Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful design-focused event at Alexandria’s Crème de la Crème store. At the event, I picked up the perfect holiday gift for any design enthusiast: The Living Room, the latest title published by Assouline. For those unfamiliar, Crème de la Crème is a haven for unique home and entertaining finds.

We love a good tradition. One that makes sense and everyone can enjoy. Now that Old Town has a toy store again, we thought it would be fun to continue Why Not's time-tested tradition of staying open until Midnight the Saturday before Christmas. We’re calling it Midnight Merriment!

Discover a new level of luxury living in this newly renovated elevator townhome, ideally located just steps from Founders Park and the scenic Potomac River. This meticulously crafted residence offers unparalleled comfort and style, blending modern design with elegant finishes throughout.

Holidays can stir up a lot of feelings, and there is comfort in memories that connect us to people and places of the past. We are feeling particularly nostalgic these days and have assembled a Gift Guide to celebrate fond memories and a few things we grew up loving.

Let’s talk front doors.  As funny as it is to say, front doors are my favorite part of a home’s exterior. This season we’re rolling out a brand new collection of door wreaths that are the perfect celebration of the season, and a wonderful gifting idea.  

As both an artist and the owner of a framing gallery, I’ve worked with countless clients to help them transform their living spaces into personalized Art galleries. With a few thoughtful tips, you can elevate your space and create a cohesive, inspiring environment that tells your story.

This mid-century modern masterpiece, winner of the 2024 Home and Design Grand Award for Curb Appeal, is a striking example of visionary design by celebrated architect Ben Ames. Every aspect of this extraordinary home reflects a meticulous commitment to craftsmanship, aesthetic harmony, and the seamless integration of architecture with nature.

Picture this: the soft glow of fairy lights, the scent of fresh pine, and a tree sparkling with ornaments that feel like they came straight out of a winter wonderland…this is how I feel when I walk into Boxwood in December. And Jim’s Marvin’s ornaments are one of the reasons why.

As Julia Child famously said,” People who love to eat are always the best people.” I completely agree with this sentiment. If you’re lucky enough to have a foodie in your fam or friend circle, we have some great gifting ideas for you!

The holidays are coming, which means cozy gatherings, cherished traditions and, yes, a bit of chaos. But don’t let the season overwhelm you! With some thoughtful preparation, you can create a welcoming space that lets you focus on what really matters: making memories with loved ones. 

Patina not only has lovely items for your loved ones but we also have gifts for the house. There is still time to add that extra chair(s), art, lamps – anything you need to make your home feel special this holiday season.

In Alexandria, Kelley Reynolds’ home has become a haven of warmth and joy during the holidays, thanks to a six-year collaboration with Kristin Try Interiors. Room by room, the partnership has created a space where design and function blend seamlessly, offering the perfect backdrop for celebrating family traditions and hosting loved ones.

Wine and flowers are great go-to gifts. If you want to go that route, then be sure the flowers are in a vase, and you tell them clearly the wine is for later. If you want to go a slightly different route, then here are a few good ideas. Keep in mind that a thoughtful gift doesn’t need to break the bank. The overall theme is to pamper your host and make sure they don’t feel like they have to act immediately.

I’m grateful to my parents for leaving their rural roots behind in pursuit of a better life in Northern Virginia. In their communities, during that time, imagining a career as an artist would have been nearly impossible. Growing up surrounded by art and artists allowed me to dream of what could be. Proximity to museums and galleries can be a powerful spark for a young mind, and it certainly was for me.

If traveling and being with family fills you with joy and is what you need this year, then here are a few tips to make it easy. You don’t have to do it alone. If you’re traveling with a partner, they should share the load. I’m talking to you, Moms. It is not your job to manage everything and make everyone happy. A partnership means they fully participate.

This holiday season, Rachel of Helen Olivia and Kristin of Kristin Try Interiors teamed up to create a couple of festive tablescape ideas for you at Kristin’s home. Together, they’re sharing their tips and tricks to help you craft a stunning holiday table that’s as warm and inviting as the season itself.

We all live with little necessary home repairs. Whether it’s a leaky faucet, broken fence, missing trim, holes in drywall – well you get the picture. Most of the time we let these things go until we decide it’s time to sell our house. We get everything repaired, replaced, painted and then wonder why we didn’t do it sooner!

With December on the horizon, we’d like to show you the Advent calendars we have this year! So many creative, fun, and tasty ways to countdown to Christmas. We have several options that all double as darling decorations and a few that have extra special surprises inside, some edible and some that will last for years to come.

It goes without saying that table styling is serious business in my house. And, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of orders we get from our Stylebook community each year, I know that it’s serious business in your homes, too. One of the things I love most about Alexandria is how much we all love a holiday and decorating. We have new tabletop décor items, many of which are transitional from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

As a local, Traci shares our love for Alexandria and our community so you may already know her bright smile and welcoming personality! In fact our mutual love for Red Barn Mercantile and design helped us meet and now I see Traci at many of my favorite places around town as well!