I loved my Christmas decorating so much last year that I don't want to change anything this year. Which means I'm satisfied. Which is disconcerting.
Last year's Christmas decorating looked like Downton Abbey's upstairs crashed into the downstairs. It was (for me anyway) a perfect mix of Lady Mary and Daisy.
Everything. I loved it all. I loved the pedestal of cedar and oranges in the living room. I loved the train on the dining room table. I LOVED the long tailed satin bows on the tree, pale blue and red. Everything.
Yet, I know myself and the thickness of my head. So I know I might change it up.
In which case, I figured I'd better show you last year's Christmas decorating right now because I really don't think I'm ever going to do better than this and there could be a few bits of inspiration in it for your own Christmas decorating this year.
And here it is, the Christmas House Tour of 2022.
Welcome to my annual Christmas House Tour. I've fallen deep into the wrinkles of Victorian gramma house vibes.
Typically my house tours don't have a ton of writing to them. It's mainly photos of the house at Christmas and not much needs to be said.
This year there are just a couple of new things but for some reason the house, the decorations, everything looks entirely different.
A big part of that is due to the fact that I've been able to move my tree from my foyer into my living room.
There's a case to be had for having the tree in the foyer - it's what I get to look at from my seat on the sofa every night.
The way the tree is now, in the living room, it's behind where my head is so I never really get to see it. That sentence will make more sense to you when you see the photo.
So let's go down the hall, and through the doors into the dining room, where my second tree is, shall we?
New this year: red balls and blue satin ribbon bows hanging off the tree to match the gifts underneath. Otherwise, the decorations on this tree are the same as they've been for the past decade.
Also new this year ... a train set. I'd prefer the look of an antique one buttttttt this one does something fun. Plus it uses a rechargeable battery.
It lights up and has train sounds. It has a red headlight and the cabin lights are warm white.
But that's not the best part. This is.
It has actual steam.
Thank you for joining me in the happiest moment of my life.
Buy the steam engine train on Amazon US.
Buy the steam engine train on Amazon Canada.
Also I decided that my beautiful wrapping needed some random gift wrap around them. It was too matchy matchy. Perfect is poison. So I wrapped a few in unexpected paper.
Let's do a U-turn and head back into the foyer.
Nothing here is new this year. Same old stuff arranged in a different way.
Except for the ceramic Christmas tree on the bench above. That's new. I had to. It's a classic.
Check out the velvet curtains on Amazon US.
Check out the velvet curtains on Amazon Canada.
Just a bunch of trees.
If you'd be so kind as to turn around and face the opposite direction, you will be ready to walk into the living room.
Welcome.
Ta DA. Tree in the living room. Any of the design hawk eyes among you probably noticed the random bright yellow present. Perfect is poison.
I just made that up so I'm going to use it a lot.
New this year are the blue velvet curtains and the red and blue silk ribbon bows on the tree. All the other decorations are the same. Antique glass ornaments, and dried orange slices. I also shoved a Santa sitting in chair decoration into the tree.
Yup. My whole life changed when I threw half of that sofa out.
Here's a funny end to the story. I took these photos yesterday - and I've already moved things around.
At the moment the train tracks on the dining room table are bigger and more rectangular. In the centre are all the trees from the marble foyer table. I've moved the ceramic tree into ...
You know what? If I haven't changed it back again in the next couple of days, I'll just take more photos and do another Christmas House Tour.
But I think I'm going to change it back so don't start looking forward to it or anything. In fact push that idea right out of your mind because at the rate I change things up I'd be doing a new Christmas House Tour post every day until January 3rd or 4th.
Love the train and love your philosophy about perfect being poison. Did you know that Chinese brush painting artists purposely make sure that there is something imperfect in every painting they do? I also think matching is boring. I started out with matching china sets. Now, decades later, I love mixing up china patterns. Matching stuff is for people with no imagination.
How frantic I'm feeling dictates how mismatched I can handle things, lol. ~ karen!
The coveted ceramic Christmas tree! I want one! But I want and old, original one. And I was so close!
Long story short, we recently moved my MIL out of her home of 46 years into a old lady apartment building. Needless to say, she had to get rid of A LOT of stuff. She offered me QVC garden tools that didn't really work as promised, curtains purchased in 1980 that do not fit my windows and countless knick knacks purchased at Home Interior parties. I politely said no. I had no use for any of them. I could have politely accepted and then donated them. Or threw them in the garbage... But my husband, who has some of his mother's same hoarding tendencies, would want to keep them. Because his mom might ask how I am enjoying my new QVC garden tool. And if he had to tell her I threw it in the trash, she would be mad. She might even spend the day calling every number saved in her flip phone and complain about how I threw her stuff away.
And then I saw IT! THE ceramic tree. It was so old that it was lit with a light bulb we would have to special order and would STILL likely be a fire hazard. And I said I would like to have that tree in my home. And my MIL hesitated. Well, I might keep it. I agreed! Yes, you love Christmas and your new apartment will need a touch of home. But if, IF, you decide to get rid of it, I would love to have it. We were at her apartment this week, fully decorated for Christmas. No ceramic tree up. I myself helped load her moving van. I did not load the tree. Where it went, no one seems to know.
What do I have? A Pabst Blue Ribbon beer sign I told my husband must stay in the garage. I have a new paper shredder to accompany the paper shredder we already owned. And I also have Grandpas Weed Puller, purchased from, you guessed it, QCV. It worked great for three whole prickly weeds before it broke. But alas, no ceramic tree...
No! Where IS it?? It has to be somewhere. FIND It. (I know you've tried and it's gone, but that is my genuine reactive reaction) ~ karen!
Love, love the train! I grew up in the US with train sets running around our Christmas tree, and have inherited my Grandfather's 1927 and 1929 Lionel train sets (antiques, right??). Before they were given to me, my husband bought me a New York Central Flyer Lionel set with lights, real steam and what is called "Rail Sounds", which includes bells, whistles and actual digital recordings of trains and rail yards. Cool Canadian trivia factoid: Neil Young was in partnership with Lionel and helped develop this sound recording technology in the 1990's. So much fun for this senior, who is also the proud owner of two ceramic lighted Christmas trees - one green and one white. Enjoy your Christmas paradise!
Hi Marie! I've been trying to avoid any and all expensive trains because I'll be sucked right in. I'm already trying to figure out how to change the recording on this train because as great as the rest of it is, the sound is quite pathetic. ~ karen!
Hi, Marie! Keeper of the family trains…
Your Sista!
Thank you! I've been looking for some holiday motivtion and I should have known to look here. (Somehow your blog was overlooked--mea culpa--when I set up a new email account. Missed you. So glad I have your entertaining quirkiness to look forward to again!) Merry christmas!
I love it all! Those new doors have me swooning...and those sleigh bells are perfect there! I've never been able to enjoy a "model home" where everything is the same style and perfectly in its place, or even a bedroom suite with matching dressers, headboard, etc. The magic is in the mix, and the perfect imperfections of thrift finds and lovely, odd conversation pieces, blended with new or luxury items. I call it the denim and pearls look. Same with my wardrobe. Thank you for the tour! Everywhere you look is a delight!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Karen.
There's a bit of a skill to that kind of mixing! It's taken me approximately 25 year to figure it out, lol. ~ karen!
I finally took a moment to slowly enjoy your photos - with great anticipation. I love the calm feeling your decorations have. It looks like the fairies have come and tied bows and added real elements like pine cones, fruit and natural branches. I personally have no self restraint and also have 2 young grandchildren so the base of my decorations is LIGHTS! You've done a lovely job without making lights the big statement. Of course I was waiting for the photo with that dog.... a great beast. Happy Holidays to you (and the dog).
Thanks Cara. Christmas really just all came together perfectly this year. :) ~ karen & the beast!
I was kinda waiting for a pic of Philip eating / chasing the train. 😆
Or the presents...
That tree is 1000% more photogenic than the sectional. Everything looks cozy and classy and warm and inviting! Oh, and that little train with its steam totally made me inhale sharply. So delightful! Merry Christmas!!
There's a new, neatly arranged poodle in the foyer.
“Perfect is poison” - reminds me of a new magazine Leanne Ford has called “Feel Free.” Her mantra is “freedom of expression, freedom from perfection.” If you haven’t seen it, Karen,I’d suggest checking it out. I think you’d appreciate it. I borrowed an e-copy from my library and read it on my iPad.
Beautiful tree in front room ! Lip is always so poised when in pictures. Excellent posture. Merry Christmas to you!!
Oh my gosh, I know they are not necessarily part of the Christmas decorating, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE those burnt orange velvet wing chairs!!! I WANT THEM!!! When you decide to toss them, you just put them on a train and send them on down here to little ole Westport Mass, USA. Ha ha. Love the ceramic tree too, have been combing the church bazaars,but no find.
Merry Christmas Karen, and thanks for being you.
Tammie
Beautiful as always. I have a ceramic tree that I put out every year. I actually made it. Mine is all white, larger than yours with multi-colored lights & a star on the top. When I was into ceramics I made several of these as gifts.
We have a ceramic tree my aunt made, I love it to pieces. I hope everyone loves the ones you made, too!!
Your home looks like Christmas, warm, welcoming and incredibly colorful. I LOVE the light coming through the tree from behind( I think). Defines festive! Yeah, and I bought myself a train! Who could resist?
The mirrors crooked... Haw haw made you look!! 😆😁🙄
I knowwwww, lol. ~ karen!
Does anyone live in that house? It is always.... so perfect. Certainly no evidence of a dog!
"It is always.... so perfect."😂 Oh boy. No sir. ~ karen!
I am smitten with that train!!
Actually, I would like a Christmas House Tour from now until January 4.
LOL. ~ karen!
Seconded! 😁
thank you so much for sharing the happiest moment of your life Karen ! Certainly seeing that steam was purest happiest moment of my morning :)With your home being like this, you're sure to have a wonderful, warm, peaceful happy not perfect Christmas but still going to wish you a merry Christmas anyway.Thank you !
Thanks Trish! It does feel peaceful. And you'll be hearing from me again before Christmas so you can wish me another one then. :) ~ karen!
As someone who has issues with perfectionism, I can personally attest that perfect IS poison! I'm going to co-opt that saying, thanks for coining it! Also, if my home renovation project ever gets complete enough where I can move the tools out of the kitchen - then I'm also stealing just about all your holiday decorating ideas! I LOVE how warm it feels. What you do seems significantly more genuine than any other holiday stuff. Thanks for always sharing!
Thanks Brenda. I'm quite in love with creating the feeling of Christmas. I wish I had that skill throughout the rest of the year. :) ~ karen
So classic and welcoming! I’m inspired! I need a big 19th century portrait but they’re hard to find. I’ve been haunting Locke Street Antiques but can’t find a countenance I like! Lol!
Make one! Buy a huge poster of one and brush stroke it with Mod Podge flat.Your welcome.
Whaa? How did I not know this? Thanks a bunch, Christine! Now I just need to find a 19th century portrait poster!
I got Margaret at an auction. :) ~ karen!
I love the addition of the ribbons. I've tried to do that and it doesn't turn out this well. Also, you killed me withe ceramic tree with ornament inserts -- made me think of childhood Christmases at my grandmother's house. And finally, where did you find that amazing toile wrapping paper?
Hi Melissa! I tried ribbons about 3 years ago and they looked stupid, lol. For some reason this year, it just clicked. I think VERY long tails is part of the trick. I got the wrapping paper on Zazzle. If you go to this post, you can read about where I got everything for the wrapping. ~ karen!