Grab your favorite festive drink and get cozy, because today we’re inviting you in for our annual holiday home tour!
This year, I focused most of my decorating efforts in the living room, and it slowly evolved into my vision of a French Provincial Christmas.
You may notice a big difference from previous years: we got a new tree!
The change came about because most of the lights in our previous tree stopped working, and I didn’t want to have to spend hours stringing twinkle lights every year. So I ordered two popular twinkle trees to compare, and landed on this beauty from Lowe’s.
I couldn’t bear to part with our old tree though, and it has found a new home in the playroom (and it also fits in this new space much better).
One of the first things I look forward to each season is planning out our gift wrap and ribbon. I found some gorgeous pieces this year, and am in love with the way it all came together (you can shop everything here on my LTK):
As usual, the tree decor was inspired by the gift wrap, and I opted for decorations that felt more elegant and regal—like the slim taper candles, hydrangeas, gold bells and pearl garlands.
This year I also had an idea to create a grand garland arrangement over our living room console table.
I used four large cedar garlands, draped strings of pearl, and layered in stems and berries to make it extra lush.
I may have to do this every year now!
I used up all my garland so the fireplace was kept simple with a mixed pine arrangement, candles and stacks of old books.
Every year I snap a photo of our girl from the same angle at this tree… and ever year she refuses to stop growing 😢
And this little man…
He’s now at the age where he’s starting to truly experience the wonder of Christmas. He feeds off of big sister’s energy, and their pure excitement over these last few weeks has filled our home with so much joy.
It’s not lost on me that we are at the ages of peak Christmas magic, and only have a few precious years to bottle this up for our memory bank.
The holiday season doesn’t officially begin in our house until our box of Christmas books comes out. We brought them down one night last week, and Esmé hasn’t stopped reading since.
Both kids have their own mini lit trees in their room, and Esmé and I love decorating hers together. She chose the gold bow topper this year.
I also hung cedar garlands around her window and added pinecones to match her woodland cottage bedroom feel.
If you need to find Susie, she’s always in a sunspot somewhere…
I fell in love with cedar garlands this year, and used them around our kitchen window as well.
I reused the norfolk swags around all of the sconces in our dining room (just swapped out the ribbon)…
and found this cute norfolk mini tree for our foyer and back porch.
One last look at the tree…
And that’s a wrap on this year’s home tour! I hope you’ve enjoyed your time here.
Wishing you and your family the warmest holiday season,
Susan Taylor says
A beautiful family in a beautiful setting. Merry Christmas!
karen sunday says
Always stunning and enjoy all your fabulous updates! Sweet sweet kids! Merry Christmas!