From House To Home

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When the holidays roll around, Ty Garcia unveils her seasonal treasures and decks the halls of her Edmond, Oklahoma, home with glittering gold and shiny copper. The grand staircase drips with garlands of crystals and pearls while giant crowned nutcrackers stand at attention by the front door. “We’ve got the bling, bling, goin’ on!” says Ty, who has a passion for decorating. Five Christmas trees are trimmed with golden mesh and sparkling ornaments, fur-lined stockings fashioned and embellished by Ty are hung by the fire, and an antique 1929 one-horse sleigh takes center stage in her foyer.

“She’s got a great eye for design, structure, symmetry, and color,” adds her husband, Baron, who told the builder to do whatever it takes to make her happy.

This being their second Georgian plantation-styled home, Ty planned ahead for the 18-foot high tree that stands in the living room. “I chose the polished black granite floor so the Christmas lights would reflect and fill the room,” she explains.

Sleek surfaces of mirrored glass, shimmering chandeliers, and walls covered in black satin are paired with soft fabrics, butterscotch leather, and fur throws that bring warmth to the scheme. “I love the wow factor! And I love it when people say, this is so warm,” says Ty, in describing her personal design sense.

Holiday season or not, angels have a special place in the Garcia home. In fact, there’s one in every room. Inscribed in the game room, the Latin phrase no solo pour eu, meaning not just for us, sums up the Garcia spirit. “God blessed us with the ability to build this home, and we share it with our friends and family,” says Ty. They have graciously hosted art showings, concerts with harpists and string quartets, and even a few Christmas weddings for brides they hardly knew.

Double that Wow

Holiday décor follows the rules of everyday design. Here are some tips:

• Think scale. If the space is large, then it's best to decorate big. Oversized ornaments, trees, and figures can have greater impact than things that are too small for the space.
• Get more bang for your buck. Consider reflective surfaces. Let mirrors double the wow!
• Extend the cheer. Why not let it last and extend the season from early November to mid-January?