Here's a little sneak peek into one of the holiday homes scheduled to appear in the December 2010 issue of Traditional Home magazine. Magazines typically photograph their holiday picks a year ahead of time. When I scouted this house, decorated by Sandy Lucas of Lucas/Eilers Interior Design , I wasn't thinking about Christmas at all. It was, after all, either late summer or early fall more than a year ago. This past summer, editors envisioned how lovely this handsome abode would be transformed into a beautiful holiday setting. So, hence, the planning began. I met with Sandy this past October at the house, which is owned by members of a long-time Houston family. We spent about two hours walking through the house and talking decorations. Must confess it's kind of challenging to think of Christmas when outdoor temps continue to hover around 90 degrees. Sandy took our ideas to the homeowners for their approval and input. They wanted to involve their florist who has hung their seasonal greenery for many years. (So far, so good. My job as a stylist continues to get easier, I remember thinking.) Their florist and Sandy were there at the time of the shoot to lend helping hands. I'm usually the one who arrives with containers and containers -- and even more containers -- of different florals. And I'm the one who usually needs to scramble to get everything in place. I usually stock my car with food (such as Paulie's Cookies) , throws, pillows, dishes, furniture -? (sometimes!), vases, moss, rocks, ribbons, scissors, tape and whatever else in large and small. This time . . . well, Sandy and "the team" had it well organized and decorated. There's always some amount of tweaking during a photo shoot. For example, I did ask Sandy's assistant about the possibility of hanging more ornaments as well as added sparkle and color on the tree. Sometimes more is better. Werner Straube , the photographer for this assignment, flew in from Chicago and hired a local photographer to help him. Werner, like all photographers, set up a portable computer that enables all of us to see the photos as they are taken. I personally look at scale, composition, color balance, continuity, tangent interferences, and to ensure definition of items. For instance, a ribbon hung from each end of a long iron rod hanging above the kitchen fireplace. When I saw it on Werner's computer screen, I looked around with a little wonderment. "What is that?" A rhetorical question, for sure, but I set out to make it look like what it's supposed to. (Lucky for me, the florist was on hand to make bow for that necessary, added definition.) A lot of people like to place small items on a table. Then it gets to be about scale. If you have to guess at what those little trinkets might be or represent, then it's best to remove them. Otherwise, it just looks junky and un-meaningful. Bigger is sometimes better, too. Would you believe that we often spend a lot of time on dining room chair legs? We don't want them to overlap so it looks like a bunch of three-legged chairs. We look to make sure other things don't touch at unusual points or line up oddly. That's what I mean by tangent interference . . . . The photographer looks at lighting, harsh, fake-like or bright shadows, makes appropriate adjustments, works on composition and such. Together, the photographer and I try to scrutinize everything. We want to ensure we're giving the editor and art director what they want. Each shot typically requires about an hour's prep time -- and sometimes more if people are involved. On this shoot, Candace Manroe, senior home design editor, was on hand to help direct what shots might best complement the story she's writing. The family was so very accommodating, making us feel both welcome and comfortable. They just rolled with it all -- which isn't always easy. Photo shoots are time consuming and a little hectic. This family just turned it into a party. After the first day (it was a two-day shoot), one of the homeowners sat at his grand piano and played for us. His wife uncorked a bottle of red. Such fun! So, now . . . Here's to your own fun-filled New Year!!
