Lovely!!

Both the mantle and table are great and it all looks very Christmasy. Yes sometimes simpler is more elegant than a big display. I too put a garland around my door and a wreath in the middle of the door. I do string a garland on my porch railing too, but that is the extent of my outside decorations.

A word of caution though--remove the paper from around your plant and put the plant pot in a decorative container--or cut out the bottom of the paper. When you water the plant the excess water has no place to go so it stays in the paper and eventually the plant will rot.

An alternative is to take the plant elsewhere to water it and remove the paper until all excess water has drained away. then put it back on and take back to the table.

Bonnie,

I agree, both look lovely. I really like your red panels you add in the dining room. What a beautiful room.

Oilpainter, what great advise on watering the plant. I usually end up killing my plants and that explains why.

I haven't decided how much decorating I'll do outside this year. The biggest reason I want to do alot is for DGD who just enjoys being outside whenever possible. She was able to go out and swing on Thanksgiving which was so fun.

Punk

Bonnie...
As I'm reading that you are looking for a simpler look,
and that you are putting candles in the windows..because it's 'New England' looking...
I had to laugh...you're describing 'MY' decorations!! LOL
I'm in New England! I always have candle lights in the upstairs dormer windows..and now for Christmas put them in all the other windows! I love the 'Simple' elegant look that is so typical of this area.
Love how you did your DR with the window drapes. The color is beautiful. Also, you mantel looks lovely.

What part of NE are you in? I'm in CT.
I'm also having a Christmas Party next Sat...and have just about completed all my Decorations.

The following weekend, is the Christmas House Tour. I go every year. Love...Love..Love seeing these homes all decked out in 'New England Style' !! Over the years, many of them have been featured in Country Home and Country Living Magazines. They are so inspiring.

jane

Very elegant, Bonnie. Those drapes are just gorgeous! I really love them (and your view outside looks pretty too).
The plain swag is PERFECT for your mantle decor.

I wish I could learn to scale down some! I tend to OVER-load every single place simply because I love too much stuff. I have a feeling "simple elegance" will always escape me with my packrat habits. There may be hope yet tho, my body is going to quit before my mind wants to.
LOL. (but not this year, darn it, I'm determined).

I can't wait to see more photos.
hugs, Karen

Bonnieann, your home looks lovely. I imagine your year round decor is very similar--understated and elegant. I think it fits the style of your home perfectly. I love your red drapes too, they have such a nice sheen and go so well with your wall color.

With that said, I'm like Karen, love lots of stuff and think it all needs to be displayed and enjoyed! Haven't learned the "less is more" concept yet! LOL My biggest problem is that I love elegant, classy looks AND I love the cutesy smiling snowmen, gingers, santas, etc. too. Consequently, my holiday decor becomes a jumble of it all! LOL

Luvs

That is totally lovely! Simple elegance is wonderful and I try to control myself but that "more-is-more" thing always seems to win! ;-)

Bonnie, I keep looking at those drapes, LOL. But I was wondering what are the two paint colors you used on the diningroom walls? Such a beautiful combination!

Luvs, I read somewhere else a gal commented that her house looked like "Christmas threw up there"....and I had to laugh because that is probably a good description of all my collections and stuff. Organized Chaos!

hugs, Karen

I really like how you decorated your mantle.

But, I'm afraid I'm also one of the 'more is more' people.

Those drapes are so elegant looking. I love the sheen they have about them. And your Christmas cactus is pretty.
Our neighbors gave us one a couple of months ago and it's blooming like crazy. It would be really nice if it is still blooming at Christmas.

Betty

Bonnieann Love your mantle and especially the picture. Would you mind telling me what it is called and who painted it. It's very charming. You DR looks exactly like mine as far as window placement goes. I also have Queen Anne furniture. Love the simplicity of the table.

Elegant...lovely! :)

Thanks so much for your sweet comments about my "less is more" attempt this year!

Jane, I'm in a Boston suburb...in a little town sandwiched between Lexington and Concord.

Denali, there's a story to the print over the mantle (isn't there alway a story...) The painter is a Bermuda artist named Alfred Birdsey. The print is of a small town on Cape Cod, named Osterville, near where we vacation in the summer. My DH and I have been to Bermuda several times. On our very first trip there we went to Birdsey's studio in Paget and fell in love with his work. We bought some of his work and some of his daughter's also. His daughter was an artist who did animal prints. We brought home several prints for a soon-to-be nursery (I was pregnant with DD#1, who will be 29 soon!)

On subsequent trips to the Cape we found his small summer studio in Osterville and bought 2 limited edition prints, one of which is above the mantle. They were gifts to me so we chose the number that correlated with my birthday that year (29 out of 100). The one above the mantle is of Osterville center. The other print hangs above the sofa is a sail boat print, which is much more traditional, but still has a touch of the Birsdsey whimsey.

I'm sure Birdsey is deceased but his work might be found. He was quite prolific, and what a character!

Thanks again!