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!
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:
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.
The iced gingerbread men from Trader Joe’s are my favorite!
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:
Ready to have a seat around our dining table?
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.
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.
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}.
In between them is a wood basket I found at Round Top filled with glass and metallic ornaments and small pinecones:
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.
Our chandelier is decorated with some simple jingle bells tied onto each candle with ribbon:
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!
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:
Update! Check out the second part of my Christmas home tour {here}!
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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!
Front porch: bells | urns c/o Hayneedle | lanterns c/o Hayneedle
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
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!
Thank you so much Cassie! It’s a fun space to decorate 🙂
KRis, your home and your style is one of my all time favorites. I adore your simple editing and crisp tailored yet casual look! Your dining room is fantastic all decked for the holidays! Merry Christmas and enjoy every minute. Xo Nancy
You are so sweet Nancy – I can’t tell you how flattered I am given how much of a fan I am of your style. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too!!
So beautiful Kris. Your dining room gets me every time!
Thanks Julia!
Love your Christmas touches! Your blog is one of my absolute favorites! Thank you always for the inspiration – have a wonderful Christmas 🙂
Thank you so much Tammy and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too!!
I love your wreath at the door with those fabulous bells, so pretty and your dining room is my all time favorite – so pretty. Love that plate wall and those anise wreaths. Everything is so beautifully done.
Thanks Marty – so fun to be part of this great tour you put together!
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!
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 🙂
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.
Thank you Denise! Finding those side chairs at HomeGoods for a song was one of my luckiest HG finds ever!
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
I don’t know why, but I just love elephants! Glad to hear that mine has a partner in crime at your house 🙂
Beautiful! Love all of the special touches that are making your home sparkle for Christmas.
Thank you so much Shelly!
Gorgeous Kris! Your home is always one of my favorites. Everything looks beautiful!
Thanks Becky (and right back at ya!)
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!
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 🙂
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!
Thank you so much Marley! Have a wonderful holiday!
LOVE the buffalo check, Kris! It’s your staple!! Your home is such a dream!
Thank you Claire – I think that runner may end up sticking around for a while 🙂
Kris,
Your home is so fresh. I love the simplicity of each room. Thanks for the tour, I am always inspired by your style.
xo,
Karen
Thank you Karen! Have a wonderful Christmas!
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
You are so sweet – thank you! So thankful to have connected with you this year (by the way, my sister is as huge of a fan of your style as I am!)
Kris I adore all of your natural touches. Everything is so festive. I had to pin your front door wreath as it is truly swoonworthy!
Thank you Laura! You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to put together – literally done in 20 minutes from when you start clipping branches until you tie the bow!
I’ve been so excited to see your tour and beautiful photography. I love how you work natural wood and black and white into the decor. Your front entrance is absolutely stunning. So happy to be touring with you!
Love the candy display and gingerbread cookies! Everything looks so cozy.
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
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
Love love love your dining room Kris! OMGosh it is gorgeous!!! What a beautiful tour. I am going to check out too how you made the stunning Star Anise wreaths on the back of your chairs.
Merry Christmas!!!
XO Barbara
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!
Just lovely, Kris! I love all of the red and white ribbon you used, and your table is SO pretty!
Such a beautiful home and tour! I absolutely love your dining room tablescape. It’s just perfect 🙂
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! 🙂
So, so pretty Kris! I mean your table is seriously like something out of BHG. I’m obsessed with that table runner. Merry Christmas, friend:)
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!!
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!
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
Just Beautiful, Kris! Your home is stunning in every season.
Happy Holidays,
Sherry
Gorgeous! Every detail is wonderful and they all coordinate, and I love that many are very simple. Thank you for the inspiration!
Kris your decorating blows me away! Your home is simply stunning, I want to know about those wreaths on your chairs they’re so creative!
How sad is it that I’m just now getting around to responding to comments from early December?! Shows you how crazy the past few months have been 🙂 The wreaths are a pretty simple DIY from a few years back – here’s a link to the post: http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2012/12/holiday-decorating-diy-star-anise.html Thanks for stopping by for the house tour!!
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
Hi Laura! This post has all the details on how I hung them! https://www.drivenbydecor.com/hanging-plates-to-create-decorative/