Fa, la, la, la, la! My Christmas decorating is done!
And just in time, too! I’m participating in a virtual showcase of homes with 29 other bloggers this week.
We are sharing hundreds of holiday decorating ideas, so after you’ve finished touring my house, make sure you pop over to see how the other bloggers have bedecked and tinseled their homes for Christmas. (And be sure to read to the end of this post for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate to One Kings Lane, plus a Santa bag full of goodies! The grab bag includes Maison Blanche Furniture paint and wax valued at $60 from Fox Hollow Cottage; a $50 gift voucher from Woodberry Designs for the Tilda Collection crafting supplies and accessorie; a $50 gift voucher to The Shop At The Crossroads; a handmade vintage grain sack stocking from My Soulful Home, valued at $50; a collection of vintage linens valued at $50 from Kirb Appeal; and a Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint sampler valued at $60 from me.
Now, on with my tour. There are lots of photos and photo collages and a lot of details for you to take in, so I’ll keep my comments brief. (Or I’ll try. I tend to ramble.)
Let’s start at the front porch.
I kept things mostly natural and used lots of magnolia leaves and pinecones.
Just a few simple garlands.
A pair of DIY flocked trees decorated with magnolia leaves and Epsom salt ornaments.
An olive bucket stuffed with magnolia and pinecones.
These lanterns were an early Christmas gift to myself. After the holiday, I’ll take them inside and use them elsewhere. (This would be a good time to invite you to check out my home tour to see what my house looks like the rest of the year.)
My planter made from old windows holds a poinsettia.
My antique tool box is just the right color for Christmas.
Now, let’s head inside the foyer and entryway, where I always showcase my vintage pottery.
At Christmas, I bring out my collection of vintage Christmas houses and display them on my painted buffet
alongside some special ornaments.
Now here’s a space I’ve never shown you before. It’s the vestibule between the foyer and the living room.
I’ll be hosting a family Christmas get-together next weekend, and this will be the dessert table. I promise to share more photos of the table loaded with sweets, and I may share a few recipes, too.
This is the perfect time to take a detour to the dining room.
It sits right off the foyer.
The table is set for the family next weekend.
I chose traditional Christmas colors in here.
With a touch of whimsy and glitter.
Now, I want to show you the tree.
It’s the centerpiece of our living room.
This is not a designer tree. Each ornament has a memory and a story attached to it. Some are handmade, and others were bought on trips and some have been passed down. As a family, we love unwrapping each ornament and reliving the memories attached to them.
And each year we make new ones.
I think the living room has an eclectic, vintage feel. This year, I think our Christmas decor really reflects that.
I made a new garland for the staircase (with a little help from my husband and son), by tucking magnolia leaves and gilded pinecones into a shimmery faux champagne garland. Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make a garland like mine.
I couldn’t resist adding a little touch of boxwood to the armoire doors that are camouflaging our thermostat.
A more glitzy garland tops our TV cabinet, a piece of furniture I don’t think I’ve every show you before.
There are so many other details in the living room I’d like to show you. Stay tuned all month for more posts that showcase decorating details room by room.
Here’s one more shot of our Christmas tree at night before we head into the keeping room, breakfast nook and kitchen area.
Throughout the entire downstairs of our house, each room pretty much opens into the next.
But I didn’t let that keep me from giving each room a distinct decorating personality for Christmas. Yet, it all works well together.
The theme in the keeping room is definitely cozy and inviting. A little rustic mixed with woodlands and farmhouse.
You’ll spy lots of green and red in here.
Grain sacks galore.
Plus a little plaid, ticking, toile and even an old red-and-white quilt.
I used lots of natural and vintage touches.
I may be slightly obsessed with boxwood.
And pops of red.
Amid all the natural elements, I had to include a little luxe
in the form of vintage silver and mercury glass.
Thanks so much for taking the time to tour my holiday home. I wish you could come visit for real!
If you want to stop back by, be sure to Pin the image above so you can easily find my tour.
Also, be sure you check out last year’s Christmas house tour to see how I changed things up without purchasing a lot of new decorations.
And don’t forget to visit all the other participants in the All Things Home Christmas Tour. The full schedule is below. (And after that, you’ll find the entry for the $200 One Kings Lane gift certificate and Santa’s grab bag of prizes.)
Monday
Worthing Court
French Country Cottage
Atta Girl Says
Town and Country Living
Decor Adventures
Lilacs and Longhorns
Tuesday
Marty’s Musings
Mom 4 Real
All Things Beautiful
Making Home Base
The Happier Homemaker
The Lily Pad Cottage
Wednesday
The Everyday Home
Craftberry Bush
Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll
AKA Design
Hymns and Verses
Our Southern Home
Thursday
Stone Gable
Adventures in Decorating
Newly Woodwards
Setting for Four
Back Porch Musings
All Things Heart and Home
Friday
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Cottage at the Crossroads
Top This Top That
Domestically Speaking
Mommy is Coocoo
Shabby Art Boutique
Kate
I winced when I saw the false armoire doors in front of the thermostat.
A thermostat cannot work properly to maintain the temperature of your house if it is blocked. (same would apply to the other thermostat “hiding” ideas out there – canvases, faux picture frames, etc.)
I am sure that your house feels fine, but if it’s often too cold or too hot then those faux armoire doors are probably your culprit.
Other than that, your Xmas decorations are lovely – you & yours did a wonderful job!
Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
It all looks so beautiful! But, the tree is my favorite! FANTASTIC! Merry Christmas! Melissa
Atta Girl Amy
Thank you. We love our tree and I couldn’t imagine Christmas without our keepsake ornaments. Each one is so special — even the Yoda we added this year, and it’s definitely not designer! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Nancy Carroll
Oh Amy, everything is just fabulous!!! I’m in love with that green checked ribbon!!…all the boxwoods, turquoise mercury glass, the sled, your buffet all decorated so pretty and those beautiful garlands!! You must have started decorating a month ago…and planning since last Christmas!! Great Job!
Heather
Amy your Christmas Home tour is absolutely stunning!! What a beautiful home you have made even more lovely with all of the festive touches you added! Love you Christmas tree!! And we have matching vintage sleds too!! I really love how you used magnolia leaves all thru your home! I miss my Virginia magnolia trees! It’s been fun to party with you!
Kim@NewlyWoodwards
Your home is truly lovely. I love all the touches of magnolia and all the greenery. And I really love the wreaths on your kitchen chairs and te Harland on the stairs. It’s totally festive.
Suzy @ Worthing Court
Oooh, Amy – it is all just beautiful! You did a fabulous job of decorating your entire home! I don’t know which photo to gush over the most – it’s all just gorgeous. The magnolia garland is stunning – can’t wait to see the tutorial. I’ll be coming to visit in person so I can get an up close and personal tour! 😀