Holiday House is filled with inspiration

Holiday House, presented by the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment (MMAE), is open Nov. 9-11. It features decorations from 15 of Charlotte's top floral designers displayed in a private home in the Sharon Hills neighborhood off Sharon Road. It also includes a Gift Shop.

The address is 6304 St. Stephen Lane. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 9-10; 1-5 p.m. Nov. 10.  Admission is $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the health projects of the MMAE, a nonprofit organization whose members are mainly the spouses of doctors. Among their projects is providing schools and law enforcement with life saving AEDs, a device that can help someone who's going into cardiac arrest. Details: www.mmaeonline.com.

After attending last night's preview party, I can tell you that Holiday House is bursting with decorating ideas. Here's video from the party:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/L-AKXljjLYU

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WPk8RCO9q7I

Before we get to the inspiration portion of this blog, here's a very important public service announcement:

Do not wear stilettos to Holiday House. The home is beautiful, but the walk to the front door is up a short, but very steep, driveway. I had on a fabulous new pair of shoes with a very high metallic heels and I didn't think I was going to make it.
Also (and I should have remembered this), it's a common rule when someone is nice enough to open their home to the public for a tour, they don't want their floors damaged by any kind of pointy shoe. So once I made it inside, I was asked to take off my shoes and wear disposable booties.
I checked my shoes and had a wonderful time. But when I left, I had to take my heels off again to get down the drive or I would have wiped out. They have a handrail you can hang onto, but when you're wearing ridiculously high heels it doesn't matter.

Now I'll jump right into photos of some of my favorite ideas from the preview party. You'll see some food in these photos, but please know that was only for the preview party. During the public tour, just the decorations and arrangements will be on display.

Members of MMAE made all the delicious food, but they wanted to enjoy the party so they hired a crew to come in and take care of all the dishes. That's an option that hostesses who love to cook, but hate to clean up, should always consider. You don't have to hire a caterer to do the food - you can also hire them to just serve and clean up.

ARRANGEMENTS

White and silver mixed with glass and a reflective surface makes a simple but beautiful display.

A modern take on traditional Christmas colors.

DECOR

Crystals mixed with natural branches - and a few dollops of fake snow - add to the wow factor of this dining room chandelier.

Elizabeth House Flowers created this stunning Christmas tree bursting with orchids.

FOOD

These cake pops rolled in shimmering sugar looked beautiful standing in red goblets filled with "snow" (coconut flakes) to help them stand up.

Two turtledoves made from squash.

The shades of purple on this dessert from Wow Factor Cakes looked so right amid the white, silver and sparkle of the dining room. Fun fact: Carrie Underwood ordered a custom cake from Wow Factor for a party she threw for her crew after her recent Charlotte concert.

The vegetable tray was accented with stars made from turnips.


Follow Olivia Fortson on Twitter @oliviafortson