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.
I make most of my purchases at thrift shops or wait for clearance deals, and do the exact same thing with leaving tags on. I think it's because I like to relive the great feeling of finding a killer deal on something I really like and use. I'm twisted, and get more enjoyment out of bargain finds than I do out of splurges. It's not just this year that we need all of the positive reinforcement we can get...
It pretty much all rocks. But good for you for smartening up about them blue shutters. If ya get dumb again I’ll send you my address down here in Maryland.. I’ll even let you pay for shipping. And the oh my deer head works. Great job.
I love the vibe. And I will NOT be commenting on the deer head, I made the mistake of doing that on FB many years ago, when I still had the courage to do FB, I commented and I was BLASTED, literally by 100’s of perfect strangers!
I wish you the merriest of Christmas’ Karen, to you and yours, good health and cheer to last the year through.
Where’s the Red toy truck?
I love, love, seeing your Christmas house tours every year. It's always so inspiring and beautiful, and achievable. The shutters are perfect... I found some candle shaped lights for the outside tree, so that saved me one project.. have plenty of them still to do, including drying more orange slices. Now I am looking towards how to decorate the table for the family dinner on Christmas Eve (in Western Australia we thankfully have no Covid restrictions at Christmas).
Might your pewter rack have come from this company:
http://www.amerheritage.com/salespages/colonial%20pewter/aslpewter.htm
Thank you for sharing your life with us. Happy Holidays!
You’ve outdone yourself this year, the dried flowers really brighten everything up and those candelabras are a dream I want to steal! (Like I have many other ideas of yours from all the previous years)
Are the skis a new addition? I don’t remember them from before, just the sleigh from the porch. I have my wooden skis mounted on the wall in the entrance all year round because I just love how they look very cabin-y and everybody who visits loves them. Next to them I hung an old black and white photo of my great uncle and his youth friends using them on a local hill.
Love the blue shutters! Is Santa bringing the aforementioned puppy? Your home is inviting, festive to lift spirits, and so pretty. I think the pj's, favorite meal, and late night coffee with some truffles sounds like a brilliant plan. Add Hallmark Movie and twinkle lights. Love ya, me.
I believe you may be my Spirit Animal! Merry Christmas!!
Simple and elegant as usual thank you Karen you inspire me always.
Excellent! Now get started on your own decorating. :) ~ karen
WOWOWOWOW! Thank you for a lot of inspiration! Love it all.
Where did you get the white pears? I used to have a store called White Pear Studios. Need those!!
Oh! They would be good for you wouldn't they? I actually got them many many years ago at a local garden centre that also sells Christmas decorations. There are no tags or stamps on them, otherwise I'd let you know who made them. Sorry! ~ karen
Completely WOWED and in love with the French shutters--well done, you! For a brief moment I was worried about lots of pine needles falling from your garland, but then, IKEA. So good!
You've done it again!
<3
Thanks Gretchen. :) I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves the shutters! ~ karen
Hello Karen and Merry Christmas. Your home is breathtaking. Bravo. I hope I can be just like you when I grow up.
A dog is definitely required for the finishing touches and also as a helper in the garden and to do some mousing around the coop. May I suggest a Cairn (almost sounds like Karen) or a Norfolk Terrier. Introduce it to the chickens at a young age and all will be well. And of course don’t forget all the old, young and everything in between rescues there are out there.
Much love to you this Christmas.
Kim Patry
Hi Karen,
Fairly new to your blog but I have checked out all your Christmas tours. Think this one is tops. The shutters are beautiful, Merry Christmas to you! Plus your dried flower additions also make it truly you. The deer head...great! I have only antlers as we ate the deer & probably the head too, head cheese, too long ago? Not a lot was wasted. I drape a couple of pine sprigs on my antlers, just a light & simple touch to honour the deer. The jugs & containers on trays in kitchen with greenery, simple & lovely. Question...little rack on end of kitchen cupboard, did it come with or is it your addition, what? where? I really like it too.
Could you have turned your little Ikea tree into simple syrup & drank it? I miss my Ikea vintner trip, not going because of covid.
I am so glad I found your blog as you are very talented and inspiring and a Canadian treasure.
Whether you celebrate or not, A Merry Christmas to all! Hold it in your hearts until you can safely celebrate with family & friends.
Hi Karen! Thanks. I'm happy with this year's decorating too. The reason I don't decorate the deer head is because I feel like it's humiliating. I realize that sounds ridiculous. I got the little rack from a local store that also sells the utensils hanging on it (not the bottle brushes.) I wish I could remember the maker, but they're American (a couple I believe) and they hand make old kitchen tools out of pewter from original old moulds. ~ karen!
Boy, Id love to have a drink with you! Kudos to bringing the humor along with the clever home tips ! My husband can always tell when I’m reading your posts bc I’m laughing my head off. It’s either you, or a Buzzfeed funniest texts of the month thing....
Oops -gotta run. Time to take those dry little orange slices out and hang them on the mini Christmas tree I found!
Along with this crummy year and having a lot go wrong on top of COVID, and missing my Mom - not in a very holiday mood. My daughter decided this year she would put up every single Christmas decoration I had, along with all of my Mom's. It is like a freaking Christmas explosion in my house. But you know, every room I go into, it makes me smile with memories of each piece, especially Mom's. As overdone as it is. She told me "Mission accomplished". I just love that kid. We are all remembering things that we have - not want we don't. Safe and quiet holidays to all.
I was so busy looking at your stunning dried flowers on the candelabra, I didn't even see the deer head! You did a great job with your dried flower/plants. Every time I see your hardware cabinet, I think it can't get any more beautiful---and then it does! I was stopped cold at the picture of your old French shutters! They are beautiful (and I'm glad you decided to get them). Thank you for the good common sense advice on Christmas--we still have much to be grateful for!
Thanks Vikki. :) I'm trying to look forward to a small Christmas. I'm improving my chances at success by making all the same food and eating the amount I normally feed to a gathering of 12. ~ karen!
Hi Karen! I just love your decorating this year! My sister has always done up her very large house in a vintage style. My house is small, but cozy like yours. I think I'm up to adopt some of your glorious ideas! I LOVE the simple additions of small tastes of Christmas here and there instead of Christmas throwing up all over house. You are an inspiration and my giggles made my dog look at me. You need a good ol pup to look at you when you giggle...it's fun.
Merry Christmas dear.
Thanks Laurie! It just occurred to me that if I got a dog I could put a bow around its neck. I mean, a cat would just think it was humiliating and chew it off. ~ karen!
The deer head, nope. The dog, absolutely. Not sure how the cats would take it, though. The use of silver -- polished even -- here and there, brilliant. The bows, love them and the garlands. The little lights, love them, too, but I could only find very small ones that I tuck in everywhere. What I liked most about your house and the decorations was the sophistication wrapped in country casual -- oh, and you. Have a wonderful Christmas, Karen. We two and our Sheltie will cozy up by the fire on Christmas morning and open our stockings, sip on our Bailey's laced coffee (just hubby and me, not the dog) and count our blessings, the best being that we live in the country, are Covid free and have much to be grateful for. BTW, we have to wear masks in BC, too, finally.
I love Shelties. They're such nice dogs. :) ~ karen!
I noticed that Glenfiddich bottle is almost empty.
Good for you.
LOL! ~ karen!