Holiday How-to’s: Design Chic

Decorating for the holidays is a must around here (though we always wait to the last minute to do so!) and we love being inspired by different themes.  While we have yet to buy a house by the sea, we dream of doing so one day and who best to help us with decorating ideas but the divine mother and daughter duo, Beth and Kristy, of Design Chic.  Last summer, they bought a fabulous antique home in Beaufort, NC (read all about the “insanity” here) and we’re living vicariously through the renovation process.  Everything about Design Chic is elegant and well, chic, and it’s a treat to have them here today!

Thanks so much for inviting us to be on your beautiful blog, Carolyn and Cynthia.  We adore The Buzz and can’t get through the day without a peek at what you have to share!  Christmas is, without a doubt, our favorite time of year, and this year, since we bought a house on the coast, this guest post got our minds churning with ideas for the perfect coastal Christmas decorations.  Here is a bit of our inspiration board.  We hope that wherever you’re celebrating this year, you enjoy our picks!

Christmas at the beach…  We can’t think of anything more fun, really.  The only thing that could be better than the smell of pine flooding the air is the colliding scents of pine and salt.  When it comes to holiday celebrations, being home for Christmas means being wherever our family is.  And we hope to spend more than a few Christmases with our family relaxing by the sea.  It may be a more casual celebration at the beach house, but when it comes to holidays, we’re never ones to skimp on decorations!

Our first tip for decorating at the beach would be to focus on the front door.  A fabulous wreath is the first thing guests see when they come to your house, and a happy reminder for all who pass that this is a time for celebration!  Plus, even if you have nary a pine cone indoors, your house still looks festive!

We don’t have anything against red, but we’re quite partial to gold and silver for Christmas.  These gorgeous, iridescent shells are festive, fun and undeniably coastal.  We love fresh everything, but it’s a nice idea to have accessories that don’t require water in a place where you’re likely to come and go.

Stockings can be hung by the chimney with care pretty much anywhere and are a must, must, must – even if you’re too old for Santa!  A roaring fire, a favorite Christmas album and all the people we love gathered in one place is a perfect celebration.  A soothing palette of timeless holiday accessories finishes the day like the angel – or starfish – atop the Christmas tree.

The essence of coastal Christmas chic is in its sparkling simplicity, accessories that complement the austere, cold nature outside the window without overpowering it.  A simple branch like this one is a stark yet cheerful reminder of the season we’re so happy to celebrate.

Bundling up for family walks in the sand, bonfires and oysters, and, if you’re very, very lucky, maybe even a day or two of bare feet is the essence of a Christmas at the beach.  During a season that can become hectic and overwhelming, being able to get away is like learning to breathe again – and creates the space to remember what the season is really about.

This dog has the right idea…  Lounging by the Christmas tree, the waves crashing to the shore is our idea of making memories that will last a lifetime.

However you choose to celebrate, we hope your holiday is beautiful!  Thanks again, Carolyn and Cynthia.

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And a big thank you, Kristy and Beth, for sharing your chic coastal Christmas with us!  Who wouldn’t want to join you lovely ladies on the beach to celebrate the beauty of the season?  Just let us know when the house is ready and we’ll come down!

Photos via Design Chic