Living room with the Italian chest and prints from Bobby Todd Antiques

Glamorous mirrored lamp tables and a comfy sofa. Modern lamps add a sophisticated touch

The foyer with plates and an antique mirror from Bobby Todd. The primitive chest harkens back to her original pieces. The mix is great!

Beautiful Italian paintings on hand stenciled walls.

The guest room with fern prints from Bobby Todd and a collection of brown transferware plates. The blue and brown theme is continued from the living room.

First, it is great to set the mood.  Christmas music always helps, as does some cider on the stove, and on a cold day, a fire in the fireplace.  The sounds and smells of Christmas are unmistakable.  The first photo shows the corner where the tree goes before the tree is added.  We have removed a chair that normally occupies the space to creat a little more room for the tree.  My client wanted a large tree, and I accomodated her request with this nine foot tree.  When you measure for an articifial Christmas tree, remember that the last 8 to 12 inches of the height is going to be the single sprig of green that sticks out the top.  It is easy to bend that part of the tree over, so you can cheat a little bigger tree in a space sometimes by using that trick.  

When possible, I like for a tree to almost touch the ceiling.  This tree is heavily laden with decorations which makes the lower branches touch the floor when the tree is finished.  I gave the tree a little extra boost in height by placing it on a pedestal of concrete blocks.  The pedestal lifts the lower branches perfectly, which you will see in the last photograph in the post.  Make sure that the base of the tree is stable on the blocks.  We also placed a carpet remnant under the blocks to prevent damage to the wood floor.

The next image shows the lights.  This tree was pre-lit with tiny clear lights, but for more visual interest, we added pinceone lights.  The pinecone lights are clear, large glass bulbs in the shape of pinecones.  They add a great deal of sparkle to this tree.  Pinecone lights are available at Bobby Todd Antiques.  The following image shows the tree fully lit.

The next step is ribbon garland.  It is easiest to put the ribbon on the tree before the tree is decorated.  This way, you can get it draped perfectly and put the ornaments in the areas that won’t be covered up with ribbon.  I like nice deep swags with the ribbon.  For this tree, we used five different ribbons for a look rich in color and texture.  Don’t be afraid to incorporate colors from your room into your Christmas decorations.  You can always add a touch of traditional red and green in with your colors.  Ribbon garland is easiest to apply when two people are helping with the tree.  One person can be draping the ribbon while the other person is holding the ribbon bolts and keeping the ribbon straight.  I run all five ribbons at the same time.  The look is just as good as running them seperately, and the time it saves is priceless.  For this tree, we used a total of 30 yards of each ribbon used.

The next photo shows the tree after we put glitter twigs and berry picks on it.  Picks and twigs add a fun element to the tree, and really make it look like it has just been brought in from outside.  Picks also help to fill in some holes which might be in the tree.  I like to put a cluster of picks and twigs at the top of the tree to make it seem more full, and then also have them sticking out of the tree all the way down.  When you put them in the tree itself as well as the top, the twigs and picks seem more a part of the whole concept of the tree and not just a “topper.”

Place the largest ornaments on the tree next.  Large ornaments can be used to fill in holes in the tree, and also used deep within the tree to add visual depth to the tree.  Pick a spot to start, and evenly place the ornaments on the tree.  Don’t be afraid to put a large ornament near the top of the tree.  This really helps keep your color scheme tied together, and keeps the tree looking uniform.  A good idea before you start placing the decorations on the tree is to group them by color.  Typically, I cover a sofa  with a sheet to keep glitter off the upholstery, and organize the ornaments for the tree there.  Group by color and size, and put all of one type on the tree at the same time.  Start with the biggest and work down to the smallest.  

The next photo shows the addition of yellow gold balls to the tree.  This color adds a brightness and freshness to this tree, and incorporates the yellow that is in the room.

Continue to layer on the ornaments.   The final thing we add on this tree is a peppermint garland.  Decorative beaded garlands like this should always be added last.  You want them to be completely on the outside of the tree and not hidden by other ornaments.  When you “coat” the tree with a garland like this it really acts as a unifying factor in your design.

The next image shows the completed tree. 

The final image shows the tree skirt.  I had this skirt custom made for my client using scraps and bits of trimmings left over from the drapery and upholstery projects we did in her home.  Every room is represented in this skirt.  This is a fabulous tree skirt, but a couple of yards of red velvet  or an old quilt would work just as well.  I find that tree skirts you buy in stores are not large enough.  They never show because they aren’t large enough to stick out from underneath the tree.  A few yards of fabric will most always be a better choice. 

Now that the work is done, the cider is hot, and the fire is cracklin’, sit back and enjoy your beautiful creation.  

Christmas tree empty corner

Blocks to elevate tree

Decorative lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully lit Christmas tree

 

 

 

 

Ribbon garland on Christmas tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berry picks and glitter twigs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large ornaments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold ornaments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addition of large figures and colorful ornaments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More ornaments added

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completed Christmas tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas tree skirt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local designer featured in national magazine

Author: Tommy Millsaps

When you think of hotbeds for great interior designers, glamorous places like Beverly Hills or New York City probably come to mind.

But you can now add Sweetwater to that list.

Sweetwater native Todd Richesin was recently selected as one of House Beautiful magazine’s “Next Wave of Top 20 Designers.”
The magazine’s December/January edition with Richesin hit the newsstands Tuesday.
The article features up and coming interior designers who are on their way to making a big name for themselves while setting design trends.

Richesin’s business, Todd Richesin Interiors, is based in Knoxville. But Richesin grew up in Sweetwater and is a 1988 Sweetwater High graduate. He and Bobby Brown run Bobby Todd Antiques in downtown Sweetwater though Richesin said he mainly concentrates on his interior design business 40 miles up the road.

“This is very exciting for me,” Richesin said of his appearance in the magazine.
Richesin said he had sent some samples of his design work to House Beautiful, but was in no way expecting such a prestigious honor.
“That’s pretty good,” the small town boy acknowledged.
But Richesin also said he is very humbled to have an objective party judge his work so highly. Richesin said he is proud of what he has done and his clients are pleased, however it is sure nice to hear accolades from someone else.

Doretta Sperduto, decorating director of House Beautiful, said Richesin’s work speaks for itself.  “He is obviously talented and deserves to be featured in this article,” Sperduto said.
Though Richesin has decorated many upscale homes all over the United States, his motto is quite simple. “Everybody deserves a pretty place to live,” he said.
His blog: “On the Fringe,” hosts a variety of posts that can be found at http://toddrichesininteriors.com/blog/. ; 

Richesin’s fan page on Facebook is also growing at www.facebook.com/ToddRichesinInteriors. 
 Todd Richesin Interiors, LLC (www.toddrichesininteriors.com), is a full-service interior design studio that utilizes custom furniture, antiques and luxury fabrics to express each client’s individual style, Richesin said.

 The firm’s services include floor plan design; pre-construction analysis of floor plans and furniture layouts, flooring, plumbing, tile and lighting selection, selection of all interior finishes, cabinetry consultation and design, custom furniture, draperies, rugs and accessories, artwork selection and antiques. 

Richesin’s parents are Bobby and Patricia. He has an older brother, Michael, who lives in Sweetwater.
Richesin graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College and got his start at an upper-end design and furniture store in Maryville before striking out on his own.

You can see the article at www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/next-wave-designers?click= main_sr.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. for Bobby Todd Antique’s annual holiday open house. “Making Spirits Bright” is this year’s theme. Shoppers will find red, green and gold decorations with extra sparkly vintage flair as we unveil this year’s window. We will be closed Monday, October 5, Tuesday, October 6 and Wednesday, October 7 to pre- pare. The open house continues Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 11 from 1 to 5 p.m.

This holiday season, you’ll find Lori Mitchell collectible figurines at Bobby Todd. Full of whimsy and charm, her characters have won a place in the hearts and collections of folk art enthusiasts worldwide. We also have high quality Christmas sculptures from Round Top Metal Art. These hand- painted items are beautiful, fun and inspirational.

When you think of Bobby Todd at Christmas, you think of our signature ribbons. This year, our customers will have a chance to buy ribbons off the floor or special order them in time to make their holidays merry and bright. There are ribbons of all kinds including solids, silks, sequined, mesh, velvets, printed, embroidered and more.

Be sure to look for the Bobby Todd commercial that is airing on Bravo, Oxygen and the Travel Channel on Charter Cable.

Tired of the winter blues? Step into Bobby Todd and experience a store full of wonderful spring items to brighten up any décor.

Our spring market orders have arrived and we are featuring tuliperes in all shapes and sizes – perfect for fresh flowers from your garden. The Roundtop Collection has whimsical, colorful yard art for your pots and flower beds.

Unique Easter décor is selling fast. Shop now for best selection.

Wonderful new candle scents for spring include French Tulip from Seda France, Italian Sunflower, and Crepe Myrtle from Nouvelle.

Looking for a special antique? Recent antique acquisitions include a painted worktable with turned legs and a large drawer – perfect for a kitchen island – a New York men’s store display with a wonderful patina, and 6 walnut Italian dining chairs.

We now carry a new line of melamine dishes that look like hand painted Italian ceramics. They are microwavable and unbreakable – perfect for outdoor entertaining. Be sure to pair them with our glassware that looks like French-pressed glass for a truly beautiful table setting.