I shared our Christmas living room 2024 yesterday and, if you missed it, you can see it in THIS POST. Today, I’m giving a little tour of the kitchen and eating area.

Last year was the first year I had the chance to decorate our newly-renovated kitchen for Christmas, so I had a great time with it. This year, I kept most of the decor the same since I really loved it. There are a few differences, though.

antique baker’s table | hardwood floors | Ilve range | brass pot rail | quartz counters
I used the same wreath I made last year (you can find details HERE), but the velvet ribbons didn’t store very well, so I changed those out. I used the same dried orange slice garland along the pot rail. I made it last year and stored it in a zip topped back in the basement and it held up just fine. I imagine dried oranges will deteriorate after a certain number of years, but so far I’ve had dried oranges last more than three years without a problem.



glass knobs | brass pulls | Christmas wreath details | orange slice garland

I used two original Norfolk Pine garlands over the sink with some dried orange slices, dried limes, and faux juniper tied in. I also made little swags to hang from the sconces.


I saved the salt dough “gingerbread” houses I made last year and put the largest one by the sink and the smaller ones on the pine hutch shelves.

To make the myrtle topiaries look festive for the holidays, I tied a green satin ribbon around the trunk.


They look so cute! It’s amazing what a simple bow can do. As I was adding bows to a few things, a magazine article about decorating dos and don’ts came to mind. The writer of the article asked a famous designer (I forget which one) to name one thing that should never be in a house. The designer answered, “Bows.” I’m sure the designer was referring to 1980s bow tiebacks or something in that vein, but I will respectfully disagree when it comes to tasteful, simple bows. I think they are a classic that will never go out of style.


I added some Norfolk Pine sprigs (I directed a garland to make those) to sprinkle around the shelves along with salt dough houses and some of my favorite LED candles. You can read about how I secured them in antique ironstone crocks HERE.

Violet was playing Spot the Cat. She was actually sitting by a vent, which is a popular place for the kitties during the winter months. If they are not on a lap, they are usually in front of a vent.


I simplified the hutch a little bit since last year and just added some greenery on top and some salt dough houses. Instead of putting the little Norfolk Pine tree by the kitchen door, I put it next to the hutch where it’s a little more out of the way.


The little ironstone tureen on the table is filled with Hershey Kisses, which Jeff and the boys wipe out about as fast as I can fill it! The chandelier has changed since last Christmas, so I had a new opportunity to add greenery and some ribbons.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a tour of the dining room…












12 Responses
I agree. Bows make things special. I even have a big floppy ivory one on my armoire handle. Your kitchen is dream worthy and I know you treasure it every day.
Now……what about those stockings with the black and white checks….I love them!!
I made those out of an antique cutter quilt a few years ago for an HGTV tutorial. They are actually blue and white. 🙂
Your kitchen is lovely! How did you hang up the wooden shoes?
I screwed D-rings in the back of each shoe.
MMS!
We moved into a lovely lake retirement community two years ago. Having left our country home on a nearby island and moved to cozy apartment living, I’m vicariously lingering in your gorgeously decorated living room and kitchen.
Your mantle swags and objects are unpretentiously elegant. The greenery and swags carried into the kitchen create seamless natural beauty. I can hear the lid on the crockery being replaced as handfuls of kisses are quickly grabbed. Life and love in the midst of the season of light.
Diney on Mercer Island
Love it all. So grateful you taught me to fill out my real greenery with faux .
Your decorating is beautiful, but …. Violet steals the show.
Beautiful! This is definitely the year of “The Bow”!!!! Love yours,
What I appreciate most about your style and touch is its authenticity. The rail above your stove, for example, has by far the most character and charm of those I’ve seen with the pieces you’ve collected. You put deep thought into everything. I also love how you rethink and reuse elements from season to season. It’s curated, and yet it’s a home — all lovely and inspiring.
Looks like I place I would love to create tasty holiday treats in! And I’m on “team bow,” as long as there aren’t too many!
Just lovely! I love the classic simplicity of it all and how it doesn’t impede on the function of your kitchen.
The bows are elegant. I can see that you didn’t use any old ribbon but ribbon that is soft and flowing.