If you still haven't been filled with the feeling of Christmas it is not your fault. It's just that kind of year. For those of you reading this post in the year 2040, just so you know - 2020 was a real struggle. Keep on scrolling, I've got a booster shot for Christmas enthusiasm.
Listen, I've got to tell you - it appears as though the amount of bows you use in decorating is directly proportionate to the amount of deadly virus floating through the air.
That's just kind of a warning that I've gone bow crazy this year. Which, as someone who isn't a fan of bows, means more than 1 bow.
O.K., let's get this tour underway. As always my Christmas tree is in the front hall and it's covered in my dried orange slices and antique Christmas balls. The lights are regular LED lights that I've fit with homemade Christmas tree candles.
Nuts fill a low bowl on the table because cracking nuts and having their shrapnel-like shells shatter around the room for you to step on later is a very good way to forget about other bad things for a while.
The Victorian Christmas Tradition of Dried Flowers.
For the first time I planned ahead and either dried or preserved a lot of the flowers from my garden. I then used them around the house in greenery for a Victorian feel.
On the buffet I intertwined Hot Biscuits Amaranth, Celosia, and Opopeo Amaranth with garland and pine cones.
The rest of the preserved flowers are going to show up in a bit, when we get to the dining room portion of the tour.
The living room has been given a winter makeover with really just the odd touch of Christmas garland and - yup - bows.
The bows you'll see throughout this post I made with red velvet fabric my mother was getting rid of. I like the way actual fabric bows, fall and droop.
For a wintery, cozy feel I've set sparkly pears in a modern dish with legs, threw some extra blankets into the room, added a couple of board games around the room and more candles.
Things like plaid throws and wood skis really fill up the space and make it feel Christmassy and cozy, but they're things I'll feel good about leaving out for the entire winter season, not just the month of December.
The bows and garland drive home Christmas and w hen they're added to a wintery room, make it feel like the holidays.
If you're an Art of Doing Stuff addict then you might notice that these doors are new. They're authentic painted wood shutters complete with the original hardware. I just bought them this month from a longgggg time friend whose father had them shipped from France years ago.
I wasn't even going to buy them. I did a lot of hemming and hawing about how I didn't really have any need for painted, antique wood shutters from France and where would I put them anyway.
I was such a dummy.
Anyhow, the good news is I smartened up and bought them. For now they're leaning against a corner wall, propped up on some old suitcases behind the sofa.
I think we can agree all this fireplace needs is a dog laying in front of it.
After a year of hiatus, the garland is back on the big mirror. If you look closely to the bench underneath there's a silver domed dish. Under that dome is a squirt gun. No there isn't. It's filled with After Eight mints. At least it was up until about 4 hours ago.
O.K., we're going to walk down my enormous 2' long hall and enter the dining room.
Here there's fake garland from Ikea running from the light in the middle of the dining room to each corner. It's lit with these copper wire lights which are the ONE thing you should buy for Christmas decorating. You can do ANYTHING with them and they'll warm your house up all cozy-like. Scrunch the wire lights under a glass dome, run them on top of cupboards, if they're battery operated like these you can put them under the skirt of your table to make it glow down, run them around the interior of your windows ... it's never ending.
Other than my Christmas tree lights, these are the lights I use on everything.
The dining room's full on Victorian look is courtesy of the the silver meat dome, the clementine oranges and the candelabra wreaths which are filled with more preserved flowers from the garden.
And yes. I know. There's a deer's head on the wall which you absolutely ___________!!! (insert love or hate in that space because I know it's one or the other)
If this were a normal year I'd have an imitation pigs head with an apple in its mouth under that dome. But it's not. No one will be coming to my house, casually lifting the dome to see what's underneath and screaming in horror - so why even bother?
Again, the red velvet fabric bow on the end of my saddle which is also fancied up with some a live evergreen swag.
Here you can just get a better look at the candelabras. The actual candelabras I got at the Christie antique show in Canada.
O.K., backing up into the kitchen.
The worn, metal bells hanging from the drawers are from my sister's store. The garland on the top of the hardware cabinet is just individual sprigs all laid in a row with my favourite copper string lights. And to top it all off the pig has a massive red plaid bow which I acquired at a rather exclusive Dollarama store.
I have somehow LOST a mini Christmas tree. I used to have 2 of these little trees from Ikea, but I must have eaten the other one last year in some sort of faux evergreen craving.
Mercury glass Santa Claus found at a garage sale about 10 years ago for $2. I know because the price tag is still on the bottom of it. Am I the only one who does that? I almost always tape the price tags of things I've bought to the bottom of it so I can remember what I paid for it.
Is that weird?
Oh look. Another bow. Along with a box there are store bought cookies. Bought. From a store. That's right. I bought cookies that were ALREADY ASSEMBLED!
If you don't have a lot of time or energy or money, evergreen branches are the other thing you can use to make your house feel instantly like the holidays.
You don't even have to be talented to arrange them. They kind of arrange themselves. Just cut the evergreens, strip the needles that are below water and stick them in a vase, jug, glass or bowl.
Drop a red bow on it or scatter a few oranges around and you're done.
Did it help? Are you feeling a little more inspired to get your house ready for Christmas? Or more inspired to actually embrace this season?
With less travelling, less visiting and less pressure this year actually has the potential to be the most relaxing Christmas you've ever had.
You just have to wrap your head around it and look forward to different things. Instead of a big family dinner, look forward to staying in your pajamas, making yourself your favourite dinner or appetizers, and laying around doing absolutely nothing more than relaxing.
Go for walks in the cold so you can experience the crushing warmth and coziness when you walk back in your house.
Do a jigsaw puzzle.
Eat your decorations.
Change what you're looking forward to instead of being miserable over how things won't be the same.
When in doubt or feeling down - take a booster shot.
Cynthia
Absolutely gorgeous and comforting. Full of joy and quiet! What word or words are on the large white canvas? I love the simplicity of that art!
Regina Beck
I agree on the art! I have a large used canvas from Goodwill I want to paint over do something simple. Did you make this yourself!
Karen
It's actually just a blank canvas (painted white) that I painted myself with the signature of Cy Twombly, a favourite artist of mine whose work I'll never be able to afford, lol. ~ karen!
Mary Ann Wilson
Thank you for the tour. You have all the things you love around you and it looks so warm and inviting. My favourite thing you purchased and by the way glad you broke down and did are the French shutters. They are exquisite. Everything works. Pleasure to see you also have books shelves. Merry Christmas!
Karen
I literally had to build those bookcases in the dining room to hold all the books I have. ~ karen!
Anne Kilpatrick
Thank you x 100 for your Christmas tour! Gorgeous and inspiring! And I love the idea of keeping the price tag on things. Neat!
Have a very Merry Christmas and a much better New Year to come(fingers crossed)☺️
Karen
Thanks Anne! And yes - fingers crossed! ~ karen!
Marilyn Meagher
It’s very charming karen, so pretty and homey. Merry Christmas xo
Karen
Thanks Marilyn! No parties this year. Yet I still plan on making the same amount of food. Weird.😂 ~ karen!
Beth Bilous
I second the copper wire lights. Now I HAVE to find them. Your home is gorgeous. Thank you for this tour. Little bits of Christmas here and there did it for me. I will take that lead and try my best. We are having a gift less Christmas this year, chosen by most who will be in attendance. This bs Covid has caboshed all joy with job loss, home buying etc. Will be different, but what is not different anyway about this year?
Jenny W
Simple & Beautiful as always!
- Love the deer head, {put a wreath around it for the haters lol!}
- I too have found the elusive Dollarama plaid bows which adorn the wreaths hanging outside on my windows.
-Copper wire battery lights for the win! {I add those things to everything, always}
- I bought my dream Christmas tree last year. 2000 mini led dot lights incorporated into every realistic rubber tipped branch. wires in the trunk, quick set up, one tiny cord to plug into the wall. - my 5 month old puppy ate that cord! Whatareyagonnado!?!
Kimberly
You're delightful. This post did not disappoint. I never would have guessed that my missing ornaments may have been eaten by...me. But if that's what happened to yours, then I guess it may be where mine went.
Also LISTEN: YOUR HOME IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND CHARMING AF.
Merry Christmas from the other side of Canada!
Karen
Charming AF is exactly the kind of compliment I crave. Thanks! ~ karen
LOIS M BARON
My fave this year are the candelabra wreaths. Swoon-worthy. Also, the giant bells from your sister's store. This year I put a red candle on my island, draped some hand-crocheted by me corkscrew garland over a floor lamp, hung an ornament on my dining room light fixture and that might be it. . . . But now I'm tempted to bow it up--yours look great!
By the way, a dog does look good in front of a fireplace, but that's currently where I have a big cat tree, so no photo-perfect opportunities for me there, lol.
Emie
Your tree is exquisite!!! Funny what you were saying about your blue shutters.... before I read your explanation of them I kept going back and forth trying to see where they were in you house since I didn't remember seeing them before. Then, BOOM! They're new and they couldn't be more gorgeous. That color!!!! I know nothing about French antiques but what I do know is that you will find a perfect place to put them.
LOIS M BARON
Amen! They are so fabuloso!
Karen
See, lol! I knew there would be those of you thinking HEY> WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE??? ~ karen!
Barb
Beautiful! Taking your advice and NOT putting up all the decorations - just the one I love. Instead I'm cutting a variety of evergreens (fir, blue spruce, juniper, pine) and wild grape holly from the yard, spiked with pruned-off mock-orange branches that I (in a moment of WFH insanity/creativity on my day off) painted with fun acrylic colors. Now standing by with carpet cleaner for when the cats puke up the dry pine needles.
Roz
Hi Karen, I don't partake in Christmas and almost bypass this blog when I saw the tittle. But I decided to take a look because your post never disappoints. And what a delight that was, urm, I mean is, I'm still looking and trying to control my urge not to take pix. Thank you for the feast, it was absolutely delicious! Your taste and style is on par. I'd be one of the few "first", to purchase your hard covered book to proudly display on my coffee table. I'm not sure why you hesitated to purchase the shutters, it is so you. I don't think I can see that space without it. Deer head? Undecided, can't commit yet but it does look good. Thanks for sharing Karen.
Sandra Miller Pitts
You got me with the Irish Whiskey. If that is at the end I am all in. Looking forward to kissing 2020 goodbye and looking forward to 2021. On a good note as I have began many new interests in quarantine inspired by people like you. So my dear Thank you and Merry Christmas. (I can use that term of endearment ‘cus I am old).
Karen
LOL. I'm old too but I use that as an excuse for not having the energy to do laundry. ~ karen!
Lynn
Beautiful as ever Karen . Love the little lights, I have seen them before I just don’t think the ones I saw were as long a strand as yours are.
Stay safe an please be careful, daughter has friend that is family of 3 plus parents all of which were in Covid bubble. Parent went shopping caught Covid and now all 5 have tested positive.
So please stay safe and wear your masks when out, even for quick run in some place.
Karen
Thanks Lynn! It's illegal here to not wear a mask when you're out. :) They have to be worn in all stores, banks, lineups ... anywhere indoors. Plus most people just keep them on outside as well, especially now that it's cold out and the masks are warm, lol. ~ karen!
savannah
I don't even celebrate Christmas, but this post certainly put me in the spirit!! Besides LOVING the deer head, I love the candelabra floral decoration! How did you do that? Thanks for sharing your spirit of the season.
Karen
Hi Savannah. Thanks! The wreaths are just imitation wreaths from Ikea that happen to fit over the candelabras perfectly. (this just reminded me that I should wire them to the candelabra just in case.) Then I just cut and shoved the dried flowers into the wreath. ~ karen!
Roberta
Always so generous, amusing AND inspiring. I’ve decided to make my house extra pretty this year because it makes me happy. I made the orange slices and they really do glow! Your candle wreaths in the dining room are gorgeous.. my favorite. Thank you!🌲
Karen
Thanks for saying that Roberta! I like the candle wreaths too. :) ~ karen!
Mindy
Am I the only one wondering if that's a TELEVISION over your mantle now?!
Oh hi. Tis I. The one who moved from the city to the country three years ago and am officially feral. Except for the fact that I still read all your posts. 🙃
Karen
LOL. hi Mindy! Yup, that is indeed a television over the mantel! I hate it with all my heart. But at the moment it's the only place the television can logically go. ~ karen!
Patti
I friggin LOVE the deer head! And everything else! Thanks for sharing! Is it wrong of me to think that Xmas in pjs without running around malls and not having to go to parties I never want to attend might be an upside to all this?
Karen
Nope, that's not wrong. It's the exact upside you should be focusing on, lol. ~ karen!
Debbie
You are hysterical - and always make me smile. It looks beautiful. Except for the head of a dead animal hanging on the wall. ;)
Karen
LOL! ~ karen
Victoria
Beautiful!!!
Annette Sullivan
Love the large jingle bells! Will your sister’s store ship bells to the US? If not, could she recommend a US based source?
SueC
I was JUST going to say, i immediately clicked the link and theres NO way to shop or buy anything? Is it a precursor tease?? Lol...anyway LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog...you are hysterical Karen..during & after my cancer & now covid...this is the only thing I look forward to
Karen
:) She doesn't do online shopping, she just has a brick and mortar store. But I did ask her about the jingle bells and she had a beautiful rope of them like a garland but they sold this afternoon. Sorry! She will occasionally ship things. ~ karen!
Sarah
Your copper wired lights have the word ‘twinkle’ in their on-line description. Does that mean they pulse on and off?
Karen
No. Although some that come with a remote will go through any manner of twinkling and flashing. But there's always an option for just having the lights on steady with no twinkling or flashing involved. ~ karen!
Capelover
It is all exquisite! Love the new old doors, love the deer, the pig is precious! You always do such a unique and exciting Christmas post! Thanks so much!