Decorating for a Victorian Christmas

A more subdued color scheme is a better background for holiday decorations.

Here's how they updated the house:

• A new shingled roof
  
• New wood-framed windows
  
• Tear out existing driveway and put in cobblestone walkway and driveway
  
• Install wooden gate across driveway to add privacy
  
• Strip paint from door and repaint
  
• Paint house a neutral tone with brown wood-like trim
  
• Add new landscaping filled with seasonal flowers and plants
  
• Copper gutters
  
• Add light post and new lights to give the house a true Tudor look
  
• Add stone terraces to play up their English-style home

An L-shaped "frame" creates the illusion of a giant greeting card with this house as its highlight.

Holiday projects:

• Giant Season's Greetings postcard framing house
  
• Traditional Victorian-era Della Robbia garland strung to the roofline and porch
  
• Festive faux stained-glass windows

Now the house has a cheery holiday glow.

Other holiday decorations:

• Poinsettia topiaries
  
• Sheet music luminarias
  
• Oxen cart on the front lawn filled with holiday abundance
  
• Victorian traditional porch table filled with holiday sweets to welcome visitors
  
• Gold gilded pinecones, birdhouses dressed in garland, grapevine balls filled with lots of lights