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Christmas in the entry and living room

    One year ago, we were mid- one million projects around the house. On Christmas Eve, we finally hung the shelves in the freshly made-over kitchen and my parents were so gracious to come help us clean and hide moving boxes in preparation for our family to come the next day.

    This year, we’re hosting our family again for Christmas and it feels a little less frantic on the project front. We love having everyone here and also enjoy how having parties means we’re motivated to get the house looking its best.

    There are still plenty of big projects we’d like to do in the house – and at some point we’ll get to them – but for now, it feels good to have furniture and art in place and a few christmas decorations making the house look festive.

    You’ve already seen the studio decorated for Christmas (or if not, click here), a few shots of the kitchen and a little bit of the family room. Today I’m showing the entry and living rooms and in the next few days I’ll try to take advantage of our sunny weather and snap a few more photos around the house.

    In the entry, we moved a few things around and finally found a place for our old theater seats. We bought these years and years ago at a local salvage yard (they came from a Seattle high school). Hanging above is my favorite canvas from Lindsay Letters of the Doxology. Ryan’s grandma always prefers the sing the Doxology at family gatherings, and while it is always just a little too high for me to sing along to, I love the song, the words and the memories.

    I put up fresh cedar garland on the painted stair railing and popped in a few branches of boxwood cut from our yard. It looks so pretty … and makes such a mess. But it’s worth the daily vacuuming :)

    Let’s move into the living room.

    We painted the walls dark blue/green/gray (Ancestral by Behr paint) and it sets a nice moody tone in here. Earlier this year I painted the fireplace tile surround (here’s the full tutorial) and still smile every time I walk by the room. It adds a graphic, modern touch to a pretty traditional and fancy room. And it sure looks pretty with garland and stockings.

    couch | coffee table (similar) | rug | side table | lamps (similar) | curtain rods | curtains

    On the coffee table are a few Christmas favorites.

    The brass nativity set is from Potterybarn (no longer available) and sits on a vintage tray with faux snow. Was it snowy during Jesus’ birth? Doubtful, but it sure looks pretty :)

    Also on the table is a bowl of my delicious sea salt caramels (make them!) wrapped in natural parchment, which makes them look particularly fancy. And then a vase filled with winter greens leftover from my wreath-making moment. I think this is my new favorite winter ‘flower’ arrangement.

    wood tray (similar) | noel pillow (similar) | wool stripe pillow | floral pillow | dot pillow

    And saving my favorite picture for last:

    The garland only looks this fresh and green for a day or two, but I sure love it!

    Now off to deck more of our halls …


    MORE SOURCES

    Wall Color: Ancestral by Behr
    Trim Color: Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams
    Ceiling Color: Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

    Rug | Sofa | Coffee Table (similar) | Floor Lamps (similar) | Throw Blanket Ikat Pillow | Curtains | Curtain Rods | Curtain Rings | Wood Tray (similar) | Noel Pillow (similar) | Wool Stripe Pillow | Floral Pillow | Dot Pillow | Canvas | Ceiling Light

    Living Room Reveal

    DIY Painted Fireplace Tile

    Painting the Trim in the Entry

    20 thoughts on “Christmas in the entry and living room”

    1. Emily, what size is the Doxology print that you have? Love the size and seeing it in your entry is a good statement piece. Thanks!

    2. Thank GOD, you are celebrating Him first and foremost, Hallelujah. Love your rustic elegant touches very clean. Have the family help decorate the rest so you won’t feel overwhelmed, for instance, if you have presents to wrap, allow them towrap, set out tape, scissors, brown wrapping with red ribbon, you just attach name tags securely from peekers in advance in the same brown cut out wrap, set out your carmels, popcorn, hot toddy with cinnamon sticks, and wrap away.

    3. Hi–this is beautiful! Would you share about your silouette pictures, please? Did you do them yourself or order them? I love your website and your style. Thank you for sharing it all.

    4. So pretty. Question, how do you keep the area carpet in place in your living room. Area carpets over wall to wall, tends to shift around, anyway mine does :)

    5. This is just gorgeous! Love the print from Doxology! Question: Is it on black, classic charcoal or black-board? I can’t tell from the photo. Love it!

    6. Hi Emily! Is it possible to please share how you’ve attached the stocking to your fireplace… I have tried so many stocking holders this year -having moved back to our VA home, different fireplace than the previous three years and nothing is working. I currently have fishing wire ready to somehow attach them to the fresh cedar garland, but I’m positive that’s not going to work as it’s appearing in my head. Whatever you’ve done looks lovely and I am quite interested how they are attached. Thank you for your posts. I always enjoy seeing what you’re next working on. Happy Holidays!

      1. thank you! It is an outdoor rug from Target this past summer and is holding up great! I would love to add a vintage turkish rug in here to add some color, but haven’t found the perfect one yet.

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