Hello and Welcome! I really miss spending more time on here with you all but do look forward to this annual tradition over the holidays! To be honest, two days ago such a tour didn’t even cross my mind. It’s been a slow roll out of holiday decor and each year it feels like we use less, with more emphasis on the items that spark the most joy. But as I placed a couple branches of boxwood haphazardly straddling our bedside reading lights, I remembered how magical the little things feel to me, and even worth sharing on our cozy corner of the web.
So with that, get yourself a warm drink and come on in!
My style lean with this house is that narrow margin where cozy meets minimal. With three kiddos it doesn’t take much for our home to feel cluttered, so I just don’t decorate with a lot on the walls or around the space. What I do use has to carry a lot of impact and lend to the goal of a warm and inviting home. For Christmas the goal is the same! This rug came from our bedroom (I swapped the two rooms’ rugs), and the brass mirror from our family room downstairs. Immediate warmth!
Before we continue I should share, for anyone new, that I have a tradition of naming our tree each year based on a celebrity/character I think it resembles. We’ve had Rosemary Clooney, Paul Pheiffer and everyone in between. This year, I’d like to introduce you to ‘Marilyn’:
I mean, it’s uncanny if you ask me.
The layout is a touch snug to accommodate the tree, but I don’t hate it! This is home in every way.
I’ve slowly been adding to our kilim collection this last year as the colors and patterns breath so much vibrancy into this space! After adding a few touches of Christmas, they have taken on a very merry vibe, indeed! The pillows, coasters, and even Albus’ bed by the fire, all add to the warmth of this home.
Our mantle this year is my favorite element! It’s messy and wispy and so very ‘us’. We aren’t a formal household by ANY means, and I think sometimes mantles can look a lot more formal than the rest of a home. I wanted to keep it low key but still special for this very dear season.
These two…what a pair.
Quick stop in the dining room before we move on! It’s a light touch but I could not love this more. I think as I’ve grown into my own style and taken the time to collect pieces I love that work well for my family, I’ve used less surrounding decor. What I see below is the contrast of the rich chocolate leather dining chairs with the whitewashed table I refinished last Summer, and the saturated black china cabinet (another summer project). It feels like a cozy English pub with no extra fuss. The magnolia is the only holiday addition here (aside from the angels Shire arranged in the cabinet), and all this room needs to feel ‘extra’ over the holidays.
Come on down to our family room - a rarely shared space!
This is our play room and TV room, so we use this room hard! I think this is only the second time I’ve really done anything decorative with it for the holidays, but I need to replicate this every year because the kids have LOVED it!
These cafe lights are on pretty much all day. Sometimes I’ll notice a kid has brought their laptop down here to do virtual school under the lights. How fun!
Heading up to our bedrooms, let’s take a peek into Shire’s first! There is just something magical about her freshly painted mint green walls with the rich Christmas greens, reds and brass.
My sister graciously gave Shire her American Girl Doll tree a few years ago on loan, and it’s the number one item Shire looks forward to unpacking every holiday season. Such a special piece that reminds her of her Aunt.
I think it’s safe to say Shire’s room feels festive even without the garland or Santa pillow LOL! It’s definitely the saturated floral curtains - they’re always fun, but especially fitting at Christmas!
Last stop ( because NO ONE needs to see the boys’ room)! I swapped the living room rug with this room, so now this room has a gorgeous light blue kilim rug which I’m especially enjoying with the mossy green duvet and rust colors peppered around!
A swag of boxwood hanging from each bedside sconce is it for this space, but what a fun touch to add for a few weeks! Because it’s the only additional element for the holidays it feels more impactful.
Imperfect and asymmetrical, yes. But impactful, nonetheless.
That’s a wrap on this years holiday home tour! If you’re in the mood for a little trip down memory lane, here's 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. I wish you and your family a very wonderful holiday season. I know much looks different right now from years past, and I won’t make light of the very personal struggles you have personally felt this year. But I hope that joy finds you wherever you are today.
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow’
Romans 15:13
Thank you so much for coming by! This community is precious to us and we appreciate you so very much.
