Hi, I am Kara- Christmas is by far, my favorite holiday and arguably my favorite time of the year. Growing up my mom and dad always made the holiday season magical. My mom would decorate the house from top to bottom – I still aspire to her level of Christmas design…I mean every bedroom with Christmas fluff, including festive sheets and bedding – yah I’m still working on main living areas, but a girl can have #GOALS. Now that we are not living in a high-rise, I guess I have the space to store endless boxes of Christmas décor.
I have to admit, it’s the middle of December, and I’m still finishing my decorating… it has taken me a lot longer to get things done with a little one “helping”. Growing up my mom always let my sister and me decorate at Christmas. Her philosophy of stress-free decorating allowed us to decide where to hang, string, and embellish. I truly believe that my love for decorating as a child unlocked my creativity and talent for styling and beautifying. My mom said, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful”. This is the attitude I try and carry not only through the holidays, but through all the work I do.
A lot of my inspiration comes from the city – I can honestly say that my walk to and from work was inspirational. I was constantly peering into the store windows on State Street and Michigan Avenue contemplating the intricate window displays, or taking a shortcut through Neiman Marcus to look at the huge, fresh floral arrangements. I fell in love with a small floral shop called “City Scents” just a few blocks from our apartment in Streeterville. I remember staring up at the all the trees hanging from the ceiling and thinking I had never seen a more beautiful Christmas tree, certainly not one hanging upside down. My favorite spot to just “be” was a 3 story floral shop in Old Town called “A New Leaf”. I would grab a coffee and wander the huge selection of fresh flowers, vintage vases, plants, pottery, and candles forever – it was one of my happy places. All of the beauty of Chicago has motivated me seek out the hidden gems when traveling. I have strayed down side streets in Paris and Rome to find fresh floral stands and buried shops.
A great thing about living in Chicago for a decade, was the opportunity to connect with many people in the creative community. These connections led me to floral opportunities for a premier restaurant opening, weddings, showers, birthday parties, and even gift-wrapping and holiday decorating for homes in Lincoln Park. I have been fortunate enough to have styled and designed solely on a word-of-mouth basis. So, if you are hosting a brunch, wine & cheese party, or special celebration – I would love to help make it not only beautiful, but filled with heart. Thanks so much for featuring me Brooke. Blessings for a wonderful holiday season. And remember, Monet says it perfectly “ must have flowers, always, and always”.
