Behind the scenes: Scouting stories for 2012

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The tree in Michael’s living room is decorated with German decorations, many of which are from The Christmas Haus in New Oxford. Photo submitted by Michael Sell, owner of Creative Environments by Michael in York

I exist in a time warp. I was done with the holidays on Halloween. I will put winter to bed on Wednesday. I’ve been thinking about spring 2012 for weeks.

That’s the way the world works for the editor of a bimonthly magazine.

This is one of many German-made glass ornaments on Michael Sell’s Christmas tree.

We produce each issue of Smart about two months before it hits your mailbox, so we’re always off by a season.

It leads to some interesting challenges, and I learned that I need to work a year ahead if I want Smart to reflect the appropriate seasons.

This means I have to find beautiful homes decked out for the holidays now, so I will have Christmas decor in the holiday 2012 issue.

Last week, I visited the home of York interior designer Michael Sell, who has been tipping me off to beautiful homes in southcentral Pennsylvania for years. When he called a few weeks ago, he invited me to his home to see how he decorates for the season.

Michael goes all out for the holidays. The decorations start on the front porch and extend through his home.

I joked with Michael that there’s nothing subtle about his decorations, evident on his front porch adorned by lights to create a warm holiday scene. He said his neighbors thought this house was on fire the first time he turned them on.

He also happens to have some adorable dogs and lovely antiques. (Read more about the lamps shown below at Papergreat.)

This Rembrandt lamp shade is coated with milk glass, Michael said, so it looks white when it’s off.

When the light is on, the green glass underneath shines through, making the shade look green.

Among the many ornaments on the tree in his living room is a hand-painted glass rhinoceros. I think it looks neat among the glittering white lights. He also has a giraffe, wild boar, baboon, polar bear, gorilla and a macaw on the tree.

Michael told me the best was yet to come, in the form a 9-foot-tall tree decorated with beach-theme ornaments he had yet to put up.

You’ll have to wait until November 2012 to see what that one looks like.

I would love to see your home decked out for the holidays, too! Please send photos and your name and daytime contact information to keberle@ydr.com by Jan. 6. Feel free to nominate a friend or a neighbor, too. You will also be entered to win a $20 Target gift card.

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