Good morning, y’all!!
It’s Tuesday which means it’s finally time for my very first home tour! To make it that much better, it’s for my absolute favorite holiday, CHRISTMAS!
If you are coming from Aniko’s blog, is she not amazing? She sure is a hard act to follow with her beautiful photography and stunning home!
But, this would not be possible without Carrie…a huge thank you for putting this all together! Make sure you visit her gorgeous home, too!
Come on in!
Two years ago, my husband and I began renovating this old, abandoned foreclosure. We affectionately call it the Yellow House. It wasn’t always this open but I hope this tour gives a feel of the layout!
As soon as you walk in, our living room is on the right. There are so many little details I want to tell you about and simple DIY projects that truly take no time and thrifted details that tied it all together!
These four windows are actually from our second home and one of my favorite additions to our wall. 
Where our wreath is hanging is an old picnic table top I found on the side of the road! And the little lighted tree used to be gold but since I like to reuse items, yet change my mind, it was nothing white lights and a coat of spray paint couldn’t easily fix! (And the yardstick star was SUCH an easy DIY! You may have seen a few floating around the blogosphere!)
Russ’ sweet grandmother made our stockings a couple of years ago. I love our little initials hanging on them to signify each member of our family!
A few years ago, I started putting our Christmas cards on a little ring. I love seeing how our family and friends have grown (and I had to frame Kuy’s very first Christmas card! It is one of my absolute favorites!)!
So at the end of the season, I’ll take these Christmas cards, punch a hole and add them to the ring!
This is actually an old window from THIS house that I nailed some chicken wire to!
Most importantly, though, I want you to feel at home, too. That’s one of the reasons I dreamed about this house for so long. I wanted it to be a place where friends and family gathered. Of course, that’s possible anywhere, but for some reason, I felt called to this Yellow House.
Adjacent to our living room, is our almost entirely thrifted dining room (have you sensed that I LOVE a thrift store find!?). As you can see, my only true splurge was satin ribbon and real pine garland and a few real wreaths. This is our first year with an artificial tree but I still wanted that sweet smell of Christmastime!
After Thanksgiving, I actually cleared off the table because I felt like there were little details everywhere else that wanted to be noticed.
Like this beautiful Willow Tree nativity…(I have little hands at my house so it has to go on an unreachable surface.)…I love that this little vignette isn’t overwhelmed. Just a touch of pine and Mary holding her beautiful baby.
This song that won’t erase is just fine with me. It has come to be our anthem.
One of the things I loved most about this yellow house was the potential for an open floor plan. By knocking out the chimney, our dining room is now open to the kitchen. Again, simple details like little ornaments, jingle bells, and my boys’ handprint wreaths add that tiny pop of blue yet Christmasy feel.
Those simple touches continue throughout the house. A wreath in the bathroom and our bedroom, garland on the stairs, my boys’ handmade ornaments tree (that Kuy hung himself), and a simple advent calendar (printable from DIY Mommy!) hung on a crib spring with which we read a scripture each day.
This makes it feel like Christmas, feel like home, and hopefully, makes you feel like you can walk in and prop up your feet.
Oh, how I wish you could do that with us! I can’t tell you what it means to have you here! Thank you so much for stopping by to visit our home.
I hope you’ll stop by the others’, as well. I love seeing each family’s personality reflected in their home!
It was a blessing to spend time with you today! Merry Christmas!
For inspiration every day this week, be sure visit these incredible blogs!! I am so, so honored to be alongside them!
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body
Sharing our tour here: Home Stories A to Z | Not Just a Housewife | Tatertots and Jello | Place of My Taste | The Shabby Creek Cottage | 3 Little Greenwoods | Pretty Preppy Party
So pretty! Your home looks like a winter wonderland!
Love the whole house, and of course the Christmas Decorations!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Thank you so much, Dawn!
All the blue & white is so pretty – your whole home flows together so well!
Thank you so much, Melissa!!! That was one of our biggest dreams…that it would flow and not feel awkward!
Your home is absolutely stunning! Love your beautiful, neutral Christmas decor as well!
Wow! Thank you so much, Sarah!!!!!!!
Beautiful! I love the handprint wreath in the window 🙂 I’ve been placing our cards on a ring as well — and it is just the simplest way to see our family and friends grow over the years.
Thank you so much, Lora! Love that you do that, too!! It’s one of my favorite things!
gorgeous, amber! the kitchen and eating area take the cake for me- soooooo good! and i love your tree! beautiful job!
Thank you so much, Cassie! How I wish I could just give you a hug for your kind comments!
Absolutely beautiful! I just love all the pops of blue 🙂 it’s such an inviting color palette!
Thank you so much, Bre!!!
I just love the beautiful colors of your home. You dining room is just amazing!
Thank you so much, Michelle!!!!
So pretty! I love all the blue, and how there are subtle Christmas touches everywhere. And that’s a great idea for old Christmas cards…I always feel so bad when I get rid of all the pictures of everyone’s kids every year….
Me, too, Gretchen! I never knew what to do with them! Thank you so much for your kind words!
Wowza!! I am in love with the simplicity of your decor! It feels so serene, but so festive at the same time! So inspired! 😉
This definitely made me smile! Thank you so much, April!!
How gorgeous!! Your kitchen is to die for and now decorated for Christmas is absolutely stunning!Loving the blue touches, lovely decor! Thanks for sharing your home with us!
Thank YOU for stopping by, Aniko!!
I just love your home. It made me sigh, in a good way, in the way that says, ahhh I wish I lived there. 🙂 I love all of your beautiful Christmas touches.
Ahh! Thank you, Carmen!!! I love that so much!
I love your cool winter colors you used & all the personal touches ,plus your kitchen is to DIE for!!! <3 it!! Happy Holidays!!
Paige.Rose
http://www.TheQuaintSanctuary.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, Paige!!!
Oh goodness, your home is gorgeous!! I love absolutely everything about your style. That white and airy, light-saturated dining space is jaw-droppingly beautiful. And I love the hutch with the collection of white china. And your dreamy kitchen with the open shelving…. okay, I could go on. Basically I just love it all! Beautiful photography too, by the way. Congratulations on your first home tour – I’m sure there’ll be many more! xoxo
Karen, thank you SO much for all of your kind words!!! I finally love walking in there with the open space and can’t seem to turn lights on because I love the natural light! Thank you, again, for taking the time to comment!
House of Turquoise is one of my absolute favorite blogs (bc it’s also my absolute favorite color) and when I saw your gorgeous home featured today, I thought “Wait! I know her!” I think we’ve met through Carrie or Sarah? Anyhoo – your house is ah-dorable and this makes me so excited to begin decorating our new home soon! Love, love, love!
I had no idea until you commented, Sandi! Thank you so much! And yes! I think that’s what it is!! 🙂 Small world…:)
I love your home!! So beautiful. Love the clean colors and pops of blue… and all the rustic elements. The table, the old doors…. just love!!! So pretty. It’s been fun home touring with you 🙂
Thank you so much, Sarah!!! Love that we can do this together!!
solo very pretty! I love the blues and rustic elements so soft but festive! And your tree is stunning!
and I mean sooooo very pretty, not solo 😉
Thank you so much, Chelsea!!!!!
You home looks amazing! I’m loving all this blue and white Christmas decor this year. And I’m speechless about your kitchen…definitely jealous 🙂
That means so much, Alicia! Thank you!!!!!
Absolutely love it especially the kitchen. My favorite colors too. Love that you decorated simply and creatively. I find it far preferable to overdone hoes. Now following you on Pinterest.
Thank you so much!!
Should have been homes not hoes, tiny text here.
I found my way here from House of Turquoise. Your home is so lovely and bright and beautifully decorated for Christmas. I especially like all the white and turquoise/aquas, my favourite colour combo. Thanks for the tour. I’m now following on bloglovin.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!! They have quickly come to be my favorite colors, too!
Love the tour! Everything is so beautiful and welcoming and the blue and white color scheme is gorgeous! I especially love the advent calendar clipped to the old crib spring. Thanks for sharing your home!
Thank you so much, Carrie! Thank you for having me!!
So beautiful! Your home looks so inviting. I love all of the colors you used. Great tour 🙂
Thank you so much, Erin!!!
So pretty, Amber! You have a gorgeous home. I love the pops of blue and all the rustic, vintage touches.
Thank you so soo much, Amy!!!!
Well, I’m hooked. I was hopping over from sharing my home on Monday at http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com and now I can’t stop checking out your lovely home!!! I’ll definitely start following your blog, love it!
Ahh! That truly makes me smile!!! Thank you for your sweet, sweet words, friend!!!!
Such a beautiful tour! I just love the colors you used and how inviting and calming your home is. I wanna come over and hang out 🙂
Thank you so much, Katie! You are welcome anytime! You have no idea how much I would love that!
Your house is so charming and of course it’s filled with my favorite color; blue! Thanks for letting us take a peek inside and I love the use of the old picnic table top.
It is so much fun peeking into everyone’s home to spy on their Christmas decor! Loving the calm and peaceful feeling of all your Christmas decor.
I would love for you to share this post {and others} at my Show Me Saturday linky party this weekend. My readers would love your decor!
~ Ashley
Thank you so much, Ashley! Thank you for sharing this with me!
Oh, for the very love of EVERYTHING.
This is stunning! I’m seriously in love.
I’m coming over. Immediately.
Oh.my.word. This makes my life. The door is open. I’ll tell Joy you’re in town.
So beautiful! I love the blue and white, and your tree is gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing it at Work it Wednesday- you are my hostess pick of the week tomorrow:)
Wow!! Thank you, Krista!
Your house looks truly beautiful! Your kitchen is to die for. Thanks for sharing all of those beautiful pictures!
Thank you so much, Teresa!!
I really enjoyed touring your charming home decorated for Christmas! I love the soft colors you used and the creative touches you added. Your kitchen is especially beautiufl.
So much gorgeousness! I love it all!
Thank you so much, Julie!!!!