There are two things that I love in the world of home blogs: the holiday season and home tours. So, what could be better than both of my favorite things all rolled in to one?
Today, I am so excited to be participating in a holiday home tour that is kicking off today.
I’m joining 29 other bloggers this week who are sharing their homes all decked out in their holiday finest. In addition, One King’s Lane is providing a $200 gift certificate to one lucky reader, so look for the Rafflecopter near the bottom of this post to register.
If you’re coming here from Decor Adventures, welcome!
I’m so happy you’re here!
If you have been around here awhile, you know that a recurring theme at Lilacs & Longhorns is my continuing challenge of blending the styles and tastes of myself and my husband (yes, he actually cares!). Well, at Christmas-time, it’s interesting because quite honestly I think I could do most anything during this time of year and he would be happy. Well, let me qualify that…the more I decorate, the better as far as he’s concerned because, anyone who knows my husband, knows that he LOVES Christmas. I jokingly refer to him as “Clark Griswold.”
Before you get too worried, I promise, you cannot see our house from space when the lights are turned on at night, but we do like to be festive. This year, I kept things very simple and used what I already had.
So, come on in – let me show you around!
I’m keeping my front porch very simple this year and added some lovely winter-hardy (for Texas) plants in my old wash tub. I love the bright red of the cyclamen – such a pretty pop of color and it feels so fresh and alive!
Inside, I kept things fairly simple as well.
I bought a small fresh tree for the foyer and added only a few ornaments, a strand of wooden beads and used simple ribbon tied to a few branches to decorate it. It’s not fancy, but I love it. Because of our huge vaulted ceilings in our living room, we have a pre-lit 9-foot artificial tree so I love this little touch of fresh when you come in the front door.
(Our Elf on the Shelf landed here last night — aided by Clark Griswold — and I didn’t even think about him until I started editing my pictures- ha!) Doesn’t everyone have an Elf on the Shelf sitting in their tree?!
On the other side of the foyer, I switched out my “every day” pillows for some with holiday cheer and filled my hanging basket with faux greenery.
The dining room is my favorite room this year.
It’s not just because I finished re-decorating this room this year, but I just love all of the pops of red and the fresh and faux greenery in this room.
This center piece is a mixture of real birch branches, faux and preserved greenery. The pieces of birch came from my grandparents home and I made this arrangement several years ago. (My husband drilled holes in the ends so we can insert votice candles.) I think of them and their home on the lake every time I bring it out each Christmas season.
Each year I also bring out my Fitz & Floyd holiday collection. Some are displayed in my little blue china hutch and other pieces are on my sideboard.
This little train station and choo choo is one of my favorites. My son was obsessed with trains when he was little and it always reminds me of him.
The stair case in the foyer showcases some more family mementos. Can you tell I’m sentimental?
I’ve collected these pictures and frame ornaments over time. Some pictures are of the kids with Santa Claus and others are of our family when we’ve gone on holiday adventures — like the time we went to Sea World during the Christmas season.
I love looking at these year after year to see how everyone has grown!
In the living room I have done a little bit of simplifying this year.
I usually put some garland on the fireplace mantel, but decided to change it up this year and I am loving it!
It looks rustic and festive, I think.
I added two Christmas pillows in here, and a few other touches but that’s about it.
The kitchen is pretty simple, too.
My two-tiered stand is sitting on my island with festive red plates in it and I brought out my little jar that was given to me by one of my preschool students when I taught preschool.
On my little hutch, I set up my pretty Fitz & Floyd canisters and added a little epsom salts inside to look like snow.
I hung up my little wreath (that is actually a candle ring I tweaked to make a wreath) on the wall next to the hutch. I just love how full it is.
Just off the kitchen on the way in to the dining room, is my butler’s pantry. It’s a dark space to photograph, so forgive the yellow color from the lights, but I just had to show you this little space.
I set up a little hot cocoa bar and I think it is so much fun!
My kids absolutely love this idea and have been begging for hot chocolate almost every night (and maybe stealing a marshmallow or two when I’m not looking).
Finally, my little half bath is looking as festive as it’s ever looked.
It’s also not easy to photograph because it has no windows and is so small, but I wanted to show you anyway because I love all of it’s red and green.
Like all of my holiday decor, it’s not fancy. I just added a few colorful touches and called it a day.
I’m especially loving the little glass ornaments sitting on top of my vintage linens.
I like them so much I kind of wish they could sit here all year long!
Thank you so much for joining me on this tour today. If you haven’t already, please visit the other blogs on tour and follow along all week long — you won’t be disappointed!
The full tour schedule is at the end of this post. Before you go on to visit the others, please take a minute to register for this fantastic giveaway sponsored by One King’s Lane (OKC). OKC is an online decorating resource that offers great deals on high-end items and they’re offering one lucky winner a $200 gift card! To register, use the Rafflecopter below.
