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    Home » House Stuff

    The First Christmas House Tour from 2011

    December 21, 2011 by Karen 107 Comments

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    Today I'm going to take us all back in time to the year 2011. The very first Christmas house tour I published 13 years ago. This will be my photo by photo 2024 commentary on the whole event.

    I would like to interrupt today's regularly scheduled post with this brief announcement.

    There are 2 days until my annual Christmas Eve party and I still haven't planned out, bought the ingredients for, or decided on a menu.   As of now the menu looks like this:  store bought cookies and hairbrushes.

    There may not be any food, but there'll be plenty of Christmas decorations for everyone to look at.  Here's hoping the 3 foot tall antler on the mantle distracts everyone from their hunger pains.

    I'm happier with my Christmas decorating this year than I ever have been before.  I'm not sure why.  Every year when I step back and look at everything, I feel like something just isn't right.  I like it.  But I'm not certain.

    That feeling when you answer your front door and you're not wearing a bra?  It's that same feeling.  Everything might look fine to a stranger, but YOU know there's something making you want to cross your arms over your chest and scowl.

    This year though ... I think I've done it.  It may not be the way you'd decorate for Christmas and in fact, it wasn't the way I decorated last year ... but that's the great thing about Christmas decorating.  It's a month long opportunity to reinvent  the style of your house.

    For me, it all started with a pinecone ...

     

    Christmas Tour 1

     

    Christmas Tour2

     

    Christmas Tour3

     

    Christmas Tour 4

     

    Christmas Tour 6

     

    Christmas Tour 7

     

    Christmas Tour 10

     

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    Christmas Tour 8

     

    Christmas Tour 9

     

    Christmas Tour 12

     

    Christmas Tour 13

     

    Christmas Tour 14

     

    Christmas Tour 15

     

    Christmas Tour 16

     

    Christmas Tour 18

    And in closing, a special note for the holidays from the fella:

    Drink just enough to get through it, but no so much that you end up hitting someone.   

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    1. shirley in the NE Arkansas Delta

      July 15, 2014 at 6:33 pm

      When I told my 75 year old friend Dianne I was getting a divorce, she said, "Oh good! Maybe you'll feel like putting up a Christmas tree this year!"

      Reply
    2. Joanna

      December 03, 2013 at 6:28 pm

      Love all you do!

      Reply
    3. Diane R.

      November 30, 2012 at 8:26 am

      Hi Karen,

      When do we get the tutorial on how to make these
      beautiful lit mason jars? Did I miss it already?

      Reply
      • Karen

        November 30, 2012 at 9:49 am

        Nope, you didn't miss it Diane. Coming up next week! Monday if I remember correctly! ~ karen

        Reply
    4. Laura Bee

      November 13, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      If I didn't say it before - I love your home.
      Now I have a real itch to dig the box of decorations out of the basement. Waiting until next week...ahhhh!

      Reply
      • Karen

        November 13, 2012 at 10:38 pm

        Thank you. I'm afraid there won't be too many Christmas surprises this year because I was so happy with how it looked last year. I do have a *few* new tricks up my sleeve. ~ karen!

        Reply
        • Laura Bee

          November 26, 2012 at 9:35 pm

          It's almost time for the secret of the lit jars....so excited!

    5. Interior Design Blog

      February 23, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      Love the white pitchers in the kitchen!

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 23, 2012 at 1:38 pm

        Thanks. Ikea! :) ~ karen

        Reply
        • shirley in the NE Arkansas Delta

          July 15, 2014 at 6:35 pm

          My sister-in-law puts her red cockscombs in her white pitchers and it is gorgeous!!!!

    6. Sarah

      February 11, 2012 at 9:17 am

      This is such a weird, random question but can you tell me what you use for window blinds? My home was built in 1860 and has the original woodwork everywhere. We're trying to lighten things up(not the woodwork, but the walls) but most of my windows are still naked because I cant settle on something that will keep peeping neighbors at bay at night yet be pulled up in the daytime without looking crappy cheap. Oh yeah and we have 20 windows on the main floor alone. $$$$$ Help!

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 11, 2012 at 9:41 am

        Hi Sarah. I had the same dilemma with my house when I did everything over. I ended up getting cell shades. They're standard cell shades, cut to fit, so they aren't custom made. They allow some light in, even when the blinds are closed which is something I wanted. Plus, they're neat and tidy and barely noticeable. ~ karen

        Reply
    7. Michelle Bracken

      February 07, 2012 at 12:55 pm

      Wow! This is so lovely! May I ask where you purchased your silver table? I love your style and how it IS so personal and not cookie cutter! Just beautiful! And your blog is adorable!

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 07, 2012 at 1:02 pm

        Thanks Michelle. The silver table is from Homesense which is the equivalent of Homegoods. (I'm in Canada) ~ karen

        Reply
    8. cathe

      January 09, 2012 at 4:35 pm

      hi i am a new reader it is the new year can we find out now??? or must we wait till christmastime? love your home

      Reply
      • Karen

        January 09, 2012 at 4:46 pm

        Hah! Sorry Cathe ... gonna have to wait 'til next Christmas. Welcome to my site. ~ karen!

        Reply
    9. Cheryl Warren

      December 28, 2011 at 7:15 pm

      Love the jars, I guess I will have to wait till next year for the tute! :D

      You did a great job with all the decorating - it's just lovely!

      Reply
    10. Erin @ Dwell & Tell

      December 26, 2011 at 12:03 am

      Merry Christmas, Karen! Your hone looks *beautiful*!!!

      Hugs,

      Erin

      Reply
      • Karen

        December 26, 2011 at 12:14 am

        Thanks Erin! I had an absolutely fantastic, one of the best Christmases ever. Hope you did too. :) And now I absolutely can't WAIT for Boxing Day so I can shuffle around in my p'jamas doing NOTHING. ~ karen!

        Reply
    11. Dana

      December 24, 2011 at 1:27 pm

      this sounds so cheesy, but you're what i want to be like when i "grow up". between your hilarious wit, your realistic yet light-hearted outlook on life, and amazing personal style, i wish you were my super-cool aunt! i even chuck things.

      Reply
      • Karen

        December 24, 2011 at 1:38 pm

        LOL. Thanks Dana. I love The Carpenters, made for TV movies and cards that play music when you open them, so clearly I'm a fan of cheesy. Merry Christmas. I'll be sure to point this particular comment out to my actual nieces. ~ karen!

        Reply
    12. susan w

      December 23, 2011 at 8:39 pm

      I discovered it helps to have the jars clean. Or artful drips and smudges to illuminate

      LED push lights from Dollar Store buried under epsom salts? - too large of a light source for the twinkly little things around the tall pine. Hmmmmm

      Reply
      • Karen

        December 23, 2011 at 9:48 pm

        LOL. You're very persistent Susan. :) ~ karen

        Reply
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