Seasonal Outdoor Décor: Holiday Window Boxes : Annie Elliott Design

Happy Holidays, Gentle Readers! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope that you’re excited (and rested up) for whatever December holiday/s you celebrate.

Our Thanksgiving tradition is to visit my parents near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. That’s my adopted hometown: in addition to going to college in Philadelphia, I lived at 19^th and Spruce Streets when I was in my 20s, and I worked a few blocks away at the Rosenbach Museum & Library. My salad days ;)

Brick exterior of Philadelphia row house museum Rosenbach Museum & Library — The Rosenbach – pronounced Rosen-BACK ;)

Anyway, while walking Tilly to the dog park at the Schuylkill, John and I noticed that there were a LOT of exquisite window boxes on the (mostly fancy) rowhouses and the neighborhood restaurants.

Exterior of Philadelphia restaurant on Fitler Square — Hi, Tilly! Hi, John!

Window box with red berries on the exterior of Philadelphia restaurant on Fitler Square — Love this festive holiday one

We went to the dog park several times, and every time we wove through the streets a different way; we saw gorgeous window boxes every time.

Window boxes on interesting Philadelphia row house — Aren’t the details on this house so interesting?

Why, I wondered? Why are window boxes such a thing here?

Autumn fall-themed window boxes on Philadelphia brick row house — An abundance of fall!

Well, for one thing, there are no front gardens in this part of the city. If you want some kind of green – or seasonal plantings, or holiday decorations – window boxes appear to be the favorite vehicle. Some houses have planters in front, but far more have window boxes.

Planter outside Philadelphia restaurant — Restaurant planter

I think window boxes are super charming. To be honest, though, I usually think of them in a cottagey context. Colorful, untamed, informal.

Wild colorful window box on stone cottage — Cottage-y

Our walk through this corner of Philadelphia reminded me that window boxes can be delightfully urban. Here are some of the most interesting we saw: Halloween themed, fall themed, holiday themed, and just plain pretty.

Autumn or fall-themed window boxes with colorful gourds on Philadelphia brick row house

Halloween-themed window boxes on Philadelphia brick row house — Eeek!

Window boxes on Philadelphia brick row house — I love this actual box

Window boxes on 2 neighboring Philadelphia brick townhouses — Oooohh! Duelling window boxes on Delancey Place!

Window box on Philadelphia painted brick row house — This window box and the next appear to have been designed by the same person. Busted!

Window boxes on painted Philadelphia brick row house — At least they don’t live next door to each other…and really, who besides me is ever going to notice?

Window boxes on very cool tiled Philadelphia townhouse — I really just wanted to show you this neat-o tiled house. The window boxes are modest but pretty

Window boxes on Philadelphia brownstone row house — Brownstone boxes

Window boxes on Philadelphia brick townhouse — Magnolia leaves. Super elegant

Now, if *I* had window boxes, I’d probably plant a bunch of pansies and feel very proud of myself. Or I could do what these smart, stylish Philadelphians do and hire a service to come change the plantings seasonally. Because I definitely need another house thing to spend money on ;)

Elaborate holiday window box on Philadelphia brick row house — The pièce de résistance. Gorgeous!

Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, with offices in St. Michaels, Maryland and Middlebury, Vermont. Annie recently reported on 2022 design trends from High Point Market on NBC4.