This Christmas season has been special for me. With a three and four year old, it is absolutely the best time of year, so I have been taking things slow to savor all of the sweet moments and create lasting memories. I decided to hold off on doing a holiday home tour post for just that reason, but I’m happy to share it with you today.
I was invited to two large group tours and was a bit sad to turn them down, but I knew it would cause me a lot of stress getting our home all done up the week after Thanksgiving. I wanted to take my time and not get lost focusing on what everyone else would be impressed by, but what would make every day magical for my little ones. So that is what I am sharing today: our kid-centered, real life holiday home. I hope you enjoy the “visit”…
I always like to preface these posts with a disclaimer about “real life”…I went on the assumption that you might not want to see toys all over or a messy dining table, so I cleaned this place up pretty good for these photos. The pillows and blankets are never this neat and tidy and there are always TONS of toys EVERYWHERE – no joke.
In a nut shell, this is how the kids and I decorated together to make this Christmas a truly special and personal one, but it is merely a moment in time captured through a camera lens. Our home is well used and well lived in. The floors are often dirty, laundry and dishes are piled up and creative “work in progress” projects can be found all over the place. This is the cleaned up and edited version 🙂
Hazel wanted to welcome you in herself. She is four and one of the sweetest little girls you ever could meet (even if I do say so myself).
This is the only time of year that I actually like the color of our front door…it’s pretty festive.
I shared details of our
Christmas living room last week, but here are some more shots around the room. I made all but one of the pillows in here and found the wool throw at the Salvation Army. (A full source list is at the end of this post). Last year, I also had fun turning “ugly” Christmas sweaters into throw pillows which you can read about
here.
I wanted the tree to be really colorful and fun for the kids so I began by asking Hazel to make an angel for the top. She set right to work drawing the sweetest little angel (holding an ornament – her idea!). We turned it into a tree topper by adding a paper cone to the back.
I used mainly vintage ornaments, some that I recently purchased at an antique mall (like the one below). I also received several of my grandparents’ ornaments, from my mother, so those make this year’s tree extra meaningful.
Hazel and Owen each got one new ornament this year. Owen, an owl, that he was happy to help place on the tree.
Hazel loves wolves, so she was thrilled when we found this wolf ornament at Target. We had to have it for our tree!
Since many of our ornaments are vintage and mid-century, I wanted to have a tree skirt to coordinate. I had a vintage gown (that was way too small for me), which I decided to turn into one. I love the gold shimmer and vintage glam look it gives the base of our tree.
Hazel did some Christmas shopping at school (and wrapped them herself!) so we already have some presents under the tree.
All of our Christmas and winter books are accessible for the kids in the living room. We love cuddling and reading together almost every day.
One of my favorite Father Christmas figures welcomes visitors next to cinnamon scented pine cones.
And, I love when I happen upon my kids own decorating, like how Hazel put this vintage wooden Santa inside her Littlest Pet Shop Beauty Salon. Too cute.
Our vintage nativity is on my grandparents’ HiFi record console surrounded by several star wall decals from Wallternatives. Both kids love this! They play here almost every day.
I rarely show the angle below in photographs because we have been working on it for ages. I did talk about the progress in
this post previously where you can see the “before”. We removed old carpet and wall paper, but getting it fixed up has been a slow journey. The stairs still need some work and the walls need paint.
Slowly but surely…
The door to the downstairs bathroom got a festive touch with some nutcracker window clings I found at the Dollar General. The kids got their own and decorated all of the downstairs windows. Hazel added a few of hers here as well.
Now, we will head around the corner into the dining room. I actually managed to get it cleaned up and decorated to share with you! (The kitchen not so much…sigh.)
Our salvaged mantel is in the dining room, and I love redecorating it every season. A couple of weeks ago, I shared how I made
the advent calendar, but here are some more details of the top vignette. I was going for a
vintage-whimsical-Anthropologie-inspired look. I didn’t buy anything new for it…just got creative with what I had in my Christmas and basement stash.
Every morning Hazel and Owen come downstairs super excited to open the next advent envelope. They get such a thrill out of seeing what activity we will do that day (and hoping for an extra surprise in it, of course, like candy or a little present).
Because everyone always asks…our dining room chandelier is an antique Craigslist find. It was a pretty good steal at $75.
For the centerpiece of our new dining table, I clipped some pine branches from trees in the yard and put them around a mercury glass candle holder. I also added some cinnamon sticks and a pair of vintage elves that my mom gave the kids. They no longer had hats so we made them some!
On our accent cabinet, I created a little rustic vignette with my collection of nutcrackers, an old metal bucket and more tree clippings.
Finally, we have a little vintage elf (that Hazel named Snowy) staying with us again this year. He gets into a wee bit of mischief each night but only with the hopes of making the kids smile each morning. They love finding what he is up to every day!
I hope you enjoyed this “real-ish” life holiday home tour! Christmas is such a wondrous time and it’s made even more so watching it through the eyes of children. I am enjoying every single day with them, and while they can’t wait for Christmas day to get here…I could go a few weeks longer just soaking in all the magic, excitement and beauty this season has to offer!
Source List:
(Contains some affiliate* or tracking links for products I have previously received in exchange for blog posts**. I have not been compensated in any way for this post, but may receive a small commission for any sales made through the affiliate links.)
Outdoors:
Reindeer – Lowe’s
Wreath – Lowe’s (with plaid ribbon and thrift store ice skates added)
Living Room:
Wall Color – Glidden ‘Antique White’
“Driftwood” Finish Bamboo Shades – Home Decorator’s Collection from Home Depot
Tufted Ottoman – Homegoods
Pouf Ottomans – Jonathan Louis
Throws/pillows – vintage and handmade
Tree Skirt – reconstructed vintage dress
Chandelier – vintage via Craigslist
Burlap Reindeer – JoAnn’s
Nativity – vintage
Silver Branch Wreath – Christmas Tree Shops
Dining Room:
Mantel – ReHouse Architectural Salvage
Chandelier – Antique found on Craigslist
Bottle Brush Trees – eBay and diy bleached green trees
‘Believe’ Banner – Etsy shop that is now closed
Leather Dining Chairs – Raymour & Flanigan but now discontinued
Mercury Glass Candle Holders – Christmas Tree Shops
Everything else is vintage, flea market, thrift store or one of a kind finds!
Till next time…
~Alice W.
Follow along with me!
Want to make sure you never miss a post? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
You might also enjoy…
19 Comments
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
alice, your home is always one of my favorites- beautiful, lived in, cozy, and magical!
Alice Wingerden
Thank you so much Cassie! I always love your "visits" 😉
Krista Eickmeier
I love how your house is a "home". What a special treat it always is to "visit" & see what you've done. Love, love, love the mantle. Your adorable children are growing up so fast. They are blessed that you are taking the time to just spend time with them & make memories that they will treasure. Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Janine Hamilton
Love everything this year, the mix of vintage and modern, our family's heirlooms and future heirlooms for Hazel & Owen! Great job, honey, so beautiful!
Dannyelle
Everything looks great, Christmas-y and beautiful!
Merry Christmas Alice.
Anne's Attic - Design
Your Christmas decor is so beautiful. My favorite hands down is the darling angel on top of the tree and your two sweet children. Children just make Christmas.
Merry Christmas! xx Jo
Candy Hollingsworth Day
Love, love, love!!!! Love it all!
Wendy Johnson
I noticed a trend in blogging is showing how "real" your house is by showing messes or talking about them..you showed a "real" house by just living in it and enjoying decorating it with your family. Everything looks lovely and inviting.
Susan Duane
Alice your home is so warm. I love all your special touches like your Advent calendar. It's really beautiful and your photography is stunning! Merry Christmas and thank you for being such a dear friend!! God Bless!
umeoneLSL
Gorgeous house and family! Merry Christmas!
Parlor Room Ponderings
I appreciate how you put your family first. They are little for a short time and a perfect home can wait. You have lots of wonderful Festive touches in your home. Enjoyed the tour. Have a very merry Christmas! Diane
Rose L
It is all so lovely, and the homemade tree topper was such a wonderful touch! That is something to cherish!
Olivia Godfrey
Everything looks wonderful and festive! Loved the tour. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Oscar Bravo
Your home is always one of MY FAVORITES to tour for the holidays. I'm so glad you were able to show us around! Thank you for all the inspiration and beautiful pics.
Collette Osuna
I love this post Alice…….your holiday home is just gorgeous (as always) and your family has the true meaning of Christmas:)
carol@The Red Painted Cottage
Your house looks so magical, especially with your children and their joyous smiles!
A Designer At Home
This is the kind of home tour I would've liked to have seen in those hops. It's so meaningful and magical! I'm so grateful to have "met" you this year and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Clockwork Interiors
Love your philosophy, Alice! Everything looks lovely, but I especially adore Hazel's angel. Please tell her I love how she gave her angel such beautiful long eyelashes, which make her eyes sparkle. Hope you and your family continue to enjoy this beautiful time of the year. Merry Christmas! Cynthia
Rhonda Vaudt
Alice, your home is beautifully decorated for Christmas. I love the gold stars on the wall, it's simple touches like that that I love! Merry Christmas!