Hello friends and welcome to my Christmas home! I’m so excited to be sharing my living room as part of Marty’s ( A Stroll Thru life ) Home Tour series. Welcome to those of you coming over from Yvonne’s beautiful and well-curated home!
If you’re new, you can read more about our home in this post.
During the Christmas season, especially, I really want to recreate the memories I had as a child, and the experiences I imagine those before me had as well – particularly those family members who lived on this property. I have used many of the same things they used, and I’ve made a lot of my decor as my grandmother did. My goal is not a symmetrical department store tree, or a Hallmark movie set, but simply a home that evokes good memories and stirs the heart.
The Balsam tree was always the tree of choice here, and I bought the very similar Nobilis Fir from Grandin Road in 2014 when I was hired by Romantic Homes Magazine to shoot and write a Christmas feature. I like to have my tree up at least a month, so this gives me a beautiful option that I don’t have to worry about watering. I have used clear mini lights as well as mini lights with colored covers that mimic the warm tone bulb lights of yesteryear without the blue glow of color LEDs.
The tree is decorated with my great grandmother Knight’s glass beads, great grandmother Duke’s angel topper, and paper fans I made from wrapping paper after singing at Biltmore house as a college music student and seeing them on all the trees there.
My mother gifted me a beautiful box of handmade ornaments similar to some she made in the 1970s, and I have used those along with some angel ornaments from my childhood, bows I made, mother’s tinsel from the 1980s, and of course, icicles:-)
I made arrangements of fresh greenery – pine, ivy and cedar, for the mantel I made out of restored wormy chestnut and oak from the old house.
I made the red velvet mantel scarf last year, and it’s just perfect for Christmas with the addition of juniper branches, nandina berries and pine cones.
I prefer regular ribbon over wired ribbon, as this, or scraps of fabric is what my grandmother would have used.
I made the stockings from upholstery fabric remnants a few years ago for my three children, and the Perfection Kerosene heater has been on the property since the early 1900s. I am obviously not using it for heat, but currently have a battery-operated candle inside, and usually use just a regular candle in a glass jar.
If you’ve been here for Christmas, you’ll remember I have used red with pinks and oranges in the past, but decided to go really traditional with red and green by adding the green velvet pillows.
Mother passed down to me the inherited antique channel-back chairs, as well as many yards of the same paisley fabric, which I made curtains out of and usually have up, but the light was so amazing in this room, that I left up just the lace sheers for winter.
I added nandina leaves and cedar to faux garland I had for the chandelier and armoire. This is a great way to get the look of real without having to spend the time making real garlands or the money buying them.
This is our only living space, so I want it to be pretty, but also functional, so throws and pillows help keep it comfortable and inviting.
Mother gave me the sugared fruit Christmas ornaments years ago, and I’ve loved using them everywhere but on the tree since then! They are wonderful additions to a bowl of pine cones, nuts, etc.
A very special treasure is the cardboard replica I made of the house daddy grew up in, and the house where all the architectural details in our home I’ve restored, have come from.
It’s well worn and a little worse for the wear, but the sentiment is more important to me than the holes in the tissue paper windows or the lopsided kitchen wing:-)
The vintage church was an eBay find years ago.
I found the Santa in a box of my grandmother’s Christmas decorations.
Windows and trim from the old house keep its many memories alive in our home and ready for the next generation.
I used this quote last year, but it really is a favorite and worth sharing year after year.
“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!”
-Charles Dickens
It brings me great joy to be surrounded by things that connect me to those before me, but the biggest blessing is being here next door to my parents and trying to listen and learn from their wisdom, their traditions and the wonderful memories they have to share. If you are blessed with family, take this opportunity to engage and learn everything you can from them now. What a wonderful gift that would be to pass on to the next generation;-)
I hope you enjoyed this visit, and for more behind the scenes, you can view this video on my youtube channel. Be sure to subscribe for more Christmas inspiration.
This tour is full of amazing ladies sharing so many different styles of decor, so you do not want to miss any. Click the links below for each day’s tours. Thanks again to Marty for putting it all together!
Next up is Suzy at Worthing Court so be sure to go by and see her beautiful and festive home!
Monday Dec 6th
A Stroll Thru Life – Up To Date Interiors – Our Southern Home – Southern Hospitality
This Is Our Bliss – Southern State of Mind – Inspiration For Moms
Tuesday December 7th
Making it in the Mountains – Decor to Adore – Pink Peppermint Design – Thrifty and Chic
Cuckoo4Design – White Arrows Home – Hymns and Verses
Wednesday December 8th
StoneGable – Whispering Pines Homestead – Worthing Court – Grace In My Space
DIY Beautify – Remodelando la Casa – LeCultivateur
Thursday December 9th
Designing Vibes – The Stonybrook House – A Pretty Life – Calypso in the Country
Clean and Scentsible – 11 Magnolia Lane – Chalking Up Success
Friday December 10th
Fox Hollow Cottage – Follow The Yellow Brick Home – Casa Watkins Living – Quarters One
Noting Grace – CitrineLiving – County Road 407
Always my absolute favorite traditional Christmas home tour. Just love it all so much and your moody photography is amazing. Merry Christmas Anita!
Author
Thank you Julia so very much!! Merry Christmas to you!
From the warm glow of the tree lights, the candles and honoring your family, coupled with your beautiful furniture (and. that. fireplace mantel – perfection) I love it all!! Natural greens with red ribbons, there is no substitute, right! Love your Christmas tour and your video. Merry Christmas and have a very safe and Happy New Year!! Your blog never disappoints!
Author
Thank you so much Linda!!
I love to visit your home and see all the amazing treasures and heirlooms you have and how you use them. It’s always so interesting to hear your stories of each piece and its history. Your tree is amazing and I really enjoyed the video-sharing how you created it. Thanks so much for joining the tour again this season, I always love being invited into your home.
Author
Thank you so much Marty! And thanks for including me and for all the hard work you do putting these all together!!
Anita, You have captured the coziness, warmth and beauty of the season on Love. Thank you for sharing your lovely home. Merry Christmas and healthy and joyful New Year.
Author
I appreciate you saying that so much Debbie, thank you!
Absolutely beautiful every year of your Christmas tree and decorations are so gorgeous enjoy the video beautiful tree love all the fresh greenery. Merry Christmas
Author
Thank you so much Debra!!
Such a magical room. I adore all of your vintage ornaments. So happy to be on tour with you!
Author
Thank you so very much Laura!!
Beautiful! I love all the colors and lights. What a joy to have all these treasures and memories. Merry Christmas Anita!
Author
Thank you Carolyn! I am truly thankful to have them and also to appreciate them:-)
Such a lovely traditional Christmas. Your mantle is decorated perfectly. How sweet to make those stockings. Love the pretty tree. Lots of special memories with your Grandmother’s treasure.
Author
Thank you so much Linda!!
Anita, Your home is made for the holidays…so gorgeous. Hope you can have health and happiness while celebrating! Hugs, Sandi
I always look forward to touring your beautiful home. At Christmas time it might be my favorite. Lots of pretty Christmas decorations and better yet fond memories that make it so cozy, so enchanted!!
Happy holidays my friend!
Traditional, dark and moody, I love it! Your home is beautiful and full of treasures around every corner. It was a joy to tour – thank you and Merry Christmas!
Beautiful Christmas decor! I especially loved your tree and lighted village! So nice to your with you today, Merry Christmas!
Anita… you have outdid yourself! Your Christmas home took me back in time. I loved everything!
Thank you for all your special touches!
~Nancy nance_endless_summer
Hi Anita! What a beautiful home! The rich, deep colors are so lovely. I love the mantel covering and the greens with big rich bows.
Merry Christmas!
Blessings, Lori
Oh my goodness Anita, I am truly honored to have crossed paths with you on IG! A woman of many talents and an amazing person you are! Each time I open up one of your videos or one of your posts, I learn just a little bit more about the woman who brings so much beauty into this world and into your home with all of your creativity! Magazine shoots, Air Force, decorating for Balsam Hill, making replicas, building boxes, gorgeous seamstress work is there anything you can’t do Anita?!! Merry Christmas to you and your family sweet friend♥️
What a beautiful tour with all the traditional, rich colors of the holiday season! It’s so special to decorate with pieces that have meaning to you. Thank you for sharing your lovely home!
Shelley
Author
Thank you so much Shelley!!
I love all of the rich jewel tones that you use in your home. So much beautiful eye candy. I always look forward to your tour. Definitely my favorite.
Author
Briana, thank you so much!!☺️☺️
Such a gorgeous room decorated for Christmas Anita! My grandmother made similar ornaments in the 70’s. 🙂 They are so pretty. I love your stockings and mantel decor and your photography is stunning. It’s always a treat to see your home. Merry Christmas!
Author
Thank you so much Kathy!!
Your tree is magical and looks like it should be on every Christmas card across the world. I love it so I can see why you love it so much. And what a blessing to live next door to your parents. I bet all the holidays are wonderful as you get together. It was nice hopping with you this week. Merry Christmas
Author
Thank you so much Cindy! I’m very thankful☺️☺️❤️ Merry Christmas to you as well☺️❤️
Your Christmas tree is absolutely gorgeous and I love the greens on the mantle and sconces. The house replica you made is amazing and so special! Beautiful tour, thanks for sharing!
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Thank you so much Kristin!
Anita,
Thank you so much for transporting me back to my childhood days. Thank you for appreciating the things your parents and grandparents cherished. You are a rare young woman. I hope all of your dreams are fulfilled.