Since Melaine was a little girl, she has always dreamed of creating beautiful spaces. From rearranging her bedroom as a child to going on frequent trips to thrift stores with her mom, she now expresses her passion for DIY projects and interior design via My Sweet Savannah. She began her blog in the hope of providing her readers ideas on creating their dream home. Now a mom herself, she wants her children to be part of her DIY world. Don’t be surprised to see her with her children wherever and whenever there’s a garage sale or bazaar.
She is the definition of muted rustic elegance, and this is the reason why her work has been featured in several lifestyle magazines and websites. A resourceful designer, she knows how to find an ideal balance when promoting sources such as linen and boxwood. Her eye for great finds is unmatched; I found the deer on aged wood intriguing, with its beautiful background made of fabric.
Melaine appreciates the beauty of understatement and stays away from the flashy stuff. Her design exhibits her mastery of lighter tones, which she incorporates into her own home. In my interview with Melaine, we spoke about her holiday decorating style and her preference for Balsam Hill’s Easy Plug trees.
BH: How did you come up with the name of your blog? How has blogging changed your life?
Melaine: I named my blog after my daughter Savannah. Through my blog, I have met so many wonderful people, and that has been the biggest impact blogging has had on me.
BH: What are some holiday decorating do’s and don’ts you like to share with your readers?
Melaine: DECORATING DON’T: Stray too far away from your home’s overall look and feel. For example, if you live in a cabin, stick with rustic decorations. Adding glitzy items might look out of place.
DECORATING DO: Stick with what you love. If you have kids, let them get involved.
BH: How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Are you more inclined to stick with the classics or do you like to experiment?
Melaine: I like to experiment every year with my holiday décor, but the resulting décor often doesn’t last more than a few days. I end up taking them all down and putting up my classic pieces. That being said, though, I also like to move things around and try out décor in different parts of the house.
BH: What is your must-have ornament or piece of Christmas decor, and why?
Melaine: My must-have pieces each year are the ornaments that my kids have made over the years. Those go on the tree no matter what. They hold a special place in my heart, and the kids love to reminisce while looking at them every year.
BH: Do personal memories play a significant part in how you decorate for the holidays? Would you mind sharing a little bit about a holiday memory that left a great impression on you?
Melaine: We are big on tradition in our family. Growing up, we always had lights outside our house. I can’t imagine going a year without doing the same on our house now. For me, making our home warm and cozy means decorating the exterior as well as the interior.
BH: What was your thought process when you chose your Balsam Hill tree? Did you have a specific type of tree in mind beforehand, or did the tree you ended up choosing just strike your fancy?
Melaine: I had a hard time choosing a tree from Balsam Hill because I loved them all! I actually ended up getting three. The one I chose for this tour was one of the most realistic trees I ever saw, and that made the choice a bit easier. It really does look real! One of my guests the other day had to physically touch it to see that it wasn’t real. I chose one with white lights because I think that gives the tree a classic look.
BH: What do you like most about your Balsam Hill tree? How do you plan to decorate it?
Melaine: I love the Easy Plug system. Not having to fumble through the tree to find the cords was so nice! I literally had it set up in less than 10 minutes!
BH: What can we look forward to on your blog this holiday season? Do you have exciting new holiday decor or party ideas?
Melaine: This holiday season you will find lots of holiday décor DIY’s and a lot of holiday recipes. I like to show people how to decorate outside the box, and with little money. I also like showing my readers how to create things from items they already have at home.
