I guess a lot of you are wondering whether or not I've ever got a peanut stuck up my nose.
I haven't. And since I don't have children I've never had to take one to the doctor with a peanut stuck up their nose. I'm not sure what it is about kids and sticking things up their noses but I can say that once they grow up, boys still like to stick things where they don't necessarily belong. This was proven once again when I was cleaning up to start Christmas decorating and found 14 foil easter egg wrappers smashed between the arm of the couch and the couch cushion.
The fella.
More than 2 years on the lam and I'm still finding weird things he stuck in weird places.
I should have known something was off with him when he told me in no uncertain terms that pizza toppings should be underneath the cheese. And he was serious.
The thing about decorating the house for Christmas is for some reason I feel like I need to clean the house up first. Clean, tidy, reorganize a bit and THEN I can start dragging the Christmas crap out to make the mess of all messes. The sparkle-twig mess. Once the Christmas decorating is done, I do it all over again, cleaning, tidying and vacuuming up enough sparkle and twigs to choke the Abominable Snowmonster.
Today I'm just going to take you through a casual tour of my perfectly propped and presented house at Christmas. My house does not look like it does in these photos anymore. There's currently a mess of gingerbread making stuff in the kitchen (for an upcoming post), the wine is gone and there's a smashed tree ornament in the front hall under the tree.
But for the most part this is what my house looks like at Christmas. Just a little more lived in. Because I'm living in it and all.
Welcome to my home.
The bedroom high boy.
Guess what These are original pine floors from 1840.
Guess what again? I'm probably going to spend my time off at Christmas sanding all of the floors in my house down to raw wood.
Ernie, is unlikely to help me with the floor sanding task. Apparently.
BRAND new white Rough Linen duvet cover. This is the article that pushed me over the edge in terms of wanting to sand down my floors to raw, unfinished wood.
The living room. The DIY snowglobes on an antique silver tray light up the room at night.
The cozy spot. Excellent for reading, snacking or general nesting.
Those cute toast coasters.
Big, HUGE, puffy garland is back in style, but i still like my sparse stuff. Plus it takes up way less room in small spaces.
Every single thing you see her was either used or discount.
This entire area cost a total of $150. Including dresser, stocking, lamp, and gold foo dogs.
Decorating doesn't always require a lot of money. Sometimes just some patience waiting for the right thing at the right price.
That white nutcracker however was $742. Just kidding. Like $10 or something.
The front hall is where the live tree goes every year. This year I went for a skinny, very, very sparse tree because I wanted it to look as natural as possible. It has holes in it and is kind of sickly looking.
I love it.
I've been collecting (and breaking) ornaments for years now.
The entire tree is decorated with them.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Some have even come from readers who weren't as in love with antique ornaments as I am or whose house didn't suit having them on their tree.
Antique timber wood bench. Discount store fawn.
My old custom made field boots for horseback riding. Sadly they were custom made for someone else so they were always a little bit big on me.
If there's one thing I could leave up all year long it would be this tree.
Downton Abbey meets Duck Dynasty on the dining room table.
This gold tree is the second thing I'd leave out all year long.
Paperwhites. You love the smell of them or you hate the smell of them.
I love the smell.
My niece things they smell like own vomit.
Christmas doesn't necessarily have to completely sparkle and shine. But a little bit is good even if it's just wine glasses.
I still love my kitchen.
Which is a good thing since I spend most of my time in this room.
Those curtains you see under the counter are Rough Linen. In the winter I put them up and in the summer I take them down.
Yeah, I bought those two oranges with the leaves just for the photo.
You should too. Even if you aren't taking a photo of your kitchen, a couple of oranges with leaves have as much homey, Christmas impact as any doo dad accessory (provided you set them right beside two supercool Christmassy doo dads)
Several photos later and I still love my kitchen.
This truck was a Christmas present for myself a couple of years ago.
You know how sometimes you know you like something but have no idea how much you really love it until you get it home? And for 2 years straight you say I'm so HAPPY I bought that! This truck is one of those things.
Yup. It's Christmas.
In Wednesday's post I'm going to walk you through some of these photos and give you all the tips and tricks I have for decorating for Christmas or Hanukkah. It's the one season where everyone can be an expert decorator. It's very difficult to screw up Christmas decorating. Because unlike with men, at Christmas you can almost stick anything anywhere and have it be O.K.
Karin
ooooh, i got a little area with really old planks, it’s behind the living room, next to the dining room, it’s all open. i generously i call it my "library" although not a single book is to be found in it, yet. i’m planning on taking care o that at some point. i love the old floorboards and the big ol nails they used, but it got scratched some… well, again i’m being very generous, got the hell scratched out of. so i'm really looking forward to what you'll come up with.
i love your house and this year’s decorations. we never really do much decorating (gee here goes my generosity again), mostly because with 3 kitties and a puppy dog, why bother really. but i love love love the idea of keeping it sparse and natural. well, i got some time left; perhaps i’ll get my butt in gear this year after all. i suppose I could get rid of the moldy gourds left over from thanksgiving while i’m at it....
and your kitchen….. *swoon*….. what a thing of beauty. may i please lick your floor some?
sick, i know, i can’t help it, it's a stunner.
:0B
Elen G
I'm with you on the garland, Karen. Everything looks beautiful, but I'm particularly smitten with the trees on the stands in the kitchen.
Jody
My goodness, where to begin??? I love how you have decorated for the holidays. Little things here and there, surprises scattered around each room. I love your varied collection of bottle brushes. I think I need to head to the Dollar Store and get a load of Epson salts in. I just realized where I've gone wrong with decorating. I need to edit out way more of the usual stuff to make room for the Christmas. Then I too could have treasures strategically scattered around my house. It seems right now most of Christmas decorations are smashed together on 2 mantels and it looks like crap.
If this blogging career of yours ever tanks you could be a stylist--starting with my home.
Caarin
Can I just move into your kitchen?! Such a beautiful home!
Karen
Sure. I do not have a problem with that. Let me know when you're thinking of moving in. ~ karen!
Kalani Allred
Your home looks so pretty. Understated. I love it! The layered towels on the front of the stove is an idea I'm going to steal. Thanks for sharing! :-)
Karen
And *I* stole that idea from my friend Brett Walther who is the home editor at Canadian Living magazine. :) ~ karen! (now that I think about it he's with Reader's Digest now)
Kelly
Karen,
Don't listen to the naysayers about refinishing your floors. The 1883 farmhouse I purchased 8 years ago had carpet through out, nice new carpet. Friends and family said I was NUTS, CRAZY a DUMB A$$, etc to even consider taking up the carpet and refinishing the wood floors!!!! "So hard, waste of time and energy, you've never done such a huge project, enjoy the carpet..." BLAH BLAH BLAH. As usual I ignored them all (I am an aquarius and won't be told what to do) and set out to prove to them I can do this!! It was a very big project, time consuming and sometimes back breaking but sooo sooo sooo worth it!!! My electrician was very impressed, he saw the condition of the floors when I had removed the carpet (dark gray from years of dirt). Exact quote from him " Girl I can't believe you did this, the floors are amazing. You made a silk purse out of a sow's ear".
I am still stubborn and still proud of my floors 8 years later!!!
Karen
Thanks Kelly, lol. I think they're just worried I'm trying to get brand new looking, shiny floors. I'm not. It's a big job but the floors aren't looking as great as they could and that's my goal! It's hard to see in the photos of my house but the varathane is scratched and the colour is too opaque because of the stain and ... and ... they just don't look great. They'll look more like the original, historic floors they are once I'm done with them. So did you rent a sander or do it with home tools? I'm afraid an orbital or huge rental belt sander will take too much floor off. They're pine and very soft. I feel a bit safer doing them with a hand held home belt sander and palm sander. ~ karen!
Kelly
After much experimentation I found the large belt sander with the dust collector attachment, I rented, to be the easiest way to sand the 2200 sq ft of floors I have. The large orbital sander was a nightmare. Hard to control and removed more than I wanted it to. The belt sander I rented was very easy to control and I learned quickly how fast to push it to get the results I wanted. The men at the rental place were so helpful with suggestions and instructions. They told me what grits of sandpaper to use in each step to get my desired look. I used smaller hand held sanders to get in tight spots and along baseboards. I suggest practicing/ learning in an inconspicuous place in your house. The large belt sander was a back saver and a piece of cake. I wouldn't be afraid to try it if I were you.
Shauna Pratt
Abso-fuckin-lovely as an old friend used to say. (And I love how you brought the "sticking things where they don't belong" thought train back into the station at the end!) YOU Ms. Karen are a Christmas treasure! Well done - enjoy that beautiful home you have created.
And Merry Christmas!
Karen
LOL! Love that. Thanks Shauna. karen! and p.s. nothing goes into the back end of the station.
Mia
Maybe there is some helpful info here:
http://www.oldtownhome.com/2015/11/13/Our-Floors-are-Done-and-Were-So-Happy/
http://www.oldtownhome.com/2015/10/23/Antique-Pine-Floor-Refinishing-is-ON/
Karen
Thanks Mia! I'll take a look. Someone else suggested a blue tinted primer type of thing that helps neutralize the orange so I'm going to look into that too. ~ karen!
Laura Bee
Gorgeous as always. Pull the gold tree out at Easter, perfect for a gumdrop tree.
Janice Mortimer
Karen I remember a while ago while you you redoing the kitchen, you were thrilled to find the pot lights that had speakers in them. How did they turn out?? Did they work like you had hoped?
Karen
omg I LOVE them Janice. They're great! Most people are now getting the Sonos system for music which is also fantastic. A wireless system where you put a speaker in every room and control it all through your phone. Different music and loudnesses in all the rooms or the same everywhere. Whatever you want. It isn't cheap but it's great, great quality sound and you can gradually add speakers as you feel you can afford them. ~ karen!
Maria
I don't decorate for Christmas but I enjoy looking at others. Yours is always extra special.
I can't wait until January to hear how the floor sanding went and how that orbital belt sander threw you from far to gone in the process.
Merry Christmas. You are a funny woman and a blessing to me.
As a small side note, I noticed how you are telling The Fella to stick it. Or did I read that wrong?
Mary W
Are you going to leave them sand blasted or refinish them with faux patina? Love the shine they have now and whatever you do, it will be amazing. Ernie may not help with the sanding but I bet he will love helping with the dusting! Have to say, I think a tiny jingle bell with two holly leaves and and tiny red bow would look good in your printers trey - just one. For that matter one jingle bell next to that gorgeous white bowl on your wicker end table would look cute. In fact placing 12 hidden around your house would be a fun thing to find in your pictures - like Where's Waldo. One hanging from the pull chain on the three legged lamp to balance the red from the picture of the upside down red girl. I love to play with your ideas since of course I won't do anything in my house. Too many kids, pets, and people around. Your DIY snow globes are a true centerpiece! The fire looks so inviting and I adore the white ice cream cone Christmas trees in the platter behind your sofa. That looks like they are buried in snow or is it sugar or salt - nah that would be too sticky. What is it? Fake snow? The lady and her bottle is just too funny. Love the sparse swags and gorgeous old glass ornaments. The tree is so beautiful in all its colors with enough room between branches to show off the glass. Perfect! MS once cut out huge hunks of branches and put little scenes nested in the branches. I imagine she is jealous of your scenes! Love the pig head, the bird on the wire domes, just everything. You certainly have a way with finding just the right things. I love the gold tree which would be fun to decorate all year with a change each month of tiny decorations - snow men for January, hearts for February, etc. I just am having a ball visiting your lovely home and pretending. Thanks for the visit!
Karen
No problem Mary W. Pretend drop by any time. ~ karen! p.s. I think you have a thing for jinglebells. :)
Lisa
Love,Love,LOVE! So beautiful! I am pretty sure you have probably answered this question but, how did you seal and or care for your linoleum floors in the kitchen? I have a number of boxes that I bought for another house (also black and white) but, sold it before my vision was complete. Presently contemplating another move and hoping to use in the future!
Karen
Hi Lisa! My floors are VCT (vinyl composite tile) and they're finished with liquid wax. About 6 coats. You pour it on, let it dry, then buff it. It's by Armstrong and it's made for the VCT tiles. ~ karen!
Lisa
Awesome! and thank you that's exactly what I have!!
Ben
The comment about the old custom made field boots that were sadly made for someone else made me laugh till I cried... don't know why but that was hilarious!!! I really love your house and all the decorations. PS. Does that pig head live on the wall all year? You have a wonderful eclectic style to all your favorite things. You truly rock !! Merry Christmas.
Alice O'Connor
Always an inspiration! Been looking at these pics off and on all morning.
leisa
Karen, my daughter wanted pine wood floors that looked exactly like they didn't have stain on them. I worked with Pete's Wood floors in MN. The customer service was top notch. We ended up with a slightly blue tinted product that countered the "when we oil it the wood turns ugly coloured, Mom" Her floor looks like it's untouched wood, but it's held up to a teenager who paints. Pete's don't offer what they sold us on their website-- but if you them; let them know what you're looking for, and they'll help. And if you can't find it locally they ship. (We weren't local either.) Hope this helps.
http://www.peteshardwoodfloors.com/contact-our-flooring-store-MN.html
Valerie
Thank you for posting these pictures Karen. Everything is precious, lovely and represents a great deal of time, effort and creativity.
A suggestion for your prize truck which I also love. You need to find a tiny wee doll - one that would resemble you complete with blonde hair to put in the driver's seat and a tiny decal for the door that reads
"Karen's Stuff - Delivery Service."
Heather
Everything is lovely and I am sure you love your real Christmas tree but for me it is just too sparse . For my taste I want a tree that you cant see through , lush , green , and sparkly . No Scandinavian sparseness for me in my Christmas tree. I do love the fact that your home is not over the top with Christmas "stuff" . It allows your very lovely statement pieces to shine through and oh my but they do shine ! ....but that real tree ......I am sorry but unfortunately all I can say is ,,,,,,meh . It just doesn't do it for me .
The floors are gorgeous ,the beside table is delish and the harvest table to die for ! I do have to ask though, where did you find that pig's head! It is fantabulous! something I would expect to find in a very french inspired vintage kitchen , I LOVE IT ! and would love to know where you found it ?
Thanks for sharing your home with us . It is most definitely fodder for inspiration and also allows us to see that the juxtaposition of modern and vintage/antique are such a feast for the eyes ,
Karen
That's O.K. I'd probably say the exact same thing when I saw your tree, lol. ~ karen!
Heather
what about the pig head Karen ? Any info on that
If you can share that info I would really love to hear about it
Karen
I bought the pig head at a local store called The Kitchen Witch. But another reader of my blog bought it somewhere else. Might have been Amazon? I'm not sure. Hopefully they'll read this and be able to help you out! ~ karen!
Ann Brookens
You got a new Rough Linen comforter! ...maybe you could send me the old one???
Your house looks wonderful! Merry Christmas, Karen!
Cathy
I love your kitchen too. I could easily live in it, it has heated floors after all. And the white pick up truck? I'd leave it out all year long and decorate it seasonally. Merry Christmas! Thanks for the tour... My house looks like the bomb squad was 10 min too late.