Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to the 2016 Christmas home tour of my 1931 schoolhouse. 
I am sharing this at Jen Rizzo's Link Party

I think this is my favorite Christmas decor/theme to date.  I started with a rustic vibe, that evolved into a rustic FARMHOUSE look as the decorating progressed. The pictures are plentiful and I am going to try and keep my words few.

We will start at the front porch, the original entrance into the schoolhouse. 

A red picket fence, fresh wreath (purchased from a fundraiser), old wagon, red metal snowshoes in a milk box

 Last year's pallet tree, bird's nests with shiny Christmas balls

 Wreaths I made with 3 kinds of pine and twigs

Inside the front doors is a separate entry.  This entry is actually seldom used, especially in the winter.  But, I still added some fun decor.

 A Santa sack ($3 at Michaels!!) stuffed with a pillow, a basket of pinecones, and a vintage child's typewriter.

The typewriter got a Santa letter.

 a large chalkboard

And here is the view if you look back out through the door windows.

There is another door in the entry into the great room.  As you walk in that door, my stockings and tree are to the right.

 I made this pallet shelf from a 12' pallet.  It will have a new spot come January, but I am loving it as my stocking hanger.

 I hand-lettered the reindeer sign and made the skis from a pallet.  I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Fort York Red and Casement.  All the red you see is Fort York Red--such a great Christmas red. My daughter suggested the reindeer names for a sign.

The deer was a gift from my sister last year (from Target).  The garland is a very good fake.

 I HAD to make new stockings--my white ones weren't going to work on my white wall.  I bought 1 1/4 yards of this red faux fur that looks like boiled wool at Goodwill for $1.50.  I was able to get 6 stockings from it.

 I made a different cuff or topper for each stocking from vintage tablecloths, chenille bedspreads, old curtains. 

I draped a sheet music garland I made a few years ago over the hooks and added the sweetest, tiniest, size 6 pair of children's ice skates. 

My tree is decked out in red and white, with lots of snowflakes and pinecones, and those all so precious memory ornaments handmade by my kids over the years. It does have a white snowflake tree topper, it is hard to see in the pictures.

To the left, on the opposite wall, the 6 original windows are dressed up with wreaths I made.

I found this great vintage, farmhouse tablecloth at Goodwill.  It had some stains that I was able to wash out with Oxiclean and Borax.

I changed up my centerpiece a bit since I showed it to you earlier since I switched to a more farmhouse theme. I eliminated the real antlers and added a mug of candy canes and some of my favorite little snowman plates (from TJ Maxx several years ago).

I placed some small things on the windowsills like a sign (also from TJ Maxx) and my prized turn-of-the-century Night Before Christmas Book.

On the kitchen counter, an old wood bowl holds vintage cookie cutters.

These lower library shelves all always such a challenge to decorate--they are small and dark. Some fake snow lightened them up.  I made fresh garlands to drape over the library rails.

A wire basket holds my favorite kids' Christmas books, including Tasha Tudor's Becky's Christmas.

And I had to jump on the rusty, tree holding, truck trend.

My nativity sits at the bottom of the library stairs.

My level shelf under my BIG clock displays vintage letters spelling out NOEL and a pair of favorite, bitty red cowboy boots. 

The view from the library.

This door in the kitchen leads to the mudroom. It got a sign and tin with pine boughs--simple.

Through the mudroom door you will find my breezeway that also has a porch.  I kept the decor sparse.

I still have a little tweaking to do and a few more things to show you.  But, I am loving the cozy, rustic farmhouse feel! 

 I hope you enjoyed the tour.  Thank you for joining me, please come again. 

Linking up at Jennifer Rizzo

The Cottage Market and Savvy Southern Style and Stonegable and Tatertots and Jello