Holiday Housewalk Cozy Cottage Christmas Tour
I’ve been scurrying around like a little Christmas mouse, getting our cottage all decked and holly and jolly, just in time for Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk 2018. You can cozy up at home, and hop from blog to blog to see some of the prettiest holiday homes around, and get tons of decorating ideas! It starts at Jen’s and will be updated daily — You won’t want to miss a single house on this Christmas parade of homes!
If you are visiting from Saw Nail & Paint welcome. Wasn’t Susan’s home beautifully adorned? I know her mom must be so proud of her!
I’m Shannon, and to all my regulars – hello Foxy friends! Let’s start off this Christmas tour in our very informal dining room. I’ve changed things up a bit since you last visited to see the Better Homes & Gardens “festive traditions ” holiday look.
I paired down the hearth and brought in one of my old vintage mirrors to double the glow from the lighted garland, and cast more brightness into the room. Both the fluffy pom-pom and wooden Christmas garland stayed put though.
I’d been wanting to get those house lanterns hung up on the mantel, and Jimmy made it happen for me Sunday morning before I took pictures. That man. I tell you he is such a gift!
This table look was all about a casual, rustic feel with little fuss, and some natural elements. Easy for everyday and just the simple holiday I was craving this year. I can easily pop the holiday dishes from the last look on the table for Christmas morning, I gave them a new home in an easy to reach spot! You’ll see them when I share our Christmas kitchen and the island later this holiday season.
Want to know a secret?
We totally stole the hooks to hang the houses off The Little Cottage. I thought the chippy paint would be just fine with chalkboard wall. And now I can get fresh ones to hang my flower baskets out of reach from the Deer in the Spring. Win-win.
And there is a whole Pomegranate story, but it would require me to ramble more than usual, and no one has time for that.
My dad and I made this bench, some 20 years ago, and it’s been so many colors. Each one a holding a tiny fleck of memory. Where I was, and what house we were in…
And even when I go simple, I’ve got to have some shimmer.
I just have to interrupt the tour here for a moment to say, if you are waiting for you home to be perfect to invite people in and to entertain, don’t wait! Celebrate now!
Our home is not perfect, and never will be. Take this tour for instance… my house is not the grandest of this housewalk line-up, but I decided years ago that I would keep at this blogging, for one, because I love it. And two, because if all the girls with the little houses & the little budgets quit… how would everyone out there in a little house, with a little budget feel with no-one to represent them? I wanted to be much farther along with my decorating before I shared my tour, but life happened. I wanted prettily wrapped gifts sprinkled around, and under the tree… and I definitely wanted my table makeover done, instead of halfway with only the top complete. haha. But, here I am!
We are all a work in progress, and if you are anything like me, your home is too. Ever evolving.
Sorry, I’ll get back to it now. Becasue we have a wee cottage style bungalow home, if you look from right, to the left, you’ll see the whole living area. Now that you’ve seen the dining room… say hello to the living room.
Some vintage crocks & enamel pots were filled with trees.
And I got out some old favorites, and some new.
Pillows & throws.
There is a reason we all love them so much right? Instant cozy.
I shimmied all the furniture around so I’d have room for a full size tree this year, and that meant a lots less little side table and surfaces to adorn. Which worked out wonderfully with my, try not to “decorate yourself to death” goal this season.
And somehow, this vintage sled landed on my coffee table.
And I kind of liked it.
Lucky me, I had it decorated lickety-split!
That was great, because the tree… oh this tree. I joked with my mom that is took me ten minutes to put up, ten hours to decorate, and only ten minutes to do the rest of the house.
I have determined that I am decidedly not an adept ribbon festooning type of individual.
And also, that perhaps the white ribbon Merry Christmas was better suited for a flocked tree. Which we all know I love! But I sacrificed it to The Little Cottage this year (coming soon).
A statement piece on a tree is always a must for me. I love stuffing something large in a tree as a big focal point! Like I did a few years ago with my Snowman Tree. This sign was picked up at JoAnn’s and I am really happy with it, and the message!
The felted Deer was just too sweet to leave behind.
There is a lot of time between now, and Christmas, so we’ll see what changes? I say I want simple, but I also love stuff and lots of layers, and there are definitely a few more personal touches I want to make to our homes holiday decor. I’m just a walking quandary tell ya.
I know for sure that Jimmy made me a HUGE sign base for over the sofa, so I hope to get that holiday’ed up and I’ll try hard to share it with you when I do!
Thank you so much for stopping by today, please remember to make time for the next stop, and say Hi to Danielle at Finding Silver Pennies for me… you are in for a treat at her sea side home!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas from our home to yours! xo Shannon
S O U R C E S
Some source links may be affiliate — your cost will not increase.
DINING ROOM
- Mantel & Fireplace: $150 Makeover Details Here
- Merry Christmas Wood Garland: Krumpets Home Decor
- Pom Pom Garland: Ross
- Lantern House: HERE
- Galvanized Bucket: Walmart
- Dining Table: Similar Here
- Chairs: HomeGoods
- Place Mats: HomeGoods
- Plates: Dollar Tree, HomeGoods
- Bowls: Ross
- Green Metal Basket: Decor Steals
- Tree: Safeway Floral Dept. & HomeGoods
- Sisal Rug: HERE
- Chandelier: HERE
- Brass Sconces: HERE
- Drapery Hardware: Discontinued
- Plantation Shutters: Blinds.com, Norman Woodlore in White
- Door Color: Sherwin Williams, Worldly Gray
LIVING ROOM:
- My Sofa & Chair are discontinued
- Black Library Lights: Decor Steals
- Holly Balsam Candle: Driftwood Decor
- Sisal Rug: HERE
- Accent Trees: Safeway Floral Dept., Big Lots, HomeGoods
- Main Tree: Details Here
- Dear in Scarf Pillow: HERE
- All Is Calm & Snowflake Pillow: JoAnn’s
- Believe Pillow: HERE
- Buffalo Check Pillows: HERE
- Buffalo Check Throw: Walmart
- Assorted Throws: HomeGoods
- XL Rolling Basket: HomeGoods
- Black Metal Lanterns: HERE
All Remaining: Vintage, Thrifted or DIY
Gayle Bowlin says
Absolutely beautiful..so much better than those large homes…this is cozy!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Awe. I’m glad you enjoyed our little home.
Merry Christmas!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Here’s to another beautifully decorated home for the holidays…I truly love seeing your Christmas decor each year! Merry Christmas to you and your family Shannon!
Juanita Mille says
Shannon…
I love the white MERRY CHRISTMAS ribbon on the green tree!!! In fact, everything you’ve been able to put creatively together in your fox hollow cottage is beautifully done, rustic & quaint in the best way! I absolutely love what you’ve done with your place!!! I need to pull down my Christmas décor from the attic and get to creating for my smallish home and budget! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring! I cannot wait to see what you do next!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
I got used to it after a bit, it just seemed to stark at first. The ribbon itself is very pretty.
Thank you so much!! I try to have fun and not take any of it too serious.
Happy decorating ~ and Merry Christmas to you! 🙂
Kristin salazar says
I always love visiting your beautiful house, it’s gorgeous decorated for Christmas this year!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Thank you so much – Merry Christmas Kristin!
Terri says
So many pretty details here! That little angel melts my heart every time I see it. The lanterns look awesome against the chalkboard. But let’s talk about that sled on the coffee table. OMG, where has something like that been my whole Christmas-decorating-life? The placemats are colorful and happy on the dining table. Love that green (wood? metal?) box on the table too. So nice to have memories to go with that bench. That’s worth 1000 store bought!
Cant wait to see the Little Cottage!!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Terri I tried not to drag out everything I own this year, LOL. I love that sparkly snowman angel though, he’s a must.
Thank you!! We could not find that sled last year, it was so fun to use. Maybe we’ll find the missing Christmas Tree next year?
The green basket on the table is metal. I bought that and then saved it so it would be special for Christmas 🙂
Merry Holidays to YOU!
Bliss says
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
The same to you Bliss!! xo
Danielle says
So wonderful. I loved seeing every nook and cranny of your home. It’s so pretty and cozy and inviting. Our home isn’t large either. So I get it. LOVE the table and simple decor. Those lanterns look perfect up there and I hope to see the sign this winter. xx
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Thank you! I have a whole different theme I want to get down to The Little Cottage and start, and then, I can make my sign <3
Which is good, I need time to drill down on what I want to paint? I love about 47,352 different ideas. LOL
Regina says
Well said regarding smaller homes and smaller budgets. It leaves so much room for joy and happiness!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Merry Christmas 🙂