The other day my friend Target called. I answered, ‘Oh hey, Targe’, and after a few pleasantries and maybe even some internet gossip we came up with a good idea for a new collaboration.
We decided to shoot a bunch of sneak peeks of my house for the holidays and to leak it slowly all over the internet – not celebrity nude photo style, nay, but on my own Instagram. Totally legal, just way more beautiful than my usual Instagrams. Win, win for everyone.
I’m writing this as I’m watching “Peter Pan” live on TV and I now realize how ahead of the trend we were two weeks ago coming up with this idea. Next year, Targe. I’m open to either The Little Mermaid or Sound of Music. No need to rehearse either, I know every word by heart, folks. EVERY. SINGLE. WORD.
So welcome to a few instagram outtakes (and some repeats) of a shoot we had a couple of weeks ago at our house. We actually finished REALLY decorating (and shooting) for the holidays yesterday so I’ll have those for you soon, but this is more ‘little ideas’ and ‘visual fun’.
flannel pajamas | gold tinsel | joy pillow | snowflake pillow | gold foil pillow | monogram mug letter E | gift wrap from target check local store for different patterns
polar bear ornament | nutcracker lumberjack | festive cloche | bottle brush trees
I went for a bright, happy, young, modern, holiday c/o Los Angeles. Shocking, I know. For this shoot we brought in a lot of pink which makes me so happy – although you might be surprised to see next week that there is very little color in my holiday house – in fact there is brown … BROWN!!!! ON PURPOSE!!!
similar christmas tree | joy pillow | gold foil pillow | gift wrap from target check local store for different patterns | vintage hot pink balls | glitter star ornaments | large gold ball ornaments | small gold ball ornaments | animal ornaments | zebra – gifted | pink pillow custom made with vintage velvet | large gold bow | pink bow
Without flooding you with cliches, i’ll just say this: Children make everything way more work and yet WILDY more fun. He loves the tree, the ornaments, the glitter, the sequins, and the garland. He squeals every morning when he sees the sparkles and every night when he sees the lights.
He can’t wait to rip apart my hours of finger bleeding styling. In fact yesterday I thought we had gotten rid of all the glass balls so I gave him a ball to play with while he sat on my lap and he smashed it (and shattered it) on his head. We were both startled and then he started crying because he was scared, meanwhile Ginny, Brady, Shauna and I picked glass out of his neck and pajamas. Don’t worry no cuts, but a good lesson that A. that baby is THE HULK, and B. it’s just easier to childproof with a one year old then it is to protect them (and to protect my vintage glass ornaments). Charlie 1, Holiday decoration 0.
Also please note the large gap between Charlie’s top teeth – I don’t know if it will stay but it’s possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
joy pillow | snowflake pillow | furry throw |
Because we weren’t ready to actually decorate for the holidays we set up little sweet scenarios like this that look like my style, yet with all Target product. Boom. We hadn’t yet figured out what style we wanted to do this year – and NO, you don’t have to change styles every year but its my duty as a stylist/blogger to do something different. At least that’s how I’m rationalizing it. It’s like a celebrity wearing the same dress at The Oscars and The Golden Globes – she wouldn’t get arrested, but its kinda part of the job to don something different.
Speaking of red carpet … that is my little elf looking 100% innocent – although he’s not these days, folks. He looks me in the eye, smiles and then throws his spoon after I’ve asked him and scolded him 3 times in a row not to. But in this photo, he is the poster child of innocence.
The ‘Red and Green’ combo is always in fashion during the holidays. If you feel like doing something different, do it, but if you want to stay classic, then STAY CLASSIC. It’s a ‘never fail’. Especially with these extremely adorable and dare I say ‘hipster’ accessories. That van/tree in the dome is just so cute.
festive cloche | monogram mug letter B | knit pillow | holiday scooter pillow | fur throw
festive cloche | small gold ball ornaments | small red ball ornaments
That belly is on sale starting never and there are approximately zero in stock. Keep walking, folks, that little ball of white belly is ours.
Here’s the biggest holiday stylist secret – wrapped presents are the best for creating different levels, adding color/texture/reflection/pattern and come in a million different sizes. Obviously wrapping fake/empty presents doesn’t make sense (although I have done it for YEARS and YEARS whilst styling for the holiday in August), but just think about buying a few presents really early that you can use to decorate because they really help with the decor.
Those stockings are beautiful, by the way. It’s hard to tell in the photos but they are metallic champagne color and so simple, classic-shaped and yes, on trend. Win, win, win. We are using them, with the champagne glitter stocking holders and we love them.
ball garland | stockings | stocking holder
Here’s where I gave Charlie my ‘We are all unique snowflake monologue’. He agreed and we both cried poignant tears.
This is one of my favorite vignettes in the house. I love the colors, the tones, the way a glass dome quickly elevates ANYTHING.
robin | nutcracker | white bottle brush tree | gold bottle brush tree | gold tinsel | (blush ornaments are all vintage glass and now in boxes 🙁
Our chandelier is really simple which lends itself perfectly to being adorned by a garland. And I LOVE this garland. Its organic (burlap and metallic) and modern (just balls) at the same time. It works so well on all my shelves, credenza and yes, chandeliers. If you have a more ornate chandelier then think about getting something even simpler or going balls out and dripping it with decor – just keep it in your color palette so the whole space works together.
This drink container is ridiculous. Its glass and its beautiful (plus it as a no-drip faucet). I just realized that you have to put it on the edge of the table to pour. But between that and the simple ‘NOEL’ and some amazing vintage brass mugs this shot makes me want to get my figgy pudding on.
noel sign | drinks dispenser | wallpaper
Silver dollar eucalyptus, white pillar candle holders and some baubles = the easiest tablescape.
pillar candlestick | gold votive candle holder | white candle holder
Kitchens are people, too. Don’t neglect the potential merriment of your kitchen windowsill. Let it be full of, yes, joy.
joy sign | white bottle brush tree | tree garland
I worry that one stores holiday decor will never match my personality as much as this years does at Target. The animals, the gold/white trees, the geometric garland. Sure, I work with Target, but I didn’t design these pieces. It’s like I’m Patrick Swayze and the Threshold designers are Demi Moore and we are turning a pot together – only I’m not really there. I like to think I have something to do with it, but I don’t, its just a good fit. Thank god.
mini gold christmas tree | large white christmas tree | small white christmas tree | sitting deer figurine | standing deer figurine | rabbit figurine | geo garland from target – check store
So, thats the end of the sneak peek at the Henderson Holiday Compound. Charlie looks like a doll in that photo (literally) and I look like a woman who JUST discovered flannel pajama sets (because thats true). You guys, They are WONDERFUL. So comfortable and cozy. Plus you can answer the door in them without being embarrassed. Look, we have a lot of early morning callers so that is kinda important and jumping for my robe isn’t nearly as sexy as it is in the movies. Going to bed fully clothed is wonderful in all ways (except one).
And naturally we posted a video about it so you can see how much of a crazy snow show it is at our house when we shoot there. Warning – the first half of the video i’m makeup-less (makeup video soon, i’m so excited) but the second half of the video I look like a human being.
Enjoy.
Happy Friday (and holidays) folks. May this month bring you an incredible amount of happiness and joy.
flannel pajamas | charlie’s pajamas | snowflake sheets | fur pillow
All photos by Tessa Neustadt. Video by Scrunch Media Hair/Makeup by Danielle Walch