Thursday, December 10, 2009

Holiday Home Tour

Welcome to my holiday home tour! These pictures are of the dramatic and touches of Christmas all over my house (double click on the pictures to see them larger). Above is the family room ~ home to my daughter's tree. Her tree is decorated with all her baby ornaments, ones made by her own hands, pictures of her and her daddy, candy canes, light and, of course, hot pink sparkly ball ornaments. Our stocking hang by the fire with care.....

Here we are in the dining room with red and silver sparkle ornaments hung from the chandelier with very fine plastic thread. It looks as if the bulbs are floating. A simple arrangement of red beaded branches and pine cones serve as centerpiece. When the table is set, it is a blaze with black, red, silver, and ivory ~ I need to have a dinner party!

Let's move to the living room......
My color palette in the living room is red and gold. My living room's year long palette is browns and blues so during the holiday season, I like to warm it up! All ornaments on the tree are red and gold. The ribbon is twisted to see both sides as they too are red and gold. An angel in a red dress is joined with gold beaded reindeer for the cocktail table display.

What's that peaking out of my cabinet? Red glass bulbs of course! I love little touches.

It is a simple crystal bowl that lives in the cabinet all year long. During the holidays, it is married with simple red bulbs for a pop of holiday cheer.

Here is a shot of my living room normally. This angle is almost where the Christmas tree stands. You can see the stairs and the balcony. During the Holidays the stairs and balcony are lined with nutcrackers, lit garland and red bows with gold specks. Sparkle, sparkle!!



For safety, I tie each nutcracker to the balusters with neutral twine that goes unnoticed.

Let's peak into the conservatory, which is an extension really of the living room as the French doors are always open between the two rooms. The palette in here ~ blue and ivory.

I love this wreath! I actually bought it for the front door but it did not fit between the door and the storm door ~ oh dear!! No matter, I found a lovely home for it hanging contently in the window. The conservatory is at the rear of the house so all one sees from the street is a little twinkle of light from the back window. I wrapped the wire for hanging in ivory and gold ribbon and voila ~ a beautiful decoration that began with an oops!

And now the kitchen.....
Just a touch ~ blue and gold bulbs suspended from the chandelier float above a blue and gold pedestal platter filled with pine cones. Blue napkins with gold rings set a top striped blue and neutral place mats finished with beads on the sides. I chose blue and gold to add warmth.

Don't forget the powder room!
Just a touch will do for me!

Inexpensive blue and silver jewelry-like ornaments hung from the sconces with a bow tied from silver tinsel pipe cleaners.

How about upstairs? I like a touch of holiday decor in each room of the house. In the master bedroom, we have these bulbs on an accent table.....
We bought these bulbs on our honeymoon so it makes them extra special and wonderful to place in our personal space. When the candle is lit, the gold paint on each bulbs glistens.

What about Lauren's room???
Of course! It is decorated with a door wreath and red bows.... everywhere! Her own design!

I love Christmas with all the beauty the season has to offer ~ spending time with loved ones. This year, I am hosting Christmas for the first time. I cannot wait to have a house full, constant chaos and laughter. Lauren is so excited to have her Nana and cousins here. I wonder if she'll sleep at all of Christmas eve?! I know for sure that she won't let her older cousins sleep in on Christmas day. I cannot wait to see her face that morning. That will be the best beaming light of all!

I hope you enjoyed my Holiday Home Tour. I sure did. Let me know what your doing in your home this year. I'd love to see pictures! Email to me at paula@paulagracedesigns.com. I'd love to post them!

Naturally I am joining holiday parties at Julia's Hooked on Holiday House Tours and Southern Hospitality so hop over and join in!.

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful!! Love the touch of the Toy Soldiers on the banister, and your daughter's tree! Lovely and ready to celebrate...Janell

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  2. Love the decor...simply beautiful as always.
    Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays Paula!

    Keep it Sweet,
    Suzy

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  3. Oh, my goodness, Paula! Your home is outstanding! How gorgeous and I love your Christmas decorating! Everything is so elegant! And I adore your little and big touches of bling!
    Thank you so much for sharing your lovely home.
    Be a sweetie and Merry Christmas,
    Shelia ;)

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  4. * Dear Paula~ What a beautiful home you have created for yourself & those you love~~~ Your great sense of scale & ability to tastefully edit (no extraneous clutter HERE, & how NICE to see RESTRAINT!) makes it stunningly simple, in the VERY BEST of ways! Totally CHARMING!!!

    Thanks so much!
    Warmest wishes,
    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234@comcast.net

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  5. What a beautiful home! I love your stairway!

    Hope to see you next week for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash!

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  6. Your home is breathtakingly divine! Your elegance is seen in every room but you add a touch of whimsy with those cute nutcrackers. I love everything!

    Best wishes, Natasha.

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  7. It's very pretty and last year you had a great party.

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  8. Love your stockings and the pillows in your living room! Not to mention how beautiful your staircase is decorated : )

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  9. The wreath on the window is stunning!! Happy holidays!!

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  10. You are such an amazingly talented creator of elegant, festive beauty for ALL holidays Paula! ~ and that's on top of the fabulous design work you do! :) ~ Happy Holidays...

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  11. Where did you find those wonderful polka dot stockings???

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  12. Hi Sam,
    I got them from Ballard Designs ~ http://www.ballarddesigns.com/Accessories/Christmas/Stockings-Tree-Skirts/Personalized-Ballard-Christmas-Stockings/p/820?path=1%2C2%2C1558%2C2335%2C2342&iProductID=820
    Paula Grace

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  13. Beautiful! Thanks for the tour, Paula.

    Have fun hosting Christmas this year! I haven't hosted our family's for a few years now and I kind of miss it. I was just telling my husband we need to try to convince everyone to travel to us next year!

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  14. Oh myyyy...

    Where do I begin? I recall seeing a sneak peak of your home, but how wonderful to see a tour, all in Christmas splendor! Your home has such a warm and cozy feel with such elegance. (I absolutely adore the large, black cabinets!)

    You have such fine taste and an eye for details -- from those little glam touches in the bathroom to that large, incredible wreath in your conservatory. Your palette of red and gold is so classic and beautiful.

    I hope your family has a wonderful dinner together -- I'm certain they will enjoy themselves immensely :)

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  15. What an incredibly beautiful home you have! I love the holiday touches, especially the christmas balls that appear to be floating around the chandeliers in the dining room and kitchen. Next year, can we come and have christmas at your house too? :>)

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  16. Your home is gorgeous. Completely different from mine, but I really love how elegant it is. It makes me want to put on an Armani suit and drink martinis :)

    rue

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  17. You have a beautiful house! Gorgeous decorations!!

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  18. I can't believe I have not been by here before, i came via Rhoda....what an outstanding home you have....I just adore your style....and those Xmas stockings...I need them.... as well as that chiar in your bedroom...LOL

    So nice to meet you....

    Merry Christmas,
    Kathy :)
    jokaj@comcast.net

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  19. Hi Kathy!

    Thanks so much. The stockings are from Ballard (you're not the only one that asked about them ~ see link in previous comment from me). The chair and the chair fabric is from Robert Allen. I LOVE that chair. It is comfy too! Glad you found me!!

    Paula Grace

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  20. Your home looks so lovely for the holidays, Paula! I wish I had spent a little more time decking the halls in our home this year.

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  21. Paula, thanks for joining the party & WOW, your home is beautiful. You are really talented and know how to put it all together. So nice to meet you, I don't think I've been by here before. But, so glad I got to see how your celebrate Christmas at your house. Gorgeous!!

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