From our house to yours: Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I hope you are enjoying your holidays. I just realized that I never posted pictures of our Christmas decor. It's not much this year, I wanted to keep it easy. My main goal was to not pull any ornaments out of storage. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but it led to many purchases that will lead to more packing away. oh well. it was fun!

Every year Chad and I host our families at our house for a holiday dinner party. I can not believe I did not take a picture of the table this year. But I tried to recreate a little bit of it below. Here is what I started with. Of course the cake plate was filled with food instead of a candle and there were actual candles in the holders.

I did get a pic of the cookies. I decorated them to match the table and home decor. ACORNS and SNOWFLAKES. white and silver.

I stacked all of the food on Christmas presents. I know it sounds weird but it worked. No need in wrapping an empty box. The table was full of food, extra wide jute ribbon and mercury ornaments. I put the food not only on china but also in random things. ie. a huge wooden scoop and a double tin shelf.

Oh how I wish I had pictures but hopefully you get the idea with a 1/4 of the table recreated.

We wrapped all of the presents in shipping Kraft paper this year. It's so nice to always have at your house as it is good for any holiday or birthday. I used burlap ribbon not only on the tree but also on the presents. Ornaments helped add color to the brown on brown.

If you read my blog regularly, you know I was obsessed with flocking things this year. Here is a bit of our tree up close: we flocked it a skosh.

White spray painted branches helped add texture and color to our tree.

And the end result!

Thank you for allowing us in your home this year. We will be back next year with new ideas, fun finds, and easy updating tricks for your home. From our house to yours: Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you next year. Alli.

A little cubby... A long way.

It finally feels like Christmas time in Houston and it is actually cold enough for an outside fire. I just finished designing and (had) built an outdoor fireplace for someones home. It turned out beautiful and it was the perfect evening last night for them to enjoy it. Take a look at their new addition. unfinished. not decorated.

Having never designed a fireplace, I flipped through many many pictures to get ideas. I knew on picture number UNO.. this fireplace would have a cubby for chopped wood. Not only for convenience but it really adds character year around. With Rustic Chic on the rise... Here is how you can incorporate chopped wood into your home.

And if you are like me and have a non-working fireplace... you can still get the look...

And during the summer months... fill it with books...

I am in love with chopped wood walls too. Cozy. I first spotted "a wall" at Tillman's Roadhouse in Dallas, as you can see in the first two pictures below.

(If you like this look...keep reading... there is a "how to" below on how to create it in your home.)

And there is even chopped wood furniture appearing out there!

Check out more furniture by artist Jaehyo Lee.

If you just want a tiny piece of this look. Get this frame for $12 by Pt. OR mix tradition and chopped wood decor. For the past 4 years, my husband and I have been keeping a little piece of the trunk off of our Christmas tree. We write the year on one side. I usually put them in a bowl during Christmas as decorations.

Back to the walls of wood... This looks like so much fun and I will be participating after the holiday season is over. MAKE YOUR OWN CHOPPED WOOD WALL. Follow this link to see how to do this fun craft.

You can purchase the wood chips from a fun little store on Etsy named Monkeys on the Roof.

See you soon,
Alli

Branching Out.

Branching out and bringing the outside indoors. Such a cool way to add some more decor to your holiday home.

Hanging centerpiece?

The way the beaded garland is hanging makes one think CHRISTMAS TREE! Nice vintage ornaments.

A nice touch to a kids room during the holidays. Looks like the branch has been sprayed pink!

Add height to your tree with branches sticking out of the top. I spray painted some branches white and placed them randomly in our tree. I will get some pictures up soon! It added a nice different sort of touch.

Want this. Isn't it to die for?

Class and perfect way to spruce up a guest bedroom for company.

More hanging centerpieces!

I want this to be a Christmas Card!

Creative alternative to those with out a fireplace! I like that the greenery was kept on the branch.

And... My approach to branching out. I told you yesterday that I am literally obsessed with flocking everything in my decor. These are branches from the backyard that I lightly flocked and put in a metal urn. I actually have had this up since Thanksgiving since the pine cone ornaments were not tooo Christmas-ee. I recently added more ornaments to the branches.

And up close and personal!

Enjoy your TUESDAY! Go find some branches and have fun!

See you soon,

Alli.

Foregoing the skirt.

Forget the Christmas tree skirt this year! All season I have been calling these little trees- STATEMENT trees. Smaller or skinnier trees-in some sort of pot-with many ornaments-making a huge statement. Do you like this? It really works well for our friends in NYC or those that do not want the task of a big tree, pulling out all the ornament boxes, then decor decor decor.

This tree is simply beautiful with a skosh of flocking (my new obsession) and icicle ornaments.

Making a statement on the dessert bar. The ornaments around the tree are amazing too!

Room for all the presents when the tree sits high off the floor in an urn style pot.

ADORE.

My mother is going to go crazy over this piece of work! If you look closely that is a disco ball above the tree. Again, we are seeing a grouping of ornaments next to the tree displayed in a fine bowl.

Creative.

Could it get any more classy? Feather trees grouped together at the entrance of the home.

Now this is what I am talking about!!! Tons of ornaments-piled on a small tree-screams STATEMENT!

If you love the traditional look of larger tree but still want to forego the skirt. Put it in a basket! I wish I could have done something like this! Unfortunately, we over estimated the height of our ceilings and came home with a much larger tree!

Getting a little more creative with the aluminum tin! It appears this statement tree is in the kitchen!

The picture below is not of the best quality but you will get the idea... I just finished my STATEMENT TREE! It is was originally 2 feet tall and now stands even higher with the help of an old ceiling light fixture base. I filled it with larger ornaments that would typically be too much for a tree of its size. I am thinking it will be placed in the kitchen! Hopefully more pictures to follow...but in the meantime... I present to you.... my little work of art...

See you soon, Alli.