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Window candles are the oldest exterior decoration in New England. They were a signal that a house was home and the door was open. On a cream saltbox we use nothing else upstairs: four windows, four candles. Downstairs, each window takes a plain green wreath hung outside the glass, and the door gets a third.
No bows, no lights in the wreaths. The candles are the light.
The Elevation
- 1Upstairs candles. Four windows, one electric candle each.
- 2Downstairs candles. Three windows, one candle each, behind the wreaths.
- 3Outdoor window wreaths. Plain evergreen, no bow, hung outside on clear hooks.
- 4Door wreath. The same wreath, centered on the green door.
- 5Granite step. Keep it shoveled and clear.
The Details
The Pieces
For upstairs candles · qty 4
For downstairs candles · qty 3
For outdoor window wreaths · qty 3
For outdoor window wreaths · qty 2
For door wreath · qty 1
Designer's Notes
Installation
Hang the window wreaths from the top sash on outdoor window hooks; they should sit just below the meeting rail. Candles go dead center on each sill.
Light
All seven candles on one timer schedule. Close interior curtains behind them so the candle silhouette reads from the street.
Budget
Tier II ($300 to $800): about $660 for everything on the list below at today's prices.
