Best friends Jane Piotrowski and Janice Manzi

For the past seven years Jane Piotrowski and Janice Manzi have been decorating for the CHCA Holiday House Tour. These best friends share a love for flowers and decorating, and always enjoy themselves while working together: “We laugh a lot and yell a lot!”

This year, Piotrowski is excited to open her own home to share with the community as a stop on the tour. Visitors may want to linger a little longer here to take in her very detailed work: "There are a lot of little vignettes, so one will have to take their time going through this little house, it is packed with ideas."

Piotrowski and Manzi use several different greens and plants for their designs. They combine the expected fir, cedar and boxwood with the bright reds of nandina and red twig dogwood, along with more unusual elements like moss and pussy willow. This creates a beautiful seasonal medley of color and natural texture in each home on the tour.

To add holiday house magic to your own space, Piotrowski recommends homeowners "try to bring the outside in. Add candle light, silver and gold, lots of fabrics and sparkle." State of mind is important, too, as she reminds us that the season "is really about memories." She honors her own family memories each year with her designs: "Decorating for the Holidays is a tribute to my parents, they loved that time of year and always did a beautiful job. I am just keeping it going."

Tour the Piotrowski residence, and four others this Saturday December 4th on the 2010 Holiday House Tour. Tickets are available online and cost $35.00. There are special rates available for groups and CHCA members. After the tour, keep your wristband on to enjoy discounts at Chestnut Hill restaurants and cafes!