Hello friends!
Welcome to the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes!
I’m so glad you’re here, and am excited to kick off the tour by sharing my home. It’s going to be a great twelve days of beautiful homes, so come on in, sit back and enjoy!
Mother Nature knew you were coming, and brought some Christmas snow just for the occasion. It definitely makes the wreaths in the window look even more festive. As my son put it, “wreaths are our thing.” Suffice to say, I’m a wee bit obsessed it’s a recurring theme.
Come on in! Don’t mind the giant, curious dog.
If you’re new here, the fireplace is a newly completed DIY project – a year in the making and the longest project ever. Was it worth it? Yes. Will I do masonry again? No way. Ever.
Suffice to say, it’s been a lot of fun dressing it up for the holidays. Finally.
The centerpiece is simple with candles and greenery from the yard on a silver tray.
I wish I could take credit for these cute Santa napkin rings – I actually picked them up at a garage sale earlier this year. An easy DIY though. So cute.
I think this is one of my most favorite Christmas decorations. It was made after my great-grandmother died over thirty years ago, using her costume jewelry. I love it, even in its faded glory.
Our basement is where we do most of our holiday entertaining, so let’s take a peek.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you about the wreath hoarding.
I’m proud to say that I actually made the wreaths that are hanging on my barstools.
We even swapped out the Indiana Jones movie poster for Buddy the Elf. Love him.
I have been meaning to add a chalkboard to this unused niche, and I finally got to it. Now if only I could get my chalk letters more to scale…
Since this is the entertaining space, we added a second tree down here this year. You need a tree to enjoy with friends and family, right? I love that it’s small, simple and easy to decorate. There’s something to be said for simple when it comes to the holidays.
61 Comments
Cyndy Aldred
December 9, 2013 at 1:06 pmOh Jenny, your home is so beautiful and so beautifully decorated for Christmas! So many wonderful ideas!! I love all of your chalkboard signs and wreaths! I'm a wreath girl myself and you can never have enough, right! Thank you so much for sharing your home with us. Absolutely stunning!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:14 amThanks so much, Cyndy. It's nice to know I'm not the only wreath-obsessed woman out there. I'm a collector, not a hoarder. There is a fine line. 😉
Kris @ Driven by Décor
December 9, 2013 at 1:11 pmFirst of all, there is no such thing as too many wreaths (coming from a fellow wreath-obsessed gal). Secondly, your house is gorgeous! I love all the little details but my favorite is the christmas tree made from your grandmother's jewelry. It's the pieces with sentiment that really make the holidays special!
Andrea
December 9, 2013 at 1:14 pmI agree with Kris, you can never have too many wreaths! Love that you added Buddy the Elf to the mix also. That tree made of your grandmother's costume jewelry is amazing. I can see why it is your favorite. Such a great tour. I think I'll pick up a few more wreaths today!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:11 amHow can you not love Buddy, right? And the jewelry tree is always such a sweet reminder of my Granny. She was an amazing woman.
Sonya Barker
December 9, 2013 at 1:24 pmYour home is gorgeous! I LOVE your basement! Such a beautifully decorated home for the holidays! ~Sonya
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:12 amThanks so much Sonya. The basement is what sold us on this house – we love it and use it all the time. Tanks for stopping by!
Andrea
December 9, 2013 at 1:45 pmBeautiful! Your fireplace is amazing! I need to find one of those now showing frames for our theatre room. Buddy was a perfect choice for this time of year…..we sure love our Buddy!
Lisa @ Shine Your Light
December 9, 2013 at 2:06 pmJenny, your house is SO beautiful to begin with – all that fabulous architecture and the details! I love it all dressed up for Christmas, your pretty wreaths and festive touches are all so lovely and cheerful! Thanks so much for sharing it!
pam {simple details}
December 9, 2013 at 2:33 pmAbsolutely gorgeous, Jenny! I love the piece made from your Grandma's jewelry, how fortunate that you have it, I'd be tempted to keep it up year round. : ) Your basement looks so festive, the bright colors and greenery against all your white is so fun and lively! Enjoy the season, my friend!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
December 9, 2013 at 2:53 pmbeautiful! i love the tree you made from jewelry as well and LOVE those red ribbons on the windows! beautiful! oh, and the elf poster. 🙂
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door
December 9, 2013 at 3:02 pmYour home is absolutely beautifully Jenny. You are so good with the details and I love all of your wreaths. You can never have enough I think. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:09 amI agree with you on the wreaths! Especially at the holidays, right? 😉
Leslie at Lekalia Interiors
December 9, 2013 at 3:08 pmThat sweet jewelry tree is the best thing ever! Love!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles
December 9, 2013 at 3:12 pmWow, Jenny…Winter Wonderland! Your basement is to die for, and I love how festive it is! Not to mention your FIREPLACE….Love love love with that giant chalk art! And, I'm definitely storing away your chalk wall Christmas card idea, how fun! Thanks for the lovely tour!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:08 amThanks Jennifer! I'm a smitten kitten for chalk art (and zillions of wreaths). Must incorporate more chalk art once the holidays are over!
[email protected] Nest
December 9, 2013 at 3:28 pmSuch a beautiful home to enjoy the holidays. I absolutely love the jewelry tree…so festive and sentimental…perfect for the season! Thanks for sharing…
Jennifer
December 9, 2013 at 4:11 pmHow do you clean your chalkboard walls? We just painted one wall in my daughter's room as chalkboard and it is driving me crazy with not being able to get it really clean.
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:06 amMagic Erasers! 🙂
CYNTHIA CRANE
December 9, 2013 at 4:22 pmOh, my goodness! Your home and holiday decorating is stunning! So many wonderful decorating ideas – thank you so much for sharing. And your fireplace project – Fantastic! I happen to have a fireplace EXACTLY LIKE YOURS – only mine is brick, the ugliest EVER – until I painted it white when I moved into my house a year ago. But my dream is to do a stone facing like yours …. someday! LOL! Congratulations on a fabulous job!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:06 amThanks so much Cynthia. A corner fireplace definitely made the project more of a pain. Square corners would be a dream from everything to stone work to the woodwork involved with the mantel. I curse you corner fireplace! But, at least with a brick fireplace, you would have a great foundation to work with, requiring fewer steps!
Lisa Rozario
December 9, 2013 at 4:23 pmYou have a beautiful home and love your paint color choices. And it is perfectly decorated for the holidays and looks warm and inviting. Look forward to the rest of the series..
the cape on the corner
December 9, 2013 at 4:36 pmwhat a bright basement! love all the chalkboards.
Stacey {steward of design}
December 9, 2013 at 4:42 pmYour home looks wonderful! How lucky for you to get snow, what a perfect backdrop. And I love the wreaths, especially the ones you made that are on the bar stools. Adding the Elf movie poster was a great idea. We love that movie.
Mary Jo
December 9, 2013 at 4:54 pmI love your Christmas decorating! The pretty chandelier and simple table arrangement are just lovely! Also I can really feel the spirit of your great-grandmother in that beautiful piece that you made with her jewelry, I love that.
p.s. In awe over your fireplace. I redid mine with paint over the summer and it was traumatic, haha.
xo Mary Jo
http://MagicalMined.blogspot.com
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:02 amThanks Mary Jo. The fireplace was definitely one that we will never forget, but at least with a brick fireplace you wouldn't have to go through as many steps to prep the surface for stone. That is one upside. 🙂
Gwells
December 9, 2013 at 5:24 pmAbsolutely stunning. The wreaths are the perfect touch everywhere. Thanks for sharing.
Vel Criste
December 9, 2013 at 6:03 pmYour home is absolutely stunning Jenny!!! love that brooch tree too!!! And your basement is just the perfect place for a holiday party! great job!
Jen C
December 9, 2013 at 6:52 pmJenny! Your home is stunning! My favorite thing right now is chalkboard subway art so I'm loving your chalkboard Christmas signs, but I love your new stone fireplace, your paint colors, etc. I wonder how hard it would be to change a gas fireplace from being based on the floor to raising it to have a hearth? We have that classic cookie cutter home with no character and it desparately needs some interesting details.
Design Amateur
December 9, 2013 at 7:17 pmLove your house. I noticed the wreaths on your front door were hung with Command Hooks. Is that how you hung the ones on the windows? How about the inside ones, especially the chalkboard print on the fireplace stone? I need more wreaths.
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 3:00 amI should own stock in Command Hooks. I used them for all of my wreaths. The chalkboard print above the fireplace is hanging from a screw though. I'm thinking my house is bordering on being the crazy wreath house. But is that a bad thing? 😉
Andrea
December 9, 2013 at 7:20 pmYou have such a beautiful home, and you did an amazing job with your Christmas decorations!! Thank you so much for taking us inside!!
XOXO,
The Glam Pad
Deidra Brown
December 9, 2013 at 8:46 pmHello Jenny I am so glad that I found your blog. I love your home and the decor. I hope to continue to read and follow your blog everyday. Great Taste!!!!
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 2:57 amThanks Deidra! I'm glad you found me!
Linda {Calling it Home}
December 9, 2013 at 8:57 pmWhat a beautiful home you have. Looks so festive for Christmas. Love the dog shot 🙂
BlueClearSky Elizabeth
December 9, 2013 at 9:44 pmVery pretty! What a great space to entertain in the basement as well and so beautifully decorated. Thanks for the tour and Merry Christmas!
Laura @ Top This Top That
December 9, 2013 at 10:52 pmEverything is so beautiful and festive. Happy holidays.
Crissy @ House of Marlowe
December 10, 2013 at 9:21 amReally beautiful! My favorite is the Christmas tree made from your Grandmother's jewelry…. such a treasure! Merry Christmas!
Becky Fettig
December 10, 2013 at 6:59 pmReally beautiful home! I was wondering how you keep your wreaths hung onto your front doors? Are your hooks attached onto the lead glass windows? My husband won't let me use any nails on our wood front doors, but I see you have a different idea 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Carrie @ Cosy Carolina Interiors
December 10, 2013 at 7:01 pmWreaths are sort of my thing, too! 🙂 Your home looks beautiful. I especially love how bright your basement feels!
Calypso In The Country
December 10, 2013 at 8:48 pmYour home is so pretty! I love all the wreaths and that special jewelry tree! Your dog is so sweet to greet us!
Cheers! – Shelley
Eclectically Vintage
December 10, 2013 at 8:59 pmAnyone who is a fan of Buddy the Elf is a friend of mine! Your home looks amazing!
Kelly
SHERRY HART
December 11, 2013 at 1:31 amBeautiful home and decorations Jenny! Thanks for the tour:)
Albertina M. Cisneros
December 11, 2013 at 1:06 pmWao!! It's so beautiful!! Every detail is so amazing and festive. You did an amazing job. And how wonderful you all get to enjoy it. I'm here from The Little Black Door.
Stacey
December 11, 2013 at 2:36 pmWow! Very impressive! I am drooling over everything! Visiting from Little Black Door.
Sarah
December 11, 2013 at 11:17 pmAmazing! Where did you find the movie poster holder with lights around it? I love it!
Nasir al Din Nasr Totah
December 12, 2013 at 5:01 amNice interior designs. Thanks for hosting this post to all. I like it a lot.
Cathy Wall
December 12, 2013 at 1:22 pmJust lovely! Your home is very festive and your decorations perfect. My favorite is the same as yours, the tree from your great grandmother's jewelry, how clever and sentimental! Happy Holidays!
queenbeaz
December 12, 2013 at 3:44 pmThe chalkboard designs around the Christmas cards is such a smart idea! Yes, the snow really enhances the outdoor decorations. 🙂
Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted
December 12, 2013 at 9:50 pmBeautiful! I especially love the apple green and red decor. Question~is the chalkboard art on the bar mirror a poster or is that an actualy chalkboard?