I started my holiday decorating a bit early this year for two reasons. First, I did all of my outdoor stuff a week or two ago when we had a couple of really nice sunny days in the 50’s. It was so fun filling the window box and putting up lights without having to wear a parka and fight with frozen soil.
Speaking of the window box, one of you requested a ‘dusk photo’ with the twig lights on. I didn’t manage to get a dusk photo, but how about a ‘dawn photo’?
As you can see, I got this stuff in just in time before winter weather officially (in my book) arrived with a dusting of snow, blustery winds and a ‘feels like’ temp of 8°.
I got a jump on my indoor decorating too. That’s due to my 2nd reason for starting early. Once again this year I’m going to Mexico with my neighbor nnK and her parents. And this time my sister is joining us as well. We leave tomorrow, and then there are only two and a half weeks until Christmas once we get back.
Putting up holiday decorations is a fair amount of work, I wanted to enjoy them for more than a couple of weeks!
Today I thought I would share the decorations in our dining room. This is where we enter our house from the back deck, and my Belgian bed bench is next to the door.
The bench is painted in Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in a mix of equal parts Ironstone, Linen and Grain Sack. You can find all of the details for that project here.
As for the sled hanging over the bench, that is one I found this past summer at an estate sale. The price was a little higher than I like to spend (as is usually the case at estate sales), but I had to snap it up because of the solid surface of the seat. I knew that would be perfect for stenciling.
I painted the seat in Dixie Belle’s Dried Sage, then created a shadow of the words ‘Bed and Breakfast’ using Coffee Bean, and finally added the full stencil in Drop Cloth.
I finished it off with a coat of Dixie Belle’s clear wax, including the unfinished wood and the metal slats. The clear wax just freshens it all up a bit and would protect it from moisture if I hung it outside, although for this year I’m keeping it inside.
I added some faux evergreen garland and a string of battery operated lights to the back of the bench.
Then I added more garland and lights to the top of my Welsh cupboard.
Next I pulled out the vintage “Merry Christmas” sign that I purchased last year.
Although I appreciated the original red and green paint, I didn’t love the glitter that had been added to it. So I repainted the letters in Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth, and the bar across the back in Midnight Sky.
By the way, nearly every piece of ironstone in that cupboard is from a garage sale. I think there might be one or two that were from antique shops, but that’s about it.
The last bit of holiday decorating in this room is my clock cloche (that’s what I’m calling it anyway) centerpiece on the table. Some of you might remember when I popped a large glass cloche over a clock that fell off my wall and was damaged.
If not, the details can be found here.
I tend to change up the contents of the clock cloche for the seasons, and here is its Christmas look.
Well, maybe it would be more accurate to call it a ‘winter’ look.
It feels a bit plain for a holiday look. I may have to dress it up a bit more. Maybe it needs some faux snow, or lighting of some kind. What do you think?
I let the paint colors that I used on the sled dictate a neutral color scheme in the dining room this year. Sometimes it’s fun to change things up and see how you like them. Plus, if I just remove the “Merry Christmas” signage from above the hutch, the rest of this stuff can be left in place as simply ‘winter’ decor. Maybe next year I’ll go back to more traditional red and green.
How about you? Are you all out red and green, with Santa’s everywhere? Or do you sometimes stick to a more neutral ‘winter’ look? Leave a comment and let me know.
And one last note, I did schedule a couple of posts for while I’m gone. However, I probably won’t answer comments since I’ll be floating in a pool in Mexico. So I hope you enjoy them, and I’ll be sure to respond when I get back!
q is for quandie 
Everything looks wonderful! As for me, I’m a mostly vintage girl – I have many of my mom’s things from the 1940’s and 1950’s so I decorate with all of that. Plus I’m old and have been collecting vintage Christmas for decades! Enjoy your trip!
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My parents lost all of their Christmas decorations when their basement flooded one year, so I envy you your vintage family things. I bet it’s fun pulling out all of those items that are filled with memories!
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I love the sled color. I’m not a traditional red and green decorative house. I like little vintage villages. Most of my goodies come from childhood and early marriage. My non collection 😉has been collected through the years. I also love creating paperclay Santa’s and snowmen. A jumble of things I love. ☺️. Totally tickled for your Mexico trip with sister addition. Have a blast. Do you snorkel? I’m a snorkeler ! No diving for me. Anyway enjoy your time.
I love your color choice this year!
smiles, Alice
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I love those little villages too. I think a vintage Putz village would be at the top of the list of potential non-collections in my future 😉
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I love your decor and the colors are great ♡ Enjoy your travels ♡
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Thanks Diane!
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It all looks so lovely! It’ll be all silvers, golds, and glass for us this year. Safe travels!
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Thanks Cynthia!
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Falalalala! I LOVE your look this year! And the idea of using mainly whites and greens to be left up after Dec 25! (Who am I kidding….I’m ahead of schedule if they all come down by mid January, and this year I went WAY overboard….so maybe February LOL)
The outside boxes look amazing with the twinkle lights..I’d definitely leave that until Spring. LOVE the cupboard with all the ironstone, and that sled looks wonderful above that beautiful bench.
I hope you have a wonderful trip! Safe travels and Happy Holidays!!!
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I usually end up not having much choice when it comes to leaving things in the window box, they will likely be frozen solid in place at least through February!
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I love your look this year. The stick lights are awesome love the color of the sled. My favorite is your Welsh cabinet with all of your ironstone. It is fabulous! Have a wonderful time in Mexico. We are going to Cancun in May. We are also going to South Africa in January, New Orleans in April, and Curauco in September. We just got back a couple of weeks ago from Europe. World travelers this year!!
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Sounds like you have some amazing travel planned! You should keep me posted about your trip to South Africa, I’d love to hear about it!
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I definitely will.❤️
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Your Christmas decor is beautiful. Sometimes neutral is just the right touch. Happy and safe travels!
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Thanks so much!
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I love vintage Christmas but it can easily get a little “busy” if I’m not careful. I love your calming natural decor and LOVE that Merry Christmas sign! It reminds me of the the vintage outdoor “Merry Christmas to All” sign at Graceland that I was lucky enough to snap a closeup of last year before the security guy caught up to me…
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LOL, glad you made your escape in time.
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Everything is gorgeous! I would have never thought to paint over the glitter on that Merry Christmas sign…you’re brilliant! Have a fun and safe trip.
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Yep, that glitter over red paint just wasn’t doing it for me 🙂
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Gorgeous! I’m a vintage red and green gal myself (with quite a non-collection of light-up blow mold Santas!), but I appreciate your quieter look as well. And that “Merry Christmas” sign…sigh…
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That’s a fun non-collection to have!
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