Welcome to my home! I’m happy to say this year, I’ll be HOME for Christmas! Yay! If you remember my long saga from the past couple of years, you’ll know how special it is to be able to say that!
For those of you who are new here, this is my new house after a two year long ordeal with my husband being without work and then us moving to a new state and our old house not selling for a whole year. Finally, we bought this house about 8 weeks ago! Happy dance.
We have lots to do to make it our own (like painting and curtains, for starters!), but it feels great just to know we can actually get settled!
Even though I am relieved to be HOME, I didn’t go hog wild with my decorations this year. This year it was all about simplicity and sanity. And no perfection allowed, as you will see. Real life. At my house, we are decorating for ourselves, not to show the world how perfect our home is (because it isn’t) or how magazine cover worthy every corner is (because CLEARLY it isn’t).
I’m not going to pretend to have it all together and expect you all to do the same. In fact, I hope you’ll have lots of imperfection in your holiday decorating too. That way we can all feel more hospitable and friendly and not overly impressed or overly stressed about our homes. That is just not at all what Christmas is supposed to be about. There are much more important things to be concerned about.
So, head up on the porch and you’ll find a little greenery and colored lights.
To the right of the front door I have my epsom salt candles, which I forgot to light. oops!
Welcome! Come in and get out of the cold! It has been about 4 degrees here at night and about 20 during the day lately. And we live in Washington, which is not exactly the mid-west. Brrrr…..
Come on in! Here is my ever changing apothecary jar display on the old familiar cabinet in the entry! If you have been to my blog before, I have shown this cabinet 10 million times now. And now you get to see this jar with the Christmas balls.
I skipped all the greenery on the stairs this year to simplify, but I did add a ball wreath on each post.
This is a peek at the living room, which is to the left when you enter. I got those mercury glass candlesticks at Costco! We’ll swing back to the living room at the very end of this tour.
This is a little table in the entry, the wise men are offering gifts.
Now, let’s head back to where we hang out most of the time before we head into the dining room…
I showed these shots a week or so ago, this is our family room fireplace and my refurbished cabinet doors turned shutters.
Pulling back a little, this is where we spend most of our time, all huddled up by the fire.
While I’d like to say that we are huddled up by the fire every day reading holiday classics or listening to Christmas music, here (and above) is the unstyled and realistic look at our daily life. But, this is a party so let’s pretend Sponge Bob on a big screen didn’t ruin it. Ok? Moving on.
Red candlesticks and some candy canes (which have almost all been eaten, eh hem) bring in a little red to the recently painted green hutch in the kitchen!
I just tucked in bits and pieces of leftover greenery here and there to make what I have already a little more festive.
And here, you can see how we view our tree from the kitchen and all the way from our family room! The perfect tree location, for our not so perfect but lovable tree! We cut down our tree in the dark one cold night, so once we saw it in the light we realized it came to us with its own charming imperfections. But it is a beautiful shade of blue green and smells heavenly!
At our old house our tree was in the living room but the only way to see it was to hike across the house and down a flight of stairs. I am loving this smaller house!
We are having a little get together at our house this week so I decided to put out the chargers to set serving plates on, rather than using a tablecloth. And that bird tree thingy in the middle of the table was a late night attempt at an easy centerpiece, using what I had on hand. I just hope no one thinks it is edible. I’ll be very embarrassed if someone tries to eat the moss.
This is my everyday dining room buffet display, with the addition of the snowflake garland and a jeweled glass ball on the candlestick.
We were excited to realize that if we put our tree in the dining room we could see it from just about everywhere on the main floor, and it was out of the way enough to make room for entertaining!
See the light wires hanging down on our tree? It is my husband’s job to do the lights and he was too busy this time. So, they are just strewn on there every which way. We might straighten them. Or, we might not. Right now, I’m thinking not.
I love my ornaments. I didn’t put everything I own on the tree this year — not all the lights, not the ribbons, but it is still pretty to me in its simplicity. It is hard to capture simplicity in a photo, but even without all the extra “stuff” a real tree is beautiful!
I gave the kids some of the memorable ornaments from way back when…and they are now happily residing on their own trees in their rooms!
After all my intentions of using a more unique container this year for my tree, I realized THIS tree drops SAP on the floor! So, a tree skirt, er quilt, DOES have its advantages!
Here you can see the tree from the living room. Notice how the photos in this post go from day to night outside, and then back to daylight and back to night. Fancy.
I made some felt garland this year, every year for the past few years I’ve made an easy garland for fun and this was it this year. I saw something similar in my Christmas book from Country Living. Very simple (here is a tutorial!)!
The green glass jars are always on the living room window sill, but I just added a glass ball wreath to make it a little more holidayish! Just a quick peek upstairs and we’ll be done for now! …
This is our little bedroom tree. I’ve always wanted one and this was the year! I kept it simple and just added a sparkly monogram ornament for each person (and Winston, of course) in our family.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Beautiful! Love your wisemen. They are wonderful!
.-= Jai@wifeof1momof4´s last blog ..Good morning heartache =-.
Your home is so beautiful! It looks perfect to me! I really love those Costco candle sticks and the porch is beautiful! This is my first time linking up to the Holiday Linky! Thank you for taking the time to host this day! We get to see some amzing Christmas Decorating thanks to you! Have a great Friday, and weekend too! Sherri : )
Congratulations on your new home, Melissa, it looks lovely (I didn’t realise that that was why you needed to repaint your walls!?!?) and well done on your christams decor – really simple!!
.-= Gena´s last blog ..Baubles, Candles and more: 14 Days to Christmas =-.
Congratulations on your new home, Melissa, it looks lovely (I didn’t realise that that was why you needed to repaint your walls!?!?) and well done on your christams decor – really simple!! Gena
Email: tuxedo610@gmail.com
http://vintagerosestudio.blogspot.com
.-= Gena´s last blog ..Baubles, Candles and more: 14 Days to Christmas =-.
Melissa,
I loved your tour! We have not decorated yet…I have simply been too busy making candles. However, tonight might be the night! Or maybe tomorrow. Terrible, isn’t it?
I loved the ornament wreath on each stair rail idea!
And your tree is so sweet!
Becky K.
.-= Becky K.´s last blog ..Leisurely Afternoon…and CHEESE! =-.
Hi Melissa. Yes, I sure do remember how you spent Christmas last year! I recall thinking that it would be a Christmas you would treasure for its simplicity. And you will remember this year for its new beginning and the glorious feeling of being at home, which looks absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing your photographs with us and for hosting another fun party! ~Arleen
.-= Arleen @ Seasons for All´s last blog ..Favorite Christmas Decor =-.
Gorgeous decorations, worthy of a King.
m ^..^
.-= m´s last blog ..‘Tis The Season… =-.
Melissa this is delightful. I your house! You’ve done an amazing job at pulling things together, it feels warm and inviting.
Love the felt garland…and you made it!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
.-= Robin All Things Heart and Home´s last blog ..Christmas Open House =-.
Your home is simply gorgeous. I love everything you have done -so elegant, so festive and so welcoming. I even love spongebob (my son has a spongebob stocking!)
Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures.
Best wishes, Natasha.
.-= Natasha´s last blog ..A silent and candlelit Christmas night… =-.
It’s beautiful! I love the simplicity of the tree and the fact you can see it from the kitchen. I too have a small house but not big enough to do that. So, I try to be up early enough in the morning that I can sit in the dark in the quiet and have tea in front of the tree — before 3 thundering girls head downstairs for school!
Your home looks beutiful. Just the right amount of decorating – fetive but not over done! Love the felt garland.
.-= Stacy @ Red Door Home´s last blog ..Gingerbread House Decorating Party =-.
Beautiful mantle! And I also love the ball-wreath, and the balls in the jar! Very pretty!
Hope to see you next week for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash!
beautiful home, melissa. truly stunning, yet simple.
i think i may have to try that felt garland idea. too cute!
i love love love your tree. the green color and the silver is really gorgeous.
i could go on and on but i won’t.
so glad you are home.
.-= Emily@remodelingthislife´s last blog ..Morning =-.
I think your decorations are beautiful! With making gifts and a newly plastered ceiling in the dining room I just dont have time to decorate a lot this year. As long as I have some lights and greens and ornaments though, I’m all right:>)
.-= Kathleen Grace´s last blog ..Handmade Holidays =-.
It is all so lovely, Melissa. I especially like the use of non-traditional shades of blue and green. Wishes for the very merriest Christmas ever!
Susan
.-= black eyed susans kitchen´s last blog ..HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS =-.
Melissa, your home looks absolutely beautiful!
I am really appreciating your push to simplicity this year. We live in a pretty big house, and I keep being plagued with thoughts that I just haven’t decorated enough or been creative enough. With encouragement from you, today I’m saying ENOUGH. Time for me to call it good, put away the decorating “mess” and just enjoy Christmastime with my family.
By the way, my youngest son would think SpongeBob is the best part of this post. I admit I have a soft spot for that rascal myself–he always has a good attitude, and I appreciate that!
Thank you for sharing your home with us. Having followed you for awhile now, I’ve known you long enough to know that you have been through some tricky times in the past couple of years. Looks now as if you’re truly on a Voyage that be most rewarding. I’m glad for you.
.-= Richella´s last blog ..Christmas House Tour =-.
You have such a lovely home…thank you for sharing it with us.
I love the felt garland…so pretty…thanks Julia…you never disappoint!
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..what does it take to get to 50 years? love this reading "The Art of a Good Marriage" =-.
Your home is beautiful. Thank you for the inspiration – I haven’t even started decorating. I think I’ll make that felt garland today!
.-= carolyn´s last blog ..Mittens to Match =-.
Hi Melissa! Wow what a beautiful tour. I loved absolutely loved your buffet display and the tree in the dining room. Great idea. How sweet your living room with Sponge Bob…hey we do live in real homes with real t.v. shows! The wise men are perfect where you have them too. I just loved all of it. This was great fun, thanks!
Blessings,
Debbie
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Miniatures & Kitchen Gingerbread tree =-.
Your house is so beautiful! I love your tree too! Thank you for sharing with us. The simplicity you used in decorating is breath taking. Hugs and Merry Christmas! Hugs, Bobbi Jo
.-= Bobbi Jo Nichols ´s last blog ..Tuesday =-.
Absolutely beautiful! We have Spongebob viewers here too. In fact, I think I’ve seen that episode!
.-= The Working Home Keeper´s last blog ..People Over Things ~ Our Holiday Centerpiece =-.
I love your home and your decorations.
Merry Christmas!!!
It’s absolutely gorgeous Melissa!
Lots of inspiration of all kinds!
I didn’t do the stairs this year, either. In many ways we’ve scaled back and gone simpler. Our main focus has been the hearth room and breakfast room/kitchen. That’s where our family gathers. To tell you the truth, J and I have truly enjoyed the hearth room, this year. As much as we have enjoyed it, in the past, this year seems different…more comforting.
Of course, I went glam in the dining room, though!:-)
Merry Christmas!
Your new home looks so beautiful. Amazing that you just moved in! I’ve enjoyed your blog for a few years now. You inspired me to FLOCK this year on your post a while back. I got my first little flocked tree and love it.
Merry Christmas!
.-= Lamp Tramp´s last blog ..HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS & HOOKED ON HOLIDAY HOUSE TOURS =-.
I really love some of the things you have done – not only with Christmas decorations but other things as well. If you ever get the chance, a post about your process in picking out items at stores and deciding what you value would be incredibly interesting. It’s all beautiful.
Katie
.-= Katie at makingthishome.com´s last blog ..Our Green Christmas Tree Solution =-.
It all looks so good! Your home looks so cozy and warm. I like the fact that you are so laid back about decorating for Christmas. It sure makes the holidays go much smoother without the stress.
Have a wonderful weekend!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Deck the Halls! =-.
Hi Melissa! The comments are working for me now, so not sure what the scoop was. As I said in the e-mail – love it!
.-= pk @ Room Remix´s last blog ..Christmas Decorating Inspiration and Ideas – 3 =-.
Melissa – Thanks for sharing your home and reminding us that sometimes enough is enough! And it turned out beautifully. Love the felt garland – textural and different yet totally holiday.
Terrie -YourDecoratingHotline
.-= Terrie@YourDecoratingHotline´s last blog ..Holiday Scherenschnitte =-.
Melissa, I love all you’ve done, simple or not, it’s all beautiful!! That mantel is just gorgeous and your tree, lovely. I too, love the simple, but can’t always make myself stop at that, but I do love to mix it all up and I have a lot I’ve collected so that’s what I use. You’ve done a marvelous job with your new house and it looks SO welcoming and warm. All those Christmas touches around the house are so pretty.
Thanks for including my party link!! HOpe everyone will stop by and check it out, as it’s still going strong. Merry Christmas!
.-= Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality´s last blog ..Blog Talk Radio on Friday =-.
Love it all! The bird centerpiece is my favorite. So many sweet touches. What a lovely home- filled with the Christmas spirit.
Happy Day
I love the beauty and simplicity of your Christmas decor. And am so thankful you are settled into your home for the Christmas. May you make many wonderful memories there!
Blessings,
Gayle
.-= Gayle at Mountain Moma´s last blog ..Old-Fashioned Christmas =-.
Melissa, all of your holiday decor is fabulous!! I especially adore that centerpiece! I’ve barely started decorating and will definitely be keeping it simple this year. We are still in the middle of a fireplace remodel, so the living room is in a complete state of chaos. Not so festive!!
Amy
.-= ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage & Junkologie´s last blog ..WhisperWood Cottage Kitchen…the DURING and AFTER photos… =-.
Melissa,
Your new home is adorable, and all your homemade touches are so warm and inviting. They are just perfect for its Craftsman style! Thank you for hosting this fun holiday event.
Cathy
.-= The Stylish House´s last blog ..Christmas Joy! =-.
Wow!! How beautiful!!!!
.-= Sheri´s last blog ..Word of the Year 2009 =-.
Everything looks gorgeous and I love your sweet tree!
.-= Morning T´s last blog ..:: Morning T does NYC :: =-.
Everything looks so festive and cozy, Melissa!! Awesome job for the first year in the new place. I’m loving that felt garland with the jingle bells that you made. So sweet. Thanks for hosting us:)
.-= Sarah from pewter+sage´s last blog ..Holiday Home Tour: Part I =-.
Oh, Melissa! I’m so proud for you that you’ll be able to be really home for Christmas! Your home is so warm, inviting and cozy! It’s so refreshing to see that ‘real’ folks live here. None of our homes are perfect – mine is sure not and there’s some rooms in my home I wouldn’t dare show in blogland!
Love seeing your little son watching his shows! Your home looks so beautiful and I’m thankful for you you’re finally home!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
.-= Shelia´s last blog ..My Christmas Home Tour =-.
You’re home is beautiful-I think our trees have a bit in common, totally imperfect but special just the same.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..What I learned from Charlie Brown =-.
Good Morning Melissa,
You know what amazes me about you, you are so humble but yet so sure in who you are. I’m thinking that’s the love of Christ that gleams in you. You say you kept it simple, but yet I look at the photos and I think it is beautiful. I’m not about decorating over the top for Christmas. The past few years I have really tried to simplify. I was feeling like I didn’t even want to show mine because it is so not magazine worthy but who cares…right?? I just want it to be about Christ, not about decorating and gifts. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I think you are awesome and you inspire me daily.
Hugs,
LeAnn:)
.-= LeAnn´s last blog ..I LOVE TARGET!!! =-.
Your home looks just lovely! (and pretty magazine worthy to me)…I really love your centerpiece on the dinning table. Did you use cake plates of different sizes?
Hi Melissa,
Everything looks so beautiful! My favorite though, is your bird centerpiece, gorgeous!
.-= Karen – The Graphics Fairy´s last blog ..Free Christmas Clip Art – Gorgeous Angel with Cherubs =-.
Very, pretty, cozy home. Sweet Christmas decor
.-= 31everything´s last blog ..Boskke Sky Planters =-.
Thank you for the tour. Your home is elegant but welcoming and we can almost feel your pleasure and relief at being ‘home’ for Christmas pouring through the screen! My favourite photo was the glimpse of water through the beautiful wee window.
Even paired down your decorations are lovely! I love the touches of mercury glass. Hope you have a wonderful holiday in your new home.
.-= Christy´s last blog ..A Homemade Christmas =-.
Melissa, your home is so cozy! I have to agree with Janice — it so feels like being home for Christmas! I love the overall feel of the greens and blues, you have put together some beautiful but simple designs. I especially love h0w you did the mantle over the fireplace. Thanks so much for the tour!
I feel the same way as LeAnne, you really do come across as someone who knows herself and what is truly important. Your blog really does convey that. Thank you for sharing yourself!
-Angela
.-= Angela @ ImagineCozy´s last blog ..More Wreaths =-.
Thanks for all the “inspiration” your home looks beautiful!
I love your Christmas tree. I’m all about being simple.
Your decor has so much charm and character and I SO enjoyed every minute of seeing the photos. I’m impressed you got all settled in so nicely after just moving. Merry Christmas!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Pink Feathers, Photo Ribbons, and Countdowns =-.
I always forget how beautiful the ornaments look turned upside down in a candle stick. Thanks. Your home looks lovely, Melissa. I am so happy you are getting settled after the last few years. Enjoy every minute of your Christmas season!
Hugs, Bonnie
.-= Bonnie Mattson´s last blog ..Our Electronic Christmas Card! =-.
Everything looks beautiful!! I really like the simplicity of what you’ve done. And it looks cozy and elegant all at the same time. Sooo…when can I come over for hot chocolate? LOL!
.-= Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates´s last blog ..Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Favorite Christmas Cookies =-.