Hi all! As we get close to Christmas and wrapping up this crazy year, I wanted to share one last post with a quick update and tour of our Christmas home. While I had planned to share my annual holiday home tour weeks ago, in true 2020 style my plans were turned a bit upside down when our newly adopted Boston terrier, Cricket, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in a very tricky to remove spot. She had surgery to remove it and while her recovery has been a little rough, Cricket seems to have finally turned the corner and is more of her playful self each day.
While our December isn’t exactly what we expected it to be (2020, we’ve had enough of your surprises!) we’re so thankful that this sweet new little addition to our family is recovering well and is expected to have many healthy years ahead of her:
Although playing doggie nurse meant I had to put my annual Christmas house tour post on the back burner, it’s better late than never right?! So along with wishing you the happiest of holidays and thanking each and every one of you for your support, encouragement, and kindness that keep me and the blog going, I’d love to invite you into our home while it’s looking it’s holiday best. I’ll be short on words and heavy on pictures today (I’ve still got baking & wrapping to do!) but come on in so I can show you around… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
We’ll head to the living room first where I decorated our fireplace with greenery, mercury glass trees, glowing candles & twinkle lights:
I started with two of {these faux pine garlands with frosted pinecones} as the base and then added sprigs of faux eucalyptus (I used cut pieces from {this eucalyptus garland} and from {these eucalyptus branches}) and faux frosted blueberries from Terrain. It looks really realistic even up close:
On each end of our mantel I tied a trio of {these large gold foil jingle bells} with velvet ribbon and a pair of our stockings:
I also added {these faux candles} that I can turn on and off with a remote and three strands of {these battery operated twinkle lights} in warm white. I’ll have to take another pic at night with the lights on and fire roaring – it’s the coziest of spots to cuddle up under a blanket with a good book!
Moving on to our kitchen, I kept our decorations super simple:
Along with adding a few mercury Christmas trees and holiday bulbs to our floating corner shelves, I tied mini greenery & berry swags to the back of our kitchen counter stools:
and hung {this cute handmade felt wreath garland} along the top of our range hood:
Next to our range I filled my planter (which sits in {this seagrass serving tray}) with some faux magnolia leaves and peonies and added the holiday cards that we’ve received so far. Every year I punch a hole in the corner of each card and string a ribbon and tag with the year through it (I keep the photo cards we receive each year and having them bundled like this makes it so fun and easy to go back and look through them):
This year we’ve spent more time in the kitchen cooking and baking than ever, as I’m sure a lot of you have too. One of our favorite meals during the winter months is a chili bar where I make a big batch of chili and then everyone can fix their own bowl with their choice of toppings. My family loves it and I love that we can stretch out that one batch of chili to make at least two meals out it:
Moving on down the hall to our bedroom and bathroom, you’ll find some simple holiday touches there too:
Sources: Round mirror (I used Rub ‘n Buff to change the color to gold) | Bust planter | Black & white bone box | Snowy forest art print | Acrylic lamp | Pre-lit birch trees (small and medium) | Dresser is old one I painted with Farrow & Ball “Worsted” | Dresser knobs
Cricket loves laying on the bath mat that’s stays cozy warm from the heated floors:
Heading upstairs, you’ll find our second Christmas tree in the landing area where my girls hang out – it’s decorated in blue and white just like the space it’s in:
Room Sources: Herringbone wallpaper | Daybed | White leather pouf | Blue & white quilt | Pom pom throw | Ribbon trimmed window shades | Brass floor lamp | Sputnik ceiling light fixture | White with blue Euro shams | Lumbar striped pillow
It looks so pretty at night:
If you missed my earlier posts and want to bookmark them for next year, I shared the step-by step of how I decorate my Christmas trees in {this post} and how to flock a Christmas tree in {this post}.
Christmas decorating in the rest of our bedrooms was limited to some strands of twinkle lights – sometimes simple is best (especially when it comes time for holiday de-decorating – ha!):
Sources: Duvet cover | Bed skirt | Bench | Blue fringed end pillows | White tasseled corner pillows | Blue & white lumbar pillow | Quatrefoil pendant | Artwork – Etsy (the exact Etsy shop I bought them from is closed) | Headboard – no longer available | Grasscloth wallpaper
Thank you as always for taking the time to visit today! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and happiest of holidays to all of you – I look forward to seeing you back on the blog in 2021 with a new year full of new promise (and lots of fun blog posts too 😊).
XO,
Hi Kris! I love your blog!! I’m a momma with three Littles (4, 2, and 3 months)… my question is, where do you hang all your ornaments that your kids made?
Hi Amanda! We usually have a family tree for all of our sentimental ornaments that we’ve collected over the years (yes I’m a crazy person who has three trees 🙈) but with all we had going on, I sadly didn’t get that tree up this year. Look for it on next year’s holiday tour! 🙂
Your home looks lovely. I sure hope your sweet Cricket recovers completely. She is adorable.
Your home is just lovely, Chris, as usual! We had a pet scare too – he is doing better but not totally out of the woods. Seems typical for 2020! So thankful that your little Cricket is healing. Wishing you & your family a blessed Christmas & New Year!
What a year! Glad Cricket is going to be ok. Your house looks beautiful and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
So inspired by your stunning design. Always appreciate the links to the decorative items. Thank you and Merry Christmas and blessings for the New Year.
Kris,
Everything looks beautiful. Did you get a sprinkling of snow to make it a proper white Christmas.
Cricket is adorable. I must have missed Hope’s passing when I wasn’t getting your posts. I’m so sorry for your loss, she looked like such a sweet dog.
Have a very happy Christmas.
xo,
Karen
Love all the pretty Christmas decorations!! I especially like the green velvet ribbon woven through the light above the bathtub. So unique. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to you.
Love your decorating style! Where do you find the mercury trees?
Beautiful. How do you get your greenery to stay put on the mantle? When I drape my faux greenery it wants to fall off so I end up with it on top of the mantle which I do not like.
Absolutely beautiful! Great ideas and arrangements! I always enjoy your photos of your home. Hope your pup continues feeling better. I know that is not fun! Merry Christmas!
Can you share where you get your mercury trees? They are so pretty!
Hi Courtney – sorry for the late reply! Most of my mercury trees are from HomeGoods and a few from Pottery Barn & Crate and Barrel
Hi Kris,
It’s Ellen in Fdbg…… Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday! I have never had
time to follow your Driven by Decor and NOW I HAVE TIME…. Am remodeling the beach house and especially excited how organized your GARAGE is…. Wilma said you had beautiful taste and she was correct. Anxious to follow you and get some great ideas for the house too. Happy New Year!!!
So so good to hear from you Ellen! You have always been the busiest lady – what a blessing to have the time to slow down a bit and do some fun stuff like work on your beach house. Happy new year!