In previous year my home got all dressed up for Christmas… starting with the garden, working the way up to my verandah and then inside. I like when you can welcome your guests to your Christmas home with a beautiful vignette.
Now that we live at the resort, we no longer have a front porch or verandah to welcome our guests to our home, so the decorating begins as soon as you pop your head through our doorway from the reception desk.
So… ‘welcome’, please come on in.
This is our shabby white room. In an apartment with small dimensions, sometimes rooms have to be multi purpose… and this one definitely is that.
It’s our entry hall, eating nook, gathering room and passage way all rolled into one. And don’t even ask about the black table in the white room… it’s a story I’ll be sharing with you next week.
Adapting to a small living space was one of my biggest challenges when we first moved to the resort, but downsizing has had it’s rewards and I now quite enjoy the simplified lifestyle. I have to disclose that I do have a large storage unit that has half a house in it, so I get to swap things over and shop my own house for new things all the time.
For Christmas my dresser houses a collection of shabby vintage pretties. There’s a white Santa and a variety of book paper projects. You can get the tutorials on how I made the book paper rose tree here, the vintage birds here and the ‘Believe’ blocks here.
And at night the dresser is all aglow and a pretty welcome to our guests as they enter.
Our wreath got a winter white makeover using icy twigs and dried foliage from our garden and a couple of large white flowers I picked up at a local craft store. To make the icy twigs and foliage I simply applied white glue and dipped in Epsom Salts.
I continued this look up on top of our dresser and also added fresh pine branches. This adds a nice focal point, as the dresser top can be seen when walking up the stairs. It also smells ‘Christmassy’.
Then we have our version of elf on a shelf…. this is Gwendolyn, the good elf!
I thoroughly enjoyed making her.
Personally, I find the ‘Elf on a Shelf’ elf to be a little creepy looking, but we like our Gwendolyn. She gets to move around the room as she pleases and at night she holds a flickering (battery) candle for us.
With limited floor space, I utilize the cavity inside the spiral staircase for our Christmas tree. I’ve kept the tree decorations to a minimum too, because it just feels right for the small space.
I used white and red baubles on the tree this year because the tree leads into our lounge area… which is red! (are you horrified?)
Not a shabby colour I know, but it is a real pop of colour in our shabby white house. We are trying something different this year for the Man-of-the-house… you can see part 1 of my home tour and that red room here.
The lights on the tree are minimal too… for a very good reason. Having a timber lined ceiling and exposed beams means we can easily attach things to it… ours has 300 fairy lights that stay up all year through. They are on a clear cord, so you don’t see them unless they are on.
The garland extends up the staircase to the second level.
We love the twinkling fairy lights on here at night.
Thank you for popping in for my ‘Welcome Home’ Christmas Tour.
I hope you’ll check out my ‘Home for the Holidays’ tour next week, when I will be revealing my new kitchen. I think you’ll be surprised… it’s not what you’d expect from me!
Merry Christmas,
Kerryanne
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I know you’ll want to visit all the other amazing Welcome Home tours too, so click on the links below to visit these amazing bloggers each day.
Monday
All Things Heart and Home , Restoration Redoux , Sweet Pea
Tuesday
Girl in the Garage , Setting for Four , What Meegan Makes , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , Simply Fresh Vintage
Wednesday
Confession of a Serial DIYer , Shabby Art Boutique , Mrs. Hines’ Class , Our Southern Home
Thursday
White Lace Cottage , Artsy Chicks Rule , Fresh Idea Studio, Post Cards From the Ridge , Petticoat Junktion
Friday
Beyond the Picket Fence , House on the Way, Lilacs and Longhorns, Serendipity Refined, Unskinny Boppy
Toni says
Lovely decorations Kerryanne and I adore your beautiful elf.
Toni xx
Kerryanne says
Thank you Toni. I had great fun creating Gwendolyn… so thanks. xxx
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
So beautiful Kerryanne. I cannot wait to see the whole house tour and your kitchen.
Kris
Kerryanne says
Thank you Kris. It’s really feeling like Christmas now. xx
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
Your lovely touches are everywhere, Kerryanne! So funny to think that it’s warm outside there…I have pictures of myself at four sitting at the foot of our tree in an aqua bikini with orange and white rings on it. Love Gwendolyn too. The details are amazing! XOXO
Sharon Hines says
Everything looks so charming and perfectly welcoming. Love Gwendolyn.
Julie @ Restyle Relove says
Very pretty Kerryanne. I love your elfette! x Julie
Kerryanne says
Thanks Julie. Gwendolyn was fun to make!
Merry Christmas
Christine M says
I’ve enjoyed seeing your decorations, Kerryanne. Everything is so beautiful!
Paula@SweetPea says
Everything looks beautiful and very welcoming. I love how much light this room gets.
Beth says
Do you have a tutorial for Gwendolyn? I think she’s wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Anne says
Your home is so beautiful and enchanting! I love Gwendolyn! She has the sweetest face!
Kerryanne says
Thanks Anne. I appreciate you visiting my home tour.
Merry Christmas,
Kerryanne
Kathy, Petticoat Junktion says
Love the tall white cabinet and all the goodies inside. You have great style Kerryanne!
Kerryanne says
Thanks Kathy. Most of my pretties are in storage, but I insisted on having my dresser and teacups and saucers. It’s not a shabby home without teacups!
Thanks for visiting my tour.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
I love the pop of red…I love Gwendolyn…and I just love where you have your tree. It’s the perfect spot!! Very welcoming home. (and I am with you…I am sooo looking forward to downsizing and simplifying our lives!!! I love the idea of the storage unit to swap things out though!! I’ll have to remember that 🙂 )
Nancy
Leslie @ House on the Way says
Oh so pretty! I love the white and your tree is so pretty!
Vikki says
Aww Kerry, as always your Christmas decorating is beautiful, I love how you’ve made a small space look so spacious! Thanks for sharing :-). I ADORE Gwendolyn! Xxxxx
Robin AllThingsHeartandHome says
Oh Kerry everything is gorgeous… I love your home and when you add your Christmas touches it’s even better…the staircase!!! wow! Have a wonderful day my friend ox
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says
Such a cozy home – love the little dove ornaments! I think Gwendolyn should meet our elf – Hot Tamale!
Kerryanne says
Hmm… I’ve seen your elf Kelly. Way too hot looking for my Gwendolyn. He might give her one of your yummy cocktails and my Gwenny will be moved to the naughty list 😉
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
Wow, Gwendolyn is lovely and you made here. Such talent! Beautiful Christmas you’ve shared with us.
Kerryanne says
Thanks Christy. Yes, Gwendolyn is just one of several dolls I made this Christmas. They are time consuming, but enjoyable… and I like that they are one of a kind originals.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
SHIRLEY FLAVELL says
Beautiful and quite breath taking. So peaceful. Merry Xmas Kerryanne. Shirley N.Z.
Barb says
Kerryanne: Thanks for sharing your home, it was delightful. I’m interesting in finding some of the fairy lights with clear cord. Can you tell me where to get them, and how you installed them? I was planning on using clear Christmas lights, but these sound much better!
Thank you so much for all your sharing!
Kerryanne says
Hi Barb,
The fairy lights on clear cord are readily available in Australia at Big W, Target, Reject Shop etc. I can’t comment on where they’d be available in overseas shops…. sorry!
Merry Christmas 🙂