Holiday Visit with Decorator #2 !!!!

Now onto another fun visit with my dear friend Kip- and an opportunity to see her gorgeous house in Potomac Maryland. You might remember our fun visit up in Maine- she and Nan visited me last summer and what a blast we had. They were so helpful with decorating tips- and you can see why. Another friend with great taste!!!!

Here's Kip- sitting regally in her gorgeous home!


As I pull up to her brick home you can see she has been very busy with her decorating for the holidays! I love her gate- with the weighted ball - so Williamsburg!




The entrance is so welcoming- and very deceiving - this is one big home!!!




Love the difference in the back and front of a magnolia leaf! With the holly this planter in the alcove takes on a festive air!





A combination of greens and berries makes this arrangement so current and welcoming.




Even the stone bench gets a holiday makeover- this holly laden lantern looks great.




What a great breakfast nook in the kitchen- you all know I am obsessed with blue and white so I especially love this area.







Kip ushering me through the rest of the house- there are touches of the season everywhere.





The mantle in the living room is lit with white lights and red - looks so festive.





I love this pass-through bar area from the kitchen to the living room- and look how cute just a handful of candy canes look plunked in a glass on the bar!!!




No corner goes unadorned - even the Naval Academy chair gets a cute Merry Christmas pillow- Kip has quite a collection of great needlework Christmas pillows.





My problem in the Maine house was my wall of bookcases!!! Kip had the same issue and look what a good job she did on her wall unit in Ron's office off the living room- Love the Navy ball caps lining the top shelf. The complete look is so uniform and balanced !!! Looks fab!!!






Couldn't resist a close up on Ron's oil portrait!!!! Doesn't he look dashing???? What a great tribute - so well deserved!!! Adds tons to this room too!!!







I just read how important balance is to a grouping- this sofa table looks so wonderful with the basket of greens and pinecones balancing the vignette on the table- very polished.






Even in the kitchen - in this little hidden area -balance and color play a role- Adds a nice warm touch .






What a cozy welcoming arrangement on the center island- Kip bought this nautical vase on her trip to Maine last summer- looks so festive with the Christmas bouquet- apples and Santa round it out.






This idea is always something that I wanted to do and never got around to it!!! Framing your children's artwork.

I tell the story of years ago when I was in college I volunteered on the short lived Sergeant Shriver presidential campaign. I was lucky enough to travel to Hyannis - Cape Cod - to the Kennedy compound and have tea with Eunice Shriver and many many other guests- We put our coats on racks in the back hall of the Kennedy Shriver house- and all along the wall - framed and lit by art lamps were finger paintings and stick figure drawings done by all the children- those "children" now are Maria Shriver - married to the Governor of California "Arnold" and the rest of her brothers.

Well if the Kennedys can do it why not Kip!!!! James' fish print looks fabulous in the kitchen !!!!!





A close up of the blue and white ware that is gathered on the bakers rack /wine rack in the kitchen- I have to make a note to drink more wine when I visit Kip and Ron- wow they have quite stash!!!!





Needless to say - I am a very demanding friend- but Kip is fully aware of that- here she quickly prepares a bite of breakfast for me - wow taking pictures of beautiful houses is soooooo tiring and hunger inducing...







Wouldn't you think I was at the Ritz Carleton - Coffee, muffin the WSJ and the Post!!!! She is so perfect!!!!!






The very gorgeous very open formal dining room- so Williamsburg- so Christmassy.




Yea !!! Nan and Lauren arrive!!! Yes we made them stay out in the cold until I got my camera ready - so natural - so spur of the moment!!!!





I love a Williamsburg centerpiece - pineapples, apples and magnolia leaves - it IS Christmas in Virginia !!!!





Even the pewter birds are hunting and pecking this winter on the side table.






A great case for all of Ron's music- he is such a connoisseur !!!!!





Even a Christmas Cardinal at the feeder out the window- wow does Kip know how to orchestrate a photo shoot!!!!




The grand entrance hall- told you this house was deceiving- very spacious and very airy!!!!





Not a spot goes unnoticed- a Christmas book - little package - red candles- how charming!!!!




Had to include this cute ornament- I have the same with USS Fletcher- we had so much fun together in Hawaii!!! Great memories !!!!






A final parting shot of the tree- off we go to a fun day of shopping and lunch in Upperville VA- next posting on a fun shop we found from our friends on other blogs!!!! A great shop converted from a church!!!! Coming up soon- Happy Holidays Y'all!!!!!!!!!