House Walk 2010 Hot Trends

Reporting in from the recent parish-sponsored 2010 Housewalk held this past week in my hometown. Yes, houses here (at least 5 of them) are beautifully decorated. It's such a treat to be able to legally enter homes of complete strangers - and the price of admission is a fund raiser for a worthy cause!

Last year the decorating trend seemed to be spelled out words like J-O-Y and P-E-A-C-E on

swags, on mantels and shelves. None were spotted this

year.

This year was all about the glitter. On pinecones, on trees

and on swags.

Candles were another hot trend. Tapers and votives. Candelabras. They were found burning in just about every room of the house.

White feathers were spotted in at least two of the homes -

on small trees in bedrooms and even on the top band of Christmas stockings.

(However, the cone-shaped trees that were so hot last year were not to be seen this year.)

One constant decorating theme prevails: snowman collections. We saw them in the lower levels (certainly can't call them basements), on the main floor and even in a master bathroom. It was interesting to see this as I actually pulled out my own collection last week to display in 2010 after many seasons of remaining boxed in storage.

This marks my fifth year of attending the Housewalk. Marti and I wouldn't miss this holiday kick-off tradition for anything.

Happy Decorating to you --- will white feathers, glitter and pinecones and candles be used in your home this year? If so, you'll be smokin' hot!