Hello, friends and welcome to The Holiday Housewalk 2018 hosted by my dear friend Jennifer Rizzo. I’m stop number 23 and if you’re coming from Destiny’s House, welcome! She is sooo talented and a hard act to follow as I loved her tour so much.
If you would like to see the tour from the beginning go HERE.
Before anything else, I need to do my usual disclosure and remind everyone (myself included) that what truly matters is the love you put into your home and Christmas decorating. I have been through the hardships of not being able to afford new decor and also having abundance, knowing what it’s like to wish you had more and also saying ‘we have too much’.
During this holiday season, we can sometimes lose sight of what the true meaning of Christmas is and though it is a lot of fun to dress your home in the splendour of the season, the most important thing is the warmth, the love, and the HOPE that Christmas brings. Often times when I write these words, I’m also giving myself a little pep talk and reminding myself of all those things.
It is especially during this time of year when my insecurity creeps in deep, which if you’ve been following along in my journey for a while, you’re probably tired of hearing me say. I suppose it’s human nature to compare yourself to others, which I’m certainly guilty of, but I also compare myself to my old self and not necessarily in a “look how far I’ve come way”, but in an “I don’t want to disappoint anyone with my underwhelming tree because last years seemed to be so popular” way.
So as I look at the picture of this very underwhelming tree, I know in my heart how much I love it in real life and that really is all that matters. I tried to dress it up but I just wanted it to be super plain so I took most of the ornaments off and left it with only a random few.
On a side note, one day I will learn to take photos of a naked tree.
This is the first year I’ve placed the tree in this corner of the house with windows on either side and I while I like seeing the twinkle of the tree from the outside, I’m not sure it’s the right place for it inside so I still might move it.
I didn’t do too much in the living room but I continued with plaid and red throughout. The cardinal pillow is an old design you can find HERE.
I used some plaid and leopard print and also re-purposed the lamps that had been in our bedroom. I wanted my decor to be festive, stylish and fresh and move away from my traditional neutrals.
If nothing else, this combo is so much fun so why not?
I purchased this little green ottoman a couple of weeks ago and still can’t believe that I actually chose green. I’ve been wanting to incorporate green for quite some time, so much so that a couple of years ago I asked hubby to paint an entire wall green, only to ask him to repaint it shortly thereafter (and by shortly, I mean immediately as I realized after seeing it that I couldn’t commit to it). Oops.
For those of you who have not been here before, our living and dining room is one open room, which can be hard to decorate at times as it can feel like a long bowling alley.
Over in the dining room, I have shared a couple of tablescapes already which you can see HERE and HERE. I was thinking the other day that I could probably blog everyday about all the changes I make to our home on a daily basis but I’m not sure who would want to really see that. Perhaps I could capture hubby’s face as he comes in the door each evening and sees yet another change? That would be entertaining.
The dining room currently looks like this with hust a couple of really cool vases and some fresh greens.
I picked up this pretty star from Michaels the other day and love it against the dark wall…:)
Here are a couple of photos of the tablescape I had shared a couple of days ago…
Moving on, I find the bannister so fun to decorate using a mixture of a faux garland fresh greens.
Here I go again with that green. Who am I? ha
I shared the kitchen a few weeks back and I meant to take new photos but the weather has been cloudy and miserable, but you can see more (old photos) of the kitchen HERE.
The family room hasn’t changed too much since you last saw it. Actually, that’s not true as I changed the mantel yesterday as I’m doing a fun collaboration with some of my friends which I will share next week.
As you know, I used jewel and rich tones…
This is the same rug I have upstairs which if you’re interested, is super affordable right now as it’s over 60% off.
I shared where this little flower arrangement came from HERE.
I also shared the mantel and how I put together the garland HERE.
I have had several questions on how I attached the greens to the mirror. I used a very light faux garland and wire to attach it, infusing fresh greens into the faux to give it a fuller look.
The bedroom also got a bit of a makeover. HERE is the full post.
And that’s pretty much it for now. I was hoping to have the front porch done but it’s been so windy that each time I go out to take photos, the wreaths, garland, and everything else is moving around way too much so I can’t get decent photos. Hopefully I will be able to get some photos soon but in the meantime…
I hope you enjoyed this little tour and found some inspiration. I want to wish you the most beautiful Christmas.
Please head on over to my dear friend Melaine for stop 24. You can click on the picture to take you there.
Thanks again so much for your visit today.
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS
NOT THE PRESENTS BUT HIS PRESENCE.
Source for antler on your dining table?
Please don’t ever doubt yourself. You’re amazing and so talented. I love everything you put out there from the simple to the elaborate. Like you said, some of us have a little and some have a lot, but whatever we have, looking at your style we can all come away with a new idea. That’s all sooooo good! Enjoy the season – it’s good for the heart!
everything is just stunning lucy. happy holidays.
I know this is easy to say, but hard to put into practice, but please don’t second guess yourself on your decor, Lucy! I have been following you for quite a few years now, and every single thing I have seen you do, I have been in love with! I am not meaning to compare myself in a negative way, but when I see your posts I often think, “Man, I wish I had her level of creativity and talent”. You have literally been my home decor inspiration from the beginning, and a huge reason I decided to start blogging my own home. Even when your style evolves and it’s something very new and different, you still manage to make it beautiful and make me love it. With your Christmas decor this year, even though it’s so different, the second I saw your first photo I absolutely LOVED it, and I continue to with every post you make on Instagram or your blog. Anyways, this is long winded, but all to say that you are crazy talented and your hands make such beautiful creations and decor stylings, that it is never “underwhelming” or something to be hesitant about. And your heart behind it all shows through, and that is what is most important. Thank you for all that you do!
Always love touring your home, it’s absolutely gorgeous and you have such a talent!
Your home and decor are breathtaking. I love your asymmetrical mirror & mantel decor. Remember…comparison is the thief of joy…always.
Love your home, love your Christmas decor but mostly love your heart my dear friend! You beautifully expressed what so many of us feel and I shared a bit of my similar feelings in my post today as well. At the end of the day, it’s all to be held loosely because all that really matters is that we use our creativity and giftings to honor the ONE we celebrate this season. xoxo
Lucy,
It is very easy for us to look at others’ themes or “stuff” and think oh why didn’t I do that this year. It does make you start to second guess when you’ve gone super neutral and everyone else is doing lots of color. I LOVE what you’ve done with your house this year. I love that you’ve taken on some darker hues. It’s fun to do some changing after a couple years. You are a very talented designer and I appreciate all that you do b/c I know it is time consuming to put out all that content!
Jenn
I love the under decorated tree, the simplicity, the calming effect! That being said, I think your home is decorated beautifully. At the end of the day, we should decorate for ourselves and our families…I think you’ve done a fabulous job!
Always so beautiful and always so meaningful. I love seeing you experiment with dark walls and green ottomans. Oh, and I laughed out loud at Brody at the end of this post. So much fun seeing all your spaces. Merry Christmas, sweet Lucy xx
Ok, I’ve come down from the clouds which is where this incredible tour took me. Absolutely gorgeous. The contrast between light and dark, the choices of greenery, the lushness of it all. Delicious!
Lucy everything you do is magnificent! This tour took my breath away. I’ve filled my Christmas board with images from this post. I love it. Your talent is unsurpassed.
Love, love ,love! The past couple of years I have really been struggling with Christmas decorations. I grew up in all traditional splendor- Christmas decor on every surface but for the past couple of years that look, which I still like looking at, seems like too much. I would put ornaments on the tree only to take them off feeling like it was just too “busy”. I am moving ever so closer to a naked tree each year. Love the contrast of light and dark with a touch of plaid which I absolutely love❤️
Your home is simply stunning even without the decorations. I love the deep moody colors in your living room and bedroom. All of your plaid and greenery is just perfect and you styled it so beautifully! Thanks for such a lovely tour!
Do you have a post on how you put together the garland on the stairs? I think you said faux and fresh? How do you hang it on the stairs without hurting the wood?
Thank you!!
Hi Lucky,
Nice decorations, looks good, especially the cardinal pillow.
super
Not staying in lockstep with trends and doing what you find aestheticly pleasing is the mark of a trendsetter. Everything I’ve seen you do has been beautiful and you do it with humility; which makes it even more beautiful. Happy Holidays <3
I think your tree is perfect especially this year. I struggle with being blessed by having so much in my life in both family, friends and ‘things’ and am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am compared to so many. I live in California and we have just had a whole town wiped out by fire – lives lost, relatives and friends grieving and while I want to celebrate, to decorate for the holidays for my grandkids and great grands, it somehow feels selfish, wrong somehow. I hope we can all do even just one thing to help those in need and demonstrate love rather than the negativity that has become the norm in the U.S. for some time. Comfort, Warmth and Peace to all this holiday season.
I would love the brand and source of your Christmas Tree? My daughter would like one like this for her home. Thank you,
So clean, crisp, and happy! Makes me want to change my entire color scheme. I love the navy and red on the black background walls. I wouldn’t expect the navy to look like that against the black. Love love love it! Recently painted some accent walls in SW Urbane Bronze (off black) and I can’t believe how great it looks. Thanks for the Christmas inspiration.????
Ah…upon closer inspection, I see that the wall just might be a deep Navy so no wonder the blues look so great, duh? Is your fireplace wall the same color as your kitchen island?
Source for your master bedroom chandelier?
Lovely…I forgot how much I love the jewel tones and have never done for Christmas! I love it!
Hey Lucy,
thanks for this article! My wife was very impressed when i decorated our house by my own =)))
Hello Lucy,
you are a very talented designer and I appreciate all that you do in your blog for your followers!
Kind regards,
Anika
thx you
What is the name and brand of the paint that you used in your kitchen and family/living room?
Thank you-
Lauren
Very well managed especially kitchen section.
Thanks for sharing!!