Remember, wayyyyyy back to a week ago when I lied to you but didn't know I was lying to you because at the time I was actually telling the truth?
Well, I'd like to explain that lie.
I told you that I would be paring down my Christmas this year. I thought at the time I typed those words they were true. In fact they WERE true.
Until 2 days later when Brett, an editor from Canadian Living magazine emailed me to ask if I was going big with my Christmas decorating this year.
Um. Sort of. I guess. Not really. I suppose I could. Crap. Me no speaka di english.
7 really bad iPhone photos and a couple of emails later it was confirmed. Canadian Living was coming to shoot my house for their Christmas issue to be published next December.
And they were coming in 4 days.
So as it turns out, this wasn't the year that Christmas got pared down.
Instead, in fact, this turned out to be the year Christmas got jacked up. I decorated until I had scars.
This is not a lie ... I found sparkles in my ... well never mind. But they shouldn't have been there.
Behold Art of Doing Stuff readers, the Christmas House Tour 2013.
A military guard might seem like an unlikely Christmas ornament, but these little metal soldiers were my father's when he was a little boy. They have enormous sentimental value. Plus it's a good reminder that not everyone is sitting by the fire this holiday season.
I'll remind you all next year when the article comes out if you promise to remind me that NEXT YEAR is going to be the year of the pared down Christmas. A year of rest, solitude and where every body part, and organ will be declared a sparkle-free zone.
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A lot of great inspiration here. The least of which is the inspiration to clean up the house so I can make it look pretty for Christmas.
Understated, comfortable elegance. That's the first thought that came into my head. Beautiful!
Your home is just stunning!!! You are the glitter queen and I am becoming the glitter princess. I just discovered the stuff and I am hooked.
Beautiful! Of course. I especially love the dining room table.
By the way, are all of your walls really, truly white? I need to paint my house and I'm amazed at how cozy your home appears with white walls!
Hi Jodie - Yup. The walls are really and truly white, lol. It's Benjamin Moore's Cloud White which is a warm white. But make no mistake, it's definitely white, not ivory or cream or off white. The warmth from white rooms comes from the textures and everything else you add to it. White makes a nice backdrop for everything you put in front of it.
Brillant!
Truly Classy, Karen. Truly Classy!!
Your home is awesome, Karen! Like many other commenters, I adore your little soldiers and what they represent. My father served in the military for 26 years and now one of my sons serves. We are thrilled that he will be with us this Christmas but never take that for granted.
Hope your Holidays are filled with many blessings!
xoxo from New Brunswick
Karen, absolutely fabulous! I LOVE your taste! You and I would decorate the same way if I went through the same amount of trouble! BTW, where did you get the little gold twig tree on your credenza? Did you make it? If so, how? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!
Looks beautiful! It doesn't seem overdone and unlivable as a lot of magazine homes look like.
I, also, love the tiny soldiers!!! Very whimsical. And thank you for reminding everybody that not all families get to enjoy Christmas together. My brother is currently serving in the U.S. Army and will be in Afghanistan for Christmas (again) this year.
It's all so beautiful, Karen. The tiny soldiers are my fave. Beautiful.
Love it! Leave it to you to pull something this BIG off and with such great results. Thank you for sharing all the special details. I love that your style is not stuffy or overdone. It's truly beautiful and would feel right at home in your home. Do you provide lint rollers for sparkle removal?
Damn..you are good girl..I really like the little deer on the acrylic block..so cute..and your Dad's soldiers have great meaning to many people..past and present..Those are wonderful pictures of Cleo and Ernie..they are beautiful kitties..I hope they don't un-decorate the tree for you like some kitties around here do..lol
Make sure they get the cats in SOME of their pictures!
Absolutely amazing! I will have just as nice a house.. When my children are gone. Who am I kidding ill be napping a lot lol.
Love the glass table btw.
Your house looks beautiful and quite festive. I'm glad to hear you are looking beautiful and festive as well! A little sparkle *everywhere* is only appropriate this time of the year.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Very nice! Your style is really refreshing-spare, clean, lots of white lights. The tree is great ( I am partial to the icicles-My crafty 91 yr old mother-in-law showed me how to make them out of beads). I hope Canadian Living uses the pic with the cat. Thanks Karen. Watch out for the sparkles!
Hi Ev - Canadian Living is actually here right now taking their own pictures. :) ~ karen!
I feel like such a slacker! Everything is magical. I really love the crate of shiny ornaments under the coffee table and the soldiers on guard with the little gold trees. Nicely done that!
GOR-geous, Karen
and I love how your All-Out manages to be Big and yet also Classy -- lovely from start to finish!
looks amazing karen..as usual..and congrats!
Thanks Marilyn. :) It feels nice to be in. Cozy and comforting.. ~ karen!
Absolutely breathtaking Karen! I love the armed guard, a humbling reminder......you are a classy broad, my dear, Merry Christmas! Next year will be a most deserved pared down Christmas. You could have a pajama Christmas dinner like my sister had last year. It was the absolute best, most relaxing Christmas dinner ever!! And I'm getting myself a gorgeous white tree for my dining room too, what a great inspiration you are....xo