Festive Retreat: Holiday Home Tour

....And we have finally reached the end of the Holiday Home Decor series. Let’s just say that its been quite hectic around here with all the holiday activities to fit in a blog post here so I am a bit behind. Disclaimer: Lots of pictures in this post!

DIY floating mantel just in time for Christmas

This is the story of our everchanging TV wall. We finally got it right, mind you after multiple  attempts, but nonetheless we finally got it right. See we started with a black-brown mantel, very simple and there was definitely nothing wrong with it but all the wires hanging out and about for everyone to see was so unpleasing.

Festive Retreat: Holiday Mantelscape

Now on to the mantelscape for the holiday season.  Our Christmas mantel, its simple and elegant. Just the right style for me. You may recall an earlier post that said we do not have a mantel.. Well, we finally have one right above our fireplace and we actually DIYed this mantel of ours.

Web Update

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Ameera

Festive Retreat: Christmas Tree

The next stop on our festive retreat tour is the Christmas tree. Its a simple design, nothing over the top and definitely a traditional colour scheme. Growing up, we actually never had a tree. I used to look at my friends cozy homes during the holidays and hoped that one day I could have one in my home. The first December I got married, we purchased and decorated our first Christmas tree and we have never looked back. Since then, we have acquired new ornaments and crafted other accessories to go along with the tree to bring the cheer all around the home.

Real Versus Faux?

We are all about the Faux tree since there isn’t the hassle of purchasing, transporting and hauling up to the fourth floor. Its a simple assemble and disassemble cycle every year.  To add the ambient scent of pine trees into the home, I use candles and plug-ins, it does the job without the mess of pine needles all around the room.

Tree skirt or not?

Last year, I sewed together a tree skirt in a red satin and black decorative fabric but it was never sufficient. It never looked as neat as I wanted it to. This year I scrapped that idea and went for something new. This is basically a wicker basket that I had sitting in our storage that we customized (tore strategic holes into) to hold the tree with stability.

My favourite ornament:

My favorite ornament is actually not an ornament at all. These are poinsetta tree picks that my mom gifted to me and they are just the prettiest pieces. They add a special feature to this otherwise simple tree. Those presents under the tree are merely cereal boxes wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper. As I mentioned earlier, we do not exchange presents but the ambiance that the tree creates and the traditions that the tree represents are worth the effort. The tree is the shining star of the holiday season and I just won’t go without it. 

Tree Topper: 

This year, we chose a ribbon Bow that matched our colour scheme but we are hoping to transition to a crescent moon for next years display. This would add a touch of our ancestry and religious values but with a western twist.
Update: A few more pictures for your enjoyment

Well thats it for this years Tree display. Who knows what next year will bring?

Holiday Vignette

Round back chair all dressed up!

I am so in love with reading nooks and desk vignettes right now that  I'm letting it carry through the holiday season. Amongst the preparations for the Holiday Tea Party that I'm hosting on Saturday and decorating my home with Christmas decor, I have been creating a cozy reading space in my living room.

Christmas Traditions- New and Old

My favorite time of the year is the Holiday Season. I love the spirit, warmth and comfort of this time of the year. Technically, E`s first Christmas was last year. but he was two months old and mostly unaware of the tree, decorations, lights and snow. This year would be his first Christmas that actually counts. My goal is to pass on to E, the love that I have for this fantastic season.