Christmas memories are my favorite. The crying. The gift comparisons. The gifts of workout gear aimed at getting my lazy 7 year old bootie up and moving (that’s a fun story for another day). No matter what the reaction to the gifts – all the family videos and photos make me smile.
And decorated houses all ready for the big guy in the red suit to arrive, well, they are just the icing on my Jesus-is-born cupcake. I love Christmas decor. It has to be in my blood. I have must-love-sparkly-christmas-trees running through my veins. It’s hereditary. Just check out this oooold family photo of my Pappap’s grandmother, my mother’s great grandmother, and my great great grandmother (we call her Mimi) as she gave her mini-tree a healthy dose of bling:
Seriously uber-awesome huh? The tinsel is making me drool.
And remembering family traditions is something that I want to make sure to pass to our little boy one day. But for now, I thought you might like to celebrate the history of Bower Christmas decor with me. So consider me the ghost of Christmas past as we tour our history of Christmas decor.
(enter scary ghost music here)
In December of 2007, (our first Christmas in our home) we hosted a little Christmas party. And just check out that tree (it’s the same one we use today!) and our red and silver color scheme. This is back when we used to put the tree in the living room. And easy was our middle name when it came to other decor too – see how we just threw an oversized ornament down on the side table with a hurricane full of silver ornaments? That probably took zeropointsix seconds. Almost faster than a tween naming all seventeen main characters in New Moon.
And the christmas spirit continued in the dining room where simplicity was key. Our table was draped with a red twin-sized sheet (can you tell I don’t know how to operate an iron?) which really brought in the christmas color scheme of red and green (from the olive walls and drapes). Our buffet centerpiece was a little christmas tree that was a hand-me-down from my mom. Then I just hung some gold and red bells on the chandelier to finish the festive look.
WHOOOSH.
Enter the year 2008.
Last Christmas, we decided to move the tree from the living room to the den – and it was my boyfriend’s genius idea to place it right smack dab in the middle of the window (for all the world to see). This is also when we first began the disco-ball topper tradition. We actually hang it from a cup-hook on the ceiling. Can you imagine that thing on top of our tree? It would topple faster than LiLo’s career. And our musical note ornaments and red&silver color scheme really looked so much more fun-lovin’ with a giant sparkly ball on top.
On the octogon coffee table, we simply put a red bowl full of silver ornaments (which reflected the morning light to really make it disco-dance-worthy in the room) and balanced out the arrangement with a smaller bowl full of Hershey kisses and that oversized ornament that we saw from the prior year.
Across the room, our side table got in on the Christmas action with a few trees (scored at Target during an after-Christmas sale) and a smattering of red bulbs.
And our mantle? It was rather simple with a little green garland, a couple glass trees and some black & white ribbon. I didn’t even remove the existing decor…I just worked around it till it looked a little more festive.
If you had continued into our living room, you would have seen our coffee table sporting a simple white tray chock full of red ornaments and some paperwhites flanking our ‘christmas gift’ to ourselves – a new television.
And I even added a little decor in the bookshelves by throwing an ornament into some vases and by tying a bridle of ribbon on my favorite white horse. It’s totally festive, no?!
And finally for last year’s decor – we did up the dining room (remember how it was two-toned on the walls?!!). I added a little bling to the space with the help of some mercury glass christmas trees and a tray packed full of silver & white ornaments. On either side of the tray was placed some simple sparkly candle holders and the whole thing was topped with one simple yet festive chandelier.
The dining room buffet was done subtley to match the table. A stack of plates and bowls and napkins were casually placed on the top and some silver ornaments made an appearance. But my favorite part? It had to be that pear. All I did was place one glittery pear on a cheese plate…and instantly it became totally fabulous.
And now we have the current 2009 Christmas Decor.
Welcome to the present. So glad you could make it.
You remember how we decorated our tree – ornaments of silver with a touch of gold and white. And I showed ya’ll how I made the simple but elegant wreath that hangs on our deck door. And over our fireplace we have the Blair-Witch Yonder star. But I kinda left you hangin’ on what we ended up doing with our round mirror (that usually resides over the fireplace).
But don’t fret my pet (holla Urkel!), I am here to share what’s adorning our coffee table.
After I put the mercury glass bowl on top of the mirror, I simply placed a silver reindeer beside it. Doesn’t it look like it is kinda peering into the mirror? It must be Vixen….with a name like that you can guarantee a little vanity 🙂
And in the bowl, I simply threw in a bunch of leftover ornaments…all silver and white and champagne. It’s the only champagne I’m getting this year…unless they have found through research that alcohol is good for fetuses…anyone? anyone? No? Ok. Sparkly pear juice for me.
Oh – and let’s not forget that with the ornaments, I also tossed in some shiny ornate buttons. My mom (you may know her as Little Debbie) gave them to me ages ago to bling up a cardigan…and now they are for all to enjoy.
And speaking of bulbous…..
Anyhoo.
Our mantle is simple…with white as our theme and texture right there riding shotgun.
And that carries over onto the sidetable where I recreated a little forest scene but added a tray full of ornaments (kinda same idea as last year but with a lamp and the oversized ornament taking a bubble bath with all those silver balls).
And for those of you that are digging the trees but money is tight – I think you could recreate them at home. Just yank off the little pinecone ‘tabs’ and hot-glue them to a foam tree (or a cone shaped piece of posterboard). I would start at the bottom and work up – then just spray the entire thing with adhesive and throw some of that fake snow on for fun.
And our shelves in the den got in on the Christmas decor action too…check it out:
A scalloped edge plate with ornaments and a candle would make such a simple & elegant wedding centerpiece, dontcha think?
Apothecary jars with ornaments? Yes please and thank you.
And you all remember how we did up the living room with a more rustic theme?
Well, I was inspired to give our coffee table a little arrangement too – but first this previously drab cross needed to be coated with some white spraypaint:
And tucked it inside this tray that is filled with a couple cylindrical vases full of pinecones, and some poinsetta flower picks to create a simple yet rustic looking coffee table that doesn’t scream Christmas but definitely feels cabin-y.
So you might be wondering why I didn’t share my dining room – well, that is getting a full post on it’s own – a number of different ways you can set up your space dedicated to eating for the number of different ways that you eat during this holiday season. You’ll just have to keep your browser loaded with ABP 🙂
And as for the rest of the decor – anything remind you of your own Christmas story? Any other genetically prone wanna be decorators out there? Or maybe you just found something that struck your fancy or reminded you of something you just did in your own home? Spread that Christmas cheer people. Nobody likes a Bah-Humbug. Unless it has bacon on it 🙂
Absolutely beautiful! I love your color schemes, and your use of ornaments as vase/bowl fillers :)Everything is so simple & clean, but still makes a bold Christmas-y statement!
I love the stick star on the mantel. Pretty sure I would leave it up year round. Awesome. You house should serious be in a magazine.
http://www.cdycattle.blogspot.com
Ooh! I love all the decor! More importantly, from your resident doc :), you can actually have a drink this holiday season!! As long as you are past the first trimester, there is no problem in knocking one back, just not five or six! 😉
All of your decor is gorgeous. I love how you change it up every year.
And I LOL’ed at your reflection in the ornaments. 🙂
You crack me up! LOL That reflection of you in the ornament is so funny!! No, wait…your reflection isn’t funny…I meant the fact that you said, “Whoa!” is funny! Okay…nevermind! lol 🙂 Anyhoo, I L.O.V.E. your color scheme for this year! It looks like a winter wonderland with all of the whites and silvers! Beautiful!!
I was thinking that yonder star looked a little Blair-Witch-y but it’s still very cute and like Crystal said, you can use it year round.. especially for 4th of July decor!
Gotta love how those ornaments are like a fish eye lense for the baby bump.
It all looks so beautiful! Makes me want to leave work and go home to decorate more. (First I need to buy more Christmas ornaments!) Thanks for sharing!
Oh Lauren –
Could you come to my house and convince my boyfriend? I will feed you cookies.
XO – Katie
Apothecary jars with ornaments! I LOVE THIS IDEA!
I love how you did this post. I adore seeing other people’s decorations and love the idea of how your decorations have evolved.
It’s so fun to see christmas though the years! Love it! Last you looked grart too and this year is fab.
Cute Belly!
that picture of your bump is adorable!! I LOVE IT! haha 😉 So cute 😉
HI! I love this post. It’s so great that you’ve shown your style progression. Sometimes n00bs like me read these blogs and think you guys are perfect and born with this great style sense. I feel like you really show that no one is perfect at first and that it takes time to grow and live with a place before it becomes as beautiful as it is now!
I love how your Christmas style has evolved, even over a few years. You have some really awesome decorations. I want to check out post holiday sales, do you have any favorite stores you visit?
Everything looks beautiful. I love all the sparkle. And, your bump is too cute. =)
Jeannette – I hear ya sista, decor for normal folks like me is a work-in-progress and very far from perfect 🙂
Allison – oooh…holiday sales? you got me all excited 🙂 I like to hit Pottery Barn outlet, Target, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels, and cheap decor places like TJMaxx and HomeGoods. Anyone else out there with a fav?
XO – Katie
Katie ~
An official invite to the Bower household AND cookies, i’m in!
I’m in love with the disco ball. I don’t think my Jer would ever let me use anything but a star…bah, traditionalist!
I just started a blog and posted about Christmas cards. I’d love to hear your 2 cents on the issue.
http://thepurplepeach.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-great-christmas-card-debate/
Hey Katie!
Where did you get the side table in your den? It looks along the lines of what I want for my foyer.
Thanks!
hi katie,
can i ask where you purchased those pretty apothecary jars from? love your blog and can’t wait for you to start blogging about the joys of motherhood once baby gets here.
Wonderful. I liked Your photos and they were so interesting to see to me. Also I liked Your mantle althought it was simple, but I found it lovely.
Happy Christmas.
Hi Laurie M –
I actually have a source list for each and everything in our house – feel free to check it out to see where that side table is from!
Hiya Sonia –
I actually got the apothecary jars really cheap from a store called Old Time Pottery. You can google the name for store locations – they carry a TON of stuff like that.
XO – Katie
Beautiful! Your home gets prettier every year 🙂
Katie,
Sorry to be a pain, but I am not able to find the side table on your source list. I had checked before and just did again, but am still not having any luck.
Thanks!
Oh – sorry girl – I’ll fix that. But for now…I will let you know that the side table that usually lives under the window is a hand-me-down from Jeremy’s parents (there is a similar one at Ballard Designs) and the bureau sidetable was a purchase from Goodwill. I would keep my eyes peeled on Craigslist if I were you – alot of times you can find something similar that just needs a coat of paint or stain. Good luck!
XO – kb
LOL I just took the twilight quiz and found out I’m Jasper Hale!
Katie – love your blog and LOVE this post. Funny you should mention wedding centerpieces. I just got married on the 12th and used hurricanes filled with silver and cream bulbs of various sizes as our centerpieces. I thought they were an elegant nod to the season without making our wedding too Christmasy.
Where did you get that great oversized ornament?
Thanks!
Hobby Lobby – isn’t it awesome 🙂
xo – kb
Hey Katie,
I’ve spent all morning browsing through your Christmas archives for some decorating inspiration. I love your ideas and the fact that you are cheap like me (but nothing looks cheap)!!! Just wondering where those mercury glass Christmas trees are from. I recently purchased gold and copper ones from Marc’s (a discount store with a massive closeout section in Northeast Ohio). I got small, medium, and large for $.99, $1.49. and $1.99! The medium size had an original price tag on the bottom for $24.99, but I couldn’t tell where it was from. Anyway, they look just like yours except for the color and I’m just curious!! Can’t wait to see your Christmas decor this year!
Target! But do you know what? Jer accidentally broke the big one and I’ve been looking for a replacement. Did your Marc’s have silver too?
xo – kb
I would totally pick one up for you if I found it in silver, but I shop there every other day and at numerous locations and have only seen the gold and copper!
Inspirational, have always loved a more subdued color scheme. Amazing. Please don’t ever take this page down, as I will refer to it often! 😀 😉