Decorating a Holiday Dessert Buffet

Since the Twelve Days of Christmas aren’t quite though yet we thought we’d share a buffet table decorated for a holiday dessert party.

Intricate antique sterling and silver-plated serving pieces with vintage china sit awaiting the sweets and treats.

Flanking the buffet are a pair of trees crafted from wire and crystal, while a line of pinecones and votives along the top is punctuated with a few select pieces of white porcelain.

The display has a sort of fantasy winter woodland theme as shown by this vignette of vintage brass deer and crystal and mineral specimens that lend an icy sparkle.

A trio of charming German incense burners, or “smokers” as they’re called because the smoke curls from their mouths, make happy inhabitants of this winter woodland. 

The unusual centerpiece is a golden bonsai Christmas tree trimmed with miniature vintage ornaments and topped with a plump red-feathered bird. When the bonsai tree featured in our houseplant post took a turn for the worst a spray of gold paint gave it a second life as an unexpected Chinoiserie Christmas decoration.

Be sure to see Knickerbocker Antiques and Vintage for any of the serving pieces seen here as well as many many more!

Photos and styling by KS&D.

Holiday's Are Almost Here!

It’s that time of year again to start thinking about trimming the house for the holidays!

Although here at Knickerbocker Style and Design our readers seem to have Christmas on their minds all year long as our annual Christmas tree posts have become among our most popular.

This year we’ve decided to take a break from the vintage inspired tinsel avalanches of the past few years in favor of a more natural look.

The vignette here gives a hint to the decorative elements and color schemes we have in mind.

Be sure to check back it the coming weeks for our version of a nature inspired holiday!

Photos and styling by KS&D.

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Tree

The tree is up and this year’s is the largest one yet…

Measuring over eleven feet to the top this towering conifer was given a further height boost being placed atop an antique chest.

 

The soaring windows and ceilings in the loft called for a tall specimen and this one fits the bill, reaching to the sails of the vintage pond boat mounted high on the wall beside it.

In contrast with the more natural shape of last year’s unshorn spruce this one was selected from another local grower who pruned it so perfectly it almost looks to good to be real.

All the Victorian art and architecture that inspired us this year also influenced this over the top Christmas tree theme that mixes a profusion of antique and vintage glass ornaments with paper ones crafted from Victorian scraps embellished with wired tinsel trims.

The finishing touch is of course thousands of tinsel icicles coating the boughs with a frosty winter shimmer. Even the red silk bows are edged in feathery tinsel trim.

A candy cane color scheme of white, reds, and pinks with contrasting touches of wintergreen completes the sugary iced effect.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our old-fashioned Christmas tree and wishing a very happy holiday season to all!

For unique antique and vintage gift ideas be sure to browse our online shop’s latest arrivals HERE now.

Photos and styling by KS&D.

A Lot Like Christmas

With the first snow of the season falling yesterday and holiday decorations beginning to appear around town it sure is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The lush window boxes from summer now sprout seasonal evergreens and crimson berries.

Another window box incorporates white branches for a wintery effect.

Downtown the shops are ready for the holiday season as well.

The lime green glittered pinecones are a fun touch to these garden urns of evergreens.

Up the street another cast iron garden urn is packed with a wide array of all natural elements.

This Victorian front porch looks especially charming trimmed with Christmas garland while snow covers the shrubs and lawn.

Couldn't this holly tree filled with berries framing the gothic stained glass window of a snow covered stone church be lifted from a Christmas card.

For unique antique and vintage gift ideas be sure to browse our online shop!

Photos by KS&D.

Tree Trimming Inspiration

Almost time to start trimming the tree…

Looking back through photos of Christmas past for inspiration we came across this nighttime shot of a towering tree all in gold we did several years ago to help get everyone into the spirit! Check back soon to see what we come up with this year, but in the meantime click here and here for a look at more trees of Christmases past.

Be sure to browse our online shop HERE for unique one-of-a-kind holiday gifts!

Thanksgiving and Autumn Leaves

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What better way to celebrate the season then surveying the colorful autumn foliage during a brisk walk with the dog…

Photos by KS&D.

A Halloween City

Something strange takes place in the historic city of Lambertville, New Jersey each October.

As the leaves start to fall gardens become graveyards sprouting ghost and ghouls in place of flowers.

Spider webs suddenly shroud the deep porches of the old Victorian houses.

The delightfully spooky decorations around town are the first sign that Halloween is on its way and as you can tell this town really gets in the spirit.

Halloween draws thousands of visitors to this quiet river town of art galleries and antique shops for a Mardi Gras-like extravaganza.

The festivities have become so legendary they’ve even inspired a documentary film appropriately titled ‘Halloweenville’.

The quiet streets of Victorian houses are transformed by clever and creative homeowners into a nightmarish neighborhood of haunted mansions that make for dream trick-or-treating.

Imagine making your way up to this door on a dark windy night. 

Some of these figures are so eerily lifelike you could easily confuse them for live people in costume. 

This fabulous zombie flapper sports bobbed hair and a chic cigarette holder.

The level of detail and creativity in these figures and costumes raise them from mere decorations to true works of art.

There are some awfully well dressed ghosts and ghouls at this party but even turned out in all their finery...

the life-size ghost horse really steals the show!

Now it might be for the love of Halloween or maybe something to do with the proximity of Princeton but several houses around town sport awesome orange and black color schemes all year long!

Click HERE now to shop the newest arrivals at Knickerbocker Antiques and Vintage!

A Very Vintage Christmas

For our first Christmas in the country we’ve decided to trade the tabletop trees of years past for a towering conifer freshly cut from a local grower.


This grower doesn’t shape his trees, as most do today, making for a naturally shaped tree with more space between the boughs like those seen in old movies from the 40’s and 50’s. This gave us the idea to go for a full out vintage theme complete with loads of blown glass ornaments, icicle tinsel, and even a charming snow village spread out beneath.


To really get the look of a true retro Christmas tree we made sure to have the big old-fashioned multicolored lights that cast such a wonderfully warm glow, and of course yards of traditional popcorn and cranberry garlands to lend that final homey touch.


Nearby an elaborate Italian nativity finished with moss, straw, and greens is displayed below a three-tier wooden German Christmas pyramid surrounded by a squat pair of nutcrackers and a cheerful collection of Santa figures.


A bowl of clove-studded oranges is a simple and inexpensive project that not only makes an elegant display but also has a wonderful aroma that adds much to the holiday ambiance.


Outside greeting guests an old cast iron grotesque mask is transformed into the Ghost of Christmas Past with a sumptuous halo of holly and pine.


The old carriage house door gets into the spirit with a simple country display of a weathered copper barn star generously decked out with pine and holly.

Decor and photos by KS&D.