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.
Leslie Harris says
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!
Kris Jarrett says
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: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/2012/12/holiday-decorating-diy-star-anise.html Thanks for stopping by for the house tour!!
Cara says
Gorgeous! Every detail is wonderful and they all coordinate, and I love that many are very simple. Thank you for the inspiration!
Sherry, No Minimalist Here says
Just Beautiful, Kris! Your home is stunning in every season.
Happy Holidays,
Sherry
Shauna says
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
Cristina says
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!
cindy hattersley says
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!!
Heather | Decor Fix says
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:)
Pam @ Simple Details says
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! 🙂
Amanda says
Such a beautiful home and tour! I absolutely love your dining room tablescape. It’s just perfect 🙂
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Just lovely, Kris! I love all of the red and white ribbon you used, and your table is SO pretty!
randi says
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!
Barbara from 21 Rosemary Lane says
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
classic•casual•home says
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
annie diamond says
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
Ashley says
Love the candy display and gingerbread cookies! Everything looks so cozy.
Jeanette @ Snazzy Little Things says
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!