Do you want to know something? Virtual Christmas tours for girls who LOVE having people over are very hard. If you were to come knocking on my door I would invite you in, hand you a cup of coffee (or tea or cider or eggnog) in my favorite Christmas mugs and we would plunk ourselves down and have a good long chat.
I would ask you about your family and how your shopping was going and where you will be spending Christmas this year. We would laugh together about the cute way our kids spelled out the words on their Christmas lists. And we would savor the pause in this busy time of year to just enjoy the simple pleasure of spending time with friends.
Alas, this virtual tour will have to do instead. But, I really do want to know how your family is doing and how your shopping is going and where you will be spending Christmas this year and I promise I will laugh at the cute way your kids spelled the words on their Christmas list. And, yes, we can still savor together the pause in this busy time of year as I welcome you to my home all dressed up for the season!
I’m so, so thrilled to be part of the Jennifer Rizzo Design Company Holiday Housewalk again this year! And this time Heather and I are each sharing our homes on different days. You will definitely want to come back tomorrow to see how Heather has decorated her new home for Christmas.
If you are stopping by after visiting the beautiful home of Maria from The Rusty Hinge, welcome!
Come on in! Can I pour you a cup of coffee? I have some yummy peppermint creamer to go in it!
So, do you want to know a secret? Starting early in November I went each week to Michael’s crafts with my 50% off coupon and bought a single strand of boxwood garland. I absolutely love how simple they looking going up the banister. In fact, this could be called the ‘Year of the Boxwood’ at my house because you will see quite a bit of it scattered throughout.
Simple creamy bows were all that was needed to accent the boxwood.
See what I mean about the boxwood? There’s some hanging in wreath-form on the mirror in my entry!
Right next to my Monogram Christmas tree.
And Santa with his sleigh resting on a tray filled with ‘snow’.
Even the office gets in on a little Christmas action.
Another mini boxwood wreath is tied to the handle of my grandmother’s antique china cabinet. Simple and lovely.
In the living room, I went with more neutral tones and loved incorporating my dried hydrangeas into my Christmas decor.
You can read my hydrangea story here.
I even tucked a few hydrangea blooms in our Christmas tree this year. And, do you see that angel? My husband and I bought that in honor of our first Christmas together as newlyweds and I can’t imagine our tree without it!
I honestly feel like this year I realized for the first time that Christmas decorating doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful.
Even something as simple as fresh greenery tucked into a silver creamer qualifies as “decorated”.
And that a fresh boxwood wreath from Trader Joe’s for $9.99 makes my heart go pitter-patter. Especially when it’s hanging above a silver champagne bucket filled with paper-whites.
Want to know another secret? As much as I love my living room with the big, fresh tree and the more formal decor, this next part of my home is my most favorite at Christmas…actually, it’s my most favorite any time of the year.
Because this is where we really live. And, at Christmas, it’s where a narrow tree holds all of the paper angels and homemade ornaments. Where my and my husband’s childhood ornaments mix with the treasured ones from our own children.
It’s the room where anything goes. Where each year my son builds a train track around the tree and my daughter puts 10 ornaments on one branch.
And it’s where each Sunday before Christmas we will read from the story of the first Christmas and light a candle in the corresponding mason jar. You can read about our families Adventures in Advent here. They may involve passing gas…just sayin’.
And it’s where I decided to use baskets on my mantel this year.
And box wood too of course! 😉
It’s where colorful ornaments get piled into a wire basket.
And where the carousel my parents gave my kiddos a few years ago gets put in a place of honor atop a stack of treasured Christmas books.
And it’s where my kiddos fight over who gets to be the first one to turn on the carousel that year.
These are the spaces that really come to life during this season.
When we’re snuggling together watching movies or making some hot cocoa at the station I set up in the kitchen.
And at the end of a long day I get to retire to a room with it’s own little touch of Christmas.
Do you need your coffee refilled? Or maybe you would like to try some molasses cookies. It’s my grandmother’s recipes. Guests to our home are welcome to stay as long as they want so don’t feel like you need to hurry off!
But, when you are ready to go, may I suggest you pay a visit to another home? Head on over to Jenna’s from SAS Interiors!
And to take the full tour of all the homes I would encourage you to settle in a comfy chair in your sweats or pj’s and start at the very beginning by clicking here.
I hope you enjoyed coming by and paying me a visit today. I definitely enjoyed having you and I pray you have a truly blessed and joy-filled Christmas season!
Sharing here:
Vanessa — your home is beautiful. Have a wonderful Christmas season! ~Sally
Love your idea of greens in the silver little pitcher. I’m doing that for sure in my white ironstone ones.
Lovely job Vanessa! The touches of boxwood everywhere are perfect and your photography is stellar. Love all of the different Christmas trees and the hot chocolate station is precious. Thanks for opening up your home and I’d love some coffee with peppermint creamer please :)!
It’s all gorgeous, Vanessa.
Gorgeous – love the noel sign!
Kelly
Your home is so inviting and I am in love with all your boxwood! Merry Christmas!
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
Hi Vanessa – First YOU look amazing 🙂 And I love every single piece of your holiday decor. I grew a paperwhite for the first time this year and came down this morning to find it leaning. I love your white bow solution!! xo Amanda
I know you are probably still snoozing in that bed but wake up girl! Love that NOEL sign and your fireplace and oh my that pretty scene with your Christmas tree is beautiful. Nicely done, now it’s time to relax and enjoy 🙂
A beautiful and inviting home! Can hardly wait to see and enjoy it all (and y’all) in a few days! Mom
Oh my goodness, it’s is absolutely beautiful!!
And I’m in love with those mason jar lid ornaments. Perfection!
~Cheryl
http://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/
Vanessa, your home looks gorgeous and you are the CUTEST!!!!! I love all of your holiday touche. Your mantel is beautiful and I love how pretty your bedroom looks! Thank you so much for being a part of the tour!!!
It all looks great, Vanessa! I love that picture of you at your front door! : ) Love the greenery and wreaths you’ve used throughout.
There’s too much inspiration here to handle! Beautiful job. I think the front door with all the drapey greens is my favorite! 🙂
So gorgeous Vanessa! I am loving that front door~ beautiful!!! Sharing!!
Your home is decorated so beautifully and I absolutely adore the picture of you at the front door. Gorgeous. Thanks so much for such a wonderful tour and visit. Hugs, Marty
Oh my gosh, Vanessa – I wish I could come over to see it all in person! My favorite things – the little tree in your foyer with the jar lid monograms (may steal this idea in the future!!!), your mantel with the hydrangeas, the “There is a Season” print, and of course – your son setting up the train under the tree (I remember those days) and your daughter decorating the tree! Enjoy the season!
Love your tour, especially that little tree in the entrway! I guess I should tell you that I am done my shopping and everything is wrapped…we are splitting Christmas day by visiting with my family in the afternoon and having dinner with my husband’s family…as for the cute mis-spelled Christmas lists…they are long gone in our house (our kids are 23 and 19) and I miss those days so much! – enjoy those while you can!
Hope you have a great holiday season!!
So enjoyed seeing your home this morning! So many ideas to steal! I snagged three TJ boxwood wreaths a few weeks ago (almost felt greedy, filling my basket) and kept them in the garage, hoping they’d stay cool and fresh, but when I went to hang them yesterday, they were already brittle! I’ll have to keep them away from candles, but they are lovely and I loved seeing all the boxwood in your home – especially here in Portland!
Beautiful Vanessa! Love the mantels!
I just feel the love through the elegant simplicity of your “deck the halls”. Thank you for sharing your home. I especially love your use of brightly polished silver! The mix of the plain and candy cnaes with the elegance of the sliver is wonderful. Maybe tomorrow i will be able to get going on my own decking!
Vanessa, your home is so beautiful and when you decorate it for Christmas…I love seeing what you do from year to year…your tour is truly an inspiration!! Thanks Vanessa!
Beautiful and charming and cozy.
A home filled with love.
Merry Christmas!
Love it. It’s so warm and welcoming. I wish I could just hop in the car and head up there for a cup of tea. 🙂
Anna
Vanessa…first of all, how cute are you greeting us at your door? Your home is just so elegant and your decor beautiful…love all the personal details that spell family. love you friend…xox
Gorgeous! I love, love it all! That Noel sign is perfect!!
Beautiful Vanessa!
Oh my goodness Vanessa everything is just beautiful! You are adorable at the front door! Thanks for inviting us in.
XO
Kristin
Vanessa your home is absolutely lovely. I think you did such an amazing job. It has a sophisticated elegance to it. I am in love with your boxwoods all around. Well done my friend. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely stop by and chat a while.
Oh I would LOVE to have you stop by and chat Judy!! That would definitely be a dream come true. 🙂 I still treasure the time we had together in NYC! Thank you so much for your sweet words!
Vanessa
Vanessa, your home is as lovely as you are! Gorgeousness everywhere. Thank you for the tour! I’ll be pinning!
Vanessa, your home is lovely! I purchased my first preserved boxwood wreath this year, I feel an addiction coming on:) I love your “seasons” print too and well, what’s NOT to like?:) Thank you for inviting us into your home, I’d love to sit and chat for a spell next time:)
The house is beautiful, but YOU are GORGEOUS!!!!!
XOXO,
Anne
Awwww…thanks so much sweet friend!! Love ya! 🙂
Absolutely stunning as always! The warmth and love your family shares comes through in every detail and story you use to draw us in. And that’s all that matters, isn’t it?
That really is what matters and I so appreciate you saying that it’s what comes through to you from my post Marty!! Blessings to you this season dear friend! 🙂
14 houses down, and this is the first one I felt like saying WOW something I would like to do at home. You have done some truly heartfelt spaces.. Thank you
BEAUTIFUL Vanessa…your mantels look AMAZING!! Love the way you decorated your front door too!
so gorgeous, love all the little personal touches. how smart to get those coupons workin’!!
So gorgeous Vanessa! I love all your trees and the boxwood is perfect! Beautiful photographs too!
Vanessa, it’s gorgeous! I wish we had a TJ’s here in Colorado – those BOXWOOD wreaths!!! 9.99?! I guess we’re supposed to get one in February though!! Your home is sooo cozy!!! Love all the special touches too…the carousel is awesome!
Green is your color, Vanessa (you look gorgeous standing against it)! Your holiday home is beyond welcoming … I LOVE your “NOEL” art (might have to borrow next year) … your simplistic and classy mantel is fabulous, and I love how your World Market chairs frame your gorgeous tree in the window! What a sweet carousel, train, 10 ornaments on one branch and kiddos, of course! I’m off to peek again. 🙂
SWOON WORTHY! I am drooling all over the place! LOVE! ;} Such beautiful spaces!
Swoon worthy?? That is an awesome compliment! Thanks so much Ashley! 🙂
It looks so lovely and inviting Vanessa! You did a beautiful job! I love all the Boxwood touches and the natural greenery. You’ve inspired me to simplify things a little more for next year. Your Holiday home is perfectly wonderful! Great photo of you too, by the way!!
Thank you so much Karen!! 🙂
So thats where all the boxwood went!:) you have created the perfect holiday home ready for the memories you and your family will be creating this year.happy holidays.
i love it- so beautiful! and your secret about the boxwood garlands is awesome!
Thanks Cassie!! So happy you stopped by! 🙂
What a joy filled home! So nice when you have little ones who are to enjoy every single moment! I loved everything. I could just move right in and not change a thing! Merry Christmas Sweetie!
Oh thank you so much Vicki! I’m trying to relish these days with having little ones at Christmas while I still have them! Thank you so much for your sweet words (both here and on FB). Merry Christmas to you too my friend! 🙂
WOW! What a beautiful photo of you. That should be framed and kept for the kiddos to treasure forever 🙂 Your home is so beautifully decorated…my favorite was your “Seasons” sign! Your tree and banister are gorgeous…now you have all month to enjoy it, and your Christmas tunes 🙂 I haven’t even gotten my tree up yet-yikes! Merry Christmas to your entire family, Vanessa!
Completely gorgeous and cozy – I wish I could come over for coffee and cookies! I love the simplicity of the branches in the silver creamer. Perfect. Thank you for inviting us over!
Beautiful tour, Vanessa! I love the boxwood and the simplicity yet traditional beauty of the whole home! Happy Holidays!~~Angela
Gorgeous tour Vanessa, just lovely all decked out!
So beautiful Vanessa – but I especially love how you use all the different types of garlands – such pretty touches. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home!
Everything is just lovely and the boxwood is perfect!
Oh Vanessa,
What a great tour! Your home is welcoming and cozy. You’ve decorated beautifully and I would love to come down for a cup of tea.
The boxwood idea was wonderful and it looks lovely. Funny I also put small branches in a vase with dried hydrangeas also….great minds….LOL.
Merry Christmas
JannYvette
Beautiful AND inspiring! Love the boxwood and the baskets on the mantel! I can’t wait to see Heather’s house as well. I needed this inspiration. XO! Rebecca
beautiful home…love your front door and your trader joe’s wreath.
I went to get some, and they were gone..sold out in two days!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Lovely!! I love a tree with special family ornaments, too, the best!!
Where did you find the small boxwood wreaths, the tiny ones?
Amanda
Absolutely beautiful Vanessa! I love everything about your tour….especially that adorable picture of you! Right out of a magazine my friend!
Happy, happy day to you!
karianne
Can I have a cup of 1/3 peppermint creamer, 1/3 hot cocoa and 1/3 coffee (I’m not really a coffee drinker, but with lots of creamer and chocolate I can feel pretty grown-up drinking coffee). You’re home is lovely and I could imagine sitting for a spell and sharing Christmas stories.
Your home is so beautiful and inviiting, Vanessa! I especially love the NOEL above the fireplace! Merry Christmas.
Your home is so beautiful and inviting, Vanessa! I especially love the NOEL above the fireplace! Merry Christmas.
I kept almost every one of my two children’s letters to Santa, {some got lost over the years :(} I pick out one from each, place then in frames and use them in my Christmas decor. Such a sweet little reminder of Christmas’ past {my babies are now 17 and 31!}
Your home is simply stunning, to much eye-candy to take in all at once, I plan on visiting again and again to take in every detail…..lol!!!
Vanessa, I’m very late to your open house, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself — and you “simply” outdid yourself! How you manage to get everything done while running a household with two little ones is beyond me. Beautiful!
May you and yours have a merry and blessed Christmas — and we *must* chat in January… once the kids are back in school. Looking forward to hearing from you when things settle down.
So warm and welcoming! I too am more of a “personal” visitor rather than a “virtual” visitor! And, as for the peppermint creamer, it’s in my fridge year round 🙂 LOVE the traditional look of your home! Merry Christmas! Melissa
Absolutely magical! Thanks for the e-tour. What is your source for the small boxwood wreaths?
Your home is beautifully decorated for the season. I’m in love with the boxwood wreath that you nabbed at Trader Joes. I’ll have to check out the one in my area and see if they have any. I decorated with fresh greens on my mantel and love it.
Don’t be surprised if I show up for some Hot Chocolate! I love your warm welcome from your heart, that just set the tone for this beautiful tour. I love the NOEL frames you have too, so cute! Sharing on my FB page, this is gorgeous!
Vanessa, Everything is absolutely GORGEOUS! I hope you and your family have a Very Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Sherry
Oh thank you so much Sherry!! Blessings to you and your family this Christmas! 🙂
Hello Vanessa,
All your boxwood looks wonderful in your beautiful home. I got a big box of faux boxwood garland at a garage sale a few months ago for $4 (what a steal)…plan to make a wreath after the holidays. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Blessings,
Linda