Monday 9 December 2013

Our Christmas Sitting Room

Greetings, friends!

Last year, the colors for our Christmas sitting room were built around a red and white plate I found at HomeGoods … THIS year, I'm blaming it all on the fabric!

Yes, earlier this Fall, I added a pretty brown and white chevron fabric to the back of our bookcase.  And, because I really like it, I decided to keep the fabric around for the holidays and just add colors that would complement it for the season. Soooo, in came varying shades of brown, green, white, silver and gold.


Of course, that meant that I had to bring in new, inexpensive fabric for the window, too! 


A green ombre throw helps the *apple-y* green in the curtains really pop.



Back over on the bookcase, I kept it pretty simple by adding just a few holiday embellishments, such as … 


leftover ornaments "showcased" under a cloche,


a reindeer with a bit of added bling (gotta have bling!), and


a wintery plate from HomeGoods.


Our coffee table became the landing spot for more leftover ornaments, candles and inexpensive greenery,


oh, annnd, a spare faux shed antler!




Another change this year in our Christmas sitting room is the placement of our tree.  Rather than placing it in the back corner (and not visible from this spot), I decided to plop it right by the side entryway so that we're able to enjoy it from the kitchen, breakfast room and great room this year, as well!



You guys know by now how much I love crazy, messy tree toppers!




So, there you have it … a Christmas sitting room dressed in brown, green, white, silver and gold … and, it's all the fabric's fault!


Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Partying with:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW

Friday 6 December 2013

A Bit More Of A MacKenzie Childs Christmas




Based on my last post about getting rid of some of my overloaded Christmas decor, it was a split on people that believe that you can't have too much Christmas decor and others like me that want to simplify the huge process of storing so much stuff for 11 months out of the year and then killing themselves with putting it all out in record time to enjoy for...a month!




This year, not only

Thursday 5 December 2013

"Home for the Holidays" Tour!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!


Thanks so much for taking a peek at our Christmas nutcracker mantel (seen HERE)!  And, now, I'm excited to be part of the "Home for the Holidays" Tour where 29 other bloggers and I are "virtually" sharing parts of our holiday homes!  AND, there's even an incredible giveaway, too (details below).


What can I say?  I.LOVE.CHRISTMAS. … everything about it … the traditions, smells, anticipation and, of course, the decorating!  And, since I have just a tad more sparkle to spread around, I'm sharing sneaks and peeks today so, crank up Bing Crosby and come on in!

One of the first rooms you'll see when you walk through the front door is our sitting room.  This year, I traded red, white and silver for green, brown, silver and gold:



Peeking on into the dining room, you'll spy lots of red ...


mixed in with silver, white and black (a "new" Christmas color for me)!


Of course, it would't be complete without a little bit of mercury, now would it?


One thing that will never change is my love for all things candy, gingerbread and whimsy in our Christmas kitchen … 


… and, to ensure that I don't even *attempt* to bake (and burn) holiday cookies, I've covered our flour with a few ornaments: 


Our breakfast area got a little bit of a new holiday look this year, as I decided to give it its own theme with fruit,


and, even added a new tree full of tiny wine bottles, corks, cheese and grapes … loved throwing a bit of deep purple in there, too!


And, over in our great room, pretty much anything goes on the tree, including a crazy topper!


You'll also spy nutcrackers standing guard by the fireplace,


carolers serenading you with traditional holiday songs,


and, most importantly, a reminder of the true reason for the season.


Out on our screened porch, I added a few pops of holiday color,


annnnd, I'm just about done with my husband's NY Yankee's tree in his "man cave."  


Thanks so much for stopping by … I hope you'll join me in the coming days when I share lots more of our holiday home!  

Now, it's time to continue our virtual "Home for the Holidays" tour with links below:



AND, don't forget to enter the incredible giveaway, featuring, not only an amazing $200 gift card from One Kings Lane, but several other prizes, as well!!




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Our Christmas Mantel and "Deck the Halls" Tour

Greetings, friends!  

I'm happy to be part of a "Deck the Halls" tour where 11 other bloggers and I will be "virtually" sharing more of our Christmas homes today and tomorrow.

Admittedly, one of my most favorite things to decorate for the season is our mantel.  And, after thinking and thinking … annnnnd thinking how to dress it up this year, I decided to bring back a few of our nutcrackers from Christmas' past!



Glittery nutcrackers are my favorite … I especially love when the sunlight hits them in the late afternoon, casting "bling" all over the room.



And, while I started out with a simple, leafy garland, I soon realized I wasn't kidding anybody but myself and simply had to have more … sooooo, lots of mesh, glitter ribbon, snowflakes and ornaments made their way up there.


I layered a plain wreath from Michael's over our mirror and then dressed it up a bit by adding leftover ornaments and a strand of lights.  And, after searching for something to add to the middle of our mantel, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened a box to find our forgotten "Christmas" sign.  (Don't you just love forgotten purchases?!)  Thank you, HomeGoods!


"Pencily" trees (from Michael's) also got a bit of bling with tinier ornaments:


Our handsome nutcrackers stand guard by the fire,


making sure that no one takes off with the presents!


I love the ambiance of the lights … especially in the evening.  


Thanks so much for visiting our Christmas mantel!  Be sure and visit these amazingly talented ladies who will, undoubtedly, dazzle you with their beautiful Christmas creativity! 
























Linking up with:

HomeGoods/Holiday Home Linky Party
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Thrifty Decor Chick/Christmas Party

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Tuesday 3 December 2013

Christmas In The Livingroom





This year I realized something...







 I have been OVER-DOING Christmas! 

 



Way to much Christmas decor


 Crammed in ALL areas to a claustrophobic proportion.



It looked like someone had thrown-up Christmas!



I decided, it had to stop!



So from now on



I am going to do a lighter touch


Of Christmas decor in my home.



I asked myself, WHY?
Why am I doing so much Christmas