a christmas eve tour.

Published on by Quandie

I really wasn’t sure I was going to get around to a tour of our own home decorated for the holidays.  Mainly because I really don’t go all out with holiday décor, so I didn’t feel like my decorations were blog worthy.  I’m nowhere near in Amy’s league!

But then I thought, ‘why be so hard on myself?’  If I went to someone else’s home I would treat them much more kindly than that.  And as I would tell them, dust doesn’t show in photos, and I can always work around the less photogenic areas.  So I decided to apply all of that to myself and just go for it.

So, Merry Christmas and welcome to our home.

Although our house does have a ‘front door’, we don’t use that door for anything other than heading out to the front three season porch in the summer.  We don’t have a sidewalk leading to the front, so in the winter the snow makes it inaccessible anyway.

Instead we use our side door …

This is just off the driveway that leads to our carriage house …

You enter into the space we currently use as a dining room, and I’m afraid I can’t really share the entire room because this is also where I store my finished furniture.  So I currently have a bench and a desk in the room in addition to the usual pieces.  But I can share bits and pieces, like the Belgian bed bench that is next to the door.

I painted this bench way back in 2016 using Miss Mustard Seed milk paint.

I added some faux greenery, a garland of little striped stockings and some colored lights to the top of the bench.

I display my non-collection of vintage tree toppers in the window to the right of the bench.

I shared how I created this display back in this post.

This little vignette of silver items is right next to the toppers.

This year I put my Dickens village above my Welsh cupboard.

I love how it looks up there, especially when it’s lit up.

As a bonus, it’s out of the way and not taking up valuable space on a table top or shelf.  When your house is on the small side, I recommend taking advantage of space like this.  I plug it all in to a remote controlled power strip, so with one click of a button I can turn the lights off and on.

Normally the wooden trug (can I call that a trug? or is it more of a tote?  or a basket?  I’m not sure) contains ironstone, but I filled it up with some faux greens and some old silver.  I’m pretty sure my friend Jackie gave me that silver (does it look familiar Jackie?).

Next up is the kitchen.

There isn’t a whole lot of Christmas décor going on in the kitchen, but I do have this cute little spot next to the pantry door.

I just popped a little faux tree into one of my clay pots, and hung that little wreath on the cupboard.

I’ve always wanted to take the time to decorate the pantry itself for Christmas, but I’ve never quite managed it.  Maybe next year!

I also have this little folding chair that I turned into a chalkboard.  I used to change up the design every season, but I have to confess that the winter design has been in place for over a year now.

On the other side of the kitchen is the piano room.

If you look closely, you can see my garden tree outside the window.  You’ve also already seen most of the décor in this room including my craft paper scroll sign.

My friend Sue gave me this little ‘believe’ pillow and it fits perfectly on the piano chair.

I added just a little touch of Christmas with this little felt wreath on my tiny cupboard.

Over in the other corner I have my favorite chippy chair that has been dressed up with a holiday pillow that I found at Turn Style last year.

I’ve had the reindeer feed sack for years, but I still love it.

The piano room also has my Specimens cupboard in it, and I’ve already shared the decorations surrounding it, but here they are again in case you missed them the first time around.

Just off the piano room is the q branch (a.k.a. my study).

This is where I have my tree with my non-collection of vintage ornaments.

The tall skinny tree fits perfectly into that spot next to my English cupboard.

I tucked this little chair in next to it, although I’m thinking that maybe I need to paint up a Christmas themed chair for myself for next year.

I made the ornament wreath hanging over my desk years ago.  All it took was a lot of vintage ornaments, a styrofoam wreath form, a little hot glue and some patience.

The metal Christmas ornaments sign seems like the perfect addition to this room, since this is where all of my vintage ornaments are.  I’ve got it hanging on my rooster cupboard.

My friend Sue painted the vintage truck for me …

and she even added the little Christmas Tree Farm sign on the door of the truck.  Isn’t it adorable?

This finally brings us to the living room.

I had intended to put a tree in the living room this year, but the free faux tree I had was just a bit too big.  But I still have a few small Christmas details in this room including the beautiful wreath that Amy made for me.

I just love it, and I hung it from my mirror frame chalkboard.

Remember the unfinished wooden nutcracker that I found at Hobby Lobby?  I ended finding more of them at Michaels as well.  Two of them found a home on the living room shelves.

The shelf below them has a tree made out of old newspaper.

A few Santa’s are hanging out on the yardstick shelves with my clocks …

including my Christmas Time clock.

I added the words to the clock using some red vinyl and my Cricut after seeing the idea on some clocks at a vintage market.  So, to be clear, totally not my own original idea.  In fact, if you go up a couple of photos you’ll see the “Spend Time Wisely” clock that I purchased at that market.

I may not have a full size tree in the living room, but just over in the hallway I have a little tree in a bucket on an old chippy chair.

The window at the foot of the stairs has a row of unfinished nutcrackers that also came from Michaels this year.

Last up is the cupboard hanging on the wall at the foot of the stairs.  Do any of you remember this one?  It was really gross when I bought it (see the transformation here).  I ended up keeping it and hanging it here.

It doesn’t look very Christmas-y when closed, but when you open it up you’ll find a little wooden Christmas village.

Don’t tell anyone, but I leave that village in there all year.  I just pop open the door this time of year, and ta da!  Instant Christmas décor!

All of those little houses used to light up, but the batteries have died and I haven’t taken the time to figure out if they are replaceable or not.  But it’s still a pretty display, even when not lit.

Fortunately I didn’t do any decorating upstairs this year, because this post is already kind of long!  So I’ll conclude our tour here.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Merry Christmas!

63 thoughts on “a christmas eve tour.”

  1. I love your home and the decorations you added. It looks so cozy and inviting. I especially love your bed bench-it’s my favorite of all the bed benches that I’ve seen. Merry Christmas!

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    1. It is lovely, isn’t it? Ken and I did not make that one, I purchased it at a garage sale (after getting a heads up on it from my friend Meggan) and I painted it. The sellers said the bed originally came from Belgium, so I always call it my Belgian Bed Bench. Thanks Jennifer!

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  3. I love love love your decorating! Why? Because it shows how I can incorporate Christmas decorating within our home. Many of the blogs have modern farmhouse or glam look and your ideas suit my home dust and all. Some great inspiration for next year. So add on to my things to add next year- stencilled bags and painted boxes ✔️ Grain sack bag with greenery ✔️ sap and galvanized buckets ✔️
    Have a lovely Christmas and may your family be blessed with health and love through the holiday and 2022. Enjoy your retirement .

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  6. Love it all Miss Q! I think all the vintage is just so beautiful and tastefully done! You’ve given me so many ideas! Especially loving the simplicity of the black and white in a lot of the areas. Merry Christmas.

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  7. LOVE that you shared your home with your Christmas touches! It is beautiful! I have always wanted to make a vintage ball wreath & it is on my list for next year!!

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    1. Have fun making yours! Just remember, it takes A LOT of bulbs. I quickly counted and there are around 75+ bulbs making up my wreath. But it’s a great way to use some of the plain bulbs and just tuck in 2 or 3 of the more fabulous hand painted versions.

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  8. I like your unfinished nutcrackers .sometimes the painted one’s are scary. Sometimes less is really more. Great decor. Have a very blessed and merry Christmas.

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  10. Merry Christmas Linda and Mike
    Love your farm home ♡
    I really miss those carriage sales
    I still have a few gems I will never part with. ♡♡♡

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  11. Merry Christmas Linda and Mr. Q! I love your home! So simple but warm and peaceful feeling. My daughter told me that it looked like someone came in and threw up Christmas all over. But she loves it 😉 My home is even smaller than yours. And I love all your non-collectibles!
    Enjoy your gorgeous snow!

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    1. Well, sadly, it’s suppose to rain this morning and get somewhere around 45 degrees, so there’s a lot of melting going on. But that’s OK, we’ll get more at some point!

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  12. Love each and every bit of it!! Merry Christmas from Canada to you and yours and thanks for a year of inspiration, encouragement and just plain good ideas.

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  13. Thank you for sharing your home. You always have great, creative idea. I’m loving the unfinished nutcrackers. Happy Holidays🎄

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  16. Oh good honk! I love your home! You are worthy ( can you see me bowing ) ! Those kitchen floors are outstanding! Your Christmas is perfect! Your non collections are delightful! Your talent is scene everywhere! Now snap out of it and give yourself a pat on the back! 😉 truly your home is wonderful.
    Merriest of Christmas to all of your family!
    Smiles, Alice

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  17. Fell in love with your decor from the first photo…could have viewed another hundred pics of your amazing home! Just absolutely beautiful…BTW love your non ornament collection and I believe that was a non clock collection too that I was in love with at first sight. I am a huge sucker for clocks…have way too many and I guess I am approaching a non collection. Merry Christmas!

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  18. I’ve always admired your style and love coming over and seeing what’s new – or should I say what’s old but revamped? Your house is gorgeous, but I think my favorite is the dining room cabinet with all your ironstone. It’s much, much bigger than it looks and looks like it was custom made for your home. Hoping to see a lot more of you in the New Year! Early retirement looks good on you! ❤

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    1. That cupboard is kind of a monster. I remember when I purchased it (via Craigslist) and went to pick it up from a huge McMansion-y kind of place. I was worried it was going to completely overwhelm my much smaller room. But it ended up working out well I think 🙂

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  19. Linda!!! So glad you did a post so I can remember all the things I want to copy next year😉 I’ve always loved those vintage ball wreaths and I want to make one and I love the natural nutcrackers, I feel like you have the perfect amount of Christmas, but my favorite this is the cabinet with Christmas year round!! BRILLIANT!!! That would save me so much time if I could figure out how to do that with some of my decorating 😂😂😂
    Merry Christmas!!!!

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  20. Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas decorations in your lovely home! I just love how you revamp and use things, then display everything so nicely. Hard to choose a favorite! Wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Enjoy the retirement from the day job and savor the time you now have for much more enjoyable activities!

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  21. Well, I did enjoy it Miss Quandie! And I love how you scatter in little touches of Christmas to your “every day” house…..it’s almost more fun to come across surprises like that and it feels special (-: No heaving furniture around to make room for big Christmas displays! I have lots of pieces in the Dickens Village series but decided to take a break from it this year……..next year it will be more noticed/enjoyed. I had to smile about your Baby It’s Cold Outside sign in the kitchen……..I did the same thing with my Welcome Autumn! sign, there it sat as the seasons rolled past until it became relevant again! Hahahahahaha! And boom! Two more vignettes to add to your Vintage Christmas Ornaments coffe-table book: the tree toppers and your wreath! Merry Christmas Miss Quandie!

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    1. Yeah, those village are a lot of work to set up! I can see taking a year off. I only buy my pieces at garage sale prices (ie. $20 or less) so I don’t have any of the somewhat cooler, newer, pieces like the Regent Street Coffee House or the Margrove Orangery, or maybe the Notting Hill Water Tower. Hmmm. I might just have to splurge on a couple of newer ones …

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  22. Love your Christmas decor, love your house, and your kitchen cabinets are the most beautiful ever! It’s hard to find an older home where they haven’t been replaced. Why anyone would is beyond me. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thanks so much Kathy. I am glad that the kitchen cupboards have survived the years. They still works great, but they could use a good re-fresh. That is on the to-do list for next summer when I can spread out some!

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  23. You have such beautiful taste. I love how you decorate and I really love your vintage clock non-collection! Merry Christmas!

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  26. I got all teary at the photo of your kitchen! The sink wall looks exactly like my Gram’s kitchen back in the 50s & 60s. It was always such a happy place to be. She painted the walls BRIGHT watermelon pink. Looked like it was on fire from outside!
    Love your pretty home…looks like normal people live there. Love all your non-collections. Thank you for taking the time to post this today. Merry Christmas to you & your family.

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  28. Thank you for sharing your home with us. I love seeing all your non-collections and creativeness. Thoroughly enjoy your blog. You are a blessings to us all. Merry Christmas.

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  31. Thanks for the tour of your home at Christmas! I did not have time to stroll through on Christmas Eve but today I took a leisurely and enjoyable tour. I will be looking for a shovel to paint and stencil next year – love that look. The unfinished nutcrackers were a lovely look too – I have never seen that done! Love your style – thanks for the inspiration and enjoy the rest of the Holidays!

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