While I have a long list of fabulous new home décor and DIY projects to share from the last four months of work in the North House, sharing a mini Christmas home tour seemed more fitting for the first week in December. I had fun getting my holiday decor done when I was home for Thanksgiving a few weeks ago.
I picked through past DIY projects and rummaged through lots of holiday boxes before I made up my mind about what style I wanted to decorate our home for this year’s holiday season.
Decisions, decisions…
Coastal? Traditional? This year felt like a simple year. I think I choose neither, but I do like the way it came together. I used several years of DIY projects and linked to the tutorials so you can easily find them 🙂
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Welcome friends! Com’on in and visit!
Nautical Sailboat Christmas Wreath
I’d offer you a cup of tea or a warm mulled cider if you were here. But… since you are there and I am packing up in VT to go home (yay!). We’ll have to settle for a visual tour.
I like that our living area is wide open and the tree can be seen from the front door or out back on the boat dock. I was inspired to use understated and natural items this year from our trip to Dallas over the Thanksgiving holiday. Texas had the most beautiful Christmas trees, especially in the shops in the Old Town section of Rockwall where we used to live.
Bed Spindle Pedestal Bowl with painted pine cones and clear glass ornaments sprayed with Looking Glass to make mercury glass ornaments.
I used a lot of what I had, like left over burlap strips and white fabric poinsettias in the tree from a daughters Christmas wedding a few years back.
Then set up a vignette by the entryway table along with a leaning metal ladder to display Christmas cards from friends and family. I found a similar metal leaning ladder here if you like this idea.
Ballard Inspired Knock-Off Tinsel Stick with Silver and God Mercury Glass
I love the look of these ornaments hung on a ribbon, it gives it a vintage vibe.
Don’t you think so?
Family and guests love when I put out my DIY Holiday Scrabble Tiles. One of these days I’ll make some giant ones.
Even though I didn’t decorate for the holidays with a lot of traditional colors, I feel like I added just enough color to be festive.
To me, it’s a challenge having reds, tinsels and greens next to soft blues and coastal colors.
I like to take what we already use year round, like my Limed Wood Holiday Candle Holder, and add a little holiday cheer to it.
Like this faux greenery on our favorite dining area consoles.
We don’t have a proper fireplace mantel to decorate …yet. I’m working on talking Rob darling into letting me build one 🙂 Hopefully this spring! In the meantime, I used my armoire to set up this holiday vignette with my favorite Joy Candles.
Maybe this year I’ll actually get around to making another batch of these. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to Add Images to Candles and they make the sweetest gifts. You can download my graphics from the post too.
I love this time of year when the tree is lit and Christmas carols are playing in the background as I work or fiddle in the kitchen.
This is the part where I should be playing the Christmas carol “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”…
Because, I will!
Hopefully, I’ll be home the first of next week and will get to enjoy the rest of the season with my sweet patient husband who has let me follow my dream of renovating an old building for the past several months.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my little Florida holiday home tour. I’ve shown you all so much of the North House over the past few months you may have forgotten what the Bungalow looks like!
I’ll see you all back in Fl soon!
Shirley Wood says
Hi Wendi, Your home is so cozy and festive for the Christmas season. I love your Joy door hanger especially with the sailboats! Your tree decor is beautiful!
Wendi says
Hi Shirley and thank you so much! Even though I didn’t add a lot of holiday decor this year I like the way it turned out. The sailboat wreath is a favorite of mine too. Actually, I think this year I put all of my favorite projects out. I’m sure you know how fast the projects add up after a few years of DIY blogging! LOL Thanks so much for your very kind note and visit. Happy Holidays!
Marie says
Merry Christmas my friend, your home looks warm, inviting and beautifully festive. Enjoy your time back in Florida! And hope you take some time to get some rest – you’ve been one busy gal.
Wendi says
Hi Marie and thank you! I’m just home from VT and while I loved being there, it’s great to be home! It was a treat waling in the door and seeing festive decor already up and waiting for me! Looking forward to catching up with you soon my friend. I hope your holidays are going as smoothly as they can! Sending big hugs!
Holly says
The sailboats in the front door wreath is brilliant. I, too, live on the water – Sacramento Delta. And, yes, it is a challenge to artfully bring coastal and Christmas colors together, but you did it masterfully.
Wendi says
Hi Holly and thank you!It’s good to hear from someone else who has the same challenges. It just doesn’t seem right (to me) to put fake snowmen on the front lawn when seagulls are flying overhead! LOL I feel that learning to blend the coastal life and holidays is a skill that takes time, I’m still learning! Thanks so much for your visit and very sweet comment!
Mary says
Beautifully done Wendi. I too love to reuse my old ornaments in new ways. And I love how you have put all those colors together in such a fun way. This year I have banished the red and am using blue as my main color. Can it be that I actually miss the beach? Wishing you a a very Merry Christmas!
Patty says
Love your tree and you even put your olive bucket to good use. Your home looks lovely and festive.
Wendi says
Hi Patty and thank you! I love that olive bucket and filling it with greens was an afterthought that worked out. I passed on one up here in VT last month and regretted it…what was I thinking?? They are versatile for year round styling 🙂 It will be nice to walk in the door at home (FL) with holiday decor already done this year. Happy Holidays to you!
Patty says
Never ever pass on a chance for another olive bucket, I have two of them and just love them, I put a christmas tree in each one for my front porch and in spring they have gorgeous flowers.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Susan Bedard says
Hi Wendy
Love all your Christmas decorations and ideas. I’m inspried to try a couple.
Happy Holidays!
Wendi says
Hi Susan! Thank you so much! I was surprised at how many holiday projects I’ve done on the blog. I had to pick over a few to keep everything understated this year. I hope you have fun making a few for your own home! I hope we see you this holiday season! Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy Holidays!
Kathy says
Wendi,
I love your Christmas decor! Your house is beautiful and radiates a soft, joyful vibe for the season. It is refreshing to see colors that are not red and green ( but that’s OK for those who prefer them). Last year I started transitioning away from red and into metallics and blue- your house has inspired me with new ideas on how to use the cooler colors in my own home. Love your blog, Wendi, and wish you lived close enough for us share that cup of tea! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Wendi says
Hi Kathy! It makes my day when I find a note like yours in my inbox, thank you! I’m thrilled that I helped inspire you to try new colors in your holiday decor. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of learning to use nontraditional colors too. It fosters creativity and thinking in new ways. Yes, we could share that holiday tea together by the tree! Merry Christmas to you too Kathy!!