When it comes to holiday decorating in Las Vegas, no one outshines designer Stephanie Styles. Henderson Lifestyle got the inside scoop on the season’s chicest holiday décor trends when they visited Styles at her home as she got ready to decorate for Christmas.
Known for designing epic homes in Las Vegas, Beverly Hills, and Colorado, Styles is a natural when it comes to celebrating the holidays in a grand Las Vegas fashion. On a chilly, albeit 70-degree day, wewere invited by Styles to join her as she and her family began decorating their home.
Sitting atop MacDonald Highlands and overlooking the dazzling Las Vegas Strip sits the home of Styles and producer and actor husband, Niko Foster. Turning into a private circle drive covered by a portes-cochère we were met by a warm and friendly Styles. Styles looked fabulous and ready to celebrate the season in a red cable-knit sweater by Victoria Beckham, black skinny Rick Owens jeans, and glittered leather Golden Goose sneakers.
Always prepared, Styles had numerous large trunks organized by color in their entryway. Mountains of blue, black, and pink trunks were clearly labeled and ready to be unpacked. Blue trunks represented holiday décor for the living room, great room, and kitchen. Black trunks for the master suite. And pink trunks for the twin girls’ bedroom and playroom.
Decorating their home as a family is a yearly tradition for Styles. To help set the mood, she has their favorite holiday music playing, homemade baked Christmas goodies, and savory eggnog. A holiday must-have, Styles loves simmering a pot of Williams Sonoma’s signature Mulling Spices, featuring Korintje cinnamon, Madagascar cloves, and tangy bits of American orange peel.
Styles told Henderson Lifestyle to think outside the “gift box” when decorating for the Holidays. “When decorating your home for Christmas, think beyond red and green.
Look for inspiration from your everyday interior style and color palette,” Styles said. “Pale blue, rose gold, and silver holiday accents complement the clean lines and gray interiors found in many modern homes. Look for birch logs, bleached pinecones, wood beaded garlands, and fresh evergreens to add warmth to the natural tones of a California-style interior. Royal blue and shimmery golds add an updated vibrance to traditional style interiors,” recommended Styles.
A few of Styles’ favorite spots for holiday décor include Neiman Marcus, Front Gate, and World Market. Styles recommends a local fabric or craft store for holiday accents such as ribbon and faux flowers and local nurseries for an array of fresh evergreens, poinsettias, and cinnamon-scented pinecones.
Styles also advises concentrating on the rooms you and your family enjoy the most, like the family room, kitchen, and bedrooms. She also suggests getting an early start.
“Decorating your home for the holidays takes time and is often done at the last minute as family holiday schedules pick up speed. We decorate for Christmas during the first weekend in November with a focus on the great room, kitchen, and master suite, and our daughters’ bedroom. This way, we can enjoy the holidays a bit longer.”
The interior of Styles’ home features cool grays accented by custom pieces in striking sapphire blue. As a complementary holiday palette Styles chose pale blue, crisp winter white, rose gold, tinkling silver, and soft black. Surprise bursts of deep purple and hot pink add an unexpected touch of whimsy.
Fireplace mantels throughout the home are adorned in soft metallic garlands with tiny white lights and big white poinsettia flowers. Towering Christmas trees, each with a different theme, hold center stage in the great room, master suite, and girls’ bedroom.
For the great room Styles layered an 18-foot tree with festive round ornaments in rose gold, gold, and silver. Tiny white-feathered doves and metallic twigs are expertly nestled throughout. A garland of small gold leaves trims the tree, while large poinsettias and soft black velvet leaves add depth and dimension. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby adds romance and glamour to the tree in their master suite. Emerald green, deep purple, hot pink, silver, and black create a sense of holiday glamour.
Every great designer listens carefully to their clients and Styles is no exception. When it comes to her daughters’ bedroom, she allows them to decorate their own tree. Pink, purple, and silver ornaments of their choosing are abundant.
To accomplish all this in one weekend, Styles plans a year ahead. “During the holidays I want to be able to relax, have fun, and enjoy celebrating with family and friends. This is why I prep very, very early,” Styles laughs.
A busy working mother, Styles begins planning for the holidays 12 months early during the second week of January when she takes down the holiday décor. During this time, she inventories what she has, packs up items, places them in trunks color-coded by room, and stores them in a storage unit in her home dedicated to Christmas.
In August, Styles begins booking times for professional holiday services, such as caterers and photographers. She also reviews what she has stored and begins purchasing items that may need to be replaced, like candles, wrapping paper, and ribbons. By the first weekend in November, Styles is prepared to decorate and enjoy the following two months of holiday festivities, in style, with her family and friends.