Of all the beautiful elements in Biltmore House, which one do you think inspired our Balustrade Rug? Find out!

The flowing scroll pattern that graces the Balustrade Rug and gives it such a sense of movement was actually inspired by something quite fixed and immovable—the balustrade of the Grand Staircase in Biltmore House.

Designed specifically for George Vanderbilt’s French Renaissance chateau, the openwork iron-and-wood balustrade that winds around the immense 4-story staircase gives an airy feel to the massive stone steps. Similarly, the railing around the nearby Winter Garden keeps this indoor conservatory space intimate without making it look “fenced-in” or unwelcoming.

Though crafted in wool rather than iron, our Balustrade Rug captures the elegance that Biltmore’s architect intended for America’s largest home. Hand-tufted to provide years of warmth and beauty, this transitional design is a lovely accent for any room in classic tones of black, ivory, or mink.

See more Biltmore-inspired rugs here.

From Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day, graduations, and June weddings, it’s never too early to plan a gift for someone special. A custom-framed photograph can capture a moment–and we have some great ideas for turning that moment into a memory that will last forever!

Make the gift extra special when you use Biltmore frames like the one featured here. It's from our Billiard Collection, which is inspired by the Billiard Room in Biltmore House.
 

Candid With Quote

Rather than the typical pose facing the camera, choose a fun or candid image from your wedding and add a meaningful quote below it.

Tip: ask your custom framer to cut a section out of the matting and add the favorite quote in the cut-out.

Our Place

Frame a picture of a couple's favorite place. A city skyline, favorite restaurant, or hiking spot are all great choices.

Tip: consider choosing the spot where your friends met—it will always be a keepsake for them!

Dreamy Destination

For a great wedding gift, frame a map of their honeymoon destination, or the spot where your friends are planning to go.

Tip: old-world maps add a vintage look and another layer of interest to the presentation. This is also an easy project to turn into a shadow box with mementos from their trip!

Remember, professional matting, framing, and glass choices can help keep those precious photographs from fading over time.

Find our estate-inspired collections of Biltmore Frames here.

Edith Vanderbilt's younger sister Pauline was both an avid letter writer and a frequent visitor to Biltmore. Pauline’s letters to friends describe the time she spent at Biltmore in glowing detail, giving us wonderful word pictures of the gracious lifestyle enjoyed by the Vanderbilts and their guests.

In one 1905 letter, Pauline describes an afternoon at Biltmore this way: 

“I go out, either driving or walking or sauntering down with the children to feed the swans or settle on the library terrace with lots of books and read and read and read. The air is soft and warm, the hills change colour continually, there is no noise, no friction, no jar.”

With its flowing curves and handsome detailing, our elegant Pauline Writing Desk honors Pauline Merrill’s passion for the written word. Classic styling makes it a welcome addition to any room and we believe it will inspire your own writing for years to come.

Click here to learn more about this beautiful desk for your home.

Click here to read Pauline’s letter in full.

Once you pass through the entrance way “Vestibule” into Biltmore House, you have entered a special place for Biltmore Floral Designer Mary Quirk.  This is the first space that guests see when coming into the home, like a foyer on a grand scale.  This year, Mary was responsible for the design of the Entrance Hall and Winter Garden.
Because the Vestibule has holiday decorations as well, connecting the two spaces was important from a design standpoint. 

“Molly and I worked together to make sure our plans were in harmony,” Mary said, describing how the two designers coordinated their décor so that guests would not feel an abrupt change as they moved between the Vestibule and the interior of Biltmore House. “I wanted to portray coziness upon entering a winter forest, so I used the same deciduous trees that you see in the Vestibule. Some of mine are in urns for a more formal touch, and I added sparkle with gold and silver ornaments.”  Other natural elements include a large grapevine tree with a fresh arrangement at its base and a large grapevine ball tied with sheer gold fabric. Mary added Asian honeysuckle twined through garlands to give the greenery more body and interest.

One of the major decorating challenges in this area is the breeze that sweeps through the massive front door when it’s opened for guests. Mary has to make everything secure so that nothing blows away.  Creating that signature ambiance in the evening is a challenge on breezy nights. “We’re trying battery-powered candles in some places near the entrance so that the candles stay lit during Candlelight Christmas Evenings and don’t blow out every time the door opens.”  It is that attention to every detail that creates Christmas magic in Biltmore House.   

In keeping with its original use as a conservatory setting to house exotic plants, the Winter Garden always features massive displays of poinsettias. Mary also used more deciduous trees and holly trees with berries to emphasize natural elements and bring the outdoors inside. “I grew up cutting pods and branches with my grandmother and spray painting them,” said Mary, “and we did some of that for Biltmore this year. I learned a lot from her, and I love having all this vast estate available to us for materials.”

Although Mary enjoys incorporating natural elements into her designs, she recognizes that all of the team members have different styles. “It’s a nice mix of people in the crew,” she said, “and each of us have preferences, from glitzy to natural and everything in between.” The designers rely on teamwork, especially since they all have multiple areas to decorate. 

In addition to the Entrance Hall and Winter Garden, Mary’s work can be seen in the Oak Sitting Room and at Antler Hill Village in The Creamery, Cedric’s Tavern, and the Winery.  “We are good resources for each other.”

For more than 20 years, Gloria Brank has been decorating Biltmore House for Christmas. In her role as Floral Department Supervisor, she’s also instrumental in organizing the design and installation of Christmas at Biltmore displays across the entire estate, including shops, restaurants, and Antler Hill Village & Winery.

“I’ve decorated almost every room in Biltmore House except Louis XV,” Gloria said, thinking back over all the planning sessions and themes she’s seen. “But I have the Library again this year, and it’s always my favorite.”

For Gloria, this year’s “Nature of Christmas” theme led her to look upward, to the beautiful ceiling canvas painted by Pelligrini that soars high overhead in George Vanderbilt’s lofty library. Known as The Chariot of Aurora, the painting symbolizes the coming of dawn and features angels and cherubs.

“As I thought about our theme,” Gloria explained, “I wanted to interpret the room with the angels announcing the birth of Christ.” 

Gloria focused on the rich hues of the painting and the warm reds and dark walnut tones that characterize the Library to create an opulent, Renaissance-style decorative scheme that highlights the layers of color and texture throughout the room.  And while planning the design of her room took a lot of time, her primary focus was managing the process of decorating for the estate as a whole.  That task starts at the beginning of each year, just as decorations are coming down.

“So much of what we do is in the planning stages,” Gloria said. “We walk through Biltmore House in January while the decorations are still in place and we start thinking about the following year. We begin to get a core of an idea and we work with that, keeping it in mind while we’re thinking about what elements we have and what we might need to purchase or create.

“By May, we’re pretty set on what our rooms and areas will look like, and we work with our curators to locate existing screws and nail heads to see how we can implement our designs without damaging anything in Biltmore House—or making any new holes in the walls!

“In June, we go over all the logistics, like where power outlets are located and how many power strips we’ll need. All the tree and garland lights are on timers so that our Candlelight Christmas Evening hosts don’t have to worry about getting each room glowing at the appropriate time. After that, we focus on creating silk arrangements and special decorations and adornments—and getting all that Christmas décor hidden away inside the house until we’re ready to start decorating in October.”

“I guess I’m just not a poinsettia person,” Lucinda Ledford said, “nor an amaryllis person, either. That’s why I went in for so many roses.” Lucinda’s affection for roses may have earned her the name “Rose Queen” from her team members in Biltmore’s Floral Department, but that’s okay with her. “I’m still in awe of Christmas at Biltmore,” Lucinda continued. “Everything is so beautiful and there’s so much choice—it’s overwhelming!”

With just seven months under her belt, Lucinda is the newest designer on Biltmore's design team and this is her first time to get up close and personal with the holiday decorating process.

“It was wonderful to partner with Susan Partain on the Music Room,” Lucinda said of her experience with another floral designer who’s been part of the team for many years. “She was so knowledgeable, and it was a great learning experience. We took our theme from The Holly and The Ivy Christmas carol and worked in lots of natural elements, with plenty of reds and greens, just like the song describes.”

Some of the greenery that Susan and Lucinda used was taken from trees and shrubs on the estate, just as the Vanderbilts and their staff might have done in 1895. Biltmore’s floral team has “cutting privileges” in the gardens and among the trees, and they take their job seriously, being careful not to overcut branches or harm fragile plantings.

For the Damask Room, Lucinda dreamed up a design that reflected what this year’s theme meant to her personally. “Christmas is all about family and friends,” she said, “so to decorate the tree, I collected lots and lots of picture frames and put snapshots in them. I tried to find candid shots of the Vanderbilt family, and Cornelia Cecil and her sons. In one of their travel photos, Mr. Vanderbilt is making a funny face while everyone else looks serious.”

To add natural elements that also worked with this year's “Nature of Christmas” theme, Lucinda used floral touches composed of dark oxblood red roses and fresh greenery. She completed the warm, welcoming look for this guest bedroom by including a candy tray featuring sweets that were popular in the late 1800s. Lucinda searched online for different candies from that era, then printed the wrappers and made up the candy bars so the treats would look authentic.  It is those extra details that make these holiday designs so unique.

“When guests come through in awe,” Lucinda said of her decorating experience this first year, “it lets you know you did it right!”

One of our favorite ways to incorporate a touch of Biltmore into your home is the addition of a design element that harmonizes with your personal style. You can achieve this through the use of furniture, accessories, and building materials that designers have created based on their interpretation of the estate.

We love choosing prints drawn from George Vanderbilt’s extensive collection of antique books. Consider the simple, beautiful details of a charming print such as “Harvest Song” from Meisterwerke of German Art, Vol. I by Carl Thonet Jutsum, published 1883/1884.

Another lovely option is “Garland, Cornucopia” from Fables by Fontaine, which was published in 1755. Though more than 250 years old, the print retains a classic botanical look and feel that adds interest to any setting. Like “Harvest Song,” this print has been faithfully reproduced in warm vintage tones suitable for any décor.

The prints in our collection are taken directly from books within the library in Biltmore House, enabling you to experience the same history and art that the Vanderbilts and their guests enjoyed.

Click here to purchase “Harvest Song,” “Garland, Cornucopia,” and other prints in the Biltmore collection.
 

Whether you’re an equestrian enthusiast or simply appreciate the classic look of equestrian-themed items, you’re sure to enjoy our new Equestrian Bedding Collection by Belk. Inspired by the long history of horses, carriages, and stables at Biltmore, this collection pairs a charming toile-style mix of horses and riders with traditional damask in a warm yellow, mocha, and cream palette.

George Vanderbilt was as particular about his stables as he was about his own home. The estate included a 12,000 square foot stable complex attached to Biltmore House for the fine riding and carriage horses available to family and guests.

Though renovated to allow for shopping and dining, the Stable Complex has also been carefully preserved to showcase its original design and details. Today’s guests once again enjoy a wide range of equestrian activities on the estate, from trail and carriage rides to lessons for all ages through the Biltmore Equestrian Center.

Find the Equestrian Bedding Collection here.

Each year at this time, signs of Christmas start to show up around the estate.  A tree here, a beautiful wreath there….all magically appear for guests to enjoy.   But behind all of this magic is a dedicated team of creative designers who are hard at work.  Every ornament, arrangement and yard of fabric is selected precisely for its intended location and specifically for that year.  The imagination and expertise of this team seems endless and their enthusiasm knows no bounds.

With that endless creativity comes a long list of supplies required to decorate America’s largest home and surrounding buildings on the estate.  From trees to bows, and countless ornaments in between, below are the Biltmore-sized trimmings for this holiday season.

Trees

A combination of fresh cut Fraser fir and artificial trees are used inside Biltmore House for fire safety and the protection of the collection. Designers also use potted holly trees, deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs as decoration, both inside and outside. 

• The 2013 celebration boasts 56 decorated Christmas trees inside Biltmore House.
• The largest tree inside Biltmore House is the Vanderbilt traditional 35-foot-tall Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall.
• A lighted 55-foot-tall Norway spruce with other evergreens decorates the front lawn of Biltmore House.
• A total of 58 additional decorated Christmas trees are at other estate locations, including the Winery, Inn on Biltmore Estate, Antler Hill Village and restaurants.

Lights and Candles

There are around 30,000 lights and 150 candles inside Biltmore House. Over 130,000 LED and mini lights are found around the estate.  The Front Lawn tree features 45,000 lights and lighting accents are placed at the base of the poplar trees lining the front lawn.  Three hundred luminaries line the driveway and Esplanade in front of Biltmore House.

Ornaments

Five hundred gift boxes, 500 ornaments and 500 electric lights decorate the Banquet Hall Tree. There are 12,000 ornaments used on the other trees inside Biltmore House, and another 10,000 used around the estate.

Poinsettias and Other Blooming Plants

There are traditional red poinsettias, along with amaryllis, Christmas cactus, orchids, peace lilies, cyclamen, begonias, and kalanchoe in the displays.  Around 1,000 blooming plants are used during the season inside Biltmore House, along with several hundred more in the other estate facilities.

Wreaths

Wreaths are made of fresh white pine and Fraser fir, ornamented with golden arborvitae, holly, or other natural materials such as twigs and cones.  Artificial bases are decorated with ornaments, berries, silk flowers and ribbon.  Over 360 fresh wreaths and sprays along with 130 permanent botanicals are found around the estate during the season.

Kissing Balls

Guests will find 130 orbs made of fresh white pine and Fraser fir, or made of dried and faux materials are found all across the estate.

Garlands

Each season, designers use 5,000 feet of fresh evergreen garlanding of mixed white pine and Fraser fir. The garlands are replaced weekly to maintain a fresh look and fragrance for our guests.  Silk garlands add another 1,200 feet in Biltmore House and around 1,500 feet in other areas.

Ribbons and Bows

Biltmore House features 500 ribbons, while another 500 are used at other estate venues.  Bows are made from narrow cording to 8-inch-wide ribbons of velvets, metallics, satins, burlap and printed cottons.