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Holiday-ready homes The historic 1806 home of the Marine Corps commandant on Capitol Hill is festively decorated for the holidays. Charlottesville shop owner Christy Ford’s easy and elegant seasonal look. Georgetown antiques dealer Marston Luce decorated his Cleveland Park home with fresh flowers and plants. Erin and Gregory Pitts, both in the design business, dressed their shingle-style, Gibson Island home in natural colors. Heidi and John Scanlon chose vibrant colors such as tangerine, fuchsia and raspberry for their Georgetown house.
2012: Capitol Hill
The living room has a large Christmas tree and photos of previous Marine Corps commandants.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
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2012: Capitol Hill
The 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, and his wife, Bonnie, invite more than 2,000 people to tour the house over the holiday season. The family tree, left, holds framed photos of Marine families from around the world.
Sgt. Mallory S. VanderSchans
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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
2012: Capitol Hill
Fifteen trees are decorated for the holidays at the commandant's house.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
John Philip Sousa artifacts, including his baton and flask, are displayed on the piano in the music room, along with a bronze standing Tiffany lamp with the dragonfly shade that withstood the rumble of the 2011 earthquake.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The official 200-year-old Washington residence of the Marine Corps commandant is decorated for the holidays inside and out.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The commandant's study is decked out for the holidays with a special tree holding aviation-themed ornaments created by many far-flung squadrons.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The children’s Christmas toy room in the commandant's house displays antique toys, as well as a highchair made by John Philip Sousa's father.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The formal dining room in the commandant's house seats 24. During the holidays, several different events are usually scheduled each day so that invited guests can see the home decorated for the holidays. There are tours, lunches and concerts, and many military families and wounded warriors are invited.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
All but the first two Marine commandants have lived in the Capitol Hill house. Official portraits of all previous commandants, except one, hang in the house.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
Military spouses spend hours festooning the house, including winding ribbons and garland down the main stairway.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
There are seven mantels in the house to decorate, and the volunteers do them up big. This mantel holds four stockings for the Amos grandchildren.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
A tree holds a collection of the official White House ornaments.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The front hall shows off the architectural details of the house and the custom carpet that has the Marine symbol woven into it.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The Tiffany lamp with the dragonfly glass shade is a 1920s piece donated by the Sousa family to the commandant's house.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
Chesty, an English bulldog — the official mascot of the Marine Corps — takes a tour of the home's decorations with Bonnie Amos standing by.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2012: Capitol Hill
The rear of the commandant’s house, surrounded by gardens, overlooks the parade deck.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
2011: Charlottesville
The Fords' 1911 stucco cottage at twilight. During the holidays, simple white lights, a miniature tree and fresh greens welcome guests.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
The Ford family gathers in their Charlottesville home. Clockwise from left: Christy, Henry, Ryan, Ruby and Tulip. Below, English bulldog George takes a breather.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
Family dogs George and Henrietta lounge by the fire in the Fords' living room, where branches cut from the Christmas tree were used to decorate the mantel.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
Christy Ford groups her collection of blue opaline glass for a striking seasonal display in the living room.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesvile
A velvet stocking hangs from the living room mantel beneath a grouping of seasonal fruit and branches cut from the Christmas tree.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
The dining room table is set for a holiday feast using Christy Ford's collection of blue opaline goblets, antique silver pieces and homemade gingerbread men placed on vintage china dinnerware.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
A dining room vignette shows off Christy Ford's easy and elegant holiday decorating style: fruit, flowers and fresh greens mingle with existing tabletop accessories.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
A detail from Fords' holiday dining room table.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
A fireplace in the dining room is dressed with white tulips, clementines and boxwood garland adorned with a string of kumquats.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011: Charlottesville
Christy Ford had a local artist and friend decorate an old bust with shells collected on various family trips. A pair of miniature stockings, made from antique textiles, hang beneath.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011:Charlottesville
Sisters Tulip, 4, and Ruby, 5, don their holiday attire and have a tea party in Ruby's bedroom. The decorations on the mantel and tree, which include flora, feathers and a teddy bear in a tutu, were Ruby's design.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2011:Charlottesville
Jan Roden, left, and daughter Christy Ford, with dog George in their Charlottesville home furnishing shop.
Christy Ford
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Courtesy of Christ Ford.
2010: Cleveland Park
A flower arrangement on Marston Luce's front door. Luce hired flower designer Jeanette Momeni to gently bring in the festive winter season with well-placed fresh flowers, plants and other natural decor.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
The entry to Luce's Cleveland Park home.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
Using some of Luce's antique urns and pots, Momeni styled combinations of bay leaves, protea, black privet and antique red hydrangea.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
The 1820 American pine mantel in the living room was dressed up with pots covered in lemon leaves.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
"Christmas has become way too manic," says Luce. "It should be a quieter time to be at home with just a few beautiful decorations."
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
"Marston and I are in different fields, but we share the same design sensibility," says Momeni.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
A woodsy tableau in the dining room.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
Over the years, Luce's national reputation for having an eye for high-end antiques and garden treasures has brought a long list of celebrities and celebrity decorators through his door: Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Bill Blass, Mario Buatta and Bunny Williams among them.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
A flower arrangement near the kitchen in Luce's home.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
Luce wanted the holiday decor to be natural, handpicked and long-lasting.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
"My house just needs some people in the rooms and the smell of good food cooking," says Luce. "It would be too selfish to keep this only for myself."
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
A detail from the front hall.
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
"Marston does with antiques what I do with flowers," says Momeni. "He is always stepping back and analyzing everything like a painter. He wants to achieve a restrained look."
John McDonnell
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The Washington Post
2010: Cleveland Park
Holiday decorations in the front window at Luce Antiques in Northwest Washington. Momeni decorated the store window.
Evy Mages
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For The Washington Post
2009: Gibson Island
The home of Erin and Gregory Pitts gets dressed for the holidays in the natural colors of this small island on the Chesapeake Bay.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
At the Pitts' house, they fill window boxes with clipped firs and magnolia leaves.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
Erin makes peppermint brittle with children Jackson, left, and Scarlet.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
For Christmas, the house is filled with fragrant greens and branches Erin cuts nearby.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
Greens are tucked into unexpected places, such as atop the oven fan.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
The Pitts children, Scarlet, left, and Jackson, plus little sister Hutton (not shown), have a lot of holiday adventures indoors and outdoors.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
The house is decorated in greens and branches, mixed with shells and blue and silver balls. Erin says she feels more comfortable with neutrals and blues than traditional reds and greens.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
Shells play a large part in the Pitts' decorating style. Erin piles them in bowls with coral and starfish, uses them in table settings and hangs them on her Christmas tree.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
The Pitts used an unexpected holiday color (navy velvet) for the family's Christmas stockings.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
The home's open plan makes it easy for family gatherings or entertaining guests. A classic detail: sunbrella sailcloth slipcovers on the dining chairs.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2009: Gibson Island
The Pitts family also enhances outdoor spaces with greens and accessories, such as these large glass balls.
Darko Zagar
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Darko Zagar
2008: Georgetown
The Scanlon family in Georgetown celebrates a color-drenched Christmas with green, orange, hot pink and red.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
Clockwise from top left: Anna, John, Heidi and Andrew Scanlon sit on the front steps of their home.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
The main staircase is dressed for the season with a red-feather wreath, silk dupioni ribbon wrapped around the bannister and a curtain panel tieback from Charlotte Moss repurposed as holiday decor.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
Hot pink accents dress the lime kitchen table, a favorite gathering spot in the house.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
A collection of mercury glass, snowmen and silver ornaments sit atop a desk in the dining room. The inspiration for the wall color was an orchid, Heidi says.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
Bookcases in the living room get an extra dose of accessories and color during the holidays.
Mark Finkenstaedt
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Mark Finkenstaedt
2008: Georgetown
Bold colors abound in the living room of this Georgetown home as traditional furnishings are made more modern with unexpected fabrics. "It's Southern with a bit of whimsy," owner Heidi Scanlon says.
Mark Finkenstaedt
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 3: The 200 year old Marine Commandant's official residence as decorated for the holidays on December, 03, 2012 in Washington, DC. Pictured, the formal dining room. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
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Section:/lifestyle/home-garden
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