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Driven by Decor

Decorating Homes with Affordable Style and Timeless Design

Last Updated: September 9, 2019 By

A Classic New England Christmas Home Tour

Hi everyone and welcome to my holiday home! I’m excited to be sharing my house tour as part of The Christmas Home Tours hosted by our sweetheart of a leader, Marty of A Stroll Thru Life. The tour started at her holiday home yesterday so be sure to pay this fabulous lady a visit! Today’s tours start off at the home of Kristin of Bliss at Home – welcome if you’re coming over here from Kristin’s house (and if you’re not, be sure to check it out because you’ll love her bold, chic style!).

For those of you who are new here, two years ago my family (husband, two daughters, & a crazy little Boston terrier) moved to Connecticut, where we live in an old Cape Cod-style home that we’re slowly renovating and making our own. I love decorating with neutrals & lots of textures, and shoot for a relaxed elegance that’s affordable, timeless, and welcoming. Ready to come inside? (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})

A full source list is included at the end of the post!

A welcoming holiday door decoration made with backyard clippings of greenery and berry branches

The greenery swag on our front door has become a bit of a tradition since moving into our home – it’s a quick and easy door dec I make from greenery and berry branches clipped from our yard along with {these amazing bells}. {This post} gives you the simple how-to. Flanking our front door are two large urns filled with greenery along with two sets of {these black lanterns} that light the way:

Simple holiday decorations for your front porch - a set of lanterns adorned with holiday ribbon and urns filled with greenery and berries

If you’re a sweet tooth like me, I’ve got you covered because I’ve set up my trio of apothecary jars on our foyer chest (the mirror above it can be found {here}) and filled them with yummy holiday treats.

Our foyer chest decorated for the holidays with apothecary jars filled with goodies!

The iced gingerbread men from Trader Joe’s are my favorite!

Apothecary jars filled with mints, mini marshmallows, and gingerbread men for the holidays

My HomeGoods elephant always gets a new necklace depending on this season – for Christmas this year it’s a simple red and white herringbone bow:

The simple addition of some holiday ribbon dresses up your everyday home accessories

Ready to have a seat around our dining table?

Dining room decorated for Christmas - love the black and white mixed with the green and red. And that plate wall!

You’ll recognize many of the same elements from my fall tablescape – I kept the black and white buffalo check runner (similar to {this runner}), woven chargers, and black and gold rimmed dinner plates and just added new side plates (the owl is my favorite but there are four different designs around the table), a new centerpiece, and some pomegranate placecards.

Holiday placesetting with floral centerpiece, pomegranate place cards, silverware tied with ribbon, buffalo check runner, and festive plates

The pomegranate placecards were made by simply writing guests’ names on real pomegranates with a white paint pen. A red and white ribbon tying each set of silverware adds some festive color.

Names written on pomegranates with paint pens for unique placecards & silverware tied with ribbon - perfect for a holiday table!

For the floral arrangements for our dining table centerpiece, I combined some white flowers, red berry branches, and eucalyptus (all from Trader Joe’s) in {my favorite vases}.

Dining room decorated for the holidays with a centerpiece of flowers and ornaments, star anise wreaths tied to the chair backs, jingle bells on chandelier, and pomegranate place cards

A mix of white flowers, red berries, and eucalyptus make up this festive holiday table floral centerpiece

In between them is a wood basket I found at Round Top filled with glass and metallic ornaments and small pinecones:

Holiday centerpiece of glass and metallic ornaments mixed with pine cones

Vintage ornaments and pinecones as Christmas table centerpiece

Each of the dining room side chairs has a small star anise wreath tied to the back of it – I made these in 2012 (you’ll find the how-to {here}) and have used them every year since.

Star anise wreaths tied onto the back of dining chairs are part of this festive holiday table

Fragrant star anise wreaths tied onto ladderback dining chairs are part of this festive holiday table

Our chandelier is decorated with some simple jingle bells tied onto each candle with ribbon:

Vintage bells tied onto chandelier with ribbon add festive charm to this dining room decorated for the holidays

Dining room decorated for the holidays!

Moving a little further down the hall, you’ll find our powder room – the stenciled walls are one of my all-time favorite DIYs (more on that project {here}). The addition of some ribbon to the sconces and a small poinsettia make it holiday ready for our guests!

Powder room (those walls are stenciled!) with simple holiday decorations

I’ll be sharing the rest of our home, including pics from our home office, living room (it was so fun decorating our new fireplace mantel!), and kitchen on Thursday but here’s a little sneak peek if you missed it yesterday:

Our home office decorated for the holidays - gallery wall, wrapped gifts, advent tree, cowhide rug, jute rug, and wingback chair

Update! Check out the second part of my Christmas home tour {here}!

If you’re new to Driven by Decor and want to sign up to get emails of new posts, you can do that {here}. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook.

Now it’s time to continue on with the next tour at Refresh Restyle where Debbie is waiting to tour you through her beautiful home! I’ll see you guys back here on Thursday!

KJ Signature

Driven by Decor Source List

Front porch: bells | urns | lanterns 

Entry: elephant & apothecary jars – HomeGoods | mirror

Dining room: Paint color is a slightly tweaked version of Sherwin-Williams Keystone Gray (exact formula found at the bottom of {this post} | table – Drexel Heritage (no longer sold) | upholstered end chairs – Thomasville (no longer sold) | side chairs – HomeGoods {these chairs} are similar |table runner – made from fabric found locally but {this runner} and {this fabric} look similar | chandelier | owl plate (no longer available) |rattan chargers – mine were thrifted but {these chargers} are similar | red & white chevron ribbon | red & white striped ribbon | ornaments – Restoration Hardware (last year) | wall plates – {these} and {these} 

Powder room: Wall stencil: Annapakshi Indian Damask Wall Stencil – I used the 11.25″ x 15.5″ furniture stencil (c/o Royal Design Studio) – Basecoat paint: Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa (Matte) in Chelsea Gray – Stencil paint:  Platinum Gray (Benjamin Moore color but mixed in Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Satin) | sconces | medicine cabinet/mirror – no longer available but if you’re looking for a mirror in a similar design, check out {this arched wood mirror}  | ribbon 

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Comments

  1. cassie @ primitive & proper says

    December 8, 2015 at 6:29 am

    always love that office. 🙂 but oh your dining room- it’s so beautiful! i am in love with the plates, and i don’t remember seeing those anise star wreaths you made- stunning! love the berries and floral on the table, too- everything looks so perfect!

    Reply

  4. Tammy says

    December 8, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Love your Christmas touches! Your blog is one of my absolute favorites! Thank you always for the inspiration – have a wonderful Christmas 🙂

    Reply

  6. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    December 8, 2015 at 7:59 am

    Gorgeous, Kris!!! I love your welcoming front steps, the swag and your urn and lanterns are so pretty! Your table is perfect simple beauty….have to remember that pomegranate place card idea, so cute!! Can’t wait to see more on Thursday!

    Reply

    • Kris Jarrett says

      December 8, 2015 at 11:29 am

      Thanks Lisa! Sometimes good ideas come out of desperation (like when you leave yourself no time to decorate and realize you need a touch of red and you’ve just bought pomegranates at the grocery store 🙂

      Reply

  7. Denise says

    December 8, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Love! The dining room is beautiful and the simple touches in the other rooms are just right. Can’t wait to see more! I love your dining room chairs by the way.

    Reply

  8. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    December 8, 2015 at 8:56 am

    Beautiful tour Kris! I love the simple yet elegant look of the front door and the dining room is so pretty – especially with those wreaths on the chairs. Funny about the elephant because I have one in my game room and I was going to put it away for the holiday but just yesterday I decided to put a bow on it instead! Thanks for the tour!
    Shelley

    Reply

  11. Anonymous says

    December 8, 2015 at 9:23 am

    I love how you incorporate natural elements into your home! Always well done)! I am a bit envious of the greenery you have in your yard;) The front door is gorgeous!

    Reply

    • Kris Jarrett says

      December 8, 2015 at 11:32 am

      Thank you! I feel so lucky to have so much right outside of my door to decorate with this time of year but not so lucky the rest of the year when we’re spending hours and hours each weekend pruning everything back 🙂

      Reply

  12. Marley says

    December 8, 2015 at 9:26 am

    This love all the natural elements you use in your lovely home Kris! I especially love the greenery you procured from your yard! Lucky you;)! That front door is fabulous! Merry! Merry!

    Reply

  15. Kelley Nan Lopez says

    December 8, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Kris! Your details blow my mind! I love how you filled the apothecary jars, the necklace on your elephant, the pomegranates as place holders…you are brilliant! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous gift and giving me inspiration every day. xo Kelley Nan

    Reply

  19. annie diamond says

    December 8, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    Kris!
    I love every detail! Your table looks beautiful. I almost want to run out and get the supplies for one of those Star Anise wreaths for for my kitchen hood. I can’t believe you made so many! Everything is stunning!
    xo
    annie

    Reply

  20. classic•casual•home says

    December 8, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    I have those gingerbread cookies by my coffee station…and they are TOO good. Especially since I am the only one eating them. Your home is LOVELY. So much understated detail…love it all so much I am reading this twice!
    Merry Christmas,
    Mary Ann

    Reply

  22. randi says

    December 8, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Kris your home is so gorgeous! I love your attention to detail. My favorite is your front door and those amazing bells! I love, love, love them! It has been so wonderful to connect with you through instagram. Have the merriest Christmas my friend!

    Reply

  25. Pam @ Simple Details says

    December 9, 2015 at 10:15 am

    Your timeless style is beautiful and so inviting! The dining room is always a fav, I love the natural look of your arrangements and those cute Anthro plates I need under my tree! Can’t wait for the fireplace styling! 🙂

    Reply

  27. cindy hattersley says

    December 9, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I have been looking forward to this! You did not disappoint! So many good ideas here! Love the candy in the entry (way too dangerous at our home), love the simple updates to your tablescape, so bright and crisp. Just enough…not over the top! You are the bomb!!

    Reply

  28. Cristina says

    December 9, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    I’m loving every single detail of you holiday home tour! the swag on the entry door and of course your dining room got me once again. Love the pomegranate place-cards too, such a cute idea!

    Reply

  29. Shauna says

    December 9, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    Oh Kris what a beautiful tour! You are so creative with those pomegranates and I LOVE the owl plates. You also are the best bow maker out there! They hang so perfectly from your bathroom sconces!
    xoxo,
    Shauna

    Reply

  31. Cara says

    December 14, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    Gorgeous! Every detail is wonderful and they all coordinate, and I love that many are very simple. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply

  33. Laura says

    September 25, 2018 at 11:31 am

    I love your wall of plates and platters. How did you hang them, as I don’t see the tips of the plate hangers. I have several I want to hang, but I’m not sure what to buy. Could you tell me what you used and where to buy them?

    Thank you,
    Laura

    Reply