Some clients touch your heart in a way that goes beyond a typical “provider-client” relationship .  Five years ago, one very special client of mine did just that!  That year and each December since, instead of unwrapping a gift, she unwraps me– her self-declared “birthday present.”  The only birthday gift she asks of her husband is to hire me and my staff to bedazzle their home for the holidays.  And while I’ve had less time to do as much holiday decorating for clients, it’s become one of my favorite, annual traditions:  a full day of transforming her family’s home for the holidays, putting a fresh twist, each year, on a familiar theme.  After all, if someone calls you their “birthday present”, how can you say, “No!”?

Over the years, I’ve come to cherish this family’s holiday treasures as if they were my own.  We’ve created stories around them and we’ve streamlined our decorating process together.  Willing to roll up her sleeves and help, we work together to reuse as many of their cherished pieces as possible; rearranging, reimagining, and refreshing them to create a “new-to-them” look, every Season.  It’s a creative challenge I accept, weaving in precious memories while testing my imagination and creativity, at the same time.

Previous Years’ Staircase Decorations

This year’s inspiration?  A dance of snowflakes and sparkle!

For the 2025 holidays, I asked if we could re-imagine the front and back staircases.  My vision was to replace more traditional swags on each newel post with a mix of delicate cutout snowflakes, warm LED rice lights, and airy juniper garlands to create a brand-new look that feels both whimsical and elegant, magical and timeless.

This Year’s Front Staircase

Living Room

Dining Room

Living Room Tree

Foyer

In contrast, the family room and kitchen are where nostalgia takes center stage.  Here, we layered in cherished family treasures, well-loved collectibles, and a joyful mix of red, white and black & white plaid.  A charming collection of handcrafted snowmen cutouts tied the entire space together with personality and heart.

Family Room Tree and Mantel

Eat-In Kitchen

Back Staircase

Snowmen Collection

Family Room Tree

And the best part?  With teamwork, laughter, and a lot of twinkling lights, my assistants, client, and I managed to bedazzle the entire home in just one festive, joy-filled day.

It’s an annual reminder of why I love what I do: creating spaces which feel like home, telling stories through décor, and making the holidays a little more magical, one birthday tradition at a time.