Welcome to my holiday home! For those of you who are new here, my family moved from Ohio to Connecticut, where we live in an old Cape Cod-style home that we’re slowly renovating and making our own. This year for Christmas, I wanted to decorate in a classic New England style with traditional colors of red and green, plenty of plaid, and lots of natural elements. Ready to come take a tour? (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})
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}:
See my post on our Christmas swag for the step-by-step tutorial for creating it.
Flanking our front door are two of {these large urns} filled with greenery along with two sets of {these black lanterns} that light the way:
Let’s head inside! 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 and filled them with yummy holiday treats:
The iced gingerbread men from Trader Joe’s are my favorite!
Check out my post on decorating with apothecary jars for ideas on using them year-round!
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 post on fall decor ideas. I kept the black and white buffalo check runner (similar to {this runner}), woven chargers, and black and gold rimmed dinner plates. I 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 like {this one}. 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:
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Each of the dining room side chairs has a small star anise wreath tied to the back of it. Check out my post on star anise wreaths for the step by step of how to create your own.
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 (see my post on our budget bathroom remodel for details). The addition of some ribbon to the sconces and a small poinsettia make it holiday ready for our guests!
I also added touches of red and green to our living room with holly and red berries placed in glass vases inside a pair of old riding boots:
And I turned an everyday pillow into a Christmas pillow with the simple addition of ribbon to make it look like a wrapped present:
Thanks for stopping by today to take my tour! 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.
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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!
Kelley Nan Lopez says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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!)
Garden, Home and Party says
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
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Karen! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Claire Brody says
LOVE the buffalo check, Kris! It’s your staple!! Your home is such a dream!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Claire – I think that runner may end up sticking around for a while 🙂
Marley says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Marley! Have a wonderful holiday!
Anonymous says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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 🙂
becky (this is happiness) says
Gorgeous Kris! Your home is always one of my favorites. Everything looks beautiful!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Becky (and right back at ya!)
Shelly@ConfettiStyle says
Beautiful! Love all of the special touches that are making your home sparkle for Christmas.
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Shelly!
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
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
Kris Jarrett says
I don’t know why, but I just love elephants! Glad to hear that mine has a partner in crime at your house 🙂
Denise says
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.
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Denise! Finding those side chairs at HomeGoods for a song was one of my luckiest HG finds ever!
Lisa @ Shine Your Light says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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 🙂
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
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.
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Marty – so fun to be part of this great tour you put together!
Tammy says
Love your Christmas touches! Your blog is one of my absolute favorites! Thank you always for the inspiration – have a wonderful Christmas 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Tammy and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too!!
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
So beautiful Kris. Your dining room gets me every time!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Julia!
Nancy {at} Powell Brower home says
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
Kris Jarrett says
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!!
cassie @ primitive & proper says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Cassie! It’s a fun space to decorate 🙂