A: I love setting the tables with fresh flowers for the holidays — and all the days in between, too, for that matter. Real flowers make any room or table that much more beautiful. We use our vintage Imari china which has red and blue in it, so I like to pick up on those colors with dahlias, garden roses, hydrangeas and Ilex berry branches from the farmers market. For table centerpieces, I keep it low and flat so people can see each other and conversation flows. And tall holly branches like Ilex make a dramatic statement in hallways or entryways (and make sure to keep small children and pets away from the berries). — Tory

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