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The Makerista

I'm Gwen, a modern traditionalist who isn't afraid of color. Kansas City.

A Look at Our Home For Christmas with Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours

Happy Monday!  Welcome to those of you coming from Number Fifty-Three.  I’m really honored to be a part of Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours: a week long tour with over 50 bloggers and their Christmas decor.  You can see the whole schedule here.

This year I opted for the less in more approach, while still trying to stay true to my style.

My 4-year-old son has always done well with leaving things alone, but my daughter, who is 1, is a different story.  Milly loves to get into anything and everything, which makes it hard to decorate at her level and impossible to do any decorating while she’s awake!

I wish I was better at reusing decor, but I tend to have fresh thoughts every holiday.  Luckily the stockings I made last year made the cut this season. 

I love decorating, and I usually have a pretty strong idea of what I would like to do.  With that being said, I think it’s really important to give the kids some say and decor of their own.  In their corner of the living room we placed a little Norfolk Island pine, and they helped me make these DIY cluster ornaments.

I took a small tree I already had, placed it in a pot on Xander’s dresser, and decorated it with ornaments he has received as gifts.  He really enjoys pointing out the loved one who gave him a specific ornament.

When I think of the holidays, gatherings with family and friends come to mind.  I love to bring out entertaining items that have sentimental value.  The copper ashtrays above are something my grandfather brought back from Africa while serving in the military.  They make great coasters and the stars have such a festive feel.  

It only takes one look at all of those scratches to know that little people live here.

The gold and black cardholder and the candle snuffer were my grandmothers.  Puzzles and card games were always on the agenda at holiday get-togethers, and there is nothing more cozy than candlelight.

I already have a lot of greenery in our home (my husband might call it a problem) but I moved some of my plants to other areas of the house to make room for seasonal things.  While I don’t like the smell once they’ve bloomed, I love to watch paper whites grow and look forward to planting bulbs every winter.

Adding a sheepskin, some greenery around the dining space’s chandelier, and a mercury glass gazing ball to my plant cart are simple touches that can stay all winter long.

Because of Milly’s curiosity, our tree will be spending Christmas in the entry this year.  It is down a set of stairs from our living area, but is open to it, so we can enjoy it.  I’m still trying to put the finishing touches on it, but I look forward to showing it to you in it’s entirety later this week (you can see it all finished here).  Am I the only one who takes forever to get my tree just right?  I’m sure my need to change things every year does not help, but I could sit in front of that thing and fluff and adjust for weeks!
If this is your first time visiting, I appreciate you stopping by and hope you’ll come again soon.  Next stop is the oh-so talented Brittany of Brittany Makes.  I am always amazed at her work (I would kill for a bedroom like this) and look forward to what she has in store!
I am also thrilled to be sharing the star headband DIY from Friday’s post on the Tiny Print’s blog today.  Take a look if you have a moment. 




Keep on reading...
Lightening Up and a Weekend Project
Starting with Art: Designing a Boy’s Room
From Dingy to Beautiful – Craigslist Tub Chairs

Comments

  3. Jesse @ Scout & Nimble says

    I love all the natural elements you added in your home, Gwen! So so pretty! I tried to decorate my littles bedrooms and they both at bedtime wanted the items removed! lol…they are so set in their ways, but they did love decorating the tree. I am so going to definitely copy your ornament clusters…those are fabulous! 😉 Jesse

  4. Bethany DeVore says

    I love all the bright colors and greenery! Looking forward to seeing your tree! I'm right there with you, I definitely feel like I have to reinvent my Christmas decor every year to fit my style.

  20. Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says

    Beautiful, Gwen! You were a busy bee yesterday 🙂 Lovely styling and I think this is one time of year when no one could fault your addition to fresh greenery! Wish I had your green thumb! Love the sweet nativity next to the kiddie piano 🙂

  22. Restoration House Interiors says

    Love all of the little vignettes! You did a great job! Can't wait to see what all of the other talented ladies do as well and feel SO blessed to be a part of this holiday series! See you on Wednesday! Have an amazing Monday!

  24. Dear Emmeline says

    The tree with cluster ornaments and the wood nativity are my fave! I have little ones as well so I know what you mean about watching it with the low decor!

  28. Anonymous says

    I like you're bringing back satin thread baubles, makes me nostalgic. Your (very nifty) ashtrays would make good inner ornaments with a Command hook and ornament hook MacGuyver business in the back. Easy to remove afrer the season.

  30. Summer Hogan says

    I love the greenery on your light fixture and love the trees in the kids room. I had to decorate my son's room too 🙂 He wouldn't have it any other way!

  31. Emily Morris says

    Love Xander's little Christmas tree in his room! Where did the kids wooden nativity set come from? I'm trying to find one that's wooden and simple for Julia.

  35. Clotee says

    You have beautiful house. It's feel like I'm visiting your house right now.

    Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!
    Bring you Good wishes of happiness.

    Sorry for greeting you earlier,, just don't want miss saying this.
    By the way, I'm Clotee. It's my first time visiting your blog. I am blogger too, and now try my best luck to open an e-shop. Nice to know you.

    Regards,
    Clotee

  38. Richard C. Lambert says

    I need to carve out the time to actually DO the clean out. Thank you for the St. Basil print-out — your link to the sermon really changed my perspective on how much I own, and I so appreciated it. (Also ordered my BIS journal when it was released, and I am sooo excited to use it.)tours on kaanapali