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 ...
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We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
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.
shirley in the NE Arkansas Delta
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!"
Joanna
Love all you do!
Diane R.
Hi Karen,
When do we get the tutorial on how to make these
beautiful lit mason jars? Did I miss it already?
Karen
Nope, you didn't miss it Diane. Coming up next week! Monday if I remember correctly! ~ karen
Laura Bee
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!
Karen
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!
Laura Bee
It's almost time for the secret of the lit jars....so excited!
Interior Design Blog
Love the white pitchers in the kitchen!
Karen
Thanks. Ikea! :) ~ karen
shirley in the NE Arkansas Delta
My sister-in-law puts her red cockscombs in her white pitchers and it is gorgeous!!!!
Sarah
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!
Karen
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
Michelle Bracken
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!
Karen
Thanks Michelle. The silver table is from Homesense which is the equivalent of Homegoods. (I'm in Canada) ~ karen
cathe
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
Karen
Hah! Sorry Cathe ... gonna have to wait 'til next Christmas. Welcome to my site. ~ karen!
Cheryl Warren
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!
Erin @ Dwell & Tell
Merry Christmas, Karen! Your hone looks *beautiful*!!!
Hugs,
Erin
Karen
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!
Dana
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.
Karen
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!
susan w
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
Karen
LOL. You're very persistent Susan. :) ~ karen