McMillans Author Holiday Home Books

June 19, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on June 20, 2011

Patricia Hart McMillan and Katharine Kaye McMillan have authored three holiday home decorating books with room photos in houses ranging from cottages to castles.

"Christmas At Historic Houses" features two castles, Biltmore and Waddesdon Manor (Lord Rothschild's English country home); and a Texas plantation house and its last remaining slave cabin, The Heard-Northington House, as well as more than 30 houses from across the United States.

"Decorating For Christmas At Historic Homes" showcases more than 25 houses, each spectacularly decked out for the holiday. Also included are Villa Finale in San Antonio and The LBJ Ranch, with stories of Christmases past at the Ranch as told by the late Lady Bird Johnson and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb. Tips for holiday decorating shows readers how to create Christmas cheer all through the house.

"Delicious Christmas Decorations" focuses on decorations combining greenery and fruits (fresh, dried and faux) inspired by historic styles. Design and tabletop expert Pat McMillan demonstrates how to interpret historic decorations for today, using readily available materials.

All three Christmas books showcase historic and contemporary interpretations of holiday decorating that can be re-invented for any home.

"Lavish decorating need not cost a fortune. Some items shown may be bought even at San Antonio Goodwill stores, as I did," said Pat, an interior designer and decorating editor/writer in San Antonio.

"The history of Christmas in America and the ways in which families celebrated the Winter holiday connects us with our rich heritage," said Kat McMillan, a research psychologist and design writer, also in San Antonio. "As Pat shows, decorating for the Holidays can be done in a style to suit every budget."


Patricia Hart McMillan has served as a NYC-based decorating editor and interior designer who holds degrees in English literature, Art History, and a certificate in design from the New York School of Interior Design. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Designer and many national and regional decorating magazines and syndicated columns.

Katharine Kaye McMillan holds a doctorate in social cognitive psychology from Florida Atlantic University and  BA from the University of Texas. She was a decorating columnist for the Palm Beach Post. She also consults on human factors/environmental design and human performance. She has been a national TV spokesperson for a leading household scent manufacturer.

Other titles by the McMillans include "Home Decorating For Dummies", "Do-It-Yourself Painting For Dummies", and five other coffee table books.