Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas Decorating...Part 2

I'm not one of those people who decorate in one day.  I think I start and just keep on, keeping on until Christmas!  And so the decorating continues...




I have had a Beach tree for a few years now, but when I moved I got rid of the 7' white tree, and this year I picked up this 4'champayne tinsel pre-lit tree.  I placed it at the landing of the steps, and it fills the space well. I added some blue & white chevron fabric I had for another project as the skirt.  This is a new collection of ornaments I started a few years ago.  As you all know I Love the BEACH!





Guest bedroom...dresser needed a little tree...green tinsel tree with blue ornaments...These are the colors in the bedroom.



close up of the guest room tree.
Just added some ornaments in silver & champagne, and ribbon to the large Lantern in guest room.
mercury glass finials & shell...upstairs loft

upstairs loft
In the kitchen I have a small tree I've decorated for years with these vintage cookie cutters I found at a yard sales years ago for maybe a $1. The ribbon changes yearly.


I want to add some wine ornaments to it, or maybe just start a wine tree. Maybe next year for my dining sideboard!

vintage copper cookie cutter
One of my other new collections are these wine wicker bottles.... I found my first one for a $1 at a tag sale, and found the other two just about a month ago at the Raleigh Flea Market for $5 each.  I just added a ribbon for the Holidays.
Just added red berries to my refrigerator vignette.
Another new collection I picked up at the 127 yard sales this year is the white milk glass.  I placed them on the top of my kitchen cabinets...perfect for the space...I added some greenery with lights...silver, champagne, and gold ornaments and silver sprays in some of the containers....looks beautiful at night!


As you can see I decorate around the most of the decor I have out all year.  I move a few pieces here & there, but with greenery, lights, berries, and ornaments YOU can transform your space into a beautiful, festive space without to much clutter, and not spending alot of money!

Stay tuned....more to come!

Kim

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Decorating

Today I'm sharing some of the Christmas decorating going on around here.

For starters I bought this tree after Christmas a few years ago....I love the silver, and added some of my blue glass ornaments, and gold and bronze.  I love it on my turquoise sideboard in my entryway.


Creme ceramic Nativity scene sits on entryway sideboard
My bannister on the stair way...

wired the three ornaments together and added a zebra print ribbon

the side board in the dining room, and table centerpiece...
dining sideboard...with mercury glass trees...garland and bulbs
Paperwhite bulbs...planted in silver dish...beautiful by Christmas!
I love using real flowers and greenery to the Christmas decor...
Table centerpiece...mercy glass vase with candle...wreath with red berry picks
Shell collection in apothecary jars...added a apple green silk ribbon sits on the side of tv console
in half bath downstairs I used a clear cup hook and attached a berry square wreath & added beautiful silk green ribbon with red velvet polka dots
I love mercury glass it has an antique look finish and brings elegance to a room.  Most of the pieces I have purchased, and I have several others not shown here I picked up after Christmas for mere $.  I love shopping the day after Christmas because next year when you get out the Christmas it's all brand new!

I try to buy the best looking greens & ribbons I think it does pay off in the after look.  Like I said before it all changes year to year, but I buy little to little every year, and really do not spend a lot of money! Sometimes we tend to think because it Christmas we have to use all we have, and I disagree go with what moves you that year, and change it up the next!

These are just a few of the decorations going on around here...stay tuned for more!

Kim

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Christmas Tree

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! I love decorating, and the more lights the better in my opinion! Every year it seems things change up around here.  I don't think my tree has ever looked the same in 30 years.  All that to say I've used & collected glass ornaments for 30 years now so mostly the change is the topper and ribbon.

For years we had Reed & Barton silver bells hanging on the tree that my mother-in law has bought every year for the kids since they born.   To me these are a heirloom my children now treasure.  When they marry you box them up as a gift, Megan had 25 to start on their tree.  I got this idea from my Aunt years ago when she did this for her children. 

I wish I could find the picture when I had over 40 on the tree at one time.  My children now truly appreciate these every year when they hang them on their tree.

I thought I would share through December some decorations I've done this year and in the past.
Artificial tree...I returned
The tree above has a story...after having a real tree the last few years I decided I would look for an artificial tree again.  I sold all of mine when I moved last year.  I found one, brought it home decorated it, and decided I really wanted a real tree again.  So I undecorated it, put it back in box, and returned it. Yep, that's how I roll folks!

Off to the tree stand for a real one....

We picked out this 8' beauty....Frasier Fir.
The topper is antique cut glass which ages over time....It came from Pottery Barn.

Of course every tree has always included our glass First Christmas Together ornament, and the kids First Christmas ornament with their pictures.



and glass ornaments in silver mercury glass, gold, reds....this year I decorated in champagne ribbons and sprays.
It's not a themed tree, or a decorators tree, but a tree full of memories and beautiful ornaments collected over time.

More Christmas decorations to come!  Stay tuned....

Kim



Thursday, November 29, 2012

Dining Set & Hutch Makeover

Where oh where did November go? I've been busy doing a dining set & hutch makeover for some friends, and a makeover it was....

This furniture she had bought before they married, and yes it's outdated, but is heavy, sturdy wood.  They love Pottery Barn so we went with a French Country Pottery Barn look.  The handles and glass in the hutch had to go....we replaced the handles, and are ordering clear glass for the doors.
I picked these up at Hobby Lobby, and love the heavy pulls for the drawers and the orb knobs.  I spent several weeks prepping, painting, distressing, and painting the chairs...oh those chairs...all those spindles, hutch, and the table.  She wanted Vintage White, and we decided to leave the top of the bottom, of the hutch the original wood just to have some contrast.  It was in good shape so it did not need to be refinished.  On the hutch I did add some dark wax to highlight some of the moldings.

The table bottom, and chairs were painted, distressed, and finished with a clear wax.  The top of the table was in pretty rough shape, and we refinished the top by sanding it down to bare wood, and added stain & poly.  It turned out beautiful! Greg was a huge help with the table top.

 
table bottom...painted
Table & chairs...after

after
before
After
Hutch....before
Hutch...after


Yes it is a transformation!  I love the fact they wanted to re purpose what they had.

They love it, and have it just in time for the Holidays!


Kim