Holiday Housewalk Merry Christmas Home Tour

The big day is finally here! It’s the most anticipated holiday post of the year, and I’ve been doing my very best to get our cottage all decked and merry and bright, just in time for Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk. You can snuggle up and get comfy, and hop from blog to blog to peep inside some of the most festive holiday homes around, and if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for your own home, this is the tour to see! It starts at Jen’s and will be updated daily — You won’t want to miss a single house on this special Christmas parade of homes! 

If you are visiting from Jennifer Rizzo’s home (stop number 1), welcome! Jen is the mastermind behind this event, and she does such a beautiful job getting all of us little blogger elves organized and ready for the big Holiday Housewalk week. I’m always honored when I’m invited back. 

Welcome to our cottage for the Holiday Housewalk! It’s a Merry (little) Christmas Home Tour

Hi there, I’m Shannon! And to all my regulars – hello Foxy friends! I’ve been working hard to freshen things up a bit since you last visited to see the Better Homes & Gardens “Cozy Cottage Cabin” holiday look. 

I’m sticking with the cozy cabin vibe, and that gorgeous green we all fell for is still playing a big part in my Christmas decor this year. I did sneak in a pinch of red, but just a little pinch. 

When my mom and I hit JoAnn’s a few weeks ago, I left this plaid MERRY sign behind because “I didn’t need it”. But it knew better, and it kept calling to me. So I answered the call and I just adore it! It was so crazy on sale I couldn’t resist. I added the “& Bright” to my DIY chalkboard and I think it filled in my mantel quite nicely. 

Our fireplace has come a long way… you can see the hideous beginnings by [clicking here]. We recently added the shiplap above the mantel. I’ll be sharing a tutorial for that soon! Using the material we did made made it simple — we didn’t even have to remove the trim or crown mouldings! 

And look — I get blogger points for having a fire for you, right? (My regular readers will get this reference. hehe) It’s a Duraflame log of course. The wood is strictly for looks. I am completely start-a-fire-fast spoiled now.

A few weeks ago, I drew up some very basic Christmas tree silhouettes and then Jimmy cut them out for me with our band saw. Something I’d normally be very able to do, but he was happy to do for me, as I haven’t worked in our shop since my surgery. He made me a whole little forest! I can’t wait to get them all painted up and share them with you!

If you are new here — I like to use a lot of exclamation points. I try to reign them in… but sometimes they get away from me!!!!

I found the pair of little brass Deer a few years ago, after a lengthy search. I had a price-point in mind (cheap) and I knew I’d come across some eventually. So glad I waited because I love their poses.

The searching is such a fun part of the adventure! If you love to hunt & junque, you know just what I’m talking about.

Until very recently, our farm table was centered under that chandelier that the little three legged table is under now. And yes, that means our dining table was also right inside the front door. There’s a bit more room than it looks like, but it’s still far from a formal living room. 

Our house was built in the 1920’s and as such, the rooms were not laid out around. or designed to accommodate modern things like televisions. It’s also a very modest home in size. It’s less than half the size of our previous one. I don’t miss cleaning that monster sized house at all! Though I do occasionally miss the storage. 

It’s not unusual at all for me to change my furniture around to suit our families current needs best, or to satisfy a whim. And I have a lots of whims. 

SEE MORE OF OUR BRICK WALL PROJECT & REVEAL BY [CLICKING HERE]

Oh and a tip — never get dark flooring. You’re welcome! 

Since I booted the farm table out of it’s spot under the chandelier to make a cozy seating area in front of the fire, a decision I don’t regret at all… I wanted to create some sort of make-shift “chandelier” for it, in it’s new location. 

So Jimmy & I came up with this lightweight wood ladder idea. I planned to drape it with garland for Christmas, and luckily I love how it turned out. 

It’s a small project that was under $5 to pop together! I can try to get a tutorial together for it if you guys need one.

When I ran into JoAnn’s and picked up the MERRY sign, what I was really after was some deep green ribbon. Well honestly, what I really wanted was Blackwatch Plaid ribbon, but it simply wasn’t in the budget. So I settled for the next best thing.

I ended up getting both the MERRY sign and the satin ribbon for what one spool of Blackwatch Plaid ribbon would cost. I live in a very small town and JoAnn’s is one of the few brick & mortar stores I have available to shop at. I have text alerts on my phone so I see the sales and deals for JoAnn’s daily. Not sure if that’s good… or bad? hehe

I’ve found over time, that patience and perseverance often work in so many facets of our lives. Including shopping. This set of matte black candlesticks caught my eye in a Pottery Barn ad. A few months later, they popped up on my favorite daily deal site for a price I felt more comfortable with, and I made them mine. Whenever I see a great deal, or decide to grab something, I almost always share it on my Fox Hollow Cottage Facebook page [here], or in my private Facebook group [join here].

I’m so glad I grabbed these, and I know they will be a staple decor item I can use well past Christmastime. I’m very much a gatherer of good, solid basics. 

Concessions and twinkle lights. They both work for me. 

You’ll have to excuse the rumpled appearance of my chair and a half. I’ve got to order a steamer. I simply haven’t had a chance to do any research before deciding on one. If you’ve got one you like, please share! I’d love suggestions. 

Good thing she’s still super comfy, cozy — wrinkles and all!

The Merry Christmas sign my mom bought me while here on her visit, migrated from the fireplace mantel, over to my chunky DIY shelf. [I’ve got a great tutorial for making & hanging them [click here]. After building one for our laundry room, I thought one would look equally as good right here — so we built another one. I’m still so smitten with these beefy beauties! 

I paired the Merry Christmas sign with a vintage green chalkboard (it was free!), a few tiny trees, a vintage thermos and a fluffy, snowy-white pompom garland. 

Our vintage gold mirror seems to gravitate to this spot for Christmas. I realized after hanging it, it was here last year too! 

The little wood table was a church rummage sale find, for $5 — I have a thing for round tables. So glad that I brought it home, even though I absolutely did not need it. Clearly… as it sits inside my home. lol

If you hang around here for any amount of time, you’ll notice I love this super-simple decor trick. I use; a tray + a wreath + a candle. Always a winner, with only 3 items! Update it with a seasonally appropriate wreath, and you’re golden. You simply can not mess it up.

Again, I promise you that there’s more room than it looks like in here! I kind of made 3 zones with the furniture arrangement. ONE – the cozy fireplace seating area. TWO – the dining area. And THREE a mini TV spot that’s just right for me. Don’t worry, we’ve got a family room downstairs where Jimmy & I do all our sofa snuggling for movies and football watching, so it’s all good!

Keeping things simple this year feels extra right. It fits where I’m at currently in my life… and it’s what works for me & my family. In years past, I’d have about died that my tree was still naked for the tour. This year? It’s not a worry. I’m all about the idea of slow living. Embracing it actually! Because it’s not a race. I’ve removed the pressure, and I’m content working within my physical limitations. I’m happy. My family is happy. That is all that really matters.

As we gaze at all the pretty homes this holiday season, remember that having a perfectly decked home is a wonderful thing, and we all love sharing our home and ideas with YOU… but we also know it’s not the most important thing. So take away ideas that might work for you, and please enjoy this most festive time of year!

Love & Light & Christmas blessings to you all, Shannon 

Thank you so much for stopping by Fox Hollow Cottage today, please remember to make time for the next stop, and say Hello to Lauren at Bless’er House for me… you are in for a treat! Lauren has beautiful, timeless style! 

S O U R C E S

Some source links may be affiliate — your cost will not increase. See full disclosure [here]

FIREPLACE SEATING AREA

• Mantel & Fireplace: $150 Makeover Details [click here] (shiplap update coming soon)

• Duraflame Gold Firelogs: [click here] 

• Merry Plaid Christmas Sign: JoAnn’s

• Black Wood Trim Chalkboard Sign: DIY

• Mixed Greenery Garland: [click here]

• Mixed Greenery Wreath: [click here]

• Wood Trees: DIY

• Button Tufted Chairs: [click here]

• Feather Filled Green Cable Knit Pillows: [click here] Now on clearance for $10.00

• Chandelier: [click here]

• Drapery Hardware: Bed Bath & Beyond

• Bar Cart: Target

• Plantation Shutters: Blinds.com, Norman Woodlore in White — See another Blinds.com shutter style in our guest cottage [click here] 

• Door Color: Sherwin Williams, Worldly Gray

DINING AREA:

• Farmhouse Shelf in Light Oak: [click here]

• White Console Table, on the brick wall: [similar selections here]

• Farm Table: [find similar here]

• Sisal Rug: [click here]

• Mini Table Trees: Safeway Floral Dept, Big Lots, HomeGoods

• Full Size Christmas Tree: Details Here

• Matte Black Candle Sticks: Decor Steals

• Black Metal Lanterns: Prior BH&G find at Walmart

• Tiny Black House Candle Holder: JoAnn’s 

• XL Rolling Basket by Front Door: HomeGoods

• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Sign: [click here]

MINI LIVING ROOM AREA:

• I burned my Fresh Baked Gingerbread Candle (& hummed Christmas songs) while I took my photos: Order yours [click here] all candles are 25% off right now!

• Chunky Wood Wall Shelf: DIY tutorial [click here]

• Merry Christmas Sign: JoAnn’s

• Feather Filled Faux Fur Pillow [click here] WOW! on clearance for only $9.00

• Fur Trim Plaid Pillow: HomeGoods 

• NEW Ava Chair And A Half: Grandin Road (I’ll circle back to this another time)

• Black Library Lights: [similar here]

• Coffee Table: HomeGoods 

All Remaining: Vintage, Thrifted or DIY

If you see something I didn’t list above, just leave a comment or find me over on my Facebook page and I’ll answer as quickly as possible. 

Holiday Housewalk 2018 [click here]

Holiday Housewalk 2017 [click here]

Holiday Housewalk 2016 [click here]

Subscribe for free today to receive all my latest DIY tutorials, decorating ideas, upcoming projects & more, sent right to your in-box!

Join us on our adventures... and let's make our houses "homes" together!

Your email address will never be shared or sold. I promise!