Here's to dreams and wishes for the new year! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

My Christmas Home

Welcome to my Christmas House! I shoveled the front walk, and attempted photoshopping the ugly orange electrical chord!

My Christmas tree is in the entry. This is our first real, chopped out of the forest tree:

Since I couldn't use most of my ornaments on the tree, I made some photo ornaments that can hang without making the branches sag:

My dining room chandelier:

Also in the dining room:

The library/piano room received a bit of greenery and a branch:

I added our Santa pictures in the family room:

And I tweaked the mantle since the last time I posted it:

Some greenery on the shelf:

I started a card tree today:

We open presents in the basement. I made the jester's stockings years ago:

The children decorated the tree:

Thanks for visiting my home!

I am linking with The Inspired Room's Christmas Home Tours.  

Before and After-The Built In Bookcases

Several weeks ago, I showed a before and after of my fireplace wall, and the moulding I painted that was on the brick. I was contemplating painting all my built-ins on this wall, but I was afraid of painting over all the wood and lowering our property value. The wood was just oak, but you know how some are about wood. :)

Well, after staring at it for too long imagining how it would look, I went ahead and painted the built-ins. Here is a picture of the built-ins in April of 2009:

Then in the Fall of 2010:

Fall of 2011:

Now, with the built-ins painted:

And because I always love a wider room shot even if it doesn't look as good as the closer view:

I am still tweaking the mantle and the shelves for Christmas. I have to say I have absolutely no regrets over painting the wood. I love the new look, and visually, it really opens up the room!

Thanks for visiting. I will post some more Christmas decor in the next few weeks, but for now, I really need to do a little Christmas shopping. See you next week!

Linking with Miss Mustard Seed & Between Naps on the Porch