By Judy Carmack Bross
House and Gardens Designer Todd Schwebel on his way to create holiday magic.
Whether you are looking for last-minute inspiration or to feast on holiday décor, we thought you’d enjoy recent achievements by House and Gardens Designer Todd Schwebel who creates beauty and draws from tradition at any season.
Old Paris Porcelain Vases, an auction find from Freeman’s here in Chicago, are filled with a riot of winterberries!
A Victorian chandelier is dressed for the holidays.
An heirloom child’s sled makes a terrific Santa’s sleigh with packages.
Festoons of garlands are be-jeweled with Todd’s pal Trace Mayer’s “Museum Bees” — ornaments fabricated from antique gilt frames. Trace ships worldwide and has a marvelous on-line presence.
This ruby glass and gilt Regency compote is the perfect presentation piece for a very old English Christmas tradition calling for mixing fruit, nuts and coins.
A Gilt Pine Cone Tree makes a marvelous Christmas decoration that can be used year after year….add fresh holly and your powder room guests will be charmed! See Lucy at Peachtree Place in Northfield for your own.
Todd loves adding amaryllis to holiday arrangements! This one —with some gilt thistles—was a collaboration with his favorite florist, Inara, at Green in Old.
Todd’s rule: everything is a decorating opportunity, particularly at Christmas: a be-wreathed caviar pie awaiting hungry guests at a Christmas Open House.
Embroidered linens, antique and new, are deployed by Todd for holiday entertaining. This bread basket cozy comes from Kassatly’s in Palm Beach.
Todd tip: top your mantle clock with a sprig of holly!
When space is limited or you’re just running out of steam producing floor to ceiling trees, Todd says go table top. Or in his case, piano top!
And for a sugar cookie that looks and tastes like your grandmother made them head to Three Tarts in Northfield. Their holly cookie is the perfect accompaniment to any holiday dessert.
Living with antiques makes for easy holiday decorating!
And entertaining! The holidays are the time to bring all your treasures out to enjoy with friends and family!
Christmas greens and holly are the perfect complement to Victorian carving on this mantle.
Christmas greens and holly are the perfect complement to Victorian carving on this mantle.
Speaking of mixing: there are no hard and fast rules about lights. Mix white & colored for a festive vibe!
If you see an antique garden urn decorated like this around town, chances are it’s at one of Todd’s clients!
And Todd’s touch can also be found at any one of his several community service projects including here at St. Thomas the Apostle. He believes in sharing the spirit of the season with all and we hope you’ve enjoyed this little tour of the season’s joys with him.
