Hello, Sheffield Students and Graduates,

Congratulations again to all of the students who submitted to our inaugural October Design Challenge, and especially to winner Marinella Berthoud! We were pleased with the turnout in response to that challenge, and we look forward to hearing from more of you this month.

This month’s challenge is “Holiday Party Decor.” The days are noticeably shorter and there is a chill in the air - this can only mean one thing: the holiday season and all of the gorgeous and decadent celebrations that go along with it are nearly upon us.

We want you to imagine a space - whether it be your own home, or a rental hall, or a room that exists entirely in your imagination - decked out for a holiday celebration. The holiday and how it inspires you is your choice, so don't be afraid to think out of the box!

A written description is all that is minimally required, but sketches or images that illustrate the concept will be given extra points.

The challenge will run from today until 11:59pm on December 1, 2009.

The lucky winner will receive an official Sheffield School tee-shirt, as well as the Williams-Sonoma Holiday Entertaining Book. This beautiful, must-have book is described by the publisher as "packed with over 125 festive recipes, inspirational styling ideas, helpful information on planning and decorating, and stunning lifestyle photography...With a family-friendly focus, this 288-page guide inspires you to entertain during the holidays, with advice on how to plan, what to serve, and ways to make your celebration--and table--memorable."

Post your entries as responses to this challenge!

Good luck!

Holiday Party Décor

This holiday cocktail party is taking place in a living room of someone’s home. People will be in and out of the room all night. The décor color scheme will consist of Mulberry, Lime Green, Silver, White, Chocolate Brown, and Silvery Blue. The table will be covered with a light grey table cloth and have a chocolate brown and silvery blue printed overlay. The centerpieces will be made up of varied heights of square glass vases filled with white sand and have 4-5 branches sticking out of them. The table will be filled with various food and drinks for the party guests.
Next, the fireplace will be filled with 5 birch looking pillar candles of various heights (2x3-2 candles, 5x8-1 candle, and 4x6-2 candles) on top of a mulberry rectangle candle tray. The entire fireplace will be trimmed with live boxwood garland filled with scattered mulberry and silver ornament balls and white blinking lights throughout. A silver wreath crammed with different sized silver ornament balls will be on the wall above the fireplace. Two green wire trees will sit on both ends of the mantle. In between the two trees, 3 white candles will fill in the space (3x3, 4x5, and 4x8). The mantle will then be completed with five hanging stockings (3 lime green, 2 mulberry red).
The tree will be in a corner of the room with simple white lights throughout and filled with light blue, white and silver ornaments. And the tree skirt will be the same pattern as the tablecloth overlay (chocolate brown and silvery blue).
I hope you are able to envision my idea for this holiday party. Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

This Christmas party is a mix of contemporary whimsy and tradition with a red, white and gold color scheme. White sheer curtains bordered by lighted garlands are pulled back, leading from the foyer into the open living room/kitchen. The Christmas tree sits in the kitchen nook with colored lights, family heirloom ornaments and red/gold sparkly ribbon for decoration. A train runs beneath it. There is no mantelpiece, due to the presence of a woodstove instead of a fireplace, but several accent tables serve as home to vignettes of photographs and holiday knickknacks. A kettle filled with cloves and other spices on the woodstove fill the room with festive scents. A large steamer trunk is propped open against one wall and presents are piled on top of the everyday contents covered by a tablecloth.

The buffet consists of a brie fondue with a wide variety of vegetables and bread/focaccia to choose from to dip, a platter of sliced meats and cheeses and plenty of desserts, including gingerbread cookies. The dining room is decorated in garlands, ornaments and faux fruits to complement the already American Federal-style everyday decorations. The buffet is set up on boxes covered by matching red tablecloths to elevate some dishes and add interest. A red and white floral arrangement acts a centerpiece of sorts. Old fashioned Christmas songs play on the stereo and a bonfire outside offers fun and entertainment.

(I don't have any pictures to put up because my Christmas party isn't until Dec. 5 but this is what it's going to look like! )

This year we are going to celebrate Christmas and my son's Tristan birthday (in his honor I'm going to add few Celtic knot accessories ) in our French family residence. The house is beautifull, extremely well organized and furnished, with large living and dining-rooms that will give me the space for all my ideas that are just sparkling.....
As you could see in my previous submission, I love the colors, but in this submission I will try to „calm down“ and to associate my choice of colors with light and joy of forthcoming holidays and provide a wonderfull atmosphere to all family members as well as to the invitees. There is nothing more beautifull than few colored and golden pieces in a simple, nearly unicolor „monastic“ space.... Louis XVI type furnitures will be the dominant caracter of this submission.







Floors are made of „tomettes“ dating from XVIII century with a warm honey color...to me...a „piece of art“ that doesn't have to be covered .....



All walls in both rooms are already covered with „ecru“ cotton tissues and beautifull XVIII century paintings as well as unique candlesticks .....so, I'm going to stick to this base.







continue.....

For the beggining I will change the curtains in both rooms.....My curtains will be striped, in combination of two colors, sand and ecru... with beautiful golden holdbacks, carved with celtic symbols.



In the living-room I decided to make some changes in items of furnitures....I will keep all existing armoirs,commodes , console table and drawchests.....





but, instead of two dark-brown modern sofas and table, I will put two „ecru“ sofas Louis XVI...



...„table-basse“

as well as few armchairs, stools in same "ecru" color...





I will accessorize them with gorgeous pillows in green and raspberry color dating from 19th century, made of French Brocade.





I will put two beautifull golden mirrors Louis XVI above the ancient chimneys in both rooms, with antique „plaques Bretagne“ and superbe fireplace brass fenders.









continue...

Large table in the dinning-room will be covered with table-cloth in deep-olive green color, decorated with golden „jacquard“ patterns.



Table decoration will be combination of green and golden details and I will include golden napkin- rings with Celtic knot patterns.



Delicious French vine and liquors will be served in crystal “Baccarat” glasses, and dinner will be served in white “Bernardaud” fine china dinnerware.



Flowers arrangements are going to be simple, white and green: beautifull lilium in precious „Lalique“crystal vases.



Christmas tree that signifies growth, renewal and health will be decorated with antique golden ornaments.



The end

This Christmas decor represents the traditionnal character of the holiday celebrations in Haiti. The living room will give a warm welcome to guests for the family dinner on december 25. I attached the floorplan; a picture to give you an idea of the masonry wall made with rocks, the color of the sofas, and the " end table" in the corners; and the decorations I will used. In addition to the decor there will red and gold throw pillows on the sofas, and a Christmas tree in the left corner just on " end table" (they will remove the decorations you see in the picture for this season). (See the last image on the next reply)

Merry Christmas !!!

Ayo

And the last image...