Decorating & Design
Designers Erin Feasby & Cindy Bleeks Share Their Holiday Decorating Tips
Updated on November 17, 2023
H&H regulars Feasby & Bleeks have always wanted to make their design sensibility more accessible to everyone, especially when it comes to adding the final touches to a home. In their latest venture, Erin Feasby and Cindy Bleeks have developed a seasonal in-the-box decorating kit, which offers a curated collection of home accessories. “At the end of a project, when it comes time for accessories, the areas our clients have the most difficulty with are fireplace mantels, built-in shelves, console tables and dining tabletops,” says Erin. Their first Mantel In A Box has arrived just in time for the holidays, and includes a contemporary selection of candlesticks, pillar holders, and seasonal accessories that complement any holiday style.
Scroll down to discover Erin and Cindy’s top tips for decorating mantels, tabletops, and open-shelves during the holidays!
In creating their holiday kits, Erin and Cindy chose accessories they felt were staples during the holidays. Each box comes with three taper candle holders, two pillar candle holders, two ceramic houses and three brush trees — all in varying sizes.
“Much like your wardrobe, decorating also has staples that every home should have,” says Cindy. “Gold or black taper candle holders and pillar holders are a great base for any display. For the holiday or winter season, we wanted to offer brush trees in rich tones — deep green and raspberry — and our modern take on the ceramic house feels very sculptural, almost Scandinavian.”
A clean and contemporary white mantel gets a holiday update with a combination of tapered and pillar candles, fresh greenery, and holiday ornaments.
“As with any display it comes down to balance and proportion. There’s a fine line between too much and too little,” says Cindy. “It’s always best to do things in groupings. Two or three pieces at different heights, and complementary shapes grouped together make an easy and effective visual statement without getting busy.”
Erin dresses up this dinner table with a linen table runner and napkins, textured dinner chargers, and fresh hints of cedar and eucalyptus throughout. Mantel In A Box accessories make the perfect centrepiece.
“For a table centrepiece, grouping things in the centre with the highest pieces in the middle that fan out to the smallest pieces on the outer edges of the groupings works really well and allows seated guests to see one another,” says Erin. “We also like to stagger the pieces — some forward, some back — for dimension and interest rather than in one straight line.”
The combination of candles, brush trees, ceramic houses, and greenery come together to create a whimsical, miniature village-like display.
The Scandi-style ceramic houses can live on your coffee table beyond the holiday season.
“Seasonal accessories are the perfect elements for year-round displays on those tricky-to-style larger pieces of furniture such as entryway console tables, dining room sideboards, and large coffee tables,” says Cindy. “We wanted this line to be interchangeable and evolving throughout all seasons. We all know that feeling when the holidays end and we put away the decor and everything feels just a bit empty and cold.”
Using simple ingredients and shapes are a favorite holiday tip from Feasby & Bleeks. “Add candles and twinkle lights for glow and sparkle; ornament balls in bowls, cloches, trays or tucked into greens for hits of color and reflection, and definitely greenery in varying textures,” says Cindy. “We love the real stuff for the smell but there are so many amazing fauxs now that you can use year after year. Tuck little elements like pinecones or acorns, berry sprigs, or clip on birds exactly where you feel they are needed.”
Pictured is the Festive Holiday box that features a raspberry, soft green and gold hue palette. Each box comes with illustrated setup instructions.
Erin and Cindy’s client’s home is dressed for the season. The design duo encourage their clients to combine their decorating kits with existing holiday decor and greenery.
“Mixing in your own pieces is a great way to bring some more personality and, at this time of year, festive touches. The easiest thing to intersperse with these accessories is greenery — either real or faux, garlands or individual boughs to tuck in here and there,” says Erin.
Megan Lyman
Feasby & Bleeks Design