skip to main content

Day 1 of Christmas decorating

kitchendetective

16 years ago

This year, I decided to leave everything that was already there on the mantle and add garland and decorations to it. The wreath will be up next week. Be honest, do you think I wimped out?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

craftylady-2006
16 years ago
No I do not think you whimped out, it looks very festive and you did a great job. The candles are perfect!

Sal
kareen
16 years ago
I think it looks really great and you have saved yourself lots of time and energy. I am in the middle of doing my mantle ....I do take everything off as my Nativity scene goes there ....after several hours of messing with it and taking a break now , I envy your decorating. Kareen
Related Discussions
Memorial Day Dining Room Decorated w/Christmas Decor
Q
Comments (11)
Jane, so glad you are giving your foot time to heal before your next surgery. It would be awful to not have at least one good one. I had foot surgery on my right foot 12 years ago and couldn't drive for 2 months. It was a year before I could do a full run and feel comfortable. I couldn't even ride a bike for a few months.LOL DD's BDay is Jan. 14th so that's what gets me out shopping after Christmas. It's always so cold but she's so special I have to! DGD's BDay is coming soon and she wants her party here again. May get to use some of my neat dishes again.Yeah DS came down today but didn't get to see DGD. We did alot of cleaning and yard work so that worked out good. Didnd't make it to the cemetary till late this afternoon because we were so busy. We will have all the family home over the 4th so have alot to do around here to get ready. I always tease my family they come and visit to keep me on top of things. Jeanne, the small star candle holders are from Dollar Plus. The lg center one is crystal and I picked up the other two at ys. Your the reason I always light my tables. Thanks for the comments on the flowers. They look better in RL but I didn't want to go take any more pictures. I need you here to help in that dept.haha I have a bush in one of my gardens that reminds me of your honeysuckle but it's blooms are pink. I'll have to take a picture and see if you know what it is one day. Luvs, always great to hear from you. Hope you are hanging in there and finding some time for you. Will keep you in my T & P. Thanks so much Jane, Jeanne and Luvs for all your sweet comments. Punk
...See More
A Survey: When Do You Put Up Your Christmas/Holiday Decorations??
Q
Comments (42)
Small town life sounds good to me. As does living in the country. We had a few acres when I had horses and other animals back in the 60s and 70's. Phoenix is soooo big, too much traffic, and I hate driving even if it didn't cause my leg to go on the warpath. I was born in a small town, in Ala. I don't really going places alone either, and won't go out at night except to family gatherings at one of my kids. I'm waiting the arrival of my toile plates I just bought. Tho heaven knows what I can find to do with them, but will try just because of all the support I've gotten here. Any table settings I do will be just for ONE, maybe two if you're lucky. LOL. I'm going to be a one-trick pony, sorry about that. I just can't do full tables for many reasons. I've been 'planning' my Christmas decor. Really planning this year. Thought it might take some of the load off me being so over-whelmed with it when I go to unpacking a zillion things in the middle of the floor while telling two cats NOT to help me. A zillion times! One sleepless night I started plotting different places to put things this year. I want my newly begun collection of Nutcrackers (started last year) pretty much together. But I think the purple one should go with the Santa. And I have two golf Santas and two golf Nutcrackers that should stay together. Last year they were with my two other special Nutcrackers, a policeman and a fireman. These have a lot of meaning! I'm going to put my Village in the antique china cabinet in my entry hall this time I think, instead of Painted Pony Cabinet in familyroom. Tho I still have to move over a 100 statues from BOTH. I was thinking of putting Xmas horses and reindeer in the pony cabinet. I have quite a few of both now. Anyway, its fun to mentally decorate. It also doesn't wear me out or hurt my body. LOL. I think I'll start my Village next week in fact. First I have to make room for all those dog statues to safely go on closet shelves for the next two months! Ugh. hugs, Karen
...See More
Christmas/Winter Decor has begun! It's Dec 1st, Holidayers!
Q
Comments (20)
Ummmm...this post is from Dec. 1st & today is Dec. 12th ...& am still decorating! Well, I miss a day now & then to go shopping or do a little volunteer work ...I think it's about time to put the 'totes away' & call it good! Time to wrap pkgs & work on some Christmas gifts...LOL! Anyway, for Jane...this is one of those 'remote control' candles WORKING again this yr! I thought you would be pleased to know that ...cause you use them so beautifully on your mantle. I need a couple more hurricanes for the other 2 sizes ...but here's a pic of my Winter Platzgraff wine glasses & goblets (both thrift shop finds!) Jeanne
...See More
The Day After Christmas: What Are You Doing Today???
Q
Comments (14)
I hosted a large-ish family group yesterday and also kept life low key today. Went to Pilates this morning, then came home and after a nice long chat with my daughter we put away most of the dishes and serving pieces from yesterday. Snacked on some leftovers, finished the last 2 episodes of Orange is the New Black which I just discovered, then more leftovers for dinner, and now off to read a bit then early to bed. No shopping, no maniacal clean up, not much except relaxing! I won't say I resent it, because I do it every year, but sometimes I do think that since in my family there are only 2 of us (stepmother and me) who always put on these major holiday gatherings-boy, does everyone else get off easy! I had about 20 family members here yesterday and although I did appreciate several of the guests who pitched in to help, as hostess it was just an incredibly busy and hectic and intense experience to manage it all. In a debriefing call tonight, my stepmother, who is a retired professor of occupational therapy and thus very tuned in to effective work systems, commented that in a sense, hosting these parties is almost like turning your home into a restaurant...except there isn't a staff! Since I always think that somehow if I planned things right I would be able to effortlessly run these shindigs, this perspective really made me feel better about how exhausting it always is. After all, if I had a hostess to get everyone greeted and seated, and chefs to get all the food prepped, cooked and plated, and waiters to help take out and bring back the food and beverages, and dishwashers to clean it all up,...life would be ever so much easier wouldn't it?! Ah well, it was a very nice gathering and I've still got tomorrow and all of next week for me time. Which I *will* be taking, thankyouverymuch. Might go see The Wolf of Wall Street tomorrow and American Hustle is on the agenda too. Some shopping once the stores calm down a bit. Some reading, some relaxing, can't wait for my holiday to really kick in! Ann
...See More
Penelope
16 years ago
It's very attractive, and I especially like the way you have the red balls tiered off the greens. I do think it may need a little editing, though. The Santa seems to compete a little with the horse--maybe they could be moved further apart? The photos and candles on the right are just a wee bit crowded. One thing that might help would be to somehow elevate some of the candles on the right so you have different heights, the way you do on the left hand side. One easy edit might be to remove one or two of the pewter vessels on the left. But even as is it's very festive and attractive. I really love the contrast between the stone and the greens, that just makes the look.
Purplemoon
16 years ago
I LOVE horses and that statue is magnificent!!!! I wouldn't have moved it either!! I think your mantle looks very festive and nice, so you didn't wimp out at all.
What are your plans for the hearth? That is a beautiful fireplace you have!!

hugs, Karen
maddya
16 years ago
How could you have possibly "wimped out", when you did what we should all do........simplify and enjoy! AND yes, you certainly have a beautiful fireplace and grate........you needn't do another thing, but relax.
***
Maddya
kitchendetective
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all. Lovesummer, I think you are right. I will have the ladder out again in a couple of days in order to hang the wreath and I can "edit" then. I plan to space the Santa and horse further apart for the sake of the wreath, anyway. The candles and holders on the right are actually all different sizes, but, coincidentally, the sizes of the candles evened out the heights of the holders! I'll light a few so some burn further down. I don't plan to do much with the hearth because DH will build a fire in the fireplace throughout Christmas and the hearth gets used for fatwood and fire tools. He built the mantle from a mountain juniper that had to be cut down when the garage was built and he's very attached to this particular (family room) fireplace.
susiesunshine
16 years ago
It's about YOU and Your Family !!!
That is a beautiful place and a fantastic FirePlace Setting !!
Your job is to make it the way you like it and then while we look we get to say...
Gee I wish I could do that....
I don't even have a mantel in the home I'm in now...
and I truly miss that A BUNCH !!!!
So I am really enjoying looking at yours!!!!!
and We use to have Horses, and I really miss them...
so I am thinking of how warm and cozy and how beautiful and I just adore it !!!! my DH would be wild about it...
he really misses our horses toooooooo !!!
Well,,,, maybe again someday...
M E R R Y + C H R I S T M A S !!!!!
God Bless you !
susiesunshine
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
16 years ago
I love your fireplace naked. It is beautiful.
Gayle from KT
luvstocraft
16 years ago
Nope, you didn't wimp out--the greenery and ornaments adds a festive holiday touch. Looks very pretty. Luvs
prosperity66
16 years ago
My grandmother has the same kind of tablet upon her fireplace, each year, she takes all off and puts her Christmas decorations...

Now that she is 87, I think it's time to make it easier for her to decorate her house for Christmas.

Forgive me in advance, but I will pick up your idea and decorate her tablet in the same way ;-)
cattknap
16 years ago
Beautiful fireplace - just the right about of beautiful things!

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Mission Possible: A Designer Decorates a Blank Apartment in 4 Days

By Becky Harris

Four days and $10,000 take an apartment from bare to all-there. Get the designer's daily play-by-play

ENTERTAINING Party On: 5 Decorating Touches for Jubilant Rooms Every Day

By Samantha Schoech

Why wait for a birthday? Hang cheery garlands, pom-poms and more for a festive outlook on even the most ordinary days

HOLIDAYS Sweeten Your Days With a DIY Advent Calendar

Tuck candies and small gifts into packets you make yourself for a simple holiday wall hanging

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Room of the Day: Parisian Pop Lifts a San Francisco Living Room

By Bryan Anthony

Turning bedsheets into curtains and drawing on the furniture with a pen are a couple of the decorating tricks used in this living room

DECORATING GUIDES Room of the Day: Child Safety at Play in a Nautical-Themed Nursery

By Becky Harris

A 1-year-old’s room, designed to be safe and to grow with him, nods to his parents’ Cape Cod roots

EVENTS Treasure Hunting at Texas' First Monday Trade Days

By Angela Flournoy

Check out some of the antiques, art and collectibles on offer at one of the largest flea markets in the U.S.

COLOR Room of the Day: Deep Blue Proves a Hot Hue

By Mary Jo Bowling

Navy takes a New Jersey living room from dull to dashing in the flick of a paintbrush

DECORATING GUIDES Rubber Duckie Day Fun to Float Your Boat

By Ofir Zwebner

We’ve been in fine feather at Houzz gathering all the photos of duckies making their home in yours

GLAM STYLE Room of the Day: Master Suite Recalls Hollywood’s Glamour Days

By Bryan Anthony

Silver-screen styling finds it way north to a Hollywood Regency-inspired bedroom in Toronto

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Guest Bedroom Makeover Addresses All the Angles

By Jeannie Matteucci

An angled ceiling and angled walls are no challenge for a creative designer and her open-minded clients

Sponsored

Manifesto, Inc.

9 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 2x Best of Houzz Winner!

More Discussions

truly special gifts. . .

28