Christmas Home Tour 2015

Season’s Greetings! I know it’s the 11th hour for my Christmas Home Tour 2015, but things have been extra busy this year! I haven’t been blogging as much as I’d like, but I hope to catch up soon and share some projects I’ve done lately in the new year. As some of you know, I am an interior decorator in the Atlanta area, but what I haven’t shared on my blog yet is that I have a new Etsy shop called, IM Home Shop! I combined my blog + design business logos, and my husband came up with the “IM Home,” name idea. I will share more about that at another time, but I sell home decor/design beads, pillows, and table linens if you’re interested in checking it out! 

I know it’s so cliché, but it really does seem like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flies by faster with each passing year. Or we’re all just busier? That being said, I’m pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to not putting one holiday before the next. It just feels odd to me and doesn’t really allow you to live in the moment, but I also agree with the fact that getting your holiday decor up early allows you to enjoy it longer….The struggle is real! One thing’s for sure: everything just look so much prettier with white twinkle lights.

I changed a few things in our home this year, so I’ll mention it briefly, but other than that ( and alot of pictures..) I’ll keep my words short and hopefully easy to read! 

Front Porch

 I usually add fresh greenery, pinecones, and ball ornaments to the planters around the porch each Christmas, but we’ve had the warmest November/December here in Georgia this year, so all my succulents are still thriving; thus none of that. To see last year’s Christmas porch decor, click here )

I used the same wreath as last year, but added more ball ornaments, pinecones, and new ribbon to refresh it without spending much. 

 Foyer/Entry

I changed the foyer this year by adding a new Persian rug ( an early Christmas gift 😉 ), some mounted European Roe deer antlers, and a linen lampshade. My previous Christmas color scheme in this area was apple green, silver, and gold, but the new rug sort of called for something different. Since it’s got a bold pattern and colors, I opted for a black geometric burlap ribbon mixed with some cream/gold linen ribbon, so as not to compete with it. It works like an animal print/neutral & I love the understated elegant look!

This little vignette started last year when I found this pretty little feather tree up in Dahlonega. I looked for 2 more, but to no avail, so I found the other trees at Target after Christmas on clearance and put them away until this year. I love doing that-it’s like a surprise the following year!

The Gray Driftwood Home Decor Beads shown here on this Ballard Designs lady head planter are just one of the styles of design beads in my Etsy shop. I decided to use the gray stained wooden beads with the organza ribbon to dress her up a little for the holidays….

I lined then added these tie-top natural linen panels I found at the Ballard’s outlet to the living room front window. The linen panels that were in here before were a darker tan, almost mocha, and the new ones brighten this room so much more. 

I finally got around to painting these French armchairs in the living room. I have a pair of them that I wanted to look more aged, so I painted on a wash of a beige + gray paint, then sanded most of that off to get this grayed wood result. Since I haven’t really decided on a fabric to have them upholstered in ( after 2 years….), I used the Kim Six Fix Pinterest tutorial to paint the upholstery using fabric textile. It really freshened the tired fabric and I still like the neutral fabric color for now.

Kitchen/Family Room

We added faux beams throughout the kitchen and family room last Spring, and I really like the architectural interest they add! ( read that tutorial here ) I also had the ceiling and walls throughout both spaces painted in Benjamin Moore’s Linen White to lighten things up with the addition of the beams. I really wasn’t sure I would like it, but turns out I do. In fact, I’m considering having more of our house painted in this beautiful color. Finally, I had the island and fireplace mantle painted black ( like the bookcases here ), and replaced all existing lighting with new chandeliers and pendant lights. The refresh has updated our 13 year old home nicely by giving things a more custom look.

I kept things really simple on the mantle with these faux cypress trees I found at Home Goods and added a few books and ball ornaments. 

Powder Room

I have yet to share the powder room I updated in Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams and added double gallery walls to last year, but as soon as I learn how to photograph this dark space, I will. I really love the dark walls with the gold and bronze finishes, but it has been a challenge to capture in photos! I added fresh greenery and small champagne/silver ball ornaments in a small silver pedestal bowl to a little shelf above the commode, then loosely wove a strand of the battery operated copper LED mini lights for some ambiance. (I wrote a tutorial on how to make a skirted pedestal sink here. )

Upstairs Hall/Master Bedroom

I made this easy ball ornament wreath using a straw wreath form and hot glue, then added a satin apple green ribbon and attached it to a sunburst mirror over our bed with a medium size 3M hook. I love the way it dresses up the mirror and adds a touch o’ glam to the master bedroom and may keep it up a few extra months… 

Dining Room

I was going to paint all my Santas white with gold accents this year because I don’t use much red in my home anymore, but it almost seemed like a sacrilege or breaking tradition painting good old traditional Santa Claus, so I let that one go for now. 

I found some fabric last month and thought it would be beautiful for a table setting as a runner and napkins with some of my blue & white vases. The awesome part is that when I went to buy the fabric to make them, my friend who owns a fabric store already had a remnant for 2 runners + 8 napkins already made- my lucky day! I added green hypericum berries and arborvitae to the vases and antlers, pinecones, and silver candlesticks to the center, then opted for dark brown rattan chargers vs. the usual gold ones I typically use with my Christmas dishes. I bought a new Empire chandelier for this space last Spring when I replaced the others in the kitchen. ( see more about that in lighting post here ) The scale is so much better for this space than the old chandelier!

Thanks for stopping by for my Christmas Home Tour today! That’s a wrap, friends! 2015 has been a great year and appreciate your readership so much! I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas & a safe, happy, blessed, and successful 2016. 

“See ya” in the New Year! 

xoxo