HOME TOUR

Merry Christmas friends. This year’s home tour is an abridged version simply because this season has slipped away from me. How is it already the middle of December?! Between school pick-ups and drop-offs, Christmas concerts, and holiday parties I’ve found myself exceedingly busy and behind. But this is also my favorite season so I want to share some a Christmas Home Snapshot of this old home all joyously decked out for the Christmas season.

This year’s color scheme played off the deep rich browns, rusty reds and pops of a sea glass green. I shared my inspiration with you all back in this liketoknow.it post. I started with the ribbon having fallen in love with a wide 5″ vintage rusty red and neutral striped ribbon. Those paired beautifully with other shades of brown and taupe velvets. Pops of brass and vintage ornaments and the loveliest wild fresh tree create a lovely sense of Christmas throughout our home.

A WILD TREE

If you watched my IG Reel then you watch us find this lovely tree. Each year we drive up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and cut down our tree. It’s become a beautiful tradition where we hike around enjoying crisp mountain air, find our tree and then eat an early dinner at Reklis Brewing Company in Bethlehem NH. The Christmas tree permits are $5 through the ranger station or $7.50 online. You can’t beat that price but more importantly, the experience will be one my babies remember.

The wrapping paper is from JSH Home Essentials and Parterre, ribbon sourced through Etsy and Amazon. The Mercury Glass Garland on the tree is from Ballard Design and the ornaments are mostly oldies, a collection of vintage mercury glass ornaments in various sizes and some new treasures, like the brass bows from McGee and Co. The tree wears a rusty tree star from Terrain that we’ve had for a few years but I like because it wires on the front so you can easily get it at the right angle. I found the old bucket it sits in at Brimfield a few years ago.

THE MANTEL

Almost entirely faux greenery, some pine cones and brass mistletoe picks, I used a few sticks from the yard and eucalyptus pods for added detail.  I wanted a fuller garland on one side that thins with a big, drapey ribbon and vintage stockings. I used the same ribbon and letters as last year, which you can see on this tour here but added the sweet embroidered ornament. Pro tip: Use an empty paper towel roll slide inside to keep them all from flopping over.

THE ENTRY

This year I purchased a cedar spray for above this picture and the travel gallery wall in the family room. It fits nicely over photo groupings and looks very realistic. I like to invest in a few good, realistic garlands each year because I use mostly faux in my home, fresh outside where those needles can drop to their hearts content. The garland on the stairs is lighted with this beautiful twig garland from Terrain.

THE PLAYROOM

The front room in our home, probably originally a parlor back when it was built in 1879 is always a joy to decorate for the holidays. We always have a live tree decorated with a collection of handmade toilet paper roll animals. You can read all about them here. The kids love them.

There tends to be a few questions about our train each year. It is made by Piko, a G scale model train which was an investment a few years ago. We only bring it out at the holidays so the kids eagerly look forward to it. You can find similar sets on Ebay or through model train sites. We wanted a substantial, well-made train that could be a family heirloom. This one fits the bill.

THE KITCHEN AND BREAKFAST NOOK

The nook got that much more magical this year with the addition of new “old” chairs. These french antiques were a steal to be completely honest. My plan had been to paint them and cut the twirly part off the top but then they arrived and I fell in love with the wood tone and the twirly part bothered me less in real life. It’s the perfect pinecone brown and was just meant to be.

This year’s garland over our sink is my favorite yet. All faux, I learned my lesson trying to use fresh a few years ago. It dried out in a week and looked awful. The copper light strand from terrain has a warmer glow at night than our tree lights which are nothing fancy and from Home Depot.

The 3 x 5 sink rug is a Black Friday purchase from Serena & Lily. I love the slight scallop and white detail. The wreath is a fresh rose hip wreath made by the Etsy shop Scarletsmile who also makes amazing pinecone wreaths.

I used the same pinecone chair hangings from last year which you can make yourself with this post. They were easy to make and a unique addition to our chairs. Woven chair backs make it easy to slip the ribbon through. I hope you’ve enjoyed these snapshots of Christmas in our home.