Holidays Archives - Kelley Astore Interiors

Making This New Year Special: Tips & Reflections

2020 was full of lessons about coping with the unexpected and finding joy in the people we love. It seems that a lot of us have been waiting to say goodbye to 2020, looking forward to more hopeful times and the light at the end of the tunnel. And as we get ready to enter 2021, a lot of people are wondering how to mark this occasion. While this year won’t be like previous New Years, there is still plenty we can do to prepare for a fresh start ahead!

Last New Years

This time last year I was in New York City, taking in the lights and getting ready to welcome the New Year. I had the pleasure of visiting the Plaza Hotel for a fun evening with family, friends, and champagne (obviously!). I was ready for 2020. I had plans to embrace the new year with vigour and determination…interior design was on my mind. It was a lovely time, but nothing could have prepared me for the year that laid ahead. I hope that next year I’ll be able to return to NYC to take in more design and visit the Plaza Hotel again!

Bringing in 2021

Many of us have trouble imagining a New Year’s celebration without big parties and fireworks. While we won’t be able to celebrate as usual, there is still plenty we can do to start 2021 with the right mindset:

Set Intentions for the New Year

Setting intentions is useful no matter what time of year it is. Ask yourself questions like, who am I, what kind of life do I want to lead, and what can help me get there? These could be concrete goals (e.g. buying a house, changing jobs, getting in shape, etc), or more internal goals (e.g. practicing patience, starting meditation, etc). It’s good to lead life with intention and mindfulness, to help us cope with the unexpected.

Be Realistic

If there’s one thing we’ve all learned this year, it’s that you can plan all you want, but life will always have plans of its own. Realistically, life is not going to instantly get better on January 1st. Be realistic with how much you can actually predict for 2021, and aim to be kind to yourself with whatever may come your way. Making peace with the unexpected is definitely one of my 2021 goals!

Celebrate Safely

Although big parties have been cancelled, there’s nothing stopping you from getting a bottle of champagne to pop at home! Get dressed up, treat yourself to your favorite food, play some great music, and make a night of it! If you live alone, try to organize a video call with people you love. Alternatively, focus more on New Year’s Day. Plan to relax, clean your space, eat well, and really start off 2021 on the right foot!

A Lesson in Design

Life is much like Interior Design. You prepare for the design by finding inspiration, making plans, and setting goals. And once the project begins, unexpected twists and turns are sure to come your way. Maybe the paint color isn’t what you expected it to be. Maybe the sofa just doesn’t quite fit in the space. When you encounter these problems, the solution is not to throw the entire design away. You work with the mistakes, you reorder the sofa, and you keep trying until the design is perfect…in all its imperfections.

We can plan and set goals, but life has surprises for us, Global Pandemic or not. Let’s prepare to take those surprises and get ready to turn them into something beautiful. I’m confident that 2021 will be brighter for all of us. So get your champagne, and have a very happy New Year!

5 Things to do in Northern Virginia over Christmas

The Holiday season is officially here, and it’s time to start celebrating! Although this Christmas won’t be like other years, at Kelley Astore Interiors we’re determined to make it just as special. We’ve put together a list of fun ideas to celebrate Christmas in Northern Virginia, to keep ourselves and our families safe, while keeping festive spirits high!

1. Watching live performances from home

Although it’s not possible to watch many live performances this year, a lot of theatres are broadcasting their shows for you to enjoy from home. The advantage is that you don’t have to live anywhere near the theatre to enjoy the show! Make a night of it by setting up the living room with cozy blankets, and preparing plenty of snacks and hot cocoa for everyone to enjoy.

The Manassas Ballet will be live-streaming their adapted version of The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas day, available to watch for 30 days.

Similarly, the Washington Ballet has created a fun Nutcracker Tea Party at home which is available to watch now, featuring interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy!

If ballet isn’t your thing, why not stream some live Christmas music with The Folger Consort or watch an adapted one-man version of A Christmas Carol with the Onley Theatre center?

2. Ice Skating with the family

A lot of activities are still open to visitors as long as social distancing guidelines are followed and masks are worn. Look for local ice rinks near you and book a day out with the whole family! Unlike previous years, it’s very important to reserve a slot in advance, so book while you still can! The Pentagon Row Skating Rink is a fun opportunity to take a trip into town and enjoy some hot cocoa afterward.

3. DC Holiday Lights

One thing that is definitely safe and definitely still happening is the DC Holiday Lights! With different streets featuring different lights and designs, make a trip out of it. Load the car with goodies, blast some Holiday tunes, and do a drive-through tour of town after dinner one night. You can even participate in their Scavenger Hunt for an extra fun family-activity, with a chance to win great prizes from local businesses.

There is nothing like beautiful lights to get you in the holiday spirit!

4. Listening to a Radio Play

Radio plays are a lot of fun but are becoming less and less common. The beautiful thing about radio plays is how it allows your imagination to fill in the gaps. They’re great for the whole family to listen to, especially younger children who are learning listening skills. This year, Fords Theatre is presenting A Christmas Carol as an hour-long radio play. Set up the living room for everyone to listen. To engage younger children, give them the task to draw what they imagine as they listen to the play!

5. Socially distanced movie nights

If you’re still eager and itching to get out of the house, The Wharf at Transit Pier has got you covered! For the whole month, they’ll be showing Christmas Movie classics on a 20-foot screen. You’re able to attend with up to four people, seated around your own personal fire pit! There are also an array of snacks, drinks, and warm beverages available for purchase. Snag your tickets quickly before they go!

Covid-19 can’t take away our Christmas Spirit!

This year has no doubt been a long, tough, and unexpected year. We need to feel the joy and spirit of Christmas more than ever! And although we won’t be able to celebrate as usual, the meaning of Christmas cannot be taken away. We have a lot to learn from How The Grinch Stole Christmas…it can’t be stolen as long as we remember what matters most: our families, love, gratitude, and hope!

A Look Inside My Home At Christmas

The Holiday Season is always hectic for businesses: preparing everything for the New Year, fitting in as many clients as possible, and getting all the work done in time to relax on Christmas day. One thing I always make sure to prioritize is decorating my own home. It brings me so much joy, and having the festive decorations to look at while I work is the perfect motivation to get the work done. We have Christmas to look forward to! I’m so excited to share how I’ve decorated this year, and my best tips for how you can do the same.

My Christmas Tree

Having a real tree is a detail I never miss out on. They’re more beautiful, and they come with a beautiful holiday pine scent to fill my home. We always make a day out of it, going to the farm and cutting the tree ourselves. It’s the perfect family bonding activity to get everyone excited for the Holidays! This year, I decorated the tree with warm lights to create a cozy atmosphere. I always believe that ornaments should be varied and personal for a special homey touch. I’ve been collecting ornaments for years, and every year I like to add one or two more decorations to the collection.

I’ve also brought out a little Christmas tray to help tie the room together. Using Tartan items is one of my favorite ways to decorate for the holidays. I pulled out a few red coffee-table and Christmas books, tied a little tartan bow around my ceramic pup, and filled a little vase with some fresh greens, using some of the trimmings from the Christmas Tree!

My Red Room

Red is one of my favorite colors to decorate with, holiday season or not. If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know how much I love my red library! I pulled out my Tartan throw blanket and stuffed dog to make the room feel extra festive. I added some fresh green plants for some color variety and placed them on the table, alongside my Christmas figurines, and favorite Red books. This room has become one of my favorite places to curl up with a warm drink and get some reading done. It’s just so cozy!

Adding Festive Touches to Decor Already In My Home

Of course making Fresh-Greens arrangements and placing them around the house is a trick I’ve been using for years. It allows you to make a space look festive without spending too much money. I always use trimmings from the Christmas Tree and my garden, so I don’t have to spend any money on these decorations. Additionally, it lets me spruce up a space without accumulating too much clutter. These greens won’t have to go into storage at the end of the season, they can simply go in my compost! Here, I’ve made a simple arrangement on this suspended shelf. The plate in the background provides a lovely frame, and I love the way the greens look in the wood vase. The little lion man is now looking ready to drink some eggnog and open presents!

Outside My Home

Of course the decorations aren’t just limited to inside. I always make sure to add some classy Christmas decoration at my door entrance to welcome any guests. And I simply love how they look covered in snow! I made this arrangement using the urns that live outside my door, and I love how they turned out. The pop of winter berry in the center provides just enough color. Using fresh greens and plants is such a simple way to decorate the exterior without looking too flashy or gaudy. Check out my article on how to make a Fresh Greens Arrangement.

Kelley's Home part 2

How Did You Decorate?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and send us pictures of your home this holiday season! We can’t wait to see what you have all done to prepare for Christmas.

Needless to say, this year has been long and hard on all of us. The Holiday Season is a perfect time to remember what matters most: family and love. Take time to relax and pause this season, reflecting on and remembering what’s important to you!