Well everyone, it’s time for round two; the second part of my Christmas home tour! If you missed out on part one, you can see it here. I have had such a great time decorating our home for Christmas this year. It is my favourite season, I get so excited about it, and being able to direct that passion into creating a lovely space for my husband and I is so fulfilling for me. I feel so grateful that we live where we do, and have what we do, in order for me to be able to pour into this hobby of mine. And I’m always very thankful that Troy has an appreciation for what I create, as well as an abundance of patience to put up with my, often weeks-long, whirlwinds of seasonal decorating.
Well, I suppose we should get to it. I hope you are ready for a whole lot of cozy, Christmas joy!
Let’s start off with my little entryway, otherwise known as the door from the outside of our condo to the inside.
I found this lovely chalkboard style sign at a little decor shop in Bragg Creek, Alberta (about half an hour west of where we live) after last year’s Christmas season. It was a small boutique shop, so unfortunately I didn’t take note of the name! I just hung it on a nail, and around it tied a little bow from this ribbon I bought at Michaels.
Continuing with our rustic cottage theme, I love using this antler in the winter. It was up on the mantle last year. I picked up the large vintage jug from Red Barn Mercantile in Okotoks. The dried boxwood wreath was my one splurge of the season, it’s a Martha Stewart one I got at Home Depot.
Next, lets move over into our living room. Here is the view looking towards our couch…
I love filling this well bucket up with pinecones. I also find that using cozy throws adds to that cottage Christmas feel. The red pillow closest in the picture is from Home Sense this year.
I loved putting together our mantle for the season. We made a shiplap wall for it (you can see that process here), so there is a whole new feel to it this year.
It was so nice using fresh greenery along my mantle this year, that was a first for me!
I am super excited about how my chalkboard turned out. The frame I’ve been using around the house was just plain poplar wood, and after applying a pre-stain conditioner I used a combination of Minwax “special walnut” and “classic grey”. My Father-in-Law cut me a piece of MDF board to fit inside, which I painted with a bunch of coats of chalkboard paint, and then we fastened it to the frame. I just thought I would give a quick how-to, since I didn’t make a DIY post for it. I have never written on chalk board before, and I’d like to take some form of calligraphy course to improve, however I’m fairly happy with my first time results!
It feels so cozy in here with the fireplace burning.
Also, the glow the tree brings to the mantle in the evening is so lovely, I thought I would give you a glimpse of it…
On that note, time to show you the tree!
I love using little woodland creature ornaments (and am continually adding more that I find in different stores each year). My husband would say I’m obsessed with them.
I picked up three different smaller versions of the chalkboard style sign that you saw in the entryway and decided to use them within the tree. Maybe one day I will be able to write that beautifully on a chalkboard (though I’m not going to hold myself to it, haha).
I always fill in little spaces in the tree with pinecones. I don’t think I will ever get tired of using pinecones in the winter and Christmas season.
This plaid throw is another Home Sense purchase. My husband really likes this one!
I love having the tree lights on all day long. It feels so festive in here!
And that brings us to the end of my Christmas home tour for this year. I really hope that you all enjoyed my cozy cottage theme, and maybe even found some inspiration for your own home.
Thank you so much for joining me on my tour. I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas; that you’re able to spend plentiful time with those you love, and that you find so much joy in all of the little moments this season brings to you and your family. Merry Christmas, everyone!
— Rachel, at The Porch Light Cottage
Beautiful!
Thank you so much! So encouraging 🙂