Colorful Christmas Kitchen

I finally finished decorating our kitchen for the holidays.  This week I added some colored lights and a few other things that make me smile this time of year.

Here’s a look around the kitchen…

         

The kitchen window is festified with green and red ornaments hanging from the ceiling and a fresh cypress wreath.

    

My KitchenAid mixer even got outfitted for Christmas with a pink Santa hat.  This little corner is also home to a pink pinecone tree that my niece made for me, and a pile of presents!

The upper cabinets are decorated with string lights and a flurry of snowflakes! 

My new “Scottish” Nutcracker takes his place next to the stove.

The kitchen table is set with poinsettia placemats, red napkins, and red holly plates topped with Christmas cats.

     

Even Bandit is ready for Christmas… his favorite pastime these days is chewing on the faux pine bough on the railing.  And of course batting the ornaments off the tree! :)

 

FROM THE HORVATHS

 

Come back soon and I’ll show you the rest of our holiday decor plus some Christmas crafts! :)

Silver and Gold

This year I decided to do something different in the den for Christmas.  Since painting the walls a pale blue, all my red Christmas decor just didn’t seem right anymore.  With the addition of a few gold and silver sprigs and some new candleholders, I was able to transform our existing decorations into a silver and gold wintery mantel! 

The new look started with garland and lights.  Gold mesh ribbon twines through for a little glitter and silver frosted leaf sprigs catch the light.  Magically, snow has gathered in the fireplace and on the logs! 

On top of the mantel, real fur trimmings and gold beaded garland twines through the mercury glass votives, pillar candles and a gold star in the center.

These faux mercury glass candlesticks are my new purchase.  I love the antique silver finish!

On the hearth, a little gold bird perches atop his fancy birdcage, trimmed with pine, gold berries and a bow!

Across the room, on the black cabinet, our little tree is decorated with twinkle lights and gold and silver sprigs.  Two gold tapers are glowing alongside, while a couple of snowmen add a bit of whimsy. 

And in the corner, Santa is parachuting in for Christmas Eve!

Another fir wreath adorns the wall between the windows.  A few pinecones and silver sprigs complement the greenery.

Now all we need are some stockings hung by the chimney with care! 

(I’m still working on those… since, of course, the old ones had too much red in them!  I’m thinking cream wool with a little embroidery, velvet ribbon and vintage buttons… gotta get to work on those!  I’d love to make some Christmas pillows for this room, too…)

Come back soon for more Christmas with the Horvaths!

Merry and Bright

Christmas is coming!  To herald its arrival, I pulled out all the Christmas boxes the day after Thanksgiving, and in between shopping at the mall (eek!) I got most of it put up.  The rest has been added over the last week or so.  Here’s a look around the house at some of our Christmas decorations!

On the back of the front door, an evergreen wreath spruces up the space.

For this wreath, I started with a faux wreath and added real fir trimmings, glittery red branches, and shiny red ornaments.

As we continue up the stairs, our garland is also accented with glittery branches and ornaments.

Twinkle lights add a little extra cheer.

Our new cabinet got a holiday vignette complete with two live topiary trees.  (Fingers crossed that I don’t kill them!)  The topper is an old mantel scarf that I adjusted to fit the cabinet.  It’s so cute here!  Greenery, holly and a Santa complete the scene. 

Can you tell I’m loving my new spot to decorate?!

  Over on the couch, the red snowflake pillows that I made last year are back, along with our lighted gift on the little table.

And here is the Christmas Tree!  I added gold mesh ribbon to the mix this year for a little something different.

Our oversize ornaments fill the doorway into the dining room. 

The dining table is set with Lenox Holiday china, red chargers, and gold swirl placemats.  Gold snowflake ornaments twinkle from the chandelier.

I switched up the centerpiece this year with real holly and berries, plus velvet poinsettias.

And on the wreath over the mirror, I added a ring of red glittery berries!  Love!

Even the corner cabinet got a little spruce for Christmas with some greenery and berries on top!

And of course, I had to bring out the Christmas cat plates to update the dining room display.  

Here’s your parting glance at the tree…   

Until next time…  when I reveal our new look for Christmas in the den!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Over the weekend we got an early snow from Old Man Winter.  Just a nice accumulation on the grass and on the tree branches.  It made for a pretty sight at our house, which we’ve decorated for Christmas with garland and lights.  Here’s a look at our Winter Wonderland:

  

19 days until Christmas!

Check back soon for more Christmas decor pictures!

Thanksgiving Dinner Tablesetting

Thanksgiving is just days away, which means we’re breaking out the fine china, washing up our crystal stemware and pressing our linen napkins…

Well, maybe we’re breaking out the Better Homes and Garden’s leaf plates from Walmart (that we bought on clearance!), and tearing leaf printed cotton into squares to make some fun napkins for Fall.  My mom is hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but I have a sneak peek of her dinner table just for you!

The token cornucopia is overflowing on the buffet with leaves, Indian corn and gourds…

While the dining table is set with brown leaf chargers, cream scalloped dinner plates and colorful leaf printed salad plates.

Clear iced tea glasses, corn trays, and fall printed napkins complete the settings.

And in the center of the table, crystal candlesticks with cream tapers flank the Indian corn centerpiece (seen here.)

Now, all we need is a turkey with all the trimmings!

P.S.  I have a secret…

                               …

                                           …

                                                                 …

I am so ready for Christmas!!  I already have some gifts wrapped and ready for the tree!  Now to convince Michael to let me decorate early… ;)   Wish me luck!