Come on in! Welcome to my Christmas House Tour 2018. A simple Christmas. Kind of.
In my defence I really did try to make it a simple Christmas this year. I even went so far as to only dedicate 2 full days to decorating as opposed to 3 or 4. I wrote it on my calendar and everything.
As you can see from the restraint on my kitchen cabinets I went simple here. Simple wreaths, no adornment. Done. But those cabinets have been decorated with those simple wreaths for years. It was the rest of the house I had to try to rein in.
I'm going to let you know I didn't exactly accomplish my goal of simple Christmas decorating. As it turns out, simple involves restraint. In just the past 24 hours I've ordered 14 things I don't need off of Amazon, eaten ¾s of a loaf of bread and let a friend know what I really think of his decorating. So. Clearly I'm not an accomplished restrainer.
I am that person who goes to an all you can eat buffet and even though I don't want to, even though it'll make me feel sick and it's gross, I pile my plate with foods from 7 different nationalities because I don't want to miss out on something good. I've dipped eggrolls in beef gravy. I'm an abomination.
So doing actual "simple" Christmas decorating was never going to happen and you should really give your head a shake if you thought it was going to. I mean even believing that I might accomplish a simple Christmas well ... , that just looks bad on you, not me.
Having said that, I did absolutely bring things down a notch this year. Just a bit. Just so I don't feel quite so overwhelmed by it all.
I'm sure you know what I mean. You love your house filled with Christmas decorations for the first week or two and then they slowly start to bug you. Close in on you.
You develop Christmas Claustrophobia.
So I didn't put out a lot of the little things this year. Like the vintage ceramic salt and peppers. Or the vintage elves that I really do love a lot and would actually look great on my new kitchen hardware cabinet now that I think of it. Hmm.
Speaking of the new kitchen hardware cabinet - I love it even more decked out for the holidays.
That's one real (the long needled pine) and one fake (straight from Ikea) garland on the top. I bought real pine rope and cut it in half. One half is on the cabinet and the other half is in the backyard staying fresh. When this one dries out in a couple of weeks I'll replace it with the fresh stuff hibernating in the backyard.
The bottom shelf of the cabinet holds my kitchen appliances like my ice cream maker, Sous Vide Supreme machine and Kitchen Aid which look a bit messy, so I've attached a few tension rods to the cabinet and just threw some holiday print tea towels over them. Later I'll probably make linen curtains for it, or something out of vintage aprons.
ALERT! As of the moment that I'm writing this post, my Cuisinart Ice Cream maker is on sale for $200 on Amazon.com. (not Amazon.ca sadly) That is a great, GREAT deal. It's wayyyy less than half price. It's a really good ice cream maker because it has a compressor built into it. That means it freezes the ice cream as it's making it. (You don't have a bowl you have to take out and store in the freezer)
You can see if it's still on sale by clicking this link to it on Amazon here.
So that's the kitchen. Not overly simple but not overly over the top either. I do not feel Christmas claustrophobia in this room.
Onto the dining room! Walk this way ....
I did two things in the dining room to simplify the decorating this year.
- I didn't put any ornaments on the tree. Just greenery and some sparkly branches.
- I didn't decorate the shelves other than two black, glittery reindeer.
CHRISTMAS DECORATING TIP
If you want to go with the least amount of waste with your Christmas decorating, decorate with food. Nuts, oranges, chocolates. You can't go wrong with the big 3. They make any room look festive plus you don't need to make room for storing them in your basement. You instead store them in your handy stomach.
Beautiful and delicious. Unlike eggrolls dipped in gravy.
No ornaments on the tree meant less time to decorate it and it'll mean less time to put it away.
Here's where simple got hard. For the past few years I've had a huge, massive garland on my portrait of Margaret. You can see it in this post from my Christmas House Tour of last year. I had strung together 3 or 4 different fake garlands to make one ginormous garland, and then I wove gold leaves, beads and ornaments through it.
It did not scream simple.
So I had to take a few garlands apart and dumb it down a bit. Have you ever tried to untangle 4 swags of garland entangled with beads, lights and glitter? It's a shitshow.
Wanna see the foyer?
That's pretty simple, right?
If you missed it the first time around, in the background, on the buffet, those are my DIY wax dipped amaryllis bulbs. No water, no dirt, no nothing, and FUN to make. Here's how to make them.
When I went into this whole "simple Christmas" mindset my goal was to decorate only with candles, greenery and twinkle lights. I've done fairly well with that resolve but it ended with my Christmas tree. The real tree, not one of the fake ones in my house.
I really wanted to do the tree with just lights on it but then I remembered the dried oranges from last year and I just had to use them again because I love them.
I was stunned and amazed when I opened the bag I stored them in and they still smelled like orange. They're darker than they were last year but they still look great.
Here's how to make those dried orange slices for your tree.
And then there were the candles that I made last year. These are NOT the thing for you to make if you like everything straight and perfect because no matter what you do these flip and flop. At least they do on a real tree. They might not on a fake tree.
The last room in the tour is coming up, the living room.
First of all, I'm not a big pom pom fan but I bought this pom pom blanket because it was SO soft. Again, I'd normally have some sort of official Christmas doodad on the end table but went with a few sprigs of pine.
The only thing that hurts my heart more than a homeless kitten is a flatscreen over a fireplace. But for now that's the only place to put it. I've tried it other places and it just looks so messy.
The living room is in transition right now so it's not at its best but hopefully it'll all get straightened out with a new couch and furniture placement n the New Year.
The chair. It's my spot. I can see outside with the windows open and if I just swivel around a bit I'm staring right into the fire. It's. My. Spot.
Directly across from my spot is this. The spot that I have so far refused to stick a chair into because it would make the room feel squished. I may break down one day and have a chair there but for now I like looking at this view. My rickety saddle stand and old saddle.
Like I mentioned earlier, decorate with food. I've already gone through an entire bowl of these mixed nuts in the shell this season (see aforementioned issue with restraint). So I guess my decorating style this really really boiled down to candles, greenery and food.
O.K., and the odd Christmas tchotchke.
O.K. Tour's over.
To put it all in perspective, take a walk with me through my house.
Everyone put your shoes back on and get out. I have some vintage elves to find.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Cathy Reeves
Just the right amount of restraint and not; Christmas Trees are supposed to be extra decorated. I can still see air between the branches so it’s perfect. I fact I think your rooms still ‘breathe’ don’t you?
One thing I didn’t get though is the pole-thing by the cuckoo clock.
And if you truly hate the tv over the mantle ( I’m not a fan either) you can save your dollars and get one of those TVs that turn into art when turned off.
Knowing you, you’ll come up with a frame and construct it with your very own black-tipped fingers.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Karen!
Karen
Yes, I love Samsung's The Frame. It still isn't ideal because I don't even like the high up angle of the TV there but it would be better. The pole is an antique church column, lol. ~ karen!
Teddee Grace
Really like this! And those floors you worked so hard on look terrific!
Karen
Thanks Teddee, I absolutely love them ! ~ karen
Terri
Beautiful!
Merry Christmas
Bonnie Harris
Merry Christmas Karen, your home is beautiful and thank you for sharing your ideas and humour throughout the year.
Mary
Love it. I love all the fantastic pieces you have found over the years.
Have you thought about a Samsung frame tv that looks like art when not on as a tv. That would be perfect there.
Karen
YES!! I have, lol!! I keep waiting for them to come down a bit more in price. The smallest one isn't a bad price but when you get the next largest one up it's over $2,000 and I just know every year they're going to get cheaper and cheaper. ~ karen!
whitequeen96
Beautiful, as always! Yet I could imagine myself actually doing this (although I'm probably kidding myself). Usually, I feel overwhelmed with hopelessness, knowing there's no chance of accomplishing anything half as ambitious as you do. So thank you!
As for that spot in your living room, where you've refused to stick a chair because it would make the room feel squished? What about placing a bench there? You have that nice one you used to have in the kitchen. I think it would look great there!
Karen
It's about twice as long as that wall. :) That bench is actually on the other side of the dining room table. In fact, that's what it was made for. I often have it there in the winter with sheepskin on it. ~ karen!
Kathleen
Just beautiful! What a happy house. And kitty!
Laura
Merry Christmas, Karen!
Elaine
It’s absolutely gorgeous, Karen! It reminds me of the many beautiful interiors shown in Country Living magazine combined with a classy Ralph Lauren ad in a glossy magazine ... an elegant, yet country, welcoming style. I love it! Merry Christmas!
Karen
Well that's perfect, thank you for saying that because I was absolutely channelling my inner Ralph Lauren! ~ karen!
Kristin Conley
Looks amazing!
Lavada C Shaft
I think it's lovely. Very inviting, warm and homey.
Very simple (for you), yet elegant.
Très bien!
Tina
Ah, it looks amazing! I’m all impressed!
This year I did outside deco but the only thing I did inside was my vintage toy truck (like yours!). I set it on the table with a mini wreath tied to the front and a tree in the back. The tree is gone and the wreath is muck. And it’s all because of Bob Marley, my new apprentice kitten. He’s very foolish and playful and nothing that looks fun lasts long.
Karen
OH! He's beautiful! Is he a breed or a regular multi mix cat? ~ karen!
Tina
He’s a shelter cat, I’m in MA and we get truckloads of animals brought up here from high kill states, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, etc. He’s just one of many. He was quite sick when he arrived but not contagious so I fostered him (and others) and, when they were well, they went up for adoption. Except Bob Marley.
I believe he might have some Bengal in him, his markings look like it, he’s long and thin, he’s very affectionate and not at all timid, and he adores water! When I take a shower, he comes in with me and sits on the seat to bat at the water drops.
Karen
He does look like he has some Bengal in him. He looks intelligent! ~ karen
Thera
It must be the name! I adopted a kitten back in March and they named him Marley (as in Bob) and he is just full of it too!
And I agree, a gorgeous cat!
Kipper
It looks excellent!
Karen Hamilton
Open that Jameson's and have a swig for me! ;D
Sue
Love the simplicity!
I also love the kitchen/hardware tool cabinet. My favorite of all your pieces of furniture.
I am inspired now to at least put up the single string of lights outside that we do every year and add some decorations to the bookcase. Must get a tree 🌲.
Thanks for the tour.
Megan
Have you tried to frame your tv?? Might make it more make it more cohesive having an antique gold frame around it.
Karen
I've actually put a halt to all things gilded and antique coming into the house, lol. I've played it up for Christmas, but I'm trying to keep a good balance of antiques and mid century. I don't think there's much I can do to improve the big black hole over the fireplace. :/ ~ karen!
Beth
It needs a Karen-original cabinet covering it.
Eileen
What about a fabric hanging of some kind, split in the middle on those swing-arm curtain rods? No idea if that would work in real life (like if those rods come in the right size, move the right way), but it just popped into my barely caffeinated brain.
Sue, a different one
Just fyi, Samsung is now selling an art frame tv. It's edged like a frame and you can choose a screensaver that's art for when you aren't watching. If I needed a tv
Karen
I've had my eye on that tv for a couple of years. I still prefer it not over the fireplace though. :( Even with its fancy art frame. ~ karen!
Tracy
Beautiful as always!
Janie
All lovely...as usual. Are you tired of the caned chairs yet? I'll drive up from Texas to get them out of your way...ha ha.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Karen
Mmmm, not tired of them quite yet. ;) ~ karen!
Susan Alexander
Oh, I just LOVE it!
Thank you for being our friend these many years!
Merry Christmas to you!
HUGS!
Karen
Thanks Susan! :) I wish I could figure out how to make my house this cozy all year long, not just at Christmas! ~ karen
Larissa
I was just thinking that the other day, how can I make home cozy all winter after the Christmas stuff is away!
Colleen K.
Love your foyer tree!!!
Karen
Thanks Colleen. It's fun because if you place the orange slices in front of a light they glow. ~ karen!
Barb
I love that stump table, old saddle and wreath tableau more than words can say... Happy Holidays!
Karen
Thanks Barb. I really like it too. :) ~ karen!