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Christmas never ends at Brandys & Bourg in Burr Ridge
Lynn Brandys decorated an angel in garden and earthy colors for the Christmas season at Brandys and Bourg in Burr Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
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NAME: Brandys & Bourg
SPECIALTY: Interior design and home accessories, including customized holiday decor
LOCATION: 124 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
CONTACT: (630) 734-0000, brandys-and-bourg.com
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Updated: September 24, 2012 1:29AM
BURR RIDGE — For Lynn Brandys, Christmas really does come in July – and most other months, for that matter.
“The buying starts in January,” said Brandys, co-owner of Brandys & Bourg, an interior design and home accessories store in County Line Square in Burr Ridge.
Orders of this year’s holiday ornaments, baubles and garlands are arriving daily, and she’s already busy turning those materials into one-of-a-kind decorations for her customers’ homes.
While most people are thinking of fall fashions or even late-summer sales, Brandys is elbow deep in what will be popular hall decking materials this holiday season.
“Last year, we couldn’t keep the elves in stock,” said Gene Jasmer, visual merchandiser and salesman at the store.
While elves certainly will be found in the Brandys & Bourg showroom again this year, Brandys said she also is seeing a return to natural, organic-inspired decorations.
To keep up with the trend, she’s using plenty of succulent plants, both natural and artificial, and metal ribbons along with greenery, pine cones and red berries.
“I always try to zap it just a little bit with color to make it pop,” she said.
Boxes full of already beautiful holiday items are arriving constantly, but they won’t leave the store in the same way they came.
“We embellish almost everything,” Brandys said.
Her Garden Angel will be a signature piece this holiday season. The table-sized angel figure arrived with wings as her only accessory. She will leave the store festooned with holiday splendor.
“They’re not going to find it just like this anywhere else,” she said.
This is Brandys & Bourg’s third holiday season in Burr Ridge, but Brandys has transformed items from flat to fabulous for more than 40 years, after making the transition from high school science teacher to artist and interior designer.
Customers can shop the showroom for items or ideas.
“I don’t mind if people come in here, look and get ideas,” she said. In fact, she plans to hold seminars this fall to help people incorporate her ideas and expertise into their own creations.
Brandys will work her magic wherever it’s needed, including in clients’ homes.
For $50 per hour, Brandys will customize a home’s holiday décor. She can incorporate the client’s own pieces or start from scratch. But no matter what might need bedazzling this holiday, the time to start planning is now.
Holiday appointments made by Sept. 1 receive a 10 percent discount.
“We can do as little or as much as you want us to,” Brandys said. “But they need to come in early.”
