Monday, December 12

Christmas house tour

A Christmas tour of homes is one of my favorite things. I'm glad to welcome you to our house.

We're all ready for a blanket of snow!


Our front porch is our outdoor living room. The decorations here are simple but festive.

Now the front door is open wide--come in!


To the left of the front door is my husband's study.


Here is the stone fireplace that you see on the front of the house. I love the stacked stone, and I keep the decor very simple here.

Back to the foyer, where magnolia leaves and poinsettias take the spotlight.



This is the first year we've had a blue dining room. I like the way the blue walls work with our traditional red and green Christmas decor.


The front windows are hard to photograph because of the light, but here's a glimpse of the window decorations. I made the swags from boxwood and magnolia cuttings from our yard, then added ornaments strung on lengths of ribbon. These I simply stapled to the top of the window frame.


The primitive sideboard holds an angel and the Christmas carol plaque I created last year plus some pretty satin-finish ornaments.


Every year I display these Lenox "Trees Around the World" plates on my mother's china cabinet. The plates are from 1991, 1993, and 1997--the years my sons were born. These were their Christmas gifts from me those years.


My mother's tea table in the corner gets a little Christmas cheer, too. I love to display white lilies and Christmas greenery in this lovely pitcher my husband gave me for Christmas two years ago. A bit of ribbon dresses up plain red candles.


The living room is the site of our Christmas tree, which is still a work in process. I'll share that later this week. The living room fireplace is the one we gather 'round for Christmas morning, so it's where our stockings hang.

The topiaries are simple to make--you can see the tutorial here.


Cocoa and Snickers like to sit by the fire, too. It's not often that they'll share this chair!


Next stop on the tour: the kitchen.


The window over the sink usually wears a faux Roman shade, but it's sporting a festive garland and a homemade "NOEL" for Christmastime.


I like a Christmas centerpiece on the island, but any decoration must be non-fragile and must leave lots of workspace. The antique wrapping paper holder and scale fill the bill.


The kitchen table centerpiece is a LEGO creation of my youngest son, who is known on YouTube as LegoLee329.


Click here if you'd like to see more of my kitchen.

And our last stop is the screened porch, which is two stories above the ground. It feels a bit like a treehouse.


Click here if you'd like to read more about my porches.

Thank you for joining me for a Christmas tour of my home!

SPECIAL NOTE: Next Monday, December 19, I'll be hosting a linky party called "Home for the Holy Days." It'll be a chance to share ideas and inspiration for keeping the emphasis on Christ this Christmas. You can read all about it here. I'd love for you to join me!

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I'm joining these tours:




79 comments:

  1. Your home is so beautiful! I fell in love with your upstairs screened in porch. I would love one of those. Love your kitchen too. Everything is just gorgeous!

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. Your house is beautiful; it looks like it came straight out of a magazine! I may have to copy your idea of the ornaments hanging on the ribbons!

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  3. Richella, your home just exudes traditional Christmas style. I love it. I love the ribboned ornaments hanging in the windows. Love your beautiful home.

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  4. Gorgeous as always! One day I'd love to see it in person and you too of course!

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  5. I was shocked ....
    You have a beautiful house and the atmosphere is spectacular Christmas .....
    I congratulate you!
    A big hug
    Sabry!

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  6. I have been so busy I've missed so may of your posts, and I've missed YOU! :) Your home is so beautiful, Richella, not only at Christmas, but all the time!

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  7. Oh my...that stone fireplace is absolutely goregous! You have a stunning home and I really like your screened in porch with those lanterns....definitely my style too!@

    thanks for the tour...
    natalie

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  8. Richella your house is gorgeous! I love the garland on your stairs and the one over the kitchen window too! I really need to show my boys your kiddos lego creation and see if they can make something fun for our house:)

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  9. Richella, this tour was great! Everything looks so warm and festive. You have incorporated some beautiful holiday touches!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  10. OlĂ¡! A decoraĂ§Ă£o de sua casa ficou muito bonita, parabĂ©ns! A senhora tem um bom gosto.
    Att: Dorath

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  11. Richella...I am in love with your home....and that's what it looks and feels like...A HOME...not just a decorated house! You have such a knack for making things elegant, beautiful...but homey!

    How is your son doing? Is he feeling better? Hope so.

    God Bless You Every One!

    Love, Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

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  12. What a welcoming home Richella! I just love your decorations...especially the ornaments hanging in the windows and the sweet pooches by the fire :-). That vintage gift wrapper is pretty fabulous too - now I want one! Thanks for sharing the tour with us.~

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  13. Hi Richella! Oh, your home is just stunning! How beautiful it is and with your Christmas decorating is just puts it over the top! I love seeing every inch of it. Now I could move into your kitchen and just stay there - it's gorgeous.
    Thank you for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  14. Richella, your home looks so beautiful decked out in it's Christmas finery! I love the tree on the front porch and the different sized topiaries on the mantel.

    Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family!

    xo,

    Manuela

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  15. What a beautiful home. I love it all. Your front and back porch are awesome. If I was their I would never want to go to town. Very Nice!!

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  16. Your home is stunning! I love your kitchen and your porch!

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  17. very beautiful!! and LOVE your porches!!

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  18. Your home is beautiful! And I LOVE the view from your screened in porch!

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  19. Your home looks beautiful and very inviting. I particularly love your "Noel" - like how you hung it up.

    Jeannette

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  20. Oh my word, Richella! Your home is SO. BEAUTIFUL.!!!!!

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  21. Everything is beautiful! I love the screened in porch....I love how you have the lanterns out there. I was so glad to see that, because I debated all summer to do that same thing to my back patio and now I know it would look great! Thanks for showing your home:)

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  22. Richella, your home is always lovely and welcoming but I so enjoyed seeing all your festive Christmas touches!! And I don't know if I had ever seen the outside, WOW, love that too! It is all beautiful. I wish I was your neighbor!!

    Christmas blessings,
    melissa

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  23. Richella, your home is lovely as always. I cannot believe that Lego wonderland - what a talented boy you have! Love that it is front and center on display - it is really amazing!

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  24. Richella, I am in love with your home. Love your mantle display and the outside is decorated so lovely.
    Happy Holidays to you and your family! xoxo ~Liz

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  25. Lovely and festive and classic in every way. I love it!

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  26. It's so warm and inviting! My two favorites? The kitchen sink area and the back porch. So. in. love.

    Merry merry!!!

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  27. I love your house. So pretty. That screened in porch is to die for!

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  28. Thanks so much for visiting my irish home tour.

    Love your beautiful home - the screened porch is amazing.

    Thanks so much for sharing.

    My son would be very impressed with the lego creations - must show him the youtube account :)

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  29. Richella, your house is beautiful year-round, but it looks especially warm and welcoming for Christmas. So glad you could join my party! :)

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  30. Lovely home and beautiful Christmas decorations...I especially love your screened in porch area.

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  31. Your home is so beautiful! I love how you hung the ornaments in the windows by ribbon. And the NOEL in the window too! Love the antique wrapping paper holder and scale. Thank you for the wonderful tour!

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  32. I think this is the most beautiful home I have ever been invited in to! Your Christmas touch is simple, elegant and breathtaking! We currently live in military housing and have been moving around, but my husband is almost out of the Navy...when he is and we settle down I hope to be able to decorate more! What an inspiration...you belong in a magazine!

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  33. lovely, as always. your little simple touches make such a statement!! i hope you do get your little dusting of snow for christmas!!

    and i love lee's lego village :) it looks great!!!

    and the wrapping paper stand??? love!

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  34. Beautiful home! You should be featured in a magazine!

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  35. Hi Richella
    Your home looks absolutely gorgeous inside and out decorated for the holidays.
    I love the antique wrapping paper holder!! And the Lego centerpiece is so creative.

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  36. I love your southern home, Richella! The lego creation, the wrapping paper holder...just lovely!

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  37. Your home is beautiful, Richella, and has great curb appeal. Love your Christmas decor but I must say my favourite part is that you so lovingly display your son's awesome Lego scene. Oh, and the vintage wrap holder is amazing. Thanks for welcoming us.

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  38. Your home is just beautiful! I love it, everything!!! Merry Christmas!

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  39. What a truly beautiful home, inside and out! Enjoyed peeking in! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  40. OH my goodness. The exterior of your home is jaw-dropping! I am literally in awe. Beautiful, beautiful home!

    Visiting from The Nester's tour - Merry Christmas!

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  41. It is stomp your foot good... seriously!! I am always so refreshed to see a traditional home not influence by magazine or trend, just good taste!!

    Everything is beautiful!

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  42. Your home is so lovely. I especially love your front porch - what a beautiful space.

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  43. I think that you have one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen! Thank you for sharing it with us!

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  44. Wow. I think your home is stunning and your decorations are classy and simple.

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  45. Everything is SO pretty!!! Your dogs are precious and I am so impressed by your son's lego creation...wow!

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  46. WOW!!! Everything looks stunning. Great job!

    MErry Christmas!

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  47. Beautiful! I love your outdoor spaces...thank you for sharing!

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  48. so many stunning details, sweet friend! There is NO place like home for the holidays... and your home shows the gorgeous comforts of a classic Christmas. Merry Christmas, Richella!!!!

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  49. so many stunning details, sweet friend! There is NO place like home for the holidays... and your home shows the gorgeous comforts of a classic Christmas. Merry Christmas, Richella!!!!

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  50. I just love your home! I think that screened porch is my favorite, with all the pretty decorations. :)

    stopping in from Nester's!

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  51. First, that dresser you have in your front entry way....LOVE IT! I'm a furniture gal and I'd sneak in steal that piece. Just beautiful.

    I'm so glad that you linked up. Your home is unbelievable. Truly.

    Yeah for Nester's Holiday Home Tour!

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  52. Stunningly beautiful home perfectly decorated for the season, I don't want to leave!

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  53. What a warm, inviting, absolutely lovely home you have! Thank you for allowing me to take a tour.

    Merry Christmas!

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  54. Your Christmas decor is absolutely lovely. Thanks for the tour!

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  55. Oh my goodness, I wanted to curl right up by your fireplace. Everything about your home is just so warm. This sounds really strange, but the moment I saw your home, I just felt "home". (I've really been wanting to get out of Miami and seeing your home just made me melt.)
    My favorite, if I had to pick one...or two...are the ornaments from the windows and the NOEL in the kitchen. PLUS...my three kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Legos! How cool! I have to show them this AND go check out your son on YouTube! :)

    Merry Christmas!

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  56. I am in love with your house! My favorite things are the porches. So jealous! The dining table centerpiece is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

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  57. Such a gorgeous home! Love the "NOEL" in the window and your outdoor decorations as well. Merry Christmas!

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  58. Oh my stars I love your beautiful home! Wish I could sit a while with you on the porch!

    Love love love your cozy kitchen - especially the lego creation! Wow! that is talent!

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  59. Your house is so beautiful!!! Oh my goodness I just want to move in. LOL. :) You did a great job decorating for the holidays too! I hope you have a great Christmas

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  60. I always love your home, but it is especially beautiful at Christmas. :-)

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  61. Gorgeous home. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  62. Your home is beautiful! I especially love the ornamnets hanging in the windows. :-)

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  63. Your home is so lovely on its own, Richella, and the Christmas decorations just enhance what you've got going on here. I love your living room fireplace mantel.

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  64. Beautiful! By far though my favorite is the exterior of your home! All those windows with wreaths are absolutely perfect! Your home is beautiful inside and out!

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  65. your home is absolutely beautiful.....so Southern! And, I can't wait to show my boys your son's lego creation!!!

    I'm over from Nester's place.....

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  66. What a gorgeous home! Love the decor...and your Christmas china is beautiful!

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  67. It's beautiful!! I think your kitchen window might be my favorite... Merry Christmas!

    Kate
    barefootkatie.blogspot.com

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  68. It's beautiful!! I think your kitchen window might be my favorite... Merry Christmas!

    Kate
    barefootkatie.blogspot.com

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  69. Your home looks so beautiful and festive. I just love the kitchen window display. It's so pretty.

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  70. I love your home, always do when you post gorgeous pictures of it! Merry Christmas!

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  71. it all looks so amazing! and i love the lego touch- my son would love that, too!

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  72. I love your home! And I am blown away by the lego creation!

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  73. Maybe you'll get this question - what size is your screen porch??
    adeleaiken@gmail.com

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  74. Simply beautiful home and beautifully decorated!

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