Sunday Reflections
Happy December Sunday! Welcome to my weekly lifestyle posts called Sunday Reflections.
I find Sunday Reflections to be so enjoyable because it is different every week and includes my own Sunday Reflections from my life.
Of course, I am writing Sunday Reflections the day before…and it is raining, cold, and the trees all different colors.
For a short time, I just sat and enjoyed the seasonal moment…the new weather patterns, for now, have been such a joy.
Do you take time each daily to be grateful for your surroundings?
I highly encourage you to do that…it can put such a smile on your face for the rest of the day…appreciate the moment….even if it is raining.
Today in Sunday Reflections, I am going to share a brief tour of my Christmas house.
Yes, the decorating throughout is overboard and my family always loves it….you know, my goal is cozy.
With so much in the house, I am only going to share today a few of my favorites….but not all.
Just so you know, all of the bathrooms include holiday soap scents and decorated tea towels.
So, join me for a little tour of my Christmas house.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: THE FOYER
Come on in the front door today…past more outside lights than we have done in a long, long time.
The house itself is white brick with black trim, so I introduced more black and white outside this year.
Mr. B did a great job on our lights….and to the right of the door is our bench with white, black and red Christmas pillows. (I got the water resistant pillow covers on Amazon two years ago.)
The Christmas wreath was originally from Michael’s several years ago…,all I did this year was add the bow.
When you walk into the foyer, you are met with my gifted Balsam Hill Tree.
The wicker gifts at the bottom are from Hobby Lobby; the deer with LED lights are from . 3-PIECE LED DEER FAMILY
We bought them for the front yard and ended up liking them here better…and everyone who has entered the house has liked them around the tree.
The doe is looking up at a Christmas Angel which belonged to Mr. B’s Mom.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: DINING ROOM
To your left of the foyer is the dining area.
In the room you will find my large antiques Merry Christmas wall sign; my decorated china cabinet; poinsietts; the turntable; and a decorated reading area.
But my favorite is the dining table decor.
I found these little village pieces in a Christmas in July Sale at Balsam Hill a couple of years ago.
There is a church, a cafe, and a bookstore.
I believe my affinity for houses, buildings, and lots of trees helps to create the cozy atmosphere.
The little trees and cutting board were from Amazon; the candlesticks from Magnolia; and the Santa from a Hallmark Shop.
I created two arrangements this year in a vase and a pitcher than sit out all year.
For this one (on my Ethan Allen tea cart), I added snow flakes from Hobby Lobby, and stems with lights from Amazon.
Remember that my own design aesthetic is rustic, French country.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: THE KITCHEN
From the foyer, you enter the kitchen with the mirror and table on the right; and the antique marble cabinet on the left.
You can see the other arrangement under the mirror in my antique pitcher from my grandmother’s farm.
The island in the kitchen is the next thing you see.
The deer is new this year and I found him at Hobby Lobby…inspired by the foyer deer family.
I love to create little vignettes throughout the house like this one near the stove.
These little houses are older and have lights inside of them.
I also have a string of lights around the refrigerator top.
The grandchildren love this little nutcracker and have since he joined us a few years ago.
Their love for him is the reason his rolling pin now lies at the bottom of his feet…nevertheless, I would not cease putting him out in the kitchen near where I bake.
The cabinet next to the refrigerator is full of my Christmas mug collection.
Coffee, tea and hot chocolate just taste better in a Christmas mug!!
The kitchen window above the sink is lined with a Christmas votive collection and will occasionally have tea lights lit inside.
There are Christmas candles in the front, dining, and family rooms.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: THE FAMILY ROOM
This is the Country Christmas Tree we cut down at the tree farm.
After having apprehensions at first, Mr. B now loves the tree.
And I love my quite Sunday Reflections each weekend with Christmas coffee and the tree…these mornings mean everything to me.
Also in this room is a big Christmas village spread out on our new bar….a shelf featuring vintage Santas, and the fireplace area with stockings, Christmas pillows, and nativity scenes.
The family room also features several soft and snuggly Christmas throws that my grandchildren love to run to this time of year.
According to the boys, this CUPCAKES & CASHMERE SANTA THROW FROM TJMAXX is the softest, snuggliest yet.
Believe me, I know I go over the top…but Christmas is a legacy I am leaving my family.
If I am mostly remembered for Christmas (the decorations, the festivities, the gifts, the food), that is fine with me.
I do all of it with care and love.
Thank you for allowing me to share my home decor highlights with you during Sunday Reflections…it has been fun to decorate this new home and make it mine for the season…
I hope you will join me tomorrow…I need your opinions and thoughts on something big...so please try to stop by if you can…until then…
STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way.
Wow! This is amazing!! A lot of time and love went into making your new home festive and it shows. My favorite is the table with the mirror. I can see why you would enjoy just sitting in the quiet with a morning coffee. Enjoy this special time of year!
Thank you Sonja!
What a beautifully decorated house. I can few the Christmas cheer. I understand how your grandchildren love to come visit. This post has given me some ideas.
Lovely!
Thank you, Dianne.
Great…I love to give you ideas! Thank you, Paula
your house looks beautiful and so inviting, one of my favorite things I do at Christmas is putting some of my children’s (who are now grown) toys out that I have saved since they were little and also some from my childhood for me my Christmas decorations bring back such happy memories and my grandchildren who are not children anymore love looking at the old and the new Happy Holidays to you and all your family
Thank you for a lovely tour of your festive home! You certainly have a knack for placement and creativity. I understand your grandchildren’s excitement and love of Christmas through GiGi’s eyes!
What a wonderful tradition, Janet! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Celia!
Good morning Pamela,
It’s so much fun to see your Christmas house tour. It makes me want to see the places you described but didn’t show. You’ve definitely been busy. I usually decorate my entire first floor, including the guest room, but mine is more sparse. I can’t imagine the time and care it took to do all your displays.
I too have a baker nutcracker which I put in my kitchen every Christmas. He’s from the Bombay Company. (The stores are all closed now, to my knowledge.) He’s holding a tray of gingerbread men and is a happy addition. I collect nutcrackers and have them in vignettes all over my house around Christmas.
I love the floors in your new house. Your decor looks charming and cozy here!
Nutcrackers are so much fun! I got mine at Tuesday Morning when they closed down.
Maybe next Sunday I will show the other places…it does take time but it brings me so much joy and love the process!
Thank you Linda! The challenge is to keep it cozy AFTER the holidays.
Pam, your home is beautiful! The Christmas cheer shows through and is cozy and filled with love. I especially like the tree from the tree farm. Mr B’s mother’s angel is so special. Blessed Sunday to you.
You have settled in to your new home beautifully! I also decorate with items I have had for years and only fill in if I feel like I need something to compliment a setting. Right now I am looking for a few tall trees to surround my 40 year old Nativity set that was handmade by my inlaws (my favorite decoration!). Since moving into a condo storage space is limited so I have to be careful not to over purchase. Love your decorations!
Love your decorations and the love and joy that went into putting them up. Your new home is so cozy and inviting, I can understand why your grandchildren especially love it. Your porch board really caught my eye as it reflects the true meaning of the season and goes with all of your outdoor decor so well. Thank you for sharing your decorations today. Christmas is my jam, too, and it made my day!
A lovely tour- thank you! I love your mix of old and new. My favorite decorations are pieces that I have held on to that I recognize from my childhood. I even have my grandmother’s wrapping paper that she never used but bought in the 40s and 50s. I found it tucked in a drawer when she died over 40 years ago, and it might have been 40 years old at the time. Memories are precious. You have certainly met your goal of Christmas Coziness!
And to you, Marcia. Thank you!
Thank you Linda. I found some lovely trees for the Christmas village on Amazon…you might check there.
Thanks Niki…I found the porch board at Hobby Lobby and all of their Christmas decor was 50% off.
Thanks Deborah…it feels cozy and that makes me smile.
Dear Pam: Thank you for this lovely moment and inviting us to “visit” your festive, Christmasy home. It takes a lot of effort and planning to do this much decorating, but if you love it, then it’s a great thing. In thinking about why we all so love the holiday decorations, I think it might be that the coziness contrasts to the more somber outside environment. Of course, those sweet memories and joys of giving and receiving combine to remind us of our most important values and whose birth we are celebrating. It is as though each of us can say with our lights, “see, it will all be all right.” I am seeing more outdoor lights in our neighborhood than ever before. It is joyful. I have a post-holiday tradition. I use white artificial birch branches to create a winter tree (small). That way, I can still have the coziness of white lights all through the year. I wonder if your children and grandchildren know how lucky they are to have such wonderful grandparents as you and your husband.
You have done a wonderful job at decorating what looks like a mid century modern home in a cozy more traditional style. I have come to love more traditional styles. Maybe it is our generation that leans towards the French country and farmhouse styles. We have all of our outside decorations done and will do our inside today. Our son from Idaho showed up yesterday to surprise us and is here just on his way from visiting our granddaughter Soleil and driving his car back to Boise which she had borrowed to go to graduate school in divinity. Normally we don’t have any family here for the holidays. So a nice surprise.
It all looks lovely. I am curious about what kind of tree your country Christmas tree is. The needles look very long.
What a nice surprise…do glad he did that for you, Sydney!
We were told this is an Afghan Pine which grows well in the Texas climate. We both have grown to love this tree though it is very different from any other tree we have had before. Thanks, Becky
That is so sweet of you, Mary. I would love to have a touch of the white lights all year long. I love them. When the time changes and the sun is up longer, it does become more of a challenge, but I would still love to have some for my early morning coffee and prayer time.
Many years ago having managed a Christmas store, I learned that Pine trees are one of the most difficult to decorate and feel that you and Mr. B. did a fabulous job! Also as to your festive vignettes, totally appreciated the tour of them. -Brenda-
P.S.: Though Winter doesn’t officially arrive here until Dec. 21st, we are knee deep in snow so do envy you….☺.
Your house looks beautiful and joyful! You can never have too many Christmas decorations!
And I kind of envy you! But I know it gets wearisome! Thank you about the tree!
Your decor is lovely and the vignettes are delightful! They show us your personal touch and that is part of the magic of your beautiful home!
I agree, Janine!
Thank you, Beth!
I so enjoyed the journey through your home with your narrative. I love Christmas decorations and I believe the greatest part of it all..no rules.
Yes! No rules!
I love how you’ve decorated your new home. Its so cozy and comfortable and inviting. How fun to pose the reindeer in your foyer. And I love that you have combined cherished family pieces with new decorations. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Thank you, Kathie! I love doing this!
Saw this post late because I was sick on Sunday, but it really lifted my spirits! I am not decorating at all for the holidays because I’m preparing for out of town guests arriving January 1 for a three week grand tour of Texas. It’s a bit overwhelming, since I found my dream house in November and just purchased it, adding to the long to-do list and raising the stress level another notch. I’ll return to this post when I’m missing the holiday feeling in my own home this year, but you’ve given me some great ideas for next year’s holiday season in my new home, which was built in 1928. It looks like our kitchens are similar, and I’d love to see more of yours. I think we have identical cabinets and I’m changing out the hardware, so seeing yours really helped! You mentioned wanting white lights all year, and that’s something I’ve done the entire time I’ve been in my current home. It has a great mantle, and no matter which season I’m decorating for, I include a small string of white twinkle lights. They make any decor feel more special, and I often sit at night with them as the only lights. I mix them with icy branches, frosted pine cones, and white candles in mercury glass holders for January through the first signs of spring. I swap out everything but the lights as the seasons change, and it creates a nice focal point in the living room. My reading corner is adjacent to the fireplace, and it’s so peaceful to sit with the twinkle lights on. Give yourself permission to enjoy yours all year long!
I hope you are feeling better!