Beautiful Spaces, Beautiful Life

Stunning florals & tablescapes. Tips for holiday hosting. Festive events, etc.

Author

Jasmine Chagnon
December 06, 2024

The holidays are in full effect, and a few of our amazingly talented friends held a photoshoot to showcase their talents and inspire you to create your own beauty at home. The result of the fabulous fete is inspiring, both in terms of decorating and gathering with your favorite people.

We don’t know about you, but our days of going out are few and far between. We could blame it on kids, aging out of “the scene,” or money, but honestly, why go out when we can create the very vibe we’re looking for? So, for us, dinner parties are aplenty, and there is no shortage of themed events. Adult dress-up is so underrated…

Luckily, many of our friends are seasoned hosts with impeccable style. And they’ve all proven you don’t need a big house, expensive dishware (when in doubt, vintage!), or 15-ingredient dishes. You do need a few quality items and ingredients, great company, and maybe some tricks up your sleeve, which we’re sharing below…

Don’t get us wrong, we love a good night out (currently: the Mediterranean hot spots Mara and Leila), but this holiday season, we’re going all-in on the at-home hosting and encourage you to do the same. Then document it and share with us, please!

Oh, and there are a few happenings and workshops you can participate in to get all the festive feels and add even more seasonal ambiance to your space. Think DIY wreaths using tropical flora. See the Event section towards the bottom of this email.

Cheers,

The Edit Hawaii team

When interior designers, floral enthusiasts and a vintage-loving photographer get together, beautiful things happen.

“I was thrilled to work alongside a group of incredibly talented women this holiday season to bring a vision of beauty and creativity to life,” Lauren (@house_of_honolulu) shares.

For IJfke (ijfkephoto), photographing still life was a way to challenge herself. The result is moody magic.

Keep scrolling for more photos and their expert tips on creating something beautiful in your own home.

Location, interiors and food by Dominica of @house_of_honolulu and @minkinos96816 // Florals by Tamara of @meidayhawaii and @b_lips // Wine from @mokunawine // Prop styling by @levelyn of @house_of_honolulu with assistance by @feliciaroodbol // Photography by ijfkephoto

Tamara’s Tips for Florals:

Buy a few special blooms at a farmers market or florist and pair them with coordinating fruit, seedpods, and clippings from your yard or neighborhood.

Tam’s Tips for the Tablescape:

Create small clusters of arrangements to allow room for serving dishes, and don’t be afraid of a bit of height to give drama to the table. If the tall pieces are wispy and spread apart, you can still comfortably talk with friends across the table.

I love working with spiky metal kenzan (flower frogs) in low dishes. They let the flowers shine, allowing you to create fun shapes with your arrangements—without much skill required! I use epoxy or museum wax to attach the kenzan to the dishes to stabilize everything.

Lauren’s Hot Tips for Hosting: 

Create a cozy, welcoming vibe by layering textures and lighting. Think soft blankets, twinkling fairy lights, and candles that bring a warm glow.

To make your guests feel extra special, add a personal touch, such as handwritten place cards or a playlist of your favorite tunes.

Then, cheers to building beautiful moments with the ones who matter most!

If you’re short on time or just not the DIY type, check out meidayflora.com for Tam’s expertise. The ladies at houseofhonolulu.com are also more than happy to help with your holiday decor.

Holiday Wreath Making at Ossipoff Cabin with Pua Hana and Island-Boy

Big Island

Maui

Kauai

Oahu

  • We love this story by Ren MacDonald-Balasia of Renko Floral, about her chasing and catching a childhood dream. You can peek inside her family’s dreamy mid-century Manoa home in this 2022 Domino article.

  • Check out the 1,000-square-foot Maui cottage of an adorable couple who are self-proclaimed “Champagne taste, Bud Light budget” people (aka our kind of people).

  • If you’re looking for some festive mocktails, read this article by our friend Brie at HONOLULU Magazine, who shares recipes from Sarah Stephens of @foragingforcocktails. Personally, we’d probably add alcohol, but you do you!

If you enjoyed this email, we’d love it if you shared it with a friend you think might be interested. And always feel free to contact us (just hit reply!) with any questions, suggestions, events, feedback, funny stories, etc.