No Tree? No Problem: 5 Easy Ways to Bring the Holidays Home

Holiday festivities look a bit different for all of us this year, with many of us planning to celebrate from home. And, while we might be skipping staples such as grand parties and neighborhood caroling, there’s still plenty to enjoy this winter. Below, find a few prevailing traditions that cater to anyone seeking a bit of warmth, light and life during this holiday season.

1. Bring Nature Indoors 

Adding the sweet smell of pine cones into your home is a great way to welcome the holiday spirit. Go simple by setting  a bowl of pine cones on your favorite coffee table, or spice it up by creating an intricate dining table centerpiece of pine cones and candles.

2. Get Creative with Your Greenery

While artificial  trees can be both convenient and gorgeous, there’s nothing quite like welcoming the real deal  into your home to bring cheer during chilly season. And why not go beyond the classic evergreen? Try potting some poinsettias in your home. The indoors is also the perfect setting for substitute trees like succulent Christmas trees that you can order off Etsy or create yourself. Alternatively, you can go even simpler and turn your existing house plants into festive yuletide decor by weaving some string lights around your standing fig trees. 

3. Deck the Walls

If you’re more into minimalism, sprucing up your space is as simple as hanging some mistletoe. However, if you want to bring in some yuletide tradition, creating a deconstructed Christmas tree out of a rope ladder and ornaments lingering around your inventory can be both gorgeous and creatively stimulating.

Source: Cox & Cox

4. Decorate with Branches Galore

For most people, styling a live pine tree in your home takes a lot of commitment and a lot of maintenance. Yet, both for those who celebrate Christmas and those who observe different winter holidays, adding a splash of classic evergreen can liven up the home in a brisk winter. And the simplest method for doing just that? Light a pine-scented candle or fashion pine tree branches in clear vases by your windowsill.

5. Opt for Seasonal Fabrics

The magic is in the materials — and sticking to seasonal fabrics always works. When it comes to upholstery, wool tartans, soft velvets, faux furs, and lightweight cashmeres are great choices to set the holiday mood indoors.

The Harrison Gift Guide: 6 Local Shops to Fulfill all of Your Holiday Needs

We’ve reached the season of gifting and gratitude — opportunities to show appreciation and joy, no matter if we’re together or apart. While gifting is an extraordinary quest for some and an anxious affair for others, a prevailing principle for finding the perfect present is to seek something that sparks joy — whether it be more practical or more extravagant. Luckily, for those of us avoiding shipping slowdowns and hoping to support local during this holiday season, San Francisco offers an array of creative, independently-curated boutiques to fulfill your giving spirit. Here are six nearby shops that keep it local, yet span a wide variety of gifting desires.

1. General Store

Peruse an eclectic inventory of home goods at this charming California-minded emporium. This local store situated in Outer Sunset carries all unconventionally beloved goods from vintage coffee table books to handcrafted jewelry. For those with a love for artisanal items and clean, rustic aesthetics, General Store is your one-stop shop. 

2. St. Frank

Image: Stylebeat

Located in Presidio Heights is St. Frank — a San Francisco-founded store that carries ethically-sources handmade, vintage, and printed pieces from around the globe. A step into St. Franks is like travelling to a microcosm of markets across the world, with options ranging from alpaca throw blankets woven in Peru to Oaxacan pottery fired in the south of Mexico.

3. b8ta

No Bay Area gift guide would be complete without paying homage to the tech hub that San Francisco has evolved into. While consumer electronics tend to toe the line of the more practical side of gifting, there’s no reason as to why tech can’t be festive and fun — which is why SF is lucky to have two b8ta locations in Hayes Valley and Mission Bay. A gifting haven for tech-lovers, b8ta stocks the most innovative electronics, from typewriter-inspired bluetooth keyboards to AI voice translators that fit into your pocket.

4. Le Dix-Sept

Perfect for more casual acquaintances, the sweet and edible variety of gifts are the perfect mix of ephemeral and practical. Le Dix-Sept is the Mission District’s tastiest artisan bakery and patisserie. Known for their botanically-inspired pastry art, Le Dix-Sept is also offering a delectable nougat gift box this time of year — soft and chewy confectionery treats with a generous shelf life of a couple of months.

5. Museum of Craft and Design

Image: SFMCD

Known for their engaging exhibitions and collaborations, the waterfront Museum of Craft and Design also has a store with an inventory practically made for leisure gifting. This contemporary design store offers curbside pickup for their wide variety of unique accessories, home goods, books, gifts and children’s toys. From handcrafted home goods by local artisans to carefully curated art books for children, their collection spans all of your recipients’ needs.

6. The Epicurean Trader

Holiday parties may be out of style in 2020, but spirits remain as classic gifts perfect for any occasion. The Epicurean Trader has several in-person shopping locations open, and has been recognized by several publications as the best store for wine and spirits in the city. Peruse their rare Japanese whisky collection or go for a cocktail kit for the quintessential box-and-bow gift. 

Meet Residence 37B: Two-Bedroom Haven Amongst the Skyline

From The Harrison’s remaining available residences comes this two-bedroom floor plan with an impressively open layout and extensive city and Twin Peaks vistas beyond floor-to-ceiling windows. This residence delights with supreme interior design finishes, inclusive of diagonal-planked Siberian Oak floors, polished white slab Carrara marble countertops and unlacquered Waterworks brass fixtures, all whilst set to unparalleled vistas. Set high above the city, yet moments from San Francisco’s most sought-after restaurants, shops and local attractions, this residence brings to fruition a deluxe lifestyle marked by five-star amenities, 24/7 concierge service and inimitable details selected by renowned designer Ken Fulk.

Two Bedroom Floorplan

Upon entering the foyer’s grand hallway, ideal for the greatest of art collectors, one is drawn into the kitchen—complete with Studio Becker Ash Molina cabinetry, polished Carrara marble counters and Bertazzoni and Subzero appliances—and the adjacent dining and living rooms. Embraced by floor-to-ceiling windows, this integrated living and dining space captivates from sunrise to sundown with unobstructed views of the San Francisco skyline and Twin Peaks

Kitchen

From the dining area, one can—too—access the home’s balcony, which serves as the ideal spot to unwind and revel in city views while high above the bustle below. Additionally, one of the home’s bedrooms resides just off the living and dining room, boasting far-reaching views of Twin Peaks. To the right of the entry hallway, the master suite embodies a truly posh city retreat. Replete with high-end decorative finishes, a lavish spa-like bath and expansive San Francisco views, the master realizes a cozy yet deluxe haven amidst the sky. Here, one can escape the hustle of urban living and dwell both comfortably and beautifully.

Master Bedroom

Learn more about The Harrison’s residences, explore the neighborhood or inquire about this particular floor plan.

5 Home Decor Tips to Embrace the Winter Spirit

Seasonal changes serve as the perfect opportunity to refresh your living space. From more pragmatic ways to adapt to the weather to more festive ideas that match the holiday spirit, here are some tips for bringing a change of scenery into your home this winter at The Harrison.

1. Drape a New Winter Throw

Throws are a classic way to both add a pop of texture to a room and also bundle up from the cold. Warm fibers such as wool and alpaca are perfect for cozying up without drying out your skin from overuse of your central heating system. Try out a faux fur thrown over neutral bedding or a colorful accent draped over our beloved couches curated by renowned designer Ken Fulk. 

2. A Touch of Pine

For most people, styling a live pine tree in your home takes a lot of commitment and a lot of maintenance. Yet, both for those who celebrate Christmas and those who observe different winter holidays, adding a splash of classic evergreen can liven up the home in a brisk winter. And the simplest method for doing just that? Add a bowl of pinecones to your centerpiece, light a pine-scented candle or clip a few pine tree branches to place in clear vases by your windowsill. 

3. Add Texture

Take a page from Ken Fulk’s book and enhance the tactile and visual texture of your space. It never hurts to add a touch of winter-specific elements to the year-round style of your residence’s interior to keep the atmosphere dynamic. Soft sheepskins, deep velvets, cable-knit wools, and luxurious jacquards are all perfect winter-friendly fabrics to lend to your space. Swap out furnishings such as accent pillows, window curtains, and various upholstery for richer textures and deeper colors to up the ambiance of your winter wonderland.

4. Let it Glow

The time of year with the least daylight deserves as much attention to indoor lighting as possible. Invest in a new floor lamp for your favorite reading nook and hang some classic string lights to really light up the corners of your home. For a more rustic atmosphere, consider going cordless with beautiful reflective lanterns or flameless candles to avoid a fire hazard. And lucky for those who live at The Harrison, the twinkling Bay Bridge lights emanate just beyond our floor-to-ceiling windows.

5. Candles that Delight the Senses

Winter candles never fail as a subtle source of warmth and fragrance in your home. While flameless tea light candles are a safe option for gorgeous centerpieces and candle logs, nothing quite compares to a real candle to stir your favorite seasonal aroma around your home.