December 30, 2011

"Masquerade" & "Mermaids"




We were thrilled to get a call from Wrightsville Beach Magazine asking us to do the Floral & Event Design for a photo shoot for their December issue article on decorating mantels for the Holiday Season!



 We began our day of Floral & Event Design for the WBM photo shoot
at a beautiful home on Figure 8 Island.
The fact that the weather, on that November day, was almost hot, didn't
daunt our enthusiasm for creating a romantic 
winter New Year's Eve scene around the magnificent fireplace!

When asked to choose a design theme for our mantel decor, we chose 
"At Home After the New Year's Eve Party!"
The look we wanted for the mantel, ottoman, and cabinets was
New Year's festive, thus the name
"Masquerade!" 
We wanted to create the look of  a couple having been to a New Year's
Eve party and coming home just in time for the clock to strike midnight!
(maybe they wanted their kiss at midnight to be private!!!)


When we think of New Year's, we Divas think of silver and gold,
touches of black, sparkle and candle light!
We have a collection of mercury glass 
we thought would compliment our New Year's theme.
We chose to anchor the mantel with a black clock and hour glass,
both from Pottery Barn.
We filled the mantel with candles in 
our mercury glass globes of varying heights.
We created the floral arrangments from Picasso calla lilies, 
ivory roses, alstromeria, and seeded eucalyptus.
We accented them with peacock feathers 
and arranged them in our mercury glass vases 
decorated with a black medallion.
We added hand-painted porcelain masks 
& vintage masquerade dolls from a friend's collection,
and decorative pillows and other accessories from Pottery Barn.


 

And for this "after-party" theme, we put the "wife's" vintage coat 
and holiday accented shoes on the ottoman, 
and set out the silver tray with glass espresso coffee cups, 
a lotus bowl of whipped cream, 
and "His & Her" cakes made with our signature Italian buttercream 
and decorated with ivory sugarpaste flowers.


And now on to Wrightsville Beach for Mantel # 2...


"Holiday Mermaids"


From the moment we walked into this Wrightsville Beach home, 
the feel was warm, inviting and family friendly. 
So, for our theme, we imagined a family with children and grandchildren 
gathering together for the week after Christmas,
snuggling into the oversized sofas to watch "It's A Wonderful Life!"


We Divas are a family with a sense of humor
and we always like to include something 
in our design elements that reflect our belief that
beautiful things can also incorporate a sense of
lightness and happiness and laughter! 
So for the event design for this "fun family gathering," 
we wanted an ocean inspired decor
that had sophisticated sparkle as well as a sense of humor!
Having found this whimsical mermaid bust
along with a sequined starfish, globe, and
glittered turquoise sea grass at New River Pottery, 
we found our theme - Holiday Mermaids!!!
We then went to Fisherman's Wife to find the beautiful ornaments,
silk greenery & florals for the mantel, and pottery for the ottoman decor.

Because of the warmth of the stone of the mantel,
we chose the complimentary cool colors of turquoise and aqua.
For the mantel, we first laid a silk pine garland and
intertwined it with the glittered turquoise sea grass.
Then on it we placed all of the beautiful mermaid
and ocean inspired glass and glittery ornaments.
In the alcoves, to compliment our holiday theme
and the warm color of the stone mantel,
we created arrangements of silk red succulent flowers and berries.


On the ottoman, we used a beautiful collection of Vietri pottery
that included a wonderful "reindeer" bowl 
we filled with popcorn, and from the same collection, 
we had trays and mugs in shades of ivory and turquoise 
for the hot cocoa and the Chocolate Praline Ganache cake bites
(by The Three Divas, of course!!!)


For a "behind the scenes" look at The Divas decorating process,
and the photo shoot with the Wrightsville Beach Magazine crew,
Click the photo below to watch our video -

Two mantels decorated and photographed in two minutes!!! ;) ;) :)


Thank you to
Fisherman's Wife
Pottery Barn
 Pam Macior -our new friend and brilliant architect
of these fabulous mantels!
Photos by Joshua Curry
and to the Wrightsville Beach Magazine staff for a wonderful day!



www.TheThreeDivas.com
(910) 399-6276
thedivas@TheThreeDivas.com

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