La Maison Chic, an interior decorating company run by designer Laurent Billiet, will turn your entire house around with interior and exterior decorations for the festive season. We're not talking about a few fairy lights, however . . . prices for a basic decoration service start at 3,000- 5,000, and many Irish people are spending up to 15,000 on having their home decorated.

"These days, there are a lot more people out there availing of our services because they want their house to look its best at Christmas but they don't want to have the stress of doing it themselves, " said Billiet. "They want an amazing tree, beautiful decorations and the best flowers, but they will end up spending up to three full days shopping for these items.

This is where we come in."

Following a consultation with the client, Billiet and his team source all the materials and spend up to a day on the initial decoration. This year, there has been a huge demand for natural decorations such as fresh pine garlands sprayed in gold or silver, real berries and flowers in wreaths, bowls of real fruit sprayed and textured with sprinkles and lace.

"People can spend a lot of money, depending on how many flowers and what kind of finishing touches they want, " said Billiet. Expensive extras include linen tablecloths and certain types of flowers such as orchids and baccarat roses (which are up to 50 apiece).

For tree decorations, Lalique and Waterford Crystal figurines are extremely popular. These cost between 50 and 90 and are collectors' items, according to Billiet.

"Some clients might order between 20 and 40 in the first year, and then get another five every year from then on, " he said. "We also have little devices we can attach to each ornament so it spins slowly around, catching the light as it turns. They're really eye-catching."

Billiet has 30 homes from around the country booked in for the month of December, including some apartments.

Most of the decorating will take place between the 1st and 10th of the month, but on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, Billiet and his staff will be busy refreshing the flowers and fruit for each client.

Once the festive season is over, La Maison Chic remove the Christmas tree and other disposable decorations.

"We tend to do as much outside the house as inside, because people want their neighbours to enjoy their decorations as well, " said Billiet. "We still get requests for flashing lights, but unless the client really wants it, we wouldn't advise that kind of look. Instead, we concentrate on classy candles, garlands and wreaths, everything that is natural and, most importantly, real. That includes real silk, real linen, natural crystal ornaments, real wood and glass.

That is by far the best look."

WHEN ONLY A WHITE ORCHID WILL DO

THE standard price for decorating your house for Christmas costs between /3,000 and /5,000, with candles, gold thread ribbons, Christmas tree, pine garlands and standard flowers included in this price.

White orchids, jasmine, camelias and special request roses are not included.

Baccarat roses are /25 each, while orchids are /50 each. Pierre Frey linen tablecloths cost /200 each for a standard 2.5m long by 1.6m wide. To decorate your Christmas tree with Waterford Crystal ornaments will cost /50 per decoration, while Lalique crystal ornaments are /90 each.

www. lamaisonchic. ie, 086-2242328