Vintage Holiday Decorating Tips

Season’s Greetings Vintage Lovers! In vintage décor, you can see how trends repeat themselves in a common thread for the 2010 holiday season. Come to The Alameda Point Antiques Faire this Sunday to acquire holiday gifts and deck your halls in retro style. Here are some tips I share in The Point magazine for shopping this Holiday season.

Mercury Glass – Buy authentic vintage mercury glass and add a little old Hollywood glamour to a theme or décor with pieces from dealers who sell votives and glass at the Point. It takes on the glow of candlelight and adds beauty to your holiday theme. Mix your vintage finds with modern reproduction mercury glass which can be found at fine boutiques like The Rare Bird on Piedmont Avenue. Known as the “poor man’s silver”, mercury glass is an affordable holiday decorating choice.

Mercury glass candleholders at The Rare Bird (photo courtesy of Oaktown Life)

Vintage Glass Bottles – Look for these in different sizes and shapes for mantle dressing. Fill them with craft glitter powder for a snow effect. Mix with holiday greenery and embellish with vintage Christmas ribbon for a colorful display.

Vintage Cake Stands and Candy Dishes – For fun table dressing, inexpensive holiday-hued candy dishes and cake stands add dimension and create stylish staging areas for baked goodies. Add floral displays such as a bird’s nest and holiday candles to create a romantic effect. I like to add vintage ornaments and saltwater taffy in pastel shades. Antique crystals complete the look.

Vintage glass bottles & cake stand at Alameda Point Antiques Faire

Vintage Quilts – From vintage heirlooms made in the 1800s to newer quilts, table runners, wall hangings and tree skirts, the Point offers homespun coziness with this collectible holiday decorating accessory that can be used year round.

Why not cozy up and watch one of my favorite romantic comedies of the season, The Holiday? I love the interior of Kate Winslet’s cottage with decorative pillows, a beautiful quilt and logs on the fire. So inviting. House swapping anyone?

Interior shot of "The Holiday" with a quilt by the fire.

Cameron Diaz in the "The Holiday".

One more romantic Holiday movie recommendation: a classic 40’s film to celebrate the upcoming Alameda Point Vintage Fashion Faire’s new location — The “O” Club on April 16, 2011. (Stay tuned for more details).

Christmas in Connecticut.

Barbara Stanwyck stars as Elizabeth Lane who writes a Suzy Homemaker-type magazine column–even though she can’t boil water. The owner of the magazine invites a heroic sailor to spend his first Christmas back from World War II on the farm Elizabeth has invented for her column. She knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, and quickly has to invent a farm, a husband, a baby, cooking skills…and if that’s not bad enough, she and the soldier take one look at each other and hear bells…

Christmas in Connecticut

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season filled with vintage treasures. My Birthday is Boxing Day! What should I wish for?

Stay Stylish in Vintage (even if it’s a vintage quilted bed spread). Happy hunting. See you at The Point!