Holiday Home Tour 2011



The halls are decked, stockings hung, tree decorated, gingerbread houses baked, and baubles hung!

Nothing says cozy like a home decorated for the holidays.

I kept it simple this year, did not buy anything,
just moved things around and clipped greenery from the yard.

Come on in, let me show you around.

{Ignore the carpet on the stairs - I loathe that carpet, but as a renter can't change it} Also hoping to convince my landlords to let me paint the railing!


 A wreath inspired by the fabulous Eddy Ross.










Nothing make me more happy than this ebony bowl. It came all the way from Tanzania in my sister's backpack to western Canada and then on a plane with my mom to my home when I lived in Virginia and now resides back in western Canada.



Velvet stockings I made when my girls were little {and I quickly had to make another when I found out I was expecting #3!). I wanted to replace them this year but my kids wouldn't let me!





I love Nutcrackers. It is my favourite ballet {have seen it so many times} and love collecting them!


Homespun Christmas tree with my Czech and Swedish ornaments mixed with a mish mash of favourites!



See the reindeer? My husband gave me a box with 5 beautiful ornaments on our first Christmas. They are some of my favourite.


Our annual gingerbread houses which we had fun creating. 

See the one in the back?  There is a story behind that one. Will share in a day or so! 


My Czech creche that my dad brought from the Czech Republic for me, I had one growing up and loved making up stories in my head inspired by the scene.

 Love the story it tells, all the villagers bringing gifts for the newborn King.




Heading upstairs, the kids got in on the action and grabbed a wreath to hang on their doors.

{I have a box of about 11 wreaths, our house was a Colonial style home in Virginia and you hung a wreath outside on every window during Christmas, so I have a lot of wreaths!!)



Lots of photos!!

I had fun practicing with our SLR and two different lenses! 

Thanks for coming over and visiting!

Hoping to share our gingerbread house making adventures in the next day or so! When you make gingerbread houses with a 13 year old boy, interesting things happen.

XO Barbara

31 comments

  1. Oh Barbara ..... your house looks amazing!!! I finally got a glimpse into what your home looks like. Even cooler is that it is beautifully decked out! You have inspired me to do more around my house.

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  2. Barbara! Everything looks amazing! We have the SAME brass bird! I have his brother too.. they came from a thrift shop. What are the chances?? Love them:)

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  4. Love the Nativity, the striped chair and the balls hanging from ribbons on the chandelier! Lovely, but not over-the-top!

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  5. Your home looks lovely, Barbara! I love the mix of elegance and tradition.
    Merry Christmas!
    ~ Wendi ~

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  6. It looks so pretty Barbara - thanks for showing us around your lovely home!

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  7. Just beautiful Barbara!!! So festive and cheerful, thanks for the tour!

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  8. Absolutely beautiful! Love the ornaments on your chandelier! :)

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  9. Beautiful!! Love your colours, you mantel and all your accessories. I have the same chandelier...LOL! Thanks for sharing your home with us.

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  10. Your home looks gorgeous Barbara! Lovely photos! I'm jealous you can clip greenery from the yard. :)

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  11. Your home looks warm, festive and welcoming :-) I love the traditional mixed with glam, and I love the red! Red works for me at Christmas, and you've done it up just right. I wish you and your family a happy Holiday season! XO Sheila

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  12. It looks beautiful Barbara! Love your nutcrackers and all of the wreaths! I wanted to do a post on our Christmas decor... maybe next week! :)

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  13. Beautiful Barb! Love the color scheme and how you give classic red and white a refreshing look! Great job and love the bronze little bird!

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  14. Your home always looks beautiful Barb but it's so festive right now. I have to say I'm uber impressed with your photographs.

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  15. You have such a gorgeous home. Love all the decorations and especially the creche. It is stunning. So so festive.

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  16. Everything looks so beautiful Barb! And I love that you still use the original stockings - that's what makes holidays special - the memories attached to all the decorations. :)

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  17. So great, Barbara! I love the red and silver together. Your chandelier is so pretty. Thanks for linking up with me for our Christmas Cheer party (:

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  18. It looks so gorgeous and welcoming Barb!! Your bird reminds me of my deer. Merry Christmas!

    Andrea
    xo

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  19. Lovely Barbara! I see you love using fresh evergreen, your house must smell so good. Have a wonderful Weekend!

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  20. Wow! It's gorgeous! I love all of the black & white... and you have the perfect amount of red in your decorations. Your photos are fabulous, by the way!

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  21. Everything looks so beautiful Barbara! Your red & silver theme fits your home so well. I remember your Czech crèche from last year - I think it's so amazing. Have a great weekend!

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  22. Thank you so much for your comment on my gingerbread cookies! It made me smile! I grew up in Czech Republic and my whole family is still there, and I try to continue our traditions here now :o) And you're right about the flour... never quite the same! We used to do the same thing with the cookies - decorate them and hang them on the tree! How fun to hear from someone who used to do something similar!
    Merry Christmas! Your house looks beautiful and so ready for the holidays!

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  23. Everything looks so pretty. Your Czech creche looks like the sort of thing that I would have played with for hours when I was little. As you said, letting my imagination create all sorts of stories.

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  24. Looks beautiful Barbara. That reindeer on the step is so great and the whole house has just the right balance of elegant and festive. Great tour!

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  25. You did such a great job!! Everything looks perfect!! love it :)

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  26. Your home is so beautifully decorated and festive :-) Thanks for the tour!

    Merry Christmas!

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  27. Your home looks invitingly festive; a wonderful and happy place for you and your family to celebrate Christmas!!
    Victoria

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  28. Everything looks so fresh and festive! Thanks for the tour and Merry Christmas :)

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