Happy Holidays are Here at Last!

As we close out 2020, we’re reflecting back on a year that has been truly unprecedented. In a time full of ups and downs, our community has experienced some challenges and also found so many inspiring new ways to connect and share our ideas and our strengths. Though traditional events like market season evolved to fit our current circumstances, the Rowe team remained committed to delivering exciting new offerings in custom upholstered furnishings as well as our new line of case goods — and will always remain dedicated to this goal! Our team is optimistic and as inspired as always to showcase creativity at a time when it is needed most.

As we prepare to wind down the year and take a much-needed break to appreciate the holiday season with our families and friends, we’re also looking at the many different ways our extended Rowe family is finding to celebrate and keep things as merry as ever in 2020. Bring on the tinsel and lights, because here’s a roundup of ideas from some of our favorite interior designers on how they’re making spirits bright this season!

Merry Must-Haves

 We need a little Christmas…right this very minute! Spending more time than ever at home this year makes it even more important than usual to do decorations to the max. Here are our holiday must-haves for a festive home:

  • Decorations – This is no time to skimp, bust out the extra lights, wreaths and bows!
  • Cozy Throws – Layer some softness on your sofas, chairs & beds with cozy textiles
  • Homemade Goodies – Fill up your home with delicious aromas as you bake up a storm (or hit a local bakery, light a gingerbread candle, and just look like you did)
  • Holiday Tunes – Make sure to nail the perfect holiday playlists, from quiet nights by the fire to rowdy family singalongs
  • Candles – Finally, make everyone’s spirits bright with a golden, flickering glow — great candles are mandatory!

Leo Sofa

Featuring: Leo Sofa
Home of: @kateknowleshome
Design: @ericabryantdesign

“This year I started decorating in early November because it made me happy.  I think we all have to do what makes us feel the best this holiday season! I have certain rooms I like to go all out in, like our living room. Our Christmas tree and mantel are in there and you see it when you walk in our home.” — Kate Knowles, Kate Knowles Home

“We scaled back a bit throughout the house except for our living room, where we snuggle every night. It’s lights and decor galore in there and we love it!” — Kristy Kay, Kristy Kay Home Design

“We’re all decorated inside, but this year we definitely amped up the outdoor decor & lights and it seems to be the case throughout our entire neighborhood! And since we will be spending most of our time at home this season, it is definitely nice to have things looking festive inside and out!” — Amanda Louise Campbell, Amanda Louise Interiors

“We love a real tree for the amazing smell it brings into the home, plus wreaths with bright red ribbons and framed photos of our kids sitting on Santa’s lap — especially the years it didn’t go over so well!” — Leah Hook & Sonia Brady, Gray Oak Studio

Cozy at Home

Let’s turn down the lights and snuggle. Rowe has all the custom furniture options you need to fill the season with softness and togetherness. Here are just a few of our favorites for family movie nights and long winter naps, and a few great suggestions from our designer friends on how to keep things cozy!

Featuring: Sylvie Sofa
Design: @kristykayhowtohome

Sylvie Sofa

“Since we spend most of our time as a family in our kitchen and our living room, I would say cozy sofas and throw blankets to go with. We love to watch Christmas movies as a family, and it is the best feeling getting all snuggled up under blankets with my family on our two Rowe Sylvie sofas.” — Kate Knowles

“For me, I LOVE putting cozy chairs (or the end of the sofa) right next to the Christmas tree.  There’s just something magical about comfy seating in the glow of the tree, whether on Christmas Eve or front and center for the unwrapping Christmas morning.” — Kristy Kay

“A bed or sofa piled with feather filled pillows…cozy and soft day and night!” — Evelyn Eshun, Evelyn Eshun Design

“A long bench seat sofa is always calling my name — a clean look and no cracks to fall into! The perfect spot to kick your feet up with a cup of tea for a Christmas movie marathon.” — Amanda Louise

“We both have three young children and our kitchen table and dining chairs have become the hub for just about everything we do. We eat three meals a day there, do homework there, and now during the holiday season it has also become our hub for creating holiday crafts, wrapping presents and decorating gingerbread houses. It helps that we have comfortable dining chairs and a round table so that we all have an equally cozy seat at the table.” — Leah Hook & Sonia Brady

Let’s Celebrate!

 There’s no stopping the celebrations when it comes to the festive season! Though we may have had to re-think things a bit this year, we are so inspired by the ways our community has found to come together and spread cheer. Here are our top picks for celebrating good times this year:

Cookie drop-offs – Be a magical holiday elf for your friends & neighbors and drop off treat bags full of goodies on their porches — extra treats means extra smiles!

Christmas light sight-seeing – Pile into the car and drive around with a hot cup of cocoa in hand as you take in the sights & lights of the neighborhood holiday decorations (or find a nearby drive-through light display)

Holiday movie marathon – If one holiday movie is great, how about five? Snuggle down on a comfy sofa and make a night of it with a classic movie marathon

Ellice Lounger

Featured: Ellice Lounger
Design: @gatehouseno1

Small get-togethers – Did you form a bubble of close family members and/or friends over the last few months? Gather for a small, masked celebration & bring the joy of face-to-face contact back into the season

Zoom parties – Finally, if you’re the type who usually throws the best & biggest holiday party, invite everyone to a massive virtual celebration full of toasts, streaming movies together, and gift opening!

“We are continuing with our holiday traditions this year as best as we can. Driving through Christmas light displays, seeing Santa (even though it is through plexiglass), decorating Christmas cookies together, seeing Santa’s reindeer at a local nursery, and watching Christmas movies are traditions we do each year and are continuing to do this year.” — Kate Knowles

“This year is an opportunity to try something different. There’s something really exciting about making 2020 its own unique year with family pjs, movie nights, and LOTS of holiday baking. To spread some cheer, we made our goodies in individual bags to drop off at loved one’s doorsteps and they read 2020 – Made with Love, in Masks & Gloves” — Kristy Kay

“Certain foods must be cooked each year, as per my Polish upbringing!” — Evelyn Eshun

“We are skipping the crowds and spending all our time with our little family unit! Lucky for us, we have a toddler to keep us entertained!” — Amanda Louise Campbell

“Holiday cards are our absolute favorite. This year more than ever, it was really important to think back on all the funny moments and joyful milestones we wanted to share with friends and family in a message. Despite the challenges of 2020, we made so many wonderful memories and it felt good to remember each silver lining. And, of course, we love receiving cards full of smiling faces with loving updates. Our kids race to the mailbox each day to see if any were delivered, which in turn leads to lots of storytelling as we talk about how everyone has grown and fun times together.” — Leah Hook & Sonia Brady

From all of us at the Rowe team, we’re wishing you a happy holiday season and looking forward to a fresh & bright 2021!