Celebrating a Gilded Age Christmas

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Each year, our floral department selects a theme inspired by the Vanderbilt era, and they interpret it throughout the entire estate, from Biltmore House to Antler Hill Village & Winery, plus The Inn on Biltmore Estate, our new Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, and all our shops restaurants. For 2015, the theme reflects all the style and splendor associated with ‘A Gilded Age Christmas.’

But what does “Gilded Age” really mean? We turned to Laura Overbey, Collections Manager, for a helpful definition.

“Gilded Age refers to the time period in which the Vanderbilts and their peers lived,” said Laura. “It is a unique time in American history that included the construction of grand and elegantly decorated estates filled with high society and glittering parties.”

Chandelier detailTo reflect the shimmering splendor of a Gilded Age Christmas inside Biltmore House, Floral concentrated on highlighting the stunning interior details like mantels, carvings, and light fixtures complemented by dozens of beautifully decorated trees, miles of fresh greenery and wreaths, and ornaments.

“We’ve created an elegant holiday statement that reflects the luxury of that time,” said Cathy Barnhardt, Floral Displays Manager. “The emphasis is on rich layers of color accented with metallic touches of gold, silver, and platinum.”

The Banquet Hall is always a guest favorite during Christmas. This year, the traditional 40’ fresh-cut Fraser fir is decorated with Edison-style white lights, tinsel, brightly-wrapped gift boxes, vintage toys tied on with bows, and enormous, colorful ornaments in keeping with the size of the tree. Also included in the charming display is a bright red, child-sized one-horse sleigh that dates from the turn of the century.

Decorations and wrapped packages on the Christmas treeThe tree and the packages are reminiscent of the first Biltmore Christmas when the children of estate workers gathered in the hall to receive presents chosen especially for them. In December 1895 the Asheville Citizen noted that “A beautiful Christmas tree that stood in the Banquet Hall causing the loveliest anticipation of the little folks was then stripped of its heavy trimming of gifts. Each guest was remembered.”

In the Salon, a stately tree decorated with feminine details that suggest ladies hats, feathers, and jeweled pieces was inspired by Edith Vanderbilt’s use of the space as a sitting room where she entertained her friends with afternoon tea.

A quartet of trees in the Tapestry Gallery feature dozens of cherubs peeping out from the branches in honor of the Nativity, the centerpiece of the longest room in Biltmore House. The Tapestry Gallery trees and those in the Third Floor Living Hall also feature globe-shaped German wax ornaments decorated with floral patterns.

“These are my favorite ornaments, and ones I used to decorate during my first Christmas here nearly 40 years ago,” said Cathy. “They are very traditional and so fitting for this year’s Gilded Age theme.”

Sparkling Christmas ornamentsThere’s nothing quite as special celebrating the holidays at Biltmore, and since George Vanderbilt chose to open his home to his friends and family at Christmas 1895, it’s only fitting that we continue that tradition today. We hope you’ll join us for both our Christmas at Biltmore daytime celebration and our magical Candlelight Christmas Evenings.

Wreathed in wonder

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Christmas at Biltmore is a season wreathed in wonder when we honor George and Edith Vanderbilt’s legacy of warm welcome and holiday hospitality at Biltmore House. From dozens of beautifully decorated trees and miles of fresh garland to thousands of sparkling ornaments, it’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful display throughout America’s largest home.

Wreaths add a delightfully decorative touch to the décor at Biltmore, highlighting doors and other architectural features. Whether you want to greet your guests with a front door focal point or add a bit of Christmas cheer to an interior space, our Floral team offers some simple techniques for styling your own wreaths.

  Materials

  • Silk evergreen wreath
  • 3 Belk decorative bird ornaments (we love the clips on these—they’re attach easily to wreaths, trees or even packages!)
  • Selection of smaller Belk metallic ornaments in different shapes and sizes
  • Several yards each of 2 types of ribbon (we chose sheer and metallic varieties)

   

How-to

Secure the ends of the ribbons near the bottom of the wreath. Begin weaving and tucking the ribbons into the wreath together, but allow plenty of movement so that each ribbon is visible. The sheer ribbon, in particular, should be very loose so that it “floats” over the more solid ribbon in some places. After weaving the ribbons around the wreath, tie a bow near the bottom.

Place a decorative bird near or even inside the bow. Add a second bird near the top of the wreath, and the final bird about halfway down the other side. This provides a “triangle of interest” that keeps the wreath from looking too symmetrical. Scatter smaller ornaments singly and in groups of 3 around the wreath, balancing each grouping in relation to the birds and the bow. Step back from your work occasionally to ensure no area of the wreath looks too heavy or unbalanced.

No time to do it yourself this season? Simply choose a ready-made wreath from our For Your Home Collection at Belk and hang up your holiday décor in moments!

Tips

• For a more formal look, tie a separate bow using yards of two ribbons and wire it in place near the bottom of the wreath (you’ll need approximately 3 yards of each ribbon to make a full bow)
• To make a wreath more personal, include a few of your favorite vintage ornaments
• Tuck flowers and other natural elements into your wreath for additional layers of rich texture

Biltmore For Your Home ornaments and wreaths available at Belk and Belk.com seasonally.

Discover more products inspired by Biltmore.

Drawing A Blank — Refreshing Your Wall Decor

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The phrase “drawing a blank” might have negative connotations if you can’t immediately think of a name or a topic, but it’s also a great place to start when you want to refresh your décor!

Biltmore prints framed and hanging on a wallDo you have a bare wall in your living room or guest room, or maybe a space that just needs a bit of lift in order to look its best? It’s easier than you think to create a great-looking focal point that harmonizes with the rest of your home. Here are some great tips from Lydia VanderVoort, Biltmore For Your Home Licensing Director and one of our design experts who not only appreciates fine art but also understands the value of a great frame in bringing it all together:

“Sometimes, it’s as simple as aligning the framing of a piece of artwork with the existing feel of your room,” said Lydia. “Choose a print with a coordinating mat and frame, or have a favorite piece custom-framed to reflect the color and texture of the room.”

According to Lydia, you might consider a print that picks up the flowing curves of a bed frame or other signature piece in the room. “Choose artwork that mimics the flow.” suggested Lydia. “It makes a dynamic statement that keeps the room feeling lively.”

Another interesting technique is the layering of artwork. According to Lydia, you might choose the same print in slightly different colors and hang them together. “This provides a united theme,” she said, “but gives that sense of motion and texture that keeps things interesting.”

“To make the print truly personal, consider framing a great shot from your last vacation,” Lydia said. “It will provide a fresh perspective for your wall, and it’s a great conversation-starter for your guests.”

Biltmore prints framed and hung on a wallExpecting guests or inviting family to stay with you during the holidays? That gives you a great reason to change out your artwork for a seasonal piece that sets a welcome mood.

“I think it would be great fun to select the J, O, and Y from our vintage alphabet prints,” said Lydia, “and custom frame them on the diagonal to spell JOY. You could then attach the frames to a backing so they could easily be hung together. It’s perfect for the holidays, or any time of year!”

For another holiday idea, Lydia suggests custom-framing a vintage Christmas card like the featured image for this blog post.

“You could also frame a few holly branches or even a holly cross-stitch pattern,” Lydia said. “Any simple holiday item that speaks to you can be framed and become a beautiful and unique addition to your décor—and a quality frame can help preserve your special memories for generations!”

Discover our Biltmore-inspired frame collection.

Fine Linens for Fine Living

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Imagine a dinner in the Banquet Hall with George and Edith Vanderbilt. Your place at the 40-foot-long table might be set with as many as twelve pieces of silverware, three plates, plus a charger as well as cup and saucer made by made by British porcelain manufacturers Minton or Spode-Copeland. Baccarat crystal wine, sherry, and water glasses are set within your reach.

Meals at Biltmore were prepared with the utmost care and that attention to detail extended to the whole dining experience. In George Vanderbilt’s papers, Biltmore archivists found record of a purchase of monogrammed linen napkins from a shop in Paris, dated September 24, 1895. Details such as linens played a big role in the Vanderbilts’ spirit of gracious hospitality, but keeping these delicate items clean, crisp, and perfect required efforts almost unimaginable today.

In her 1903 book, Millionaire Households and Their Domestic Economy: Hints for Fine Living, Mary Elizabeth Carter− former housekeeper to another branch of the Vanderbilt family− gave a behind-the-scenes look at how houses such as Biltmore handled the excess laundry created by guests. “If you’re not prepared for large entertainment,” she warned, “bedlam is let loose below stairs and laundresses are driven almost mad.”

In Carter’s view, a well furnished laundry was essential to cope with the demands of a house designed for entertainment:

“The twentieth century laundry is supplied with a diversity of smoothing irons – heavy ones for house linens, medium weight for lingerie and little ones of various and curious shapes for smoothing out sleeves and to reach tiny places in the smallest and most fairy-like of baby clothes. Its ventilation is perfect and the water supply, both hot and cold, is perfect.…A spacious, sunlighted (sic) finely ventilated laundry amply furnished for the work to be accomplished in the best manner for the workers speaks eloquently for the character of the ruling classes.”

In the Main Laundry and Drying Room at Biltmore, you’ll see a variety of pressing devices as well as a barrel washer operated with leather belts and pulleys and an extractor used to spin excess moisture from laundry. The “ironing mangle” was used to iron large, flat articles such as linens and the innovative system of rolling, wooden racks were used for drying, either by air or electric coils.

Carter went on to say of homes such as Biltmore that “None but skilled hands find employment in the laundry of one of these houses. They handle countless expensive and delicate articles of wearing apparel and house linen and must send all back looking as beautiful as if it had just arrived from Paris.”

As you tour Biltmore House keep an eye out for the little details such as the linens, each of which adds to the sense of being in a place where guests receive an extraordinary welcome.

How Vanderbilt’s taste influences modern design

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Our stunning new Legacy Rug Collection, hand-knotted in 100% New Zealand wool, is directly inspired by similar floor coverings in Biltmore House. These heirloom-quality rugs are sure to become treasured keepsakes that last for generations.

“We really love this new collection,” said Donnette Miller, Licensing Director for Biltmore, “because they make beautiful accents for almost any room, whether modern or traditional. Two of the rugs are also perfectly on-trend with Pantone’s choice of “Marsala” as their prestigious 2015 Color of the Year.”

Biltmore's rug collection

Our archives indicate that as construction began on Biltmore House in 1889, George Vanderbilt and architect Richard Morris Hunt traveled to Europe with a goal of purchasing furnishings for the interiors. Vanderbilt bought case after case of furniture, decorative accessories, tapestries, art objects, and as many as 300 rugs at one time. (An original rug shown, right) 

There is no sign that Vanderbilt ever worked with an advisor other than Hunt to assist him with purchases. What is clear from looking at receipts and other documents is that Vanderbilt for the most part purchased what he personally appreciated and what he wanted to be surrounded by, not what was most popular, most valuable, or most likely to impress others.

A quarter-century of inspiration

Twenty-five years ago, Biltmore began working with our first licensed partners to develop furnishings and accessories inspired by the collections in America’s largest home.

We partnered with Capel Rugs in 2005. Their Legacy Collection takes inspiration from Biltmore’s collection of floor-coverings, borrowing design motifs and updating the color themes to coordinate with today’s home décor. (Detail of original rug show; left)

According to Donnette, “Great style never goes out of style, and we think it’s wonderful that a color and a design that appealed to the Vanderbilts 100 years ago is relevant today.”

See the collection here.

Introducing Collector’s Room: a look into the inspiration for our Chateau Dining Table

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George Vanderbilt traveled throughout his life, learning more about the world through its history, culture, and art. In a single ten-year period, his fascination with foreign lands took him throughout Europe and Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and northern Africa, and to the Middle East and Japan. (Tyrolean Upholstered Bed, inspired by an original bed in the Tyrolean Chimney Room, shown right)

Many of the treasures Mr. Vanderbilt collected from around the world remain on display in Biltmore House, so it’s no wonder our design partners spend days examining the exquisite details of furnishings, textiles, and architectural designs. Intricate carvings, antique patterns, exotic curios from around the globe—all provide inspiration to create relevant products for today’s homes.

Collector’s Room, our newest offering of elegant furniture and accessories, highlights this process. Each piece, distinctive on its own, is comfortable, elegant, and charming. Each piece celebrates a timeless way of life inspired by George and Edith Vanderbilt’s vision of gracious living and hospitality. Grounded in beauty and refinement, the spirit of Biltmore is captured in every stylish detail and exquisite element of these furnishings. (Acquisitions Entertainment Base & Deck, shown left)

Our new Chateau Dining Table is a remarkable example of how Biltmore’s beauty can be translated into an heirloom-quality piece that suits your lifestyle.

Finding inspiration

One of the most inspiring rooms in Biltmore House is the Library—a soaring space that holds 10,000 volumes of George Vanderbilt’s enormous book collection. Architect Richard Morris Hunt intended the Library to showcase the vivid “Chariot of Aurora” ceiling painting, and he designed magnificent furnishings to complement the size and style of the grand room, including the slant-front book table (pictured, right) and the rolling staircase.


For the second level of the Library, Hunt designed a series of Baroque-style reading stools featuring heavily scrolled and foliate-carved legs. They were produced to Hunt’s specifications by The Hayden Furniture Company of Rochester, New York—a favorite manufacturer of the era for many wealthy Americans. These elegant pieces are crafted of walnut, which has an excellent grain for carving, good dimensional stability, inherent strength because of the grain pattern, and a lovely warm tone.

Chateau Dining Table

Although today’s guests rarely glimpse the stools in their balcony setting, our product designers were entranced by the craftsmanship and the bold acanthus leaf detailing. Acanthus is a classical motif thought to represent the cyclical nature of life, and this carving was the inspiration for an elegant new dining table by our Fine Furniture Design partners.

 

The Chateau Dining Table (acanthus leg detail, left) reflects an emphasis on classic styling and provides a formal tone for modern homes. It features burl veneers with mahogany inlays, and is available in an Heirloom Chestnut finish, which is hand-rubbed for a subtle sheen. Both our Steamship Splat Back Chairs and our Caravan Upholstered Chairs (with or without arms; both are shown in featured image) make elegant partners for this handsome table.

Find the Chateau Dining Table here.

An Easy Way to Welcome Spring

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Lucinda Ledford, one of Biltmore’s talented floral designers, enjoys using natural elements in her arrangements. With treasures collected from the great outdoors, she’s created a pretty tabletop display to help ease us from winter into spring.

“You’ll be surprised at what you can find in your own back yard,” Lucinda said. “Just take a walk and see what you see. Look for things like pine cones and interesting branches that catch your eye—you might even spy an empty bird nest or two! Use your ‘findings’ to create a winterscape arrangement, and with a few simple changes here and there, it can go all the way through to spring.”

If you don’t have a backyard or some nearby woods (or 8,000 acres of gardens, grounds, and forest, like Biltmore!), you can always stroll through your local craft store, nursery, or florist shop and come up with a great array of natural and silk items that suit your décor.

Spring arrangement on cake standMaterials

Biltmore Ruffle Cake Stand

  • 2 or 3 types of moss, including flat sheet moss
  • Bird nest and/or other natural and decorative elements
  • Twigs and different lichen branches
  • Several small, fresh plants (greenery for winter; flowering for spring)
  • Floral putty (optional for securing items)

Instructions

Start with sheet moss to cover your cake stand, then build up different areas with different mosses.

Establish a focal point and add your treasures to create a natural, relaxed flow.

“As you transition into spring, add bird eggs to the nest, and a couple of spring plants that will bloom with pretty color,” Lucinda suggests. “That will freshen your arrangement without having to start from scratch!”

Arrangement shown on our Ruffle Cake Stand. Biltmore Ruffle Serveware Collection available at Belk and belk.com.

Valentine’s Day Arrangement

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Make your cake stand “stand out” from the crowd this Valentine’s Day with our super-simple centerpiece idea. We've selected our Biltmore Beaded Cake Stand as a base for its even, reflective surface and pretty beaded detailing that complements any décor.

Materials

Biltmore Beaded Cake Stand
6 fresh roses
2 votive candles
6–8 votive holders (various colors/sizes)
1 larger pillar candle and candle stand
Metallic hearts or other decorative elements
Foil-covered chocolates
 

Instructions

Place a large candle on a candle holder atop the cake stand to create a focal point. We chose a multi-colored (shades of brown) glass candle stand to add height and texture to the centerpiece.

Arrange small votive holders around the cake stand. (We used a mix of clear and antiqued finish holders.) Add votive candles to 2 holders; fill the others with water.

Trim roses, leaving a 2-inch stem on each. Tuck them into the water-filled votive holders.

Scatter metallic hearts or other decorative elements and tuck foil-covered chocolates between the candles in any remaining space.

Arrangement shown on our Beaded Cake Stand. Biltmore Beaded Serveware Collection available at Belk and belk.com.

7 Tips for Making Fresh Cut Flowers Last

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Cathy Barnhardt, Floral Displays Manager, has spent 35 years at Biltmore and is nationally known for her work. She began her career in the estate’s greenhouse, but now handles everything “Christmas at Biltmore.” With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Cathy shared some tips and tricks she has used over the years to make floral arrangements last as long as possible.

1. Be sure that there is no foliage below the water level of the vase or pushed into a block of floral foam. Soft tissues will decompose quickly and foul the water. Some flowers such as gypsophilia (baby’s breath), or snapdragons decompose very rapidly and require fresh water daily. The water in a vase should be clear, never cloudy, which indicates bacterial growth.

2. Change the water daily if possible for the greatest vase life of your materials. If it is not feasible to change the water daily, then it is important that you check the arrangement frequently and “top off” the water. The woodier stemmed and hollow stemmed materials are generally the heaviest drinkers, and should be checked daily.

3. Direct sunlight and heat or drafts will shorten the life of your arrangement. Place arrangements with this in mind. 

4. Don’t put your arrangement in a heavily air conditioned room to “keep it fresh.” The air conditioning can dehydrate the materials.

5. Do not mist arrangements in place. Misting can cause some flowers to wilt as it draws the moisture from within the petals to the surface where it evaporates. Misting may cause spots on some blossoms and will certainly damage furniture finishes, paint, or woodworking.

6. Pinch off faded or wilted blooms to encourage newer ones to open.

7. If a flower wilts, you may try filling the sink with warm (not hot) water, submerge the entire flower briefly and then re-cut the stems under water.  Leave the flowers standing in the warm water for half an hour, and then rearrange in cool water.

Wintry Words Arrangement

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It’s easy to make lush floral arrangements in spring and summer, but what about winter, when many flowers and plants are out of season?

Christy Leonard, one of Biltmore’s Floral Designers, shared a great idea for creating a fresh arrangement that’s simple to put together and can easily transition into spring.

“This is a great way to freshen your décor after the holidays,” said Christy, “with some of the elements that you probably have on hand.”

Christy selected our Biltmore Beaded Serveware Cake Stand as the foundation for her design, arranging fresh plants, winter greenery and votive candles as a backdrop for Scrabble tiles arranged into words of the season like “let it snow.”

“The Scrabble letters add a bit of whimsy to this project, and make it more personal,” Christy said. “You can continue to change out the words and the plants as needed to suit your mood and to add a bit of color as spring approaches.”

Click here to find our Biltmore Beaded Serveware Collection.  Also available at Belk and belk.com.

How-To

Materials

Cake Plate
6–inch plant of your choice (Peace Lily pictured)
6–inch plant liner
5 (2-inch) assorted plants of your choice (available at your local nursery)
4–5 single stems fresh or silk flowers of your choice (Peruvian Lily pictured)
Greenery (pine and seeded eucalyptus pictured)
Moss
3 votive candles
Scrabble game pieces (or other block letters)
Stick ‘Em floral adhesive
Adhesive tape

 

Instructions

Clean and polish the cake plate.

Set the 6–inch plant with liner on the back center of the cake plate and adhere with Stick ‘Em adhesive on the bottom.

Set your 3 votives in the location of your choice centered around the 6–inch plant and secure with the adhesive.

Set 3 of your 2–inch plants in the votives and secure with adhesive.

Place the remaining two 2–inch plants around the base of the plants.

Place greenery and moss around the votives and plants, using moss to conceal the plant pots.

Place fresh flowers of your choice around the moss and votives. Place each stem in a water tube.

Place the letters to spell out your favorite quote. Secure block letters with adhesive tape.
 

Tip: To transition to the next season, add color by changing out fresh-cut flower colors, quotes, and any 2–inch plants.