My Christmas Home Tour 2015

Welcome to my Christmas Home Tour!

 

I’m so happy to have you here for a bit of holiday cheer! Every year I look forward to Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday House Walk and I’m so honored my Christmas home is part of it. Each day this week there are several stunning homes on virtual display. Rusty Hinge is on the schedule just before me so if you’re visiting from Maria’s … welcome to my humble home!

The Holiday House Walk is partnering with Joss and Main and Good Housekeeping. You’ll find a few goodies from Joss and Main in my home this year!

 

Christmas Entryway

Take the chill off and step inside my Christmas entryway! We’ve already had our first snowfall of the season which helped put me in the holiday decorating mood. I like to play a few Christmas carols to keep the inspiration going, along with a flavorful cup of coffee to keep me energized!

 

This year I let hubby help me with some of the decorating. I’ve noticed little things he does to the decor (quite inadvertently, I might add), and they look cute and whimsical so I decided to tap into his creativity a bit.

 

Like this branch in my blue glass vase. He stuck it in there. I had it laying around thinking I might use it for something, and then the cats knocked it to the ground and started batting it about the floor.

 

He picked it up and stuck it in my blue glass jar and I thought, “That would be really cute for Christmas decorated with silver ornaments!”

 

Here’s a very important decorating tip … the stick wouldn’t stay upright in the jar so I wedged a wine cork in there to keep it secure. I do that a lot actually … use wine corks to prop flowers up. I never throw out my wine corks. Do you know they charge $10 at craft stores for a bag full of them? Ridiculous!

 

I needed something blue on the wall to complement the vase with the twig Christmas tree and found this snowy sign. I would’ve preferred to make one myself, but time ran out.

 

A glitter reindeer and greens in vintage bottles complete the look.

 

Every Christmas, I have to include poinsettias in my holiday decorating. This year I chose beautiful creamy white flowers. Well, technically hubby picked them out (without me in tow), but I instructed him on the color. He did a good job.

 

The poinsettias grace the entryway, setting the stage for the rest of the house.

 

Christmas Living Room

Adjacent to the entryway is our living room. I’ve done a slight bit of rearranging in here. I get bored with the house and it’s better to move things around than buy new furniture. My little lamb adornment still hangs from the door jam between the living and dining rooms. My daughter still can’t figure out why he’s there, but sometimes those are the best additions to home decor … the ones that don’t always make sense.

 

I did add a cozy new throw from Joss and Main for the holiday. It’s so soft and perfect for the Christmas season.  The script pillows are also new finds from Joss and Main.

 

On the vintage coffee table is a collection of bottle brush trees. I’ve been crushing on these trees for many years now. I’ve made some of my own to save on the cost, because I just can’t get enough of them.  Some women collect shoes … I collect bottle brush trees.

 

On the other side of the room is my new flying reindeer from Joss and Main. I was looking for something unique on this wall above the barn board shelf, and Rudolph was the perfect solution!

 

A forest of my treasured bottle brush trees makes it appear as though Rudolph is flying overhead on Christmas Eve.

 

 

The final touch was a “Merry” sign, and of course, more creamy white poinsettias.

 

On the desk are metallic ornaments in a vintage style box, with a glittery script bird keeping watch over the treasure.

 

On the other side of the desk, a French bird keeps another script bird company.

 

In another corner of the living you’ll find more metallic ornaments and a pair of bottle brush wreaths. A glittery stocking on the newel post awaits presents from Santa.

 

Christmas Dining Room

I’m hosting Christmas dinner this year and will probably try a few different table settings in the dining room before finally choosing one. A soft garland adorns the entry into the dining area.

 

I added a garland for a table runner and graced my hutch with more greenery.

 

Small bits of greenery hang from the backs of the chairs, secured in place with gold metallic ribbon.

 

The centerpiece is a cake stand filled with shiny baubles and beaded garland.

 

This year I opted for a little more glamour using silver and gold, with greens to keep things soft.

 

I love the pairing of shiny metallics with soft, natural greens.

 

My dining buffet is spread with glitter putz houses and a few bottle brush trees.

 

I’m lovin’ a touch of glitz and glam this Christmas. Last year my holiday home tour focused on more colorful vintage pieces. I can’t decide which look I like best.

 

 

Mirrors above the buffet are embellished with a single ornament.

 

The older the mirror, the better.

 

My Belsnickel Santa keeps watch over a trio of bottle brush trees.

 

And a tiny sheet music bird takes residence in my dining hutch.

 

Christmas Kitchen

In the kitchen, I’ve kept my Christmas decorating somewhat simple. I love to cook and need to move around so any unnecessary decor would get in the way and frustrate me.

 

Small pops of green are all that’s needed. I’m lucky to have a green floor for my Christmas home tour.

 

A couple of small Christmas trees keep the green and white theme going in this space. I’m so ready to do some holiday baking! The past couple of years I’ve been too busy to bake cookies but this year is going to be different. I also have a recipe for an awesome cake I want to make … I’ll be sure to share it here on my blog!

 

I found a sweet little “Merry” mug for Christmas this year, and  couple of chocolate marshmallow sticks for hot beverages. A miniature boxwood wreath adorns my vintage mirror.

 

My breakfast nook is set for a simple Christmas breakfast with a grain sack table runner.

 

I tucked one of hubby’s poinsettias in a white ironstone pitcher.  We’ve got Rudolph in the living room, while Dancer and Prancer are here in the kitchen on coffee mugs.

 

I love drinking coffee out of different mugs in the morning. Hubby and I enjoy trying different flavored coffees and creamers. Honestly, I prefer a cup of home-brewed coffee over one at a coffee shop.

 

A small Putz house village serves as the centerpiece on our breakfast table.

 

These little glitter houses make me smile so what better way to start the day than with their frosty scene in the breakfast nook?

 

Look at the simple details like windows painted in a contrasting color and snowballs in the front.

 

This one has a charming chimney and arched windows. Even the roof has striations like it’s made of metal. I need to try my hand at making these. I’d love to have a big collection someday.

 

My kitchen sideboard is fairly simple this year too.  Whenever I hang garland from this shelf, we end up knocking it down anytime we grab one of the coffee mugs. And we use those all the time … for coffee, soup, even oatmeal!

 

Hubby added the candle to this vignette and propped the Noel star against it. I think I need to have him start helping decorate around the house more. It sure would save me some time!

 

Hubby also wanted me to use the sheep in a vignette in our Christmas home, so I added him to the top of the painted breadbox with a couple of shiny baubles.

 

Our kitchen has an old fashioned Christmas tree this year. I found this faux fir at Joss and Main and fell in love with its shape. It’s a pre-lit tree but I have the lights off during the day. When it arrived at the front door I had hubby prop it up in my 3-gallon stone crock.

 

I added the colored bead garland (and yes, hubby picked it out at the store).

 

Hubby wanted to drape the silver beads on the tree so I let him have at it and I didn’t change anything!  Did you notice how he draped a strand over the star on top? I love that haphazard touch he added to the tree.

 

Remember that “Merry” sign in the living room?  The second half is strewn across the built-in cabinet. We’ve got just one more room left to see  …

 

Christmas Family Room

Our main Christmas tree is in the family room. Last year it was set up in the living room, but I like to move it around from time to time. I went with a different look for our tree this year. Last year I had colorful vintage ornaments hanging from the branches.

 

But this year I wanted something a little more glamorous and frosty looking. Wooden stars hang in the windows and a fluffy blue throw keeps me warm and cozy on the couch.

 

Gold and blue pillows fill the white sectional.

 

My mercury glass garland adorns the rusty ceiling tin again, just like it did last year.

 

A collection of mercury glass votive candles congregate on a small white ironstone platter.

 

A large silver sphere nestles in a greens-filled, decoupaged cigar box.

 

A vintage paper chain garland encircles the Christmas tree.

 

Frosty spheres are tucked inside the branches.

 

The proverbial car with a Christmas tree on top hangs nearby.

 

And I always have to have a Santa on the tree!

 

Now that the house is decorated, I can hopefully focus on doing a little baking and shopping for Christmas gifts. Since hubby was a good helper this year, I’m going to get him something extra special.

 

I hope Robert likes what he finds under the tree this year!

Thanks so much for visiting my Christmas home today! The next house on the Holiday House Walk is Laura’s at Duke Manor Farms. I love her home and know you will too!  Laura and I have the same Christmas decoration in our homes this year.  Let’s see if you can spy what it is!!

 

Remember … you can access the very start of the tour at Jennifer Rizzo’s blog.

Jennifer wrote a wonderful Christmas book last year … Creatively Christmas that you can order.  I’m honored to say my home appears in the book!

Enjoy the Holiday House Walk!