I’m really trying to plug through this Christmas tour! I have so many things to share with you this month and not enough days left to do it. :-) Today we will visit the kitchen, which connects to the dining room and mud room.
Kitchen Classic Christmas Decor
Like most of you, the kitchen is the heart of our home. We spend more time in here than in any other room of the house so I love to make it merry and festive with greenery, ribbons, a coffee and cocoa bar, and our Christmas china.
You can take a video tour of the kitchen and mudroom here:
I am still so in love with the renovation we did two summer ago to level out the island and peninsula and brighten up the cabinets and backsplash. Just look at this view from the sofa in the den! The line of sight between these two rooms makes me SO happy when we are all gathered together doing life here.
A festive bowl of fruit, candle and flowers look pretty from all sides here on the peninsula, and are short enough to keep things wide open between the two rooms.
Like in the rest of our living spaces, I love to frame pictures of our family from Christmases past, keep little bowls of candy and treats around, and replace my everyday decor with holiday items. I store all of our holiday decor in large plastic tubs in the basement and attic. When I take the Christmas things out, I fill them back up with everyday things that I won’t be using. It would be WAY to much stuff to have it all out.
At the sink, I have a few holiday dishtowels for this time of year and my favorite hand and dish soap from Williams Sonoma. It smells divine!
This little corner gets a Happy Everything frame, cloche made from a girls crafternoon, decorative plates and some festive candy.
Our coffee station is more merrier than ever this time of the year with a variety of seasonal coffees, hot chocolate pods and candy canes for stirring. Sister gave me the cute little hot chocolate sign years ago for my treat station.
A few more decorative towels hang from the oven. My boys, of course, do not understand the use for a “decorative” towel so these are often wadded up, used as pot holders, or found cleaning up some mess. They wash and iron well. :-)
I use the island space more than any other in the kitchen, so the little tree is perfect to still have room for dinner prep and all the other activities that happen here. I have replaced all of our everyday china with our Christmas china. The pattern is the classic Spode Christmas Tree. Most of our collection was given to us when we were getting married, but Mother and Daddy-O usually add a serving piece for us each year.
I use the opposite little counter for cookbooks during most of the year, and decorative items over the holidays. The mailbox is Magnolia Home (mine is 4 years old, but they have a super cute 2021 version out), the Happy Tappers are a favorite item since my boys were babies, and we update the count down every day! (You can see how long it took me to get to these photos!)
Over in the dining area, the mirror and chandelier are both from Ballard Designs. I’ve had the chandelier for 11 years but it is still current. The oyster plates are Alison Evans. The plaid pillows were from Homegoods a few years ago, and the little one in the middle was Pottery Barn a couple of years ago. The vintage piece that is folded over the back of the settee is actually my Grandma-O’s Christmas table cloth. Mother cleaned it up and gave it to me a couple of years ago. It doesn’t fit my table and I almost hate to use it like that anyway.
Dining Room Classic Christmas Decor
I change my dining room table every Christmas, but mostly use items I already have. I wanted a table this Christmas where we could easily see and talk across the centerpiece. A bunch of bottle brush trees in the Dollar Spot at Target were the inspiration!
You can tour the dining room, along with the living room, in this video:
I collected the plaid runner and napkins from Homegoods over the course of a few years. I have also had the plaid napkins for years, but only 6. This year I lucked out and found 6 more and had the monogram matched by a local shop.
The precious puppy salt and pepper shakers were from my mother in law’s late boyfriend’s home. He passed just before Thanksgiving after a long illness and we are honored to have these on our table now.
The bells were another new addition that I look forward to using in different ways over the years. I found them at Target the day before Thanksgiving. I thought of the saying “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings” and I thought of baby Matthew.
I did three mint julep cups with mini arrangements running down the table between the trees. I also reused the place cards I’ve had for years. I laminated them with the family names to use year after year! And I do!
I don’t keep the table set like that in perpetuity, but I know readers like to see table settings for ideas. So do I!! This year it was all set for a neighbor luncheon and ornament exchange. It ended up being a glorious day so we dined on the porch. At least it looked pretty! My family of four sat down to it for Sunday Supper instead.
My favorite in this room is the nativity. It’s one of the very first Christmas decorations I ever purchased, over 20 years ago. It is so beautifully detailed and the manger has a small light that I love turning on in the evenings.
Mud Room Classic Christmas Decor
I added the Elf door hanger to the garage door again this year and it is pretty merry to come home to since this is our most used entryway. The JOY boxwood garland was from Target after Christmas two years ago. I used to sell pet bowls in my shop and these are Elsa’s from her first Christmas. We even found Elsa Christmas dog bones for her canister.
I’ve got a few more rooms to share. Stay tuned!
Dixie Delights Classic Christmas Home Tour 2021
video tour | exterior + entry | living room + office
den + powder room | kitchen, dining + mudroom
bedrooms | porch + pool
Christmas Decor Shopping List
Remote Tree Switch | Monogram Guest Towels | Magic Light Wand
Balsam & Cedar Candle | North Pole Pillow
1″ Red Velvet Ribbon | 3″ Double Face Satin Red Ribbon
Record Player | Elf soundtrack vinyl
affiliates
Holiday DIY Video Series
How to Make Christmas Bows | How to Spruce Up a Basic Wreath
How to Make a Greenery Bouquet | Easy Flower Arranging Tips + Tricks
2 Ways to Tie the Perfect Bow
Other Holiday DIY
2 Easy Ways to Hang Christmas Wreaths | Paper Bow DIY
Painted Lamp Shades | Reindeer Kid Art
All Holiday & Seasonal Decor | All things Christmas
DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED
I’m so sorry to hear of Honey’s mom losing her companion. He was always pictured having a good time at the children’s parties and just seemed like a real nice guy. Please let her know I will keep her in prayer. 🙏❤️🙏 Sincerely, Jane ~ San Diego