour started, fresh red poinsettias were clipped from plants, and the cut ends were held over a candle flame to seal them. (This step prevents a harsh liquid from seeping from the stems.) The poinsettia stems were inserted into water-filled florist vials and set among the magnolia leaves.

SET AN ELEGANT TABLE

Long pieces of ribbon were laid across the tabletop and wired to the legs. Magnolia leaves were added at the corners. For a centerpiece, poinsettia cuttingsalso with seared ends placed in vialssupplement magnolia leaves arranged in a simple bowl.

GIVE CHAIRS PRESENCE

Wire wreath forms covered in magnolia leaves garnish each wooden chair. Bows and sprigs of nandina berries add color.

ACCENT A CHINA CABINET

Full branches of magnolia give height to the cabinet. Nandina berries cover a wreath form that hangs from a key.