It seems like yesterday that I was writing the post for my Christmas tour. I find that a I get older, time flies by so fast. As a result, I find myself simplifying my holiday decor in order to spend more quality time with friends and family. I got started early this year. My goal this year with both kids in college was to have the house ready for when they arrive for Christmas break. I want to enjoy every minute as a family while they are home….blog stress-free. So far so good!
I want to thanK Marty from A Stroll Thru Life for all the hard work organizing yet another amazing tour!
If you are visiting from Jennifer's lovely tour over at The Chronicles of Home, then welcome! What a beautiful tour!
We live in the Upstate of SC. While things look a lot like Christmas, our weather can play tricks. We can be in short sleeves one day and boots and sweaters the next.
I recently shared our Christmas Porch Tour and you can check it all out here for the details and lots of photos!
Our foyer is open an all four sides so there is no furniture, but I always tuck a 9-foot pencil tree in the foyer to house my Lenox collectible ornaments. It's the fancy tree in the hour, but still fairly simple.
Our dining room is to the left as you enter. We honestly only use it a couple of times per year and as a result it is hopefully going to get a bit of a furniture makeover. Yes, I'm getting ready to list the dining room set on Craigslist. I'll probably cry if it sells.
I have tons of storage with built-in cabinets on either side of the entryway to the kitchen, but always seem to need more. I must stop thrift store shopping in 2018!
I really went really low-key in here this year.
This mirror is still my favorite makeover in the room. I love decorating with thrift store finds!
Dollar stores are great sources for glass, crystal like candle holders. I love how they sparkle during the holidays.
I gravitated to using mainly faux on tables several years back. Again…taking the stress out of replacing constantly and the mess. They look so real these days!
My precious breakable collection is safer in the foyer on a faux tree. Ask me why……sigh!
The rest of the ornaments are plastic and lots from Dollar Tree!
We have a real 9 foot fir in the family room. No you are not mistaken…..there are only lights on the tree. The kids will be home from college the end of the week, and it is a tradition to decorate as a family. I'll be sure to share it next week! You'll notice that to surprise them, I added two strands of colored lights very close to the trunk of the tree. The tree has 3 kinds of lights! I love mixing lights.
With being empty nesters as of this year, we spend most nights watching TV on the loveseat. As a result, I decorated it a little more this year. You can see the master in its entirety HERE.
Back to the family room! I love our home in that we can live completely downstairs and never have to go up with the kids gone. The media/game room is upstairs along with the exercise room, but don't regularly have to go up.
The mantel is super simple in that if you go to view my fall tour, it's the same with the exception of the Christmas.
Firewood is ready, but haven't built a fire this season. I expect this coming weekend….it will be in use! It is supposed to be cold here!
Our mantel is my favorite spot to decorate in this room.
Now I know it's not pretty, but I am beyond not showing how we live. We love doing puzzles and have been doing a Christmas one each year. We started this one Thanksgiving weekend. It's going to be a doozie!
I've been using this JOY cut-out all year because we all need to be reminded to keep JOY in our lives.
The buffet will most likely go with the dining room set.
I didn't add ANY new Christmas pillows this year! Yes, I said it!
This room is very cozy especially in the evening.
You'll notice that every space isn't totally decked out. I didn't put everything up and I'm liking it that way!
This table acts as our foyer table.
I normally use the angels as a pair, but I split them up this year.
I just love them. I've been using them for the last 13 years.
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to stop by next week when I'll be sharing our kitchen.
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Be sure to visit the next stop on the tour, Laura from Decor to Adore.
Monday – Dec 4th
Tuesday – Dec 5th
Wednesday – Dec 6th
Thursday – Dec 7th
Friday – Dec 8th
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I love all the photos of your chimney! Is it functional? I bet it would be lovely to see smoke puffing out your chimney over your roof on a cold winter day considering how lovely your home is.
Jemma recently posted…Premier Commercial Roofing Company for your Housing needs
Thank you! Yes all of our 3 chimneys are operational. The family room is wood burning and the other 2 are gas logs, but could be wood burning.
Christy recently posted…Candlestick Makeover with Multiple Uses
What a beautiful tour. Thank you for sharing! Is there someplace we can see the floor plan for your house? I love the living room and am on the search for our dream home! thank you!
Thank you so very much! The home is the Abberly Lane by John Tee. It is a Southern Living plan and you can find it on Southern Living’s website. We love it. Great family home. We made no modifications to the plan and built in 2004. Merry Christmas!!
Christy recently posted…Beautiful Christmas Homes
Your home if just gorgeous, Christy! I can’t wait to see how you kids decorate your Christmas tree! Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks so much, Laura!! We had such fun finally decorating it and going down memory lane with the collected ornaments!
Christy recently posted…Beautiful Christmas Homes
Absolutely beautiful!!! I know you are ready to have those babies home got a bit! XOXO
Christy, I love the puzzle on the coffee table and the other touches that make it clear that a “real” family lives there. Enjoy having your kids home next week and Merry Christmas! I enjoyed sharing the tour with you!
christy- it is all so beautiful and elegant…just like you. I really like the simplicity of the mantel and the classic white tapers. everything is just so pretty.
Thanks so much, Laura! I do love classics at Christmas!
Christy recently posted…Christmas Tour 2017
You have such a classic and beautiful home! Loved the tour!
Shelley
Thanks so much! I always enjoy hearing from you. XO Christy
Christy recently posted…Christmas Tour 2017
I always love seeing your beautiful porch decorated for Christmas and the inside is even prettier than usual. Each area is decorated to perfection. Such a beautiful home. Thanks so much for joining the tours, so much inspiraton.
Thanks so much, Marty! I adore decorating for the holidays. Thanks so much for organizing another fabulous seasonal tour!
Christy recently posted…Christmas in the Master Bedroom
Gosh! Your home’s curb appeal just completely floored me and I have to pick my jaw up off the floor. Such a beautiful tour. Merry Christmas
Christy you truly have a flair for decorating. I adore all of your seasonal touches. Enjoy having your kids home next week. It’s a pleasure to share the tour with you.