A Williams-Sonoma Christmas

After the segment on "A Current Affair" on Wednesday night (if you missed it you can see it here), announcing the imminent arrival of the American homewares retail giant Williams-Sonoma Inc, and their four iconic brands, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm to Sydney in March, 2013, you must have been living under a rock not to know this is happening! 

It's going to change the face of Australian homewares retail like nothing ever before! Freedom, Ikea and the like, look out! Being able to buy fabulous, well designed, well made and well priced homewares is something we have been seriously lacking in this country.

The Exchange Building in Bondi Junction is a new development built to house these heavenly homewares stores, with a floor dedicated to each. What I found fascinating is that Australia is the first country outside North America to get these stores, and we are the second highest e-commerce consumers for these brands outside the US. So, clearly deciding to expand to Australia was a smart and obvious decision. The plan is to roll out stores to other states in time. So don't worry, you won't have to use up all your frequent flyer points flying to Sydney to get your fix for long!

Wreath from West Elm

I was lucky enough to be sent a selection of sample Christmas decorations from the four brands to preview and photograph at home. Sadly, they had to go back! It was such fun getting back in the styling and shooting mode, just like the old days at magazines, although a little trickier trying to juggle a DSLR on manual focus and a wriggling, grizzling baby!

Wreath from West Elm

This beautiful winter flower wreath from West Elm (see it here) is made of flax coloured linen, with each flower featuring a glittery stamen centre and it's only $47.90 AUD. It's on a foam core, so doesn't weigh anything, and is perfect for hanging on your front door. I added the striped ribbon and thought it looked great with the contrast of my charcoal door. Makes a nice change from the usual red and green don't you think. I was thinking of putting a wreath on both the inside and outside of our front door, then you've always got something pretty to look at.

I've been collecting Pottery Barn catalogues for about 12 years, and either pick them up when I visit the US or have them sent to friends who live there, and who are prepared to forward them on.  That was in the days you couldn't get products shipped here and I used to pore over the pages and drool and dream. Despite my husband's pleas, I refuse to throw them out. I bought many things for our house renovation from PB and have lots of personalised goodies for the kids from PBKids. So the thought of them opening just up the road gets me breathless with excitement! The money that is to be saved on shipping can be spent in store!

Stocking from Pottery Barn Kids

Christmas isn't Christmas without stockings for the kids. Whether you're a Santa Sack or Christmas stocking kind of family, (we have both) there's something for every taste at Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. I do love these Fair Isle woollen stockings and for around $30 AUD they are great value (see them here). And of course you can have everything personalised.

You can either hang them on a mantle if you have one or on a wardrobe door, or over a dining chair on Christmas Day is good too.

Stocking from Pottery Barn Kids

Stocking from West Elm

West Elm offers products with clean, modern lines and a slightly more retro feel. They produce beautiful quality products, with clever design using natural materials where possible. They have countless collaborations with designers, they like to work with artisans and non-profit workshops, have a green conscience and think great design and quality should be affordable. Sounds good to me!

These gorgeous silky soft velvet stockings come in three colours for $29.50 AUD (see them here). Something lovely, simple and elegant about them and I love the pom pom.

We don't have a fireplace or mantle so I thought a great place to hang them was up the staircase, or you could just find a nice window sill if you don't have stairs. I think they look smart against crisp white walls. We usually put them in the kids' bedrooms so they have them filled by Father Christmas overnight.

Stockings from West Elm

Stocking from Pottery Barn 

The detail of the stitching is beautiful and excellent quality. This is a lovely channel quilted velvet stocking from Pottery Barn for around $20 (see here). It comes in red and ivory too.

Plate from Williams-Sonoma

Williams-Sonoma, is the premier speciality retailer for gourmet cookware and home furnishings. Offering high quality, stylish products you will find whatever you need for your kitchen or any other room in the house at this deluxe store. It is the go-to store for everything kitchen and entertaining related for dedicated home cooks and professional chefs alike.

Here is a small taste of the vintage series, firstly a set of 4 vintage postcard china plates (see here) and below the vintage spoon tree decorations (see here).

Plate from Williams-Sonoma 

Plate from Williams-Sonoma

Spoons from Williams-Sonoma

Below, the classic monogrammable glass ball decoration from Pottery Barn can be personalised with your initial in any of 8 paint colours. And they are only $8.40 plus the cost of personalising. It's so ridiculously cheap, it amazes me (see them here).

Glass ornament from Pottery Barn

I often use ribbon to hang up my decorations, or I just tie bows on the tree. I love the effect and think it gives added colour and interest to the tree. Plus it just looks really pretty!

You can hang them on your tree or they are perfect as a placecard of sorts for each member of the family at the Christmas table.

Glass ornament from Pottery Barn

My grandmother has been making photo tree ornaments for our family for as long as I can remember, and I still have those she made of us as kids. She's done them for my little ones too, but it's harder to find those plastic balls that come apart so you can put a photo in them. 

I love this idea of the monogrammable framed ornaments (see here) and have already ordered some for my three. You can have them plain or monogrammed in a choice of four fonts, and they come in silver plate or bronze finish. For $14.40 you simply can't afford not to get these!

Frame ornament from Pottery Barn Kids

Yes, they are my kids in the frames (not Amanda or David!)

Frame ornament from Pottery Barn Kids

Again, they look great on the tree but also work a treat as a placecard at the Christmas table.

Frame ornament from Pottery Barn Kids

Here's a cute idea for the kids' table. Christmas themed BPA-free melamine plates which are perfect for kids as they can delight in the joy of the season and you don't have to worry about the good china! These come in a set of two for $14.40 (see here).

Plate from Pottery Barn Kids

Mercury glass ornament from Pottery Barn

Of course, there are countless tree ornaments to choose from at all four stores online, but here's a couple of beautiful glass ornaments from Pottery Barn (here). Set of 3 mercury glass ornaments for only $19.80 - you'd be paying that for each one in stores here. And they are big!

Ornaments from Pottery Barn

Ornament from Pottery Barn

How divine is this deep sapphire blue blown glass finial ornament $15 (here). It has the most beautiful inky pearlescent finish with contrasting silver glitter detail. I can't tell you how fab it looks with all my blue and white!

All photographs taken by me. This is not a sponsored post, and the opinions stated here are entirely my own. I was not asked to include prices or links, but believe that the stores offer customers outstanding value for money and wanted to show you just how much! (prices are indicative, so please check each online store for exact prices and please note personalising and shipping is extra).

I simply love the products and think they are exceptional value, quality and design. I for one can't wait until March! But you can order now from the US if you really can't wait! I already have!!

Have a great weekend! Is your tree up yet?