Center of attention

Christmas trees and hanging holiday decorations have the high profile, but table centerpieces offer just as much festive beauty of the season.

JIM MCLAUGHLIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY Barbara Bell, design consultant and owner of Barbara Bell Design Group, designed the centerpieces for Beverly Miller's home in Gulf Harbour. For many, home décor isn't complete without holiday centerpieces dotting the landscape. "What people are wanting is that they're going to the more traditional, instead of all the glitz," says Carol Riester, manager of Francesco Molon, which designed a centerpiece in the Home for the Holidays event at the International Design Center.

In keeping with the times, design experts suggest, homeowners want Christmas centerpieces to brighten the homes for intimate get-togethers with family and dear friends, not for extravagant parties. "They're still entertaining this year, not on the grand scale," Ms. Riester says. "They are sticking more to family."

Silk arrangements

Homeowners have a wide variety of centerpieces from which to choose. While some people want fresh features, silk floral arrangements can be found in abundance at area retail outlets. On a recent weekday, Michaels in Cape Coral had 20 different such arrangements, priced up to $99.99, on the shelves. Some reached more than 20 inches high and 15 inches wide.

COURTESY PHOTO A centerpiece with blue accents and an evergreen bed One in a huge red vase featured sparkly red and gold and red and white fruit-shaped decorations topped with white beads. Pine needles and shoots of gold and white leaves also were in the textured design. Most arrangements included red, gold and white foliage, some with color coordinated glitter to create delicate veins on the wide leaves. Taller sprouts of white and gold already had the sparkle in them.

"Adding texture would be a great way to add interest to an arrangement that is more simple," says design consultant Barbara Bell of Barbara Bell Design Group. "The glitter outline on the flowers gives it a more distinct look and helps with the glitter and glow of the arrangement."

Dining room table centerpiece JIM MCLAUGHLIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY Holiday centerpieces don't have to be overloaded with ornaments. The Michaels arrangements typically featured three ornaments of one kind spread about, even in a larger display. For example, one had three green Christmas balls, another three miniature wrapped gifts — two circular and one square — of green glitter.

Traditional look

Many holiday centerpieces offer the traditional Christmas color and greenery. Ms. Bell decorated the home of Bev Miller, who will have some of her children and grandchildren staying with her during the holidays. Ms. Miller says she wanted a festive look to match her red and gold décor.

"On the dining room and cocktail tables, she wanted something that will probably stay for the year," Ms. Bell says about the red and gold centerpieces.

A sofa table arrangement, situated between red hurricane candle sconces, features gold poinsettias, gold and red glitter curly sticks, red flowers and gold glitter feathers. "Lots of glitz," Ms. Bell says. "That is the customer's taste."

JIM MCLAUGHLIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY The festive holiday mantel at Beverly Miller's Gulf Harbour home. In the home of Barb Miller, Ms. Miller's sister, Ms. Bell designed a centerpiece for the bar/pantry area. The low piece has gold sticks tied together with ribbon, holly and apples. Protruding cinnamon sticks provide Christmas scent. An evergreen bed creates a fluffy look, and a string of lights brightens its placement in a dark space.

New features

These days, centerpieces go beyond the typical Christmas look, however.

Ms. Bell prepared an arrangement for Mrs. Barb Miller's dining room table, which is underneath a chandelier. It has red roses, glittery poinsettias and eucalyptus, pale tones that match the floral backdrop of the window treatment. "I basically asked her to please use her creativity and have it go with my house," says Mrs. Miller, who arrived from her Indiana home and will stay six months. "She really knows my taste."

A breakfast bar centerpiece has blue glittery feathers, a blue leafed apple ornament, cream poinsettia with gold accents and ice-like branches. A mosaic blue and white shimmery vase on a stem provides height to a core that reaches vertically and horizontally.

JIM MCLAUGHLIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY A table arrangement features gold poinsettias, gold and red glitter curly sticks, red flowers and gold glitter feathers. And a dinette arrangement includes blue sparkly balls dotted with gold, and red and gold curly Qs on a bed of greenery in a burgundy container. "It's really beautiful," Mrs. Miller says. "That's what Christmas is all about."

Over in Ms. Miller's home, Ms. Bell designed a blue and silver crystallized orb, covered in beads and crystals, for the breakfast room table. Gold curly Q sticks extend to give height and dimension.

Ms. Riester says it doesn't take much to freshen up an arrangement. For instance, a blue candle or scented pine can be inserted into the greenery, or fresh holly can be fixed around the base.

Unified theme

Whether homeowners opt for one or multiple centerpieces, they have a unifying element so that they may become a permanent part of the décor. "We tie them all in," Ms. Riester says. "They're carrying the same color and theme."

COURTESY PHOTO A centerpiece with glittery poinsettias and eucalyptus. HOLIDAY CENTERPIECES

>> Arrangements on dining room tables should be low and long to allow people to see one another during mealtime. For example, a centerpiece of 16 or 17 inches tall and 24 inches long is suitable for a 72-inch table that comfortably seats six chairs. Greenery should be sparse.

>> Two to three candles in a low, long centerpiece bring warmth to the room.

>> A taller arrangement works well on a side table.

>> Smaller pieces, such as greenery with tiny shiny balls, are a fit for bookcases.

Sources: Carol Riester, manager of Francesco Molon at the International Design Center, and Barbara Bell, design consultant and owner of Barbara Bell Design Group