Hundreds of luminarias light the driveway and terrace. The home, in the style of a French chateau, is filled with nearly 100 beautifully decorated trees, more than 1,000 wreaths and bows, 1,500 poinsettias, 25,000 lights, 9,000 feet of fresh garland and thousands of ornaments.
Breathtaking? Yes. Daunting? You bet. The Biltmore, in Asheville, N.C., is one of those magical places that brings back the excitement of Christmas many of us have forgotten in the hassle of the holidays.
The magnificent estate, built by George W. Vanderbilt when he was a 27-year-old bachelor, was officially opened on Christmas Eve 1895, and it continues to welcome visitors while decked out in its finest. This is the 33rd year it is decorated for the holidays.
The decorating of the Biltmore has come a long way from 30 years ago, when the floral director dressed the tree with her sister and mother. These days it takes 20 people working for three weeks from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to create this fantasy. Some traditional elements are included, but each year the theme changes, and so do the decorations. This year’s theme is "Arts and Classics in the Arts."
While you won’t have to worry about 100 trees to decorate, you can take a few tips from the Biltmore’s floral experts. Here’s how to translate Biltmore style for your tree.
1. The theme
Elaine Dey, floral designer: The key to decorating Biltmore-style is taking inspiration from the fabric, the artwork, the wallpaper or other room details. It doesn’t have to be red and green. Your tree decor can be any color you like. Our sample tree was decorated in gold because it went with the brocade skirt and a gold frame on a nearby painting.
2. Collecting decorations
Remember to have a theme that ties your decorations together, Dey said. You can unify the tree with color, decorations from your childhood, items you have collected or even wrapped packages.
3. Providing power
If you are decorating a tree up to 6 feet tall, an extension cord will do, Dey said. Run the cord halfway into the tree and attach it with electrical tape. For a large tree that uses more than 300 lights, attach a power strip with electrical tape about halfway up the tree on the trunk so you will have multiple outlets. Some folks prefer to use floral wire, but tape is safer.
4. Lighting the tree
Dey suggested buying light strings with 50 bulbs and connecting no more than six sets together to prevent blowing fuses. Drop the light string about 3 feet from the top of the tree so the outlet is not at the top. Then start wrapping the lights around each branch all the way to the inside of the trunk to create depth. If you want to save time, go with a prelit tree like ours. Many of these only last a few years. If you want yours to last longer, buy a tree prelit with LED bulbs. They cost more, but they last longer and use less electricity.
5. Stringing the garland
The garland should be placed on the tree next to avoid breaking ornaments later on. Start at the top of the tree and wrap the garland around in scallops. Or, if you want a cleaner, more designer look, skip it alltogether.
6. Topping the tree
Go traditional with a star or an angel or group two large bows together with streamers and attach them to the tree with a pipe cleaner. To make the top less wobbly, fold the top branch in half before you secure the topper. This tree has three gold poinsettias attached to the top of the tree with a gold chenille pipe cleaner. Floral wire also works well.
7. Adding the ornaments
A variety of coordinating ornaments gives your tree character and interest. Place the largest ornaments toward the bottom of the tree and in large holes between branches. Place shiny ornaments deep inside the tree to reflect light. Wait until last to put the delicate and showy ornaments on the outside.
8. Filling in with floral
Fill in the holes of the trees with floral picks, Dey suggested. Craft stores have a variety to choose from, and you can select large silk flowers or multiple floral picks that can be separated. Another option is to cut up red berry garland. You will need a strong wire cutter to cut faux florals.
9. Skirting the issue
Dey said you can buy a tree skirt ready-made or select a piece of tapestry, velvet or a solid colored throw. The tree skirt will look softer if you place crumpled tissue paper under the fabric.
10. Checking it out
Stand back from the tree and squint. Look at the tree from different angles and different distances. Make sure the decorations look even throughout the tree and there are no empty spaces that cry out to be filled.