a Vintage White Christmas

as you might expect from an  

a) decorating enthusiast  b) visual designer & stylist 

and c) owner of fifty-plus tubs of assorted Christmas decor, 

i try to mix things up every year when i decorate my home.

i love what i have, i just want it to be fresh and interesting each year.

one year, my theme was 'a Vintage White Christmas', 

with some burlap and lace thrown in to echo the popularity of Danish-Euro style...

all this white pine-bough loveliness came about as a last-minute addition to my decor plan!
 

in the midst of decorating, i went into the local thrift shop [i know, i know....]
where i spied two huge plain cardboard boxes labelled
'White Xmas Tree: Part 1 and Part 2'. and they were taped shut. 

i asked how much for the tree, and was told  

ten bucks - plus 50% off, so a total of FIVE BUCKS.
and you already know what happened next... i said SOLD! so fast it wasn't funny!

the gal cut open the boxes so I could check out the tree, 

and it was a really NICE white nylon tree from the 80's. 8' tall. No lights. 

 Now, I already had a decent white 7' white tree, pre-lit, to use that year......

but here's a hot tip for you:  

NEVER pass up a decent faux tree for a good price.

You may not need another TREE, but you can use the branches for decorating with!
and that's exactly what i did.

instead of using my usual cut greens from outside in the decor,

i stayed with a very light, soft palette and put white branches 

on the chandelier, on the buffet, on the dining table, on the tables in the living room, on the entry table...

 everywhere, basically. 

and then i added heaps of ornaments and candles and more to the chandelier 

(and i have to say i just LOVE those fancy blown glass ornaments)
and to the buffet, the dining table, the tables in the living room, and the entry table.....  

 filling jars, bowls, serving trays, cake pedestals, and other everyday containers with beautiful ornaments

is an easy way to spread Christmas cheer and your color scheme all through your home

remember my original 'white glass light globe pumpkins' i shared here in my fall posts?

well, THIS is what i do with CLEAR light globes!

i put them into arrangements with greens and ornaments, 

and then tuck a night light on an extension cord inside them.
turn it on, and it glows beautifully - while being very safe.

[i use them outside this way, too, 

and have photos of that to share in another post...]

a sweet way to add 'a little something' to a simple candle: 

a vintage crocheted collar, a silk ribbon and a vintage rhinestone clip earring 

wrapped around a glass hurricane shade.  a candle in a glass jar inside the shade burns safely. 

and because i am truly NEVER 'done' decorating, i made a change after i took the photos...

i put white bubble light bulbs into my chandelier!

my grandma Ward had bubble lights on a tree when i was little, 

and they always bring back sweet memories for me.

these white ones were just too perfect to pass up

[and my grandson LOVED them, so the tradition is passed on!]

this soft, monochromatic Vintage White Christmas theme was so restful

and serves as a basic decor scheme that allows for changes through the years:

the next year, i added seashells for a really beachy theme

and another year, i had a swanky black and white theme...

i'll share those soon!