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Holiday

Christmas Tour of My House 2012

By 12/17/2012January 28th, 201739 Comments

My beautiful white wreath, perfect for my already green door is from a GaBi, a local garden designer and reader of my blog. She emailed me a few weeks ago to say she had this lovely gift for me! Thanks so much GaBi!

I set the tree up the in the family room since that’s where we spend most of our time.

Here’s my living room during the day. I desperately need drapery everywhere in my house but I want to get most of it made and installed at the same time rather than paying the installer to come out one room at a time. I haven’t had time to make decisions on all the rooms.

Here’s my living room at 7:30 am this morning.

 

 

 

 

I bought the angel wings for my dining chairs last year after Christmas.

I love white Kalanchoe’s. They last and last and always look good.

Last Christmas my best friend Tami arrived with white feather boas she was sure I could use somewhere and so I arranged them on the buffet over white lights.

Here’s the family room. You can’t see the chaise attached to the sofa in this picture, it’s KIVIK from IKEA. My secret to keeping it white is two white fleece blankets from Costco that I throw on them when we are watching TV at night so we don’t have to stress about keeping them white. Funny that the white fleece doesn’t seem to get dirty but if we sat directly on the white slipcovers they would instantly attract stains I’m sure.

Here it is at night.

I picked up these little coffee table stumps from HomeSense.

I was holding my camera in one hand and moving the finial with the other hand and it feel over and broke in half. It still looks fine though as long as we don’t touch it. I need to find some china glue.

 

 

 

 

Notice I had the TV installed close to the left side of the wall and not centred. And the sofa is directly across the TV so it’s technically centred for viewing. As you can see it’s installed a mere 5 inches above where it would be sitting on the console but it’s the difference between a TV that looks like it’s part of the arrangement of art on the wall vs. a lump sitting on the console.

At first I considered installing it above the fireplace but then it kills the possibility of art there instead. Also I would have have been forced to add millwork on either side of the fireplace to store the components which I wasn’t keen to do. Then when I read Joni’s post about flat screens, I felt totally validated that I had made the right decision.

The flowers in the frames are placeholders. I want to fill them with family photos. In between the frames are little glass beaker tea light holders from CB2. They really fill the room with atmosphere in the evening.

Here’s the other view of my kitchen, my roman shades will be installed in about a week, I can hardly wait!

 

I discovered some new editing features on my MAC today. Hence the blurred edges.

 

 

Last week I bought a turquoise nutcracker that found a home in my main bathroom.

Now that my house has been decorated and photographed for you I can focus on shopping for presents. I know I have always been last minute but I still manage to be efficient believe it or not!

My little 3 & 5 year old nephews were here tonight and I hugged them close! My heart goes out to the families of Newtown! xoxo Maria

Related posts:

 Maria’s Studio Dressed for the Holidays

Christmas Tree Shopping in the Rain

Kids Make Christmas Happy

If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.

Download my eBook, How to Choose Paint Colours – It’s All in the Undertones to get my complete step-by-step system on how to get colour to do what you want.

To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!

If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.

 

39 Comments

  • Boy, has you house come a long way. It is now a home beautifully done for Christmas. I especially like the mantle with what looks to be mercury glass and that fabulous red wreath. I, too, shared the decorations in my 200 year old Maine home on my blog! So much fun and inspirational to see the many different ways to celebrate the season in decorations!

  • I love the colors. Beautiful job!

  • Lisa says:

    Your home is beautiful! Normally I don’t like so much decor in one place because it looks cluttered to me. However, yours makes me want to take a closer look. You have so many pretty surprises that I don’t mind.

  • Coley says:

    I love your mantel! And those little owls are adorable 🙂

  • Ginger Kay says:

    You home looks both cheerful and elegant – just like you! Thanks for sharing it with us.

    I am not a fan of tv’s above a fireplace. I like the screen to be at eye level for viewing. Looking up would be like the front row at the movies – the seats I avoid at all cost.

  • StagerLinda says:

    Lovely mantel! Everything look delightful! Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays!

  • Kate says:

    I love your blog, Maria. Have follwed you for a couple of years now. But I think the yellow needs to go for Christmas. I’m no designer, and I may be entirely wrong, but I’m going out on a limb saying this because I bet you value feedback sent with nothing but good intentions. I don’t have a handy solution, just my honest opinion.

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Kate, Thanks for your comment. I love yellow but I know not everyone does! It works for me 🙂 Maria

  • Debbie says:

    Love the mantel, did you buy white Christmas balls and put the dots on them to tie all the colors together?

  • Donna Frasca says:

    Love how it’s coming along but the offset of the picture frames by the TV would drive my OCD nuts! Merry Christmas Maria! It’s been a busy year 🙂 xo

    • Betty says:

      I agree about the offset arrangement. What is the reason you did this? It would drive me crazy, too. I know there is a reason………????? Love the mantle!

      • Maria Killam says:

        Well it’s missing a chair on the left. The TV is centered to the Sofa but the biggest reason I installed it this way is so I could have a vignette on the entertainment unit. Otherwise all you can do is stick a bowl below the TV. It’s not the best photograph in the world so I can see that some people might not love it.
        Thanks for your comment!
        Maria

  • Vered Rosen says:

    Maria,
    I love the combination of white and green you picked, especially with the fresh “springy” greens. It’s much more appealing to me then the dark reds and greens one usually sees. I used this same color scheme (whites and greens) for decorating my friends table for the Jewish new year’s…

  • Beth says:

    Maria, you *so* don’t have cats. (Boa feathers, little owls, drapey things.) : )

    Beautiful job. (I love the yellow.) Next book: tablescapes, bookcase scapes, roomscapes. Really.

  • Maria!!!! It’s stunning! Your home is absolutely gorgeous, and your images are just incredible. Really, it’s so beautiful. I love both mantels, especially the image of the Barcelona chairs and all the green. Every shot should be published. You never cease to amaze, still, after all this time, and that is a major accomplishment. I hope you have the merriest Christmas. xx

  • Everything looks just beautiful, Maria! Love the fuzzy owls and white boa. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!
    xo

  • Paula Van Hoogen says:

    Maria, your place looks magnificent! Your detail in vignettes is amazing. This is a REAL gift from God.
    But…the part that grabbed me today was the close hugs you gave those boys. My eyes are watering up again as I write this. You have captured the love and significance of this Holy Birthday….never let it go.
    Our Codi has elected to return to his Mom. It will be so difficult to let him go.
    Blessings to you all!

  • GaBi says:

    Maria is the one of these generous angels who likes to share her advice and expertise. I had no idea that she is going to implement this year white colour, but because I work with the nature I have decided to make her a little surprise. Wreath was made from the leaves of Dusty Miller “New Look”
    http://georgeweigel.net/plant-of-the-week-profiles/annuals/dusty-miller-new-look and dusted with the white glitters.
    Maria you did an excellent job with your house and now you can start to work on your new book with your beautiful pictures.
    Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and to all of your readers

  • BillP says:

    What fun, Maria. Congratulations.

    Are you planning to paint the back of the shelves in the family room? I love the yellow books though some color at the back of the shelves could be a nice accent. The new kitchen looks great, but after the holidays I’d consider eliminating some of the vignettes from the countertop.

    Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

  • robin jurovich says:

    beautiful Maria!

  • Jane Cederholm says:

    Your home is lovely! The white and green Christmas theme is so nice-not too much color or too little. Very sophisticated yet welcoming. And the white kalanchoe is new to me-never before have I seen it in white.
    Hope your holidays are happy, healthy and prosperous!

  • Joni Webb says:

    Maria – your new house looks beautiful!!!!!! I especially love the living room and its fireplace – soooo pretty!!!

  • teresa says:

    Your house is so cheery and elegant…a difficult combo to pull off. I think it’s the whimsical touches such as the owls and angel wings that make it so.
    I like the offset TV and those that didn’t get the reasoning should read the CdT post you linked…LONG, but full of great thinking and pictures. I also like your FR. I don’t think you’d shown that before.
    Along with your office it must have taken you so muchy time to get everything set up. CTD

  • Jerseyjan says:

    Maria, I’ve been following you for a few years now. You’re quite a personality and an inspiration! Congratulations on your beautiful new home. It is warm and fittingly stylish. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Merry Christmas. xoJan

  • Tricia says:

    Beautiful holiday decorating, Maria. Because I had done some remodeling this past summer which led to lots of redecorating…I chose not to decorate the inside of my house this year because so much is not yet complete. You pulled off a lot of remodeling projects and still managed to decorate for the holidays. My hat is off to you!

  • Joan says:

    Warm, homey, inviting. You do beauty so well, Maria 🙂

  • Tammy says:

    You have a beautiful home! I just purchased your book of colors and I am still struggling finding the right living room color, could you tell me the colors of your living room and family room? This is what I have been searching for!

  • samantha says:

    Thought I had read all your blog posts faithfully, but I must have missed the one where you won the lottery to be able to renovate a house this quickly. Did I miss something?

  • Julie from Downunder says:

    Love it all, but favourites are the big white santa and I love love love the Nutcracker!

  • Margaret says:

    All so festive!!

    Wreath in your family room is just WOW!

    Merry Christmas!!

  • Leanne Baldwin says:

    Love your home Maria with all the holiday decor. The green and white is so festive together and my favourite is the feathered mantle.
    Thanks for sharing all these wonderful holiday decor ideas and colours with us.

  • Swanky says:

    Well done! I especially love the kookie metal tree on your mantel, the open shelving in the kitchen and your flat screen solution. What an incredible difference it makes to mount it above the console. Oh and the angel wings…..so sweet!

  • Jaclyn O'Hara says:

    Maria, because of you I don’t apologize any longer for my yellow sofa. I love what you have accomplished in your new home. It is so fresh and inviting and I adore your style. Merry Christmas and thanks again for a lovely blog and color expertise.

  • Lori McGinnis says:

    Marie:

    Your home is beautiful and inspiring. Best wishes to you and your family and a heartfelt thank you for all the joy you have given me via your blog over the years. You make me smile.

  • Eyvonne Hannah says:

    Your home is so elegant! Love your Christmas decor, too. I am a big fan of greens and yellows, so your color scheme is right up my alley. Thanks for the wonderful tour. Merry Christmas!

  • Dianne Tant says:

    The entire house is beautiful!
    Love your style!
    I have 55 TREES up in my house! a lot are tabletop…it’s very “Christmassy Wonderland” for our 12 Grandchildren! it’s on my facebook page..
    look forward to your work in the new year. Dianne

  • Bonnie says:

    Thanks for the beautiful tour of your home. So many wonderful ideas and so inviting. Reading your posts are like a Christmas present to myself that goes on all year.
    Merry Christmas Maria.

  • Lisa Lucas says:

    Thank you so much for sharing. After reading the comments, I was feeling taken aback by the unsolicited feedback when a fellow designer is so generous as to post photos of their own home. I look forward to your blog posts all throughout the year but especially liked this one with the photos.

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