A DOWNTON ABBEY-ish CHRISTMAS
My house is a 1,000 square foot, 178 year old Ontario cottage. The ceilings are low, the thermostat is always on high and the grandest thing about it is nothing. Yet I still decorate it as though I'm living in both the upstairs and downstairs of Downton Abbey. One part scullery maid, one part old grande dame. Oh Downton. I do miss you.
I have crystal chandeliers, life sized portraits, and scrabbled together wood pieces on the brink of disintegration. It really is like the art department from Downton Abbey came by one day and dumped half of Mrs. Patmore's and half of Lady Mary's things into my house then shook it up like a snowglobe.
There's no hiding who you truly are when it comes to Christmas decorating. And I'm classic Christmas all day long. Take a look at your Christmas tree. Go ahead. Do it right now.
That Christmas tree is YOU with pine needles. It probably reflects how you like to dress, your general mood and who you truly are. That's right. You are your Christmas tree. This of course does not hold true if you happen to hate your Christmas tree.
I may have a fondness for Mid Century Modern, and sleek, contemporary pieces but if you shoved me in a hole for the rest of my life and said you could only decorate that hole in the ground with one style, it would be in the style of Downton Abbey snowglobe. Which I suppose means that I should start looking for a gold leafed pine box for use in the future.
This year for my Christmas decorating, to really enhance the Downton Abbey feel, I highlighted my old riding gear (a la Lady Mary), added some greenery and a few olden days touches and called it a day. I didn't use HALF of my normal Christmas stuff yet it feels more cozy and Christmassy than ever.
Happy Christmas. Enjoy the tour.
You learned about the DIY Christmas tree candles and the Dried Orange Slices a couple of weeks ago. Together they create an instant classic Christmas tree. I also shoved a few oranges slices into a wreath on my front hall table.
Along with my riding stuff I also put out some of my silver plate. Nothing says Downton Abbey like silver serving pieces. Just ask Carson.
Starting on Monday, December 6th you can see my 2021 CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR HERE.
I even changed the art over my buffet to the right of my couch to be more Downton friendly. Also the colours work perfectly for Christmas.
Other things that make this work? Nuts and oranges laid out ready for scarfing down. And not nuts from a jar. Nuts that you need to use a nutcracker with.
Dried orange slices also went onto the garland around the fireplace and wherever I could put an evergreen branch or garland I did.
How did I have so many branches? 3 weeks before Christmas I had an evergreen that was growing too close to the house cut down. Before all the branches went into the chipper I flung myself at the giant piece of machinery and dragged a bunch of them out of the jaws of death. Or maybe I just said, Hey, leave me a few branches, to the guys who cut it down. I'm kind of foggy on which scenario actually happened due to an overactive imagination brought on by being part Irish.
This is the one corner that feels more modern than I'd like it to but sometimes you have to work with what you have. I hung a few of the vintage ornaments I've been collecting over the past decade or so on my magazine rack.
If you like the look you can make the exact same magazine rack in a couple of hours. Here's the tutorial.
Yeah. Antlers. They get me every time.
Upstairs (the garland, mirrors and stirrups) meets downstairs (antique cheese box).
This white tree is another one of those compromises. But I won't give it up. It's the one thing that's exactly the same in my house at Christmas no matter what. White tree decorated with pinecones of all kinds.
There's the antique, life sized oil painting and scrabbled together bit of wood saddle stand.
Keeping things authentic, the table runner is just pine cones and only pine cones all lined up in about a 10" wide path down the centre of the table with a few oranges stuck in.
The greenery is a branch from the tree I saved. It is just about to be cut into tiny pieces and hung from the bows on the Black Bookcase Presents. The tutorial to making those bookcase filler presents is here.
Here's an interesting note. That mason jar is spilling out Italian chestnuts. Chestnuts roasted on an open fire are gross. They're horrible. Don't be fooled by the song. They're like hot, sweet, chick peas, all mealy and weird. EVERY year I think it'll be different. EVERY year I roast chestnuts and think the outcome will be different. It is not. Ever.
More tree branches await a good hacking and placement in the house.
My house obviously isn't 100% authentic Downton Abbey. Not even close actually. But when you walk in the door and the fire is roaring and those gross chestnuts are filling the house with their deceivingly delicious smell, you have know you're in a warm, cozy place, where doing things by hand is important. Where life is simple and hard at the same time. Where you'll be served cookies on a silver tray but won't get a sideways glance if you spill crumbs all over the couch. What do I care if you spill cookie crumbs?
One of the housemaids will clean it up before I even know it happened.
*LOVE* everything you did. So much thought involved. You're teaching me a tremendous amount about how to express personal style and not just "install" good design.
Merry Christmas!
You just made my heart happy ... you’ve brought back so many memories!
I was born in England and even though I love a “glam white, Winter Wonderland” look, I still love this Downton Abby style. I did a bit of a gasp (ha!) at the boots on the buffet BUT then started to smile at everything else! Your greenery above the artwork reminds me of when my Dad and I would go out in the fields behind our house (in a tiny village) to cut holly and greenery; he’d then drape generous pieces above the paintings and mirrors in throughout the house. When I saw that silver dish beside the plaid and (yes, even the boots), my smile REALLY widened!! This is all SO perfect ... the horsey look, the (formal) silver up against the less formal, is absolute perfection! Have I used the word “perfect” too much?
Oh, by the way, we roasted chestnuts every Christmas. I’d get them for free from the trees that grew beside the one-room schoolhouse which is still there today.
I just spent the (previous) last hour scanning through a Christmas House Tour of various bloggers and I almost fell asleep ... every single one was almost the VERY same! I love decor and couldn’t believe how bored I was! I figured that maybe it was due to my age (another birthday today!) but then I went to my Inbox and there you were!
Just like when I was a kid, I “saved the best for the last” ... and just finished reading about your unique decor. You have awakened me from my stupor! Thank you, Karen, and Merry Christmas!
Your house is smaller than mine??? It has low ceilings??? How is this possible? Your decorating techniques are inspiringly deceptive!
Just the front half of the house has low ceilings. As in just over 7'! The back (where the dining room is) is a little better with 8' ceilings. ~ karen!
that lamp in the 2nd pic is dope af.
Yes it is. ~ karen!
Looks great Karen. As you say, very cozy, and a great place to spend Christmas. Happy Holidays to you!
I love how warm and cozy your home looks without going totally overboard. Each photo had such unique touches, unusual combinations, but all do-able! And I was amused that your Elf was actually "on a shelf"! Thanks for sharing and giving all of us some great ideas. I like to change it up each year with some old and some new ways of arranging things, too.
So beautiful :) Your green tree feels very Orchard House from Little Women. Is the white house on your counter a cookie jar?
My father was Belgiun. He did chestnuts in a cast iron pan on top of the stove, with butter and salt. Way better than just hot. Butter is always better.
Merry Christmas! Love your decorations. We keep it very simple.
Your home is perfect and I would never, ever get rid of that white tree. It makes your library/dining room feel just the way I would like to feel while celebrating Christmas with family and friends. Perfectly delightful, warm and cozy - just perfect. I love the old white truck and the other unique touches you have to let my eyes wander around and see lovely sights. Please come and rescue my livingroom with its 7'tall and 2' wide tree. It has white lights and six dangely and neon colored things with a jingle bell hanging - oh, yeah and a star on top. I can't find my ornaments since it has been years since I put up a tree. It does look like me. I normally wear baggy shorts, crocs, old stained and painted T-shirts and no make up. I cut my own hair which is exactly like the tree, chopped and oddly sparse in parts. BUT, I can sit in my easy chair at night with sparkle lights on and feel just wonderful and warm and cozy. I don't really care as long as the lights work. My tree is exactly like me except for the dimensions - it is tall and skinny while I'm short and fat. Oh well, opposites attract and I'm happy with it and maybe will find my decorations before New Years. Merry Christmas sweet Karen, you are a blessing in ways you will never know!
You are your Christmas tree, interesting thought!
My tree has an abundance of little white lights since I learned how to light a tree inside to out, has some burlap, black glitter balls and shiny and mat gold balls, vintage looking ornaments, mostly forest animals.
Yeah thats me, a little dark glam that loves being out in the woods!
I too miss Downtown and love your decorating!
I think its time for a Downtown binge watch!
I really love it no too much not too spartan (or minimalist as those people like to say). Elegant would be my word. BTW, you should see our menorah, I think you'd be very impressed!!! It's all right, I personlly am not into glitzy or tacky!
Upload a menorah pic Shoshana! Starts tomorrow doesn't it? ~ karen!
Here is my menorah. Thrilling, no?
It is thrilling! I love menorahs. :) Plus yours literally has oil candles in it. ~ karen!
Most of the orthodox use oil. In our neighborhood, we're the only menorah. There are a few on some other blocks. Our block is low key on outdoor decorations but it's all rather lovely.
Oh! That makes sense! ~ karen!
vintage pickup truck is my fav--unconditional love
Very lovely. The only thing missing is the word 'Uber' on the toy pickup truck. Other than that, it's just perfect.
Haha! ~ karen
I spent part of my childhood in England and I LOVE roasted chestnuts! It's really what you are used to and what you associate with holidays, don't you think?
So pretty! You have such a great sense of style..combined with your ability to do anything and everything..=100%
Loe the truck to bits:) And all the swags..
Gorgeous Karen.
I feel your essence of blending antiques and modern styles. My mother when she left this world left us a debt but in return some very beautiful eclectic pieces that I still treasure 35 years later wherever I go one of them is The exact same mirror (smaller ornate frame) you have in your photo. I have never seen anyone have another. So cool. Also I want that vintage truck toy. As a life size toy as well ! 😊🤗❤️
Love it, Karen, especially the orange slices. They are like little jewels. The exception - from someone who spent a large part of her life in a horse barn - are the helmet and boots. The helmet might be okay but the boots...no, no, no! Boots just DON'T belong on a mantle or shelf. Do'ya ever watch those CSI shows where the killer thinks he's washed all the blood off of the murder weapon but the forensic scientists always find traces? Looking at those boots would spoil the Christmassy mood for me because I'd be sitting there thinking of manure, foot sweat, equine parvo myelitis, foot fungus...UGGHHH, I'm grossing myself out just sitting here looking at your boots! Your house is beautiful, you are very talented and haven't fallen prey to the ridiculous fad of turning books around and I think you're wonderful. But I don't want to think about smelling your feet.
" Your house is beautiful, you are very talented... and I think you’re wonderful. But I don’t want to think about smelling your feet."
Well that is certainly worth the price of admission. :D Thanks for the laugh.
You can roast chestnuts in the oven.
Your place looks beautiful!
Thanks Kathy. I need to do your transom fruit next year! I did some chestnuts in the oven the other day when a friend was over in the afternoon. We both shoved them in our mouths, choked them down and declared them weird. They were much easier to control cooking in the oven though. ~ karen!
When I was a poor, newly married college student, my husband and I bought some chestnuts from a street vendor on Denver's Larimer Square in December of 1976. I really felt the Dickens spirit, until we bit into them. Yuck. Never. Again. Still remember that flavor and texture all these years later.
I will be over with my book and a cup of tea for the afternoon. Beautiful!
Looks very elegant! I like how you draped the greenery on half the picture and mirror frames. The pics make your house look huge.