No holiday decorations allowed!
These were the exact words of our stager as we began the process of de-cluttering our house to put on the market.
So while Thanksgiving banners waved gaily on our street, our house had nary a wreath upon her door. And when neighboring halls began their be-decking, our house stood naked of outward adornment. Naked yes, but confident in her own Southern charm to bring a quick sale.
Was she right? Ahhh, that will be a post for another day, because today is all about Christmas.
Last year was the third year we decorated our South Carolina home for Christmas, and as far as creating holiday wonder, it was my favorite year ever!
When you move from one house to another it can take awhile to settle into your new home’s style, especially when moving from a casual Pacific Northwest lake house to a grand Southern Colonial. Last year I found my home’s sweet spot and came to realize that this home, she was MADE for festive!
Little did I know, as my joyous heart took in each glittering detail, that I’d never again decorate this Southern beauty for Christmas – you can read the reason for that HERE – so good thing for me that I took a lot of photos to remember her by. These are pictures I’ve never shared here on the blog before. They are the more formal areas of my home, the entry hall, dining, and living rooms, all decked out in their Christmas finery.
The 2016 Pottery Barn catalog was my inspiration for creating a vignette of wintry trees.
I use preserved boxwood wreaths throughout my home at Christmas. Would you believe I’ve had these for five years and they still look like new? You can check them out HERE: Preserved Boxwood Round Wreath – 6 inch (Set of 6)
Fresh greens are distributed wherever I can find an empty space to place them. We aren’t minimalist for Christmas and, in fact, greens placed in strategic places can keep you from having to dust during the holidays!
This is my glittery nutcracker collection. The two on the right were purchased. The one on the left received a Thrift Store Makeover – complete tutorial HERE.
I adore the Magnolia trees in the South. This Magnolia swag was embellished with greens and feathers. Best Price: Hobby Lobby.
This is a clock I purchased this past year and she is on sale for a great price right HERE: Creative Co-Op Wall Clock with Distressed Wood Finish, 52-Inch
Does anyone else buy Christmas gifts for themselves? 😉
Our tree is a collection of ornaments we’ve collected over many years, many of them handmade. Last year I added these turquoise blue mercury glass ornaments. My home? She told me they were the perfect addition.
You can find them HERE: Turquoise Blue, (Set of 6) – Vintage-Style Mercury Glass Christmas Ornaments
This blue velvet Santa was a gift from my sweet sister last year 🙂
Finally, the last Christmas decoration placed, the piece de resistance, our new pearly, glittery star tree topper. I searched high and low for the perfect star, so when I finally found this one I was thrilled!
You can find one like it (ON SALE) right HERE: Kurt Adler 13.5-inch Star Treetop with Ivory Pearls and Platinum Glass Glitter
SIGH . . . Looking back on these pictures I can almost feel myself right there, amidst the glitter and shine, and it makes me feel incredibly happy and thankful for the time we’ve had in this, our grand Southern Colonial home. It has been a wonderful place in which to celebrate Christmas.
Next year I’ll be a house whisperer, trying to figure out how to decorate a whole new house, and hoping she’ll speak and share her secrets with me.
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I know I haven’t been writing much but I have a few more Christmas posts up my sleeve so be on the lookout. In the meantime, wherever you find yourself this Christmas season, I wish you great JOY.
Blessings,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
SundaysAtHome, TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired, InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends, InspireMeMonday, GodSizedDreams
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday, WriterWednesday
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration, Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet
So beautiful – like YOU!
Like YOU too!
That’s hard and I don’t know that I agree. They always say that customers need to be able to picture themselves in your home so wouldn’t conveying the sweet feeling of Christmas be a good thing? I don’t know…you have to go with the professionals. 🙂 You know I love your style!! Can’t wait to see your new place.
I entrusted myself to this particular professional because she really is the BEST! Thanks Stacey. You are a sweetie.
I dunno, Patti. I was a Realtor for many years, listing and selling properties….I always encouraged my sellers to declutter where necessary and to minimize as much “personal stuff” as possible, but without stripping their home of its personality. Buyers WANT to see what it could look like….you don’t go to decorating show rooms to see how they built the display space. You want inspiration for that space! I believe it’s the rare buyer who would be turned off by a tastefully decorated home for the holidays…..one that say, Welcome Home….! One that excudes a sense of nostalgia…..while not overwhelmingly gaudy! I think that stager is wrong. I do believe that some sellers have no decorating sense and don’t know the meaning of minimal….however my dear, you are not one of those sellers!
I hope you already have a contract by now….
Haha! We shall see 😉
It’s beautiful, just like you. And the lack of decorations this year reminds me that Jesus’ birth was without the trappings of a King.
Oh Debbie, your words are beautiful. “A Christmas without the trappings” really does help one focus more on the ONE who the season is all about. Thank you.
Not right but, who knows a lot in this world is like that. Now if it were me, i have some small Nativity scenes and i’d put that on my kitchen counter and when they were coming put it up in my cabinet. I have a collection of them, the ones that are 4x4ins., baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, i love them.
I really didn’t begrudge my stager’s suggestions at all. She is the expert, after all, and her advice really paid off in the end. More about that in a future post though!
You have so many beautiful decorations. Thanks for sharing them with us, Susan.
Thank you Lisa. Years of collecting and receiving gifts from family and friends are what make my Christmas home most meaningful.
I won’t be wordy because one word sums it up. GORGEOUS!
Thank you sweet Debra! You gave me a great big something to smile about this morning.
Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home! Merry Christmas!
Thank YOU and Merry Christmas Sherry.