It’s that time of year again, and I am more than excited to join with 29 other bloggers to share our homes as part of the 2019 Christmas Home Tours hosted by Marty at A Stroll Thru Life!!
Welcome to everyone coming over from Julia’s beautiful home at Cuckoo 4 Design!
I shared my Victorian-styled living room Friday so be sure to check that out as well😊
Today, I’m sharing my music area, dining, and farmhouse kitchen.
First, for anyone new, a little background on our home. If you’re not new, scroll on by:-)
We live in a newer house on property that has been in my family for five generations in the mountains of western North Carolina.
This was my great grandfather’s summer home away from the heat of Hypoluxo, Florida. Some of the original structures are still here and house lots of treasures from the past. When the original victorian farmhouse was torn down, my grandfather painstakingly bundled and stored all the doors, windows, trim, stair treads, tongue and groove boards, and more, which we have been slowly restoring and adding to our house. Now when I refer to the “old house” you’ll know what I’m talking about:-) Most of my furniture, art and accessories have also been passed down, and I have added to that with items from antique and thrift stores as well as our travels around the world. Every single thing means something, and that’s what makes it *home* for me
I am a lover of all things vintage, and Christmas is the perfect time to immerse myself in all things vintage. In my music room, I had not planned to use another tree, but when I tried it, I loved it there. It is decorated with dried orange slices, popcorn garlands I made, glass ornaments I bought in Germany, as well as snowflakes and fans made from sheet music, crocheted snowflakes and musical ornaments and Shiny Brites from my mother’s collection.
This space holds an inherited 1880s Smith American pump organ, books and songbooks from relatives, including a songbook from one of the Walker sisters, Martha. My mother’s great great uncle Jim Shelton was married to the only one to marry, (Sarah Caroline) and took many of the photos of them as well as photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The antique print by German artist Guido Bach (1828 – 1905), A child from the Campagna, was in the old house, then my grandmother put it in the basement because she didn’t like it. It’s a favorite of mine, and I’m happy she is out of the basement.
I kept things pretty simple, for me, on the piano with the antique iron candelabra, an arrangement of greenery and a violin.
I always bring in greenery to sprinkle around, and made a swag for the doors of the cabinet my husband made from walnut wood my dad had cut combined with wood from the old house.
This is one big room, so the dining space is directly behind.
I was so excited to decorate our farmhouse kitchen this year since we took out the island and added a table right in the middle of the kitchen. I cannot tell you how much we have enjoyed family time around this table. As the children get older, this time with them is really important to me😊
I used the velvet table runner I made out of upholstery material then added an old board that I layered with fresh greenery, fruit ornaments, pinecones and dried orange slices. My great grandfather’s oil lamp and vintage Fostoria Baroque candleholders provide light.
I love bringing out the J & G Meakin Romantic England dinnerware for Christmas and used the antique 1893 sterling flatware, Wallace Louvre, and the Durand Cristal D’Arques Longchamp glasses that I collected since the 1990s. The napkins are from World Market two years ago.
I draped the chandelier first with a faux garland then added white pine and dried oranges.
I knew I’d love the kitchen at Christmas, but it surpassed my dreams. The addition of the antique wormy chestnut beadboard from the old house has made such a difference in here, and the room just feels like it has so much more soul now, and the connection to my grandparents, and great grandfather is a special thing.
Again I draped the tops of the cabinets with some amazing garland I bought at Michael’s about 15 years ago then added cedar clippings from my yard. This garland is so pretty, and I’ve never found more or anything close to this.
My friend Sherri at Illuminations Vintagepours these candles in amazing vintage containers.
I had found some of the Blue Ridge Pottery Poinsettia pattern in my mother’s attic then found this huge platter on eBay for $15. I love it so much and could not pass it up. It’s perfect for this corner with my vintage I Love Lucy Mirro Matic percolator.
I placed the yule log my grandfather made for my grandmother in the window and love seeing it lit up, especially at night.
On the shelving, I used a variety of red transferware including a Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles tureen my mother gave me, Romantic England cups, Mason’s Vista pitcher, Wedgwood Queen’s Plain/Shape and the Blue Ridge Poinsettia along with my great grandmother’s silver cruet set, vintage silver plate and my grandmother’s Christmas angel candle holders and candy cane.
My son and husband enjoy a hot chocolate bar so I keep it ready to go for them. Since I don’t have the island, it works just as well here.
Something I’ve done for years is use a vintage calendar that matches the current year. Funny enough, this 1957 calendar is the first one I bought six years ago in 2013, and it works for 2019 as well.
We sure enjoy this kitchen/dining/music combination, and as odd as it sounds, it certainly works for our family because we seem to spend so much more together time here. That is invaluable to me, and I hope it will make great memories for my children as they go out on their own one by one.
Be sure to see the living room and my Victorian mantel, and I’ll have more Christmas to share this week and next😊
Make sure to follow me at Whispering Pines Homestead on instagramso you don’t miss anything!
And now, be sure to go on over to visit Rhoda’s beautiful Atlanta home all decked out for Christmas!! Every day this week Marty will feature six more homes, so you do not want to miss one. Thanks so much to Marty for hosting this amazing tour!!
I’ll be joining:
Monday December 9th
A Stroll Thru Life, Remodelando La Casa , Cuckoo4Design , Far Above Rubies , Southern Hospitality , Pink Peppermint Design
Tuesday December 10th
House By Hoff, Duke Manor Farm , ZDesign At Home , Taryn Whiteaker ,Inspiration For Moms ,Decor To Adore
Wednesday December 11
Cassie Bustamante , Follow The Yellow Brick Home ,Dixie Delights , Hymns & Verses , Modern Glam , Thrifty & Chic
Thursday December 12
Our Fifth Home , 11 Magnolia Lane , Our Southern Home , Seeking Lavender Lane , Setting for Four , Southern State Of Mind
Friday December 13
Grace In My Space , White Arrows Home, The Woodgrain Cottage , Designing Vibes , Thistlewood Farms , Life On Cedar Lane,
Your home is always glorious! I love taking in all the details and I think you should rent your home out to TV or movies because it's just so unique and pretty. I think your home would make the perfect movie set. Merry Christmas!
Funny enough I was having a conversation with my middle daughter who is going into stage/screen production about how I really do think of my home as a set – maybe that;s why it changes so much!!
hello Anita, Merry Christmas to you and yours your home are so beautiful all decorated for the Holy Day
have blessing day
XOX
Isora
Thank you os much Isora!! So glad to find you on instagram too!
Anita, I love touring your home for every single season, but Christmas is definitely my favorite, stunning!!
Thank you Cristina!!
Anita, you home just get more beautiful each year. I love the changes you've made and your decor is always amazing. Your pictures show each detail so beautifully too. This is definitely my favorite Christmas Tour of your home. Absolutely stunning. Thanks so much for joining the tour again this year.
Thank you so much Marty, and thanks for all the work you do and for having me join the tour!!
Oh My Golly, your home is gorgeous! I'm glad I got to read about how it's been in your family for generations. How fun it must be to restore the love. I pinned several photos. They all look like they came straight from a Norman Rockwell painting. Seriously beautiful. Merry Christmas
Thanks so much Cindy!! I enjoy being a caretaker for sure!
HI, Anita, it's always a treat to see your cozy rustic home in NC all decked out for Christmas. Love that big tree and all the vintage ornaments, it just oozes nostalgia and I love the way you use natural greens and real fruit all over your house and table setting. So pretty and festive!
Thank you Rhoda:-)
that tree is just glorious! i absolutely love it so much, and love your natural tablescape!
Thank you so much Cassie!!
Wonderful tour of your home. I love all the red transferware and the floral curtains…and, well just everything!
Thank you so much!!
Oh what a magical wonderland Anita! I LOVE the runner your created. Such glorious photography. Have a wonderful Christmas season.
Thank you so much Laura!! Merry Christmas to you!!
I just love this. It's so beautiful. I love all the vintage touches and the special pieces from your parents and grandparents. Those poinsettia dishes are too cute. The calendar idea is just genius.
Thank you Katie!! The calendar thing is almost like time traveling in a way to me!!
Oh, Anita – I got goosebumps reading this post! Your passion for vintage – and love of your family's history has made the warmest most delightful Victorian Christmas in that gorgeous home of yours!
I gasped at your music room – and oh my gosh all the touches throughout – you have outdone yourself and I was delightfully transported back in time to a simpler, more lovely age. Thank you – what a wonderful post you have shared with all of us. WOW!
Michele, thank you so very much!! You are always so encouraging and it means so much to me:-)
Anita, I was ooohhhing and ahhhing at the first photo….as usual! Your home is Christmas perfection!
So beautiful! Especially love your trees! Merry Christmas!