When do you start decorating your home for Christmas? Since we get a live tree every year, we really don’t start decorating in earnest until the first weekend of December. It has always been our official Christmas Kick-Off Weekend. We start by attending the annual Candlelight Stroll always held on the first Friday of December, followed by the Rotary Club House Tour on Saturday. On Sunday is the day we purchase our tree, set it up and decorate it!
However, I am always ready to start decorating in late November. Since I spend so much time in the kitchen I start with that room first! I don’t go overboard with the Christmas décor but I do add some festive touches both fresh and faux that get me in the spirit.
As you scroll through the photos you will notice fresh apples, eucalyptus and berries I picked up at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday. A grapevine wreath was a thrift store find that I decorated with faux berries from the dollar store.
A few branches of faux berries purchased at Michael’s for 70% off on black Friday contrast nicely with an old white enamelware jug I have had forever. I happened to have just finished making a white chocolate pistachio pavlova which adds a whole other level of festive! And, boy was it delicious.
While I love this time leading up to the holidays, I loath the darkness that starts to set in around 4:30 each afternoon. It makes it very difficult to get decent photographs!
The tall Santa Claus in the corner is one of two that usually flanks our fireplace. I thought I would change things up and use one of them in the kitchen. I am sure I will find somewhere to use the second one too!
I love the Santa teapot. I have had it for as long as I can remember. In fact, I think it is one of the first Christmas things I bought when we got married 32 years ago.
I always have fresh flowers by the sink. These red berries add a festive touch that will last for a few weeks.
A few Christmas themed mixing bowls adorn the shelves, along with a paper wreath which is another long time Christmas decor piece!
A few more pictures, just for fun…..
I needed something to dress the top of the window since I still haven’t decided on window coverings since we did the kitchen reno for the One Room Challenge. I resorted to a buffalo check blanket scarf held in place with tacks and swagged with clothespins!
My philosophy when it comes to Christmas decor is that it doesn’t have to be expensive or too fussy. It really only has to make you happy.
My kitchen is still completely functional and the decorations don’t get in the way. I always have bowls of fruit on the counter, so adding a bit of seasonal greens to the apples was easy and inexpensive.
The mugs on the drying rack get used daily for coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The teapot brews a nightly cup of sweet orange tea.
I hope you have found an idea or two to get your Christmas decor started. Be sure to scroll down to visit all the bloggers participating in the Holiday Home Blog Hop for even more inspiration!
Until next time…..
Monday
Everyday Living | My Kentucky Living | Panoply
Tuesday
Savvy Apron | Hey Fitzy | Celebrate & Decorate
Wednesday
Belle Blue Interiors | Red Cottage Chronicles | Dining Delight | Bluesky at Home
Thursday
The Painted Apron | Corner of Plaid and Paisley | Living With Thanksgiving
Friday
From My Carolina Home | Supper Table Talk | Me and My Captain | Our Crafty Mom
Carole @ From My Carolina Home says
What a festive kitchen! Love that red snowflake mixing bowl. I am so jealous of your fantastic kitchen space, lovely!!
Maureen says
Thank you Carole! We remodelled the kitchen in May, and there are still some details that are nagging at me to finish!
Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says
You have such a gorgeous kitchen, and all of your holiday touches are just beautiful! It has been so much fun blog hopping with you! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!!!
Maureen says
Thank you Shannon! Best of the season to you as well!
Bonnie Morgan says
Your white chocolate pistachio pavlova sounds and looks wonderful. It is certainly festive! Your kitchen is warm and inviting and you are blessed to have so much counter space and shelves. I love flowers by the sink, also. I love how you have incorporated fresh greenery all around your kitchen.
Your Santa teapot is quite a showstopper! Merry Christmas to you.
Maureen says
Thanks so much Bonnie! Merry Christmas 🙂
Kari at Me and My captain says
Oh Maureen, your lovely kitchen reminds me of a warm and cozy country kitchen just waiting for sharing a cup of hot chocolate and snacking on Christmas cookies. Great job! All we need is snow falling outside your window!
Maureen says
Thank you Kari! It just doesn’t seem like Christmas without snow here in Canada!!
Sherry Cole says
Your Christmas decor and also your kitchen is gorgeous! I love all of the beautiful red colors that you have used. I think the red plaid blanket scarf is genius and I wouldn’t change it. I always enjoy blog hopping with you!
Tammy says
Your home is charming and looks perfect for the holidays! So fun seeing all the beautiful holiday inspiration!!
Pam Richardson says
Maireen, the pavlova looks delicious. Your kitchen is spacious and filled with Christmas charm. I love the Santa teapot…greenery, berries, and apples add to the most wonderful time of the year! I spend most of the time in my kitchen and normally it is the last to get decorated. I am enjoying blog hopping with you!
Rita C at Panoply says
Maureen, I love your touches of the Christmas season in your kitchen. The fresh greenery always does it for me, no matter what room it’s in, but it looks really nice in your kitchen, whether it’s the simple berry stems or the greenery with apples mixed in (my favorite!). I love the sentiment of things purchased long ago, and your teapot would be one of those for me. Unwrapping it each year would be like visiting a very good, old friend. Enjoy the kickoff, and the rest of your decorating. I’m with you 100% on the darkness so soon, and I’m counting the days until Dec 22 when the minutes of daylight start increasing again.
Lori says
I really enjoyed the tour of your kitchen all decked out for Christmas. Your decorating style totally suits the remodel of your kitchen which is terrific. From the fresh greenery to the delicious-looking pavlova to the embellished grapevine wreath, it all looks wonderful. I also like hearing about your traditions that precede the decorating of your Christmas tree – sounds like fun! Happy to have made this stop on the Blog Hop!
Jenna Meon says
Your kitchen decorations are so perfect for your space and style! It looks so warm and happy, I can almost taste the cookies and hot cocoa! Your pistachio pavlova looks amazing and the white pitcher full of red berries is so pretty! I love love your Santa teapot, what a treasure! Happy hopping, and have a Merry holiday!
Sheila says
Love your colorful accesories in your pretty white kitchen. Your pretty ironstone pitcher as well as the buffalo plaid windowcovering caught mt attention! Merry christmas!
Chloe Crabtree says
First off, I LOVE your kitchen! You rarely see photos of my kitchen because it is in such need of a total re-do! Your hood is beautiful with that lovely wreath on it! Your first weekend in December sounds just perfect! I love that you have those traditions. Having moved to Florida and going back and forth from there to Ohio for the past few years, since our children left home, I feel like we are missing some traditions for the holidays and need to get back to some traditions! Thank you so much for joining us for another blog hop, and Merry Christmas!