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house tour

Thank you for all your sweet comments about my Christmas dining room and “tablescape” which I posted yesterday. That’s right, I misspelled “tablescape” in my post title, and not a soul told me until sweet Amy finally left a comment at 12:30… which I didn’t find right away, so I wasn’t able to correct my error until 2:30. Embarrassing!  Please, please, please, always feel free to point out my mistakes and alert me to my missed spell-checks, I will sincerely appreciate it. Thank you, Amy! (of Amy’s Famous Taco Soup)

Now, how about we check out the rest of the house – all dolled up for Christmas? Come on in and let me fix you a drink from my sweet little “retro bar” set-up. First things first!

Now that you have a beverage, here is the entry. The Asian wine barrel under the chandelier is completely decked out in mercury glass, pine, ornaments, candles, and pine cones.

I used to collect Santas. This year, they are mostly displayed in the family room, on top of the entertainment center.

But out of all the Santas…

… this large Quilt Santa is my favorite.

I bought him at the Christmas Briar Patch (an annual craft fair) about 10 years ago. My neighbor, Ronnie, has a Quilt Santa from the same artist. They are both just gorgeous. His beard is a mop, so wonderful!

I usually go full-out in the kitchen. But this year, I just didn’t have it in me. There is still the kitchen Christmas tree and the decorated confit pot credenza in the breakfast room.

And the kitchen curtains (I call them curtains, they are really just kitchen towels that I hang from a rod – since I do not sew!) which I change out from season to season.

And instead of taking down all the things that line the upper shelves around the entire kitchen and replacing them with garlands and Christmas decor – this year I just made a glass, faux snow, and ornament vignette in one corner. I kinda like the simplicity of that. Maybe next year, everything else will return and I’ll show you what my “full out” kitchen looks like.

Now we are going to backtrack and pretend like you didn’t see the living room when you arrived, which is directly to the right of the entry. I wanted to save the best for last. The tree, the mantle, and my treasured collection of smokers, more on the importance of those later. First… the mantle.

More mercury glass and candles.

And more glass, ornaments, and faux snow.

Here is the china cabinet with my French Santo wise men.

I don’t recall if I mentioned that my smoker collection is the one thing that my kids have already divvied up in the event of my passing. It’s OK, I helped them do this task. We all have our favorites and I wanted to be sure there wasn’t a war over them after my demise! :-0

I love this rusted tree that sits on the coffee table. I have a rusted basket for Easter and a rusted pumpkin for Thanksgiving too.

The piano, which no one knows how to play, is decked out in more candles and sheet music from when I was a child – back when I did know how to play… well I took lessons, anyway! Notice the silver chalkboard tray I made. Love it!

And here is the tree with the angel on top.

With some ornament closeups…

…as previously promised… plenty of Waterford here!

One thing I have always done is wrapped each family member’s gifts in a different paper. No tags, no names, and I’m the only one who knows who’s paper belongs to whom. Then on Christmas morning, all is revealed.  This kept the kids from comparing who had the biggest or who had the most even guessing what was in each box. Well this year, I only use two papers and instead, used a specific ribbon for each family member. So much easier and I like the look of only two patterns under the tree. I think that next year I’ll use only one paper design.

Finally, here is the tree at night.

Merry Christmas! xoxo


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9 comments

1 Debbie Elder { 12.22.11 at 10:57 AM }

Fabulous post! I want some of those chef smokers, so cute. Merry Christmas.

2 Sheila { 12.22.11 at 11:01 AM }

I can relate to just not being up to ALL the decorations! I think every year my motivation lags a bit more to pull everything out especially since I basically do it all and think about the putting it ALL away part. New mantra, less is more. 🙂 Then once I get started…
Your house is Gorgeous! I especially love your kitchen tree and all the extraordinary Waterford ornaments in the living room.
Merry, Merry!

3 Sloane { 12.22.11 at 11:17 AM }

Wow thats a lot to look at! I am getting dizzy!

4 dagmar { 12.22.11 at 11:22 AM }

Linda I so enjoyed touring your home and reading your post today… Your home is absolutely beautiful with all your xmas decor. You have done a wonderful job. Can I hire you to do mine next year? … Oh, by the way, I too noticed that you spelled tablescape wrong and then it was correct so I just thought it was my dyslexia. lol xoxo Happy Holidays to you and your Family!

5 Linda Hopkins { 12.22.11 at 11:40 AM }

LOL, Dagmar. Yes, dyslexia and ADD are my valid excuses. Thank you Shelia, I’d love to see your amazing home at Christmas, can not even imagine. And Sloane, dizzy… hmm?

6 Linda Hopkins { 12.22.11 at 11:45 AM }

Debbie, I get most of my smokers at Tuesday Morning or online.

7 Ginger Tunheim { 12.22.11 at 12:10 PM }

Thanks Linda for the home tour. I also collect Santas which are in my living room and my collection of Snowmen are in my family room. I try to add one every year! Your house looks great! my is decorated just a little. Merry Christmas!! Happy New Year!!

8 Kim { 12.22.11 at 5:51 PM }

Linda thanks for sharing! It is beautiful! I love your kitchen tree! I need to start collecting something! You have inspired me! ( as you do often)
Hugs-
Kim

9 Marissa { 12.22.11 at 7:37 PM }

So happy to come home to this today!

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