Merrily, Merrily...Christmas is Here!

Welcome to the Lancaster House! I lovelovelove the Christmas Tour of Homes because one thing I adore is seeing how people design where they live. I studied interior design in college, so this has always been fascinating to me. I love everything that's involved in making a home, which I hope is evident in these pictures. As Peter Pan would say, "Come on, everybody! Here we gooooo....." [Except this is not as exciting as Neverland. Profuse apologies.]

Quick note: this is probably a good time to declare that I am a Neutrals Loyalist. I have a penchant for neutrals. Like BooMama wrote recently, I am also always riding the fence between color and neutrals, but I just can't pull of color. So now I'm waving my Neutrals flag and owning it. However, you'll only find me neutral in the color department. I have very solid opinions on most everything in life. :) So, next year I do believe I might do a gold/cream/white palate. Yummy.

Another quick note (don't kill me): Just to keep things very honest and above board, I had to move excessive amounts of baby gear, piles, and other paraphernalia around to get these pristine(ish) pictures. That's all.

The wreath was a pre-lit that my Nana gave me, and all I need was add some neutral ribbon. No gluing, nothing. Just wrapped and tucked. I also just tucked in a "Merry Christmas" glitter sign that I got in a florist's shop in downtown Colleyville, Texas. Florists are a great resource for interior design! Since I didn't glue anything, I can change it as much as I please. Hee hee.



No foyer picture (I explain below), but here's the wall on the way to the living room. The rest of the year, this spells LOVE. So for Christmas, I only have to change one letter and it spells NOEL.


Here's where it all happens: the living room. I love eight-point stars, which I have at the top, but now it looks a little wimpy lonely to me. So I will most likely get a new topper for next year. :) But my tree is just a mix of everything, and that's how I like it. In our next house I'm going to have a decorative tree. But I'll always have my eclectic family tree.


Mantles. I love me some mantles. This is a combination of a green garland, "bubble" lights from Target, sprigs of goldy berry things, and (the secret): a garland of dangly goldness that sits underneath everything. It adds so much to have it dangling over the mantle, and it happened by accident. I thought it looked too wimpy by itself, so I just added it into everything and I love it.
I kind of feel like Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick while describing my mantleness.



That's a crown tree-topper from Hobby [Heaven] Lobby that I just tucked into the mantle. I have a thing about crowns. I could say something spiritual about Jesus the King of Kings (which He IS!), but honestly I think it stems from the fact that I had a minor/somewhat really major obsession with Prince William back in the day.

Please pardon the fan in the reflection. Pet peeve of mine. Eeeeeek. I decided to hang our stockings by the fireplace screen instead of the actual mantle itself. It makes it look less crowded. I really like how it turned out!

From now on I will be getting only 5x7 Christmas Cards, because once I framed ours from this year, I can't go back. I'll be framing for life.

I traded out the sign that usually hangs under my two vintage prints (the sign says 'Dwell in Possibility') for a vintagey-looking Merry Christmas sign that I got at the same Texas florist. The white glowy tree is from Target.


This isn't Christmasy per se, but it sparkles. I adore my new very mini chandelier. I got it from Renaissance in my hometown in Missouri.

Again, not Christmasy, but if a cross isn't representative of the season, then what is!? I got this at a market for homemade things recently. I just love it.

Everyone does it. It's cheap, easy, and looks festive. The token balls-in-something-glass. :) I actually did this because I had a ton of these non-breakable ornaments and they were going to waste. So into the bowl they went!

"Believe" blocks that I saw on Sarah's Thrifty Decor blog and ordered for myself from Imperfectly Beautiful. Underneath is a Mickey and Minnie figurine from my Nana. On the bottom shelf of the corner table, I have a small glass bowl where I keep all of the Christmas cards we receive.




I have painted a few times at Easely Amused, and our guest bathroom is where I switch them out. So, appropriately, here is O Holy Night:


Of course I couldn't let Evy's room go undecorated! Pink tree from Hobby [Heaven] Lobby:


I saw the white feather tree Nester's blog and had to have it. Click here to read the special story behind the theme of Evy's room (feathers and angels).

Also on the little table is one of my most prized possessions: a nativity carved out of olive wood from Israel. It normally goes in the foyer but my table is getting refinished, so this tour is sans foyer. I was supposed to go with him to visit the Holy Land, but once I found out I was pregnant, I just couldn't take the risk. I was so sad that I couldn't go, and he know I'd wanted to get a nativity, so he brought this back for me! I was rocking Evy last night and her nightlight behind the table made the nativity glow. I was suddenly overcome with emotion about the story of Jesus' birth. Magnificent. Tear in my eye.


After everyone has gone to sleep, I turn on my Holiday Channel on XM radio and just sit, breathe, and appreciate the gorgeousness that is Christmas.

. . .and I also thank God for the most wonderful little addition to our family who will be experiencing her first Christmas this year:

Merry, Merry Christmas from Kurt, Ashley and Evy Kate!

To see our Christmas Card and letter from this year, click here!