Christmas Cloches au Natural

Hi Friends...

I thought I'd do a quick post 

and share my two Christmas Cloches

from the Dining Room.

Christmas Dining Room

I love this time of year, 

but getting dark around 4:30 can be frustrating,

especially when you're editing photos and realize

that you need just one extra shot.

I tried to make use of the lower light 

and just add a little twinkle.

So, let's take a peek at the Dining Room,

all dressed up for Christmas.

Antique Rocking Horse on the Mantel...

I thought I'd share a few more pics of my antique rocking horse

 on the mantel, that I showed yesterday in the house tour.

My Mom was telling me this week, how she and my dad answered an ad for it in the paper, around the time of my second or third birthday. This was before the age of the heavy plastic bouncing horsey on a big metal spring. I'm old, but I'm not as old as this horse so don't go making me older than I am! Mom said it was an antique when they found it, but it still had it's tail, mane, saddle and the red wooden stand that it set on. It had been stored in one of our barns, so between then and the time mom gave it back to me, the humidity, cold, (and mice) probably took it's toll.

House Tour for Christmas 2016

Hi Everyone... and Welcome to my

2016 Christmas Home Tour

I know there will be many new visitors besides my own readers this Season

so I hope you'll feel welcome, as I show you around.

Today, I'll be sharing from several areas of our home on the main level. We have a newer walkout basement Open Concept home that we've lived in 2 years, but this is our 3rd Christmas here. The Entry, Dining Room and Living Room are basically in one large space. It's easy to decorate, but at the same time, it's important that I have a theme and a plan! 

One of the ways that I keep a look going is to use wired ribbon to coordinate through all the rooms. This year I found a fun metallic gold polka-dot on a burlap/linen look background, that I paired with my favorite Christmas accent, Stewart Red Tartan Plaid. Here in the Entry, I kept things in neutrals with just the gold polka-dot. I used it to hang the Boxwood Wreath and to adorn the vintage look tree in an iron urn. I found the "Merry and Bright" wooden plaque at Hobby Lobby. It really stated the message I wanted to share this Christmas.

When you come through the Front Door, the Formal Dining Room is to your left. It's not a large space and all my big furniture really fills it up. I love antiques and vintage decor, (if you hadn't guessed) and I feel most at home with using old and new pieces alongside one another. Decorating with the seasons keeps things fresh and interesting for me, and part of that is changing out the

 table runner and decor here in the Dining Room.

My first plan when thinking about Christmas Decorating, was to find a Red Tartan Plaid fabric piece to use as a base for my burlap printed Holly table runner. I found a large tablecloth instead, and just folded it in two lengthwise. This year I used a large white lantern from Pottery Barn and Holly Topiaries that I made many years ago, in Restoration Hardware pottery by Guy Wolff. I love the high ceilings in this house, but anything that's used as decor on this table has to be good sized, otherwise it's lost.

An antique market basket on wheels holds seasonal faux floral stems.

 I use Hydrangeas for every season, and here they are paired with Red Winterberries.

I didn't use the large white tree this year, so this smaller Entry tree is standing in.

It's wrapped in a White Printed Burlap Ribbon sitting in my galvanized olive bucket.

This is a view looking back from the fireplace toward the Dining Room;

that's the staircase as the room divider. 

I have a love/hate relationship with this fireplace. I love having a fireplace, but this is a little bigger than I would have designed. I'm a small person, so whatever I do up here has to be done on a step ladder. And like the Dining Room, it has to have some "heft", otherwise you can't see it. This year I wanted to use my Antique Rocking Horse as the focal point. He's adorned with the Tartan Plaid Ribbon, as are the smaller Pottery Barn Lanterns.

I really do LOVE Plaid, and what's better than just Plaid for Christmas?

A Gold Metallic Reindeer ON Plaid, of course!

The main Living Area moves into the Kitchen Sitting Area,

that has become my favorite spot in the house for decorating.

I have a Christmas Morning Tablescape set here on the old oak table, 

that I'll be sharing right before Christmas.

A Baker's Rack that I've had for years,

holds my seasonal vintage decorating odds and ends.

Each Season and Holiday finds it's way to the Baker's Rack for display.

My Kitchen China Cupboard holds my Brown and Red Transferware dishware.

I don't have "sets", just orphaned bits and pieces of various patterns.

A few of my Vintage Shiny Brite ornaments are displayed alongside 

some of my collection of old Putz Houses and Churches.

Our previous home had a small Sunporch that held my wicker settee, chair and Baker's Rack, but since I don't have one at this home, I'm enjoying them here in the Sitting Area. My love for Plaid is right at home here on the wicker, and I use this old cobbler's bench as a small coffee table/foot stool.

If you're new to my Blog, I hope you'll come back to visit.

There are several ways to stay up-to-date on my sidebar.

 I'll be sharing much more of these areas in future posts.

Thank You so much for coming by!