The only thing better than a Christmas tour?
Is a Christmas tour with housekeeping notes before you get started.
Truly.
I just didn’t want you to start the tour before I mentioned a few things about this tour.
1. It was put together by Shelia from Maison de Cinq. She’s an incredible hostess and I just wanted to thank her for putting all this together.
2. There are a LOT of pictures. I tried to cut a few pictures out, but I wanted you to see the entire space from different angles.
You might need a beverage before you begin.
3. Most of the tree and mantel decor all came from Holiday Warehouse here in Plano, TX. They are sponsoring my tour this year and I am so grateful to them. Holiday Warehouse has the best selection of creative, unique, amazing Christmas decor. They had me at blue and white ornaments and velvet ribbon.
4. If you like neutral, this is the tour for you.
5. If you like color, this is the tour for you.
6. It’s the reverse mullet of Christmas tours.
Business in the back.
And a little party in the front.
Does anyone else have a house like this?
A little Christmas decorating that is ALL OVER THE PLACE?
Can we discuss?
Would it help if I started with an explanation? A little background? A little information that helps explain how the reverse mullet Christmas decorating entered the picture.
See, I used to live in this farmhouse.
If this is your first time visiting or you’ve been away from the blog or if you googled farmhouse decor and are just finding me today…
….this is the rest of my story.
It’s about a girl named KariAnne who loved a farmhouse.
It’s a tale that started at the end of a country road with hay and cows and barns and it has ups and downs and joy and sorrow.
And then?
Life happened.
She followed her husband her heart and moved back to Texas to take care of family.
But the best part of the story?
She didn’t move back into any old home.
She packed her bags and her farmhouse decor and these wood Christmas trees on the kitchen counter.
And moved back to the home that she grew up in.
That’s me.
KariAnne.
Living in my new (old) home with boxes and boxes and boxes of farmhouse Christmas decor.
It’s what I have.
It’s what I know.
I love the farmhouse look and the vintage feel and the history of all that has gone before.
The story of all that before.
But then?
Then there’s this other part of me that yearns for color.
And bright.
And happy.
And merry.
And so?
The front part of the house looks like this.
There’s a whole lot of blue and white going on.
I know it’s random.
I get it.
I understand.
You are probably thinking…KARIANNE MAKE UP YOUR CHRISTMAS DECORATING MIND.
That’s me.
A little random.
A little scattered.
A little bright and merry.
And a little farmhouse.
I think I have Christmas decorating ADD. I go in the front rooms and I love it. And then I drink a cup of hot chocolate and I go into the back of the house and I love it, too.
And the funniest part?
It’s all so me.
Sometimes I’m serious and thoughtful and calm and sometimes?
I’m all about the extra.
See what I mean?
It’s exactly like a reverse mullet.
Business and neutral in the back.
And the front…
…is a party just waiting to happen. 🙂
And now? Here are a few other tours from some of my favorite friends.
Monday’s Tours
Maison de Cinq | Ella Claire & Co. | Maison de Pax | Thistlewood Farms
Tuesday’s Tours
Miss Mustard Seed | Rooms for Rent | Boxwood Avenue | Love Grows Wild
Girl you are authentic and true through and through.....love it Cheryl KY
Oh i love it all. The blue is stunning and you do it so well. I also love the neutral. I have the same split personality. Neutral in the front and color in the back, only mine is red. Love love Love.
Absolutely beautiful! 💙❄️
I like color--more than you!!! It's red, green, white and a little blue thrown in so you are laid back with just the blue and white!!! Lol
I’m moving away from farmhouse myself after we began renovating our Charleston style home we bought a year and a half ago. I decided to go more traditional with the French flair to it. But, like you, I have so much stuff that I still love and want to use but it just seems out of place. Thank you for showing us that you can do both! Your home is lovely, as always. Enjoy the season my friend. PS where did you get your glass coffee table? Is it still available somewhere? ♥️
Thanks, KariAnne! Quite Lovely!! While I stated yesterday that I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas decor, I do enjoy the blue and white and silver. The Maison de Cinq I quite enjoyed as it still had bit of a Farmhouse flavor. Really loved her table centerpiece with the soft blue mercury balls against the galvanized pails/greenery. And the piece de resistance is that darling while Putz house. Every Christmas my Mother would place our Putz village on top of the TV. What warm memories it evokes .... 📺😌
The entryway and staircase are stunning!! And your "I'll have a blue Christmas" is a extra, extra!!! xoxo
BEAUTIFUL - BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Holy cannoli! Stunning. I’m with you on the love of several different looks . It’s also hard to do it well, but you do it spectacularly. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Karianne , love your sit personality decorating! This year my small formal living room is where our tree is and will be decorating with blue,mercury glass and crystal ornaments to coordinate with the blue and white room. The family room in the back of the house will be more casual with lots of greens, reds and natural touches such as fresh cut greens,pinecones amaryllis,paperwhites and poinsettias all set off with tons of fairy lights. The rooms will be very different but I think both great. Christmas comes but once a year so going over the top is just fine.
I love it, it's all beautiful no denying it! I find myself the same way...I love primitive things when I see them, and I love farmhouse, but then occasionally I see something a little more modern and I like it! It just reflects our depth....ha...ha...ha! Much love friend!
So beautiful as always. I’m such a blue person and love neutral too! I see many ideas for my decorating this year!
Love love it
Make no apologies - that's the fun of decorating - any way you want, no rules, and if there are naysayers you just smile and give them some hot chocolate with bitty marshmallows in it and say "to each her own, and to thine own self be true." Me? I am still allergic to color except green and some beige and brown and black lol but color color? Not sure it will ever be a party of explosive fun color in my world. I think I may ALWAYS need calm and serene - though, I daresay even in your color it is still calm - it is blue, and that is calming! : - ) I am heading over to that sponsor cuz I am loving your new stuff. I may actually do garland on my stairwell and landing this year. Maybe. I am always afraid of scratching my wood handrails so never have done it. Hugs - have a great week.
oops it is local not an online store. well daaaaaang that was a teaser lol.
It is all perfect! The blue & white...the neutral...the white ribbon wrapped with open burlap ribbon...love it all! The only thing that made me sad is that we can't purchase these beautiful things from Holiday Warehouse online. I live too far from Dallas. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home & ideas!
I just got to number 2 on your list and am commenting already...I went for a diet Coke while it was loading...I know it's going to be good and plan to enjoy every word and every picture!!
I love your decor and all that you share about you, too! Thank you for everything!
Oh I love it KariAnne!! One year I did all red in white in half the house and silver and golds in the other half, so I hear you! But both your looks are gorgeous and are so "you"! Love all the blue and white! Thanks so much for joining us today:) Sheila xo
I love how light, bright, fresh, beautiful.... and BLUE your front Christmas decor is!! And I get your mullet! Our downstairs is decorated in pink, burgundy, and green, but the family room upstairs is very traditional red and green. And I love them both! (I think it's ok, right?? :) )
It's gorgeous! The blues are colorful, elegant, and wowza, those details! It's all beautiful, just in different ways!
Karianne, Your home and your photos are gorgeous. You always inspire me, and I truly love how you share all your blogging buddies' work as well. This morning I had an extra treat- Nancy at Adams and Elm shared her holiday breakfast nook- all red, white and blue. Amazing!! Thanks again for the inspiration. On the rather gray, chilly days of November, all those lovely home tours keep me going.
So beautiful, I love your home but then I always loved the farm house to, makes me want to go pop open the loft hatch and start dragging out the Christmas Decks...thanks for sharing it all with us, lovely inspiration.xx
Some how you have brought the magic of Christmas decorating back to me. I have even started early, inspired by you. Your home is gorgeous and while I will never have need of a house that big anymore, I am incorporating whatever ideas you have given me in my condo. Thank you for always being a leader in decorating and in life! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Haha, I thought when you said "color" that you would have LOTS of colors spread throughout your home! It's beautiful and I think you have a common thread in your decorating which makes it work. I also sometimes have decorating ADD but my house is small so I can't get too crazy. You, on the other hand, have the perfect house for that! I feel like your "blue room" and dining room are more polished and shiny while the rest of your house is a bit more rustic--and it looks great.
So beautiful!!!!! I love the spark of blue and white that you have created! It is all you!!!!
Girl...it's 2019. Do what you love. Period. Scattered is a decor style...I'm sure of it. :) Nancy
Oh my....that mantle is just gorgeous with a capital "G"!! Love the navy, white and lighter blue ribbon it really looks stunning together. I love to see blue and white when its done beautifully and you certainly achieved that. This year I am going in a much different direction with my colors. I was given a very beautiful set of Moscow mule mugs and a copper metallic candle centerpiece last year for my November birthday. So when I was browsing in Hobby Lobby recently and saw some beautiful copper metallic Christmas décor I decided to something in that direction. Sometimes its fun to change things up and go a little glam and out of the traditional box.
Beautiful!!!
Well yes, my Christmas decor is all over the place. Serious navy and gold traditional in the living room, all red and turquoise retro kitchen, and red hearts and cardinals in the master bedroom. I give myself permission to just enjoy it all because like you, I am more than one thing. Unfortunately, this year I am living vicariously through all these home tours because we are planning a move and all the Christmas extravaganza is getting packed away. But next year, watch out I'm going to let it explode in all it's missed-matched wonder all over my next home.
I love it! Loved seeing your farmhouse items I remember from past Christmases in Kentucky, but the blue and white is amazing! I'm adding blue this year since we've shifted that way in the living room, but I'll still have my red - at one time I thought I would ALWAYS have a red chair in my living room, but alas, I do not! ;) Now - did you make the jingle bell trees??
All so beautiful! I LOVE the garland on your stair railing, that white ribbon is beautiful! And your Christmas tree is stunning! Love it all!
The neutral Christmas is totally my style. The blue one? Not at all. But how fun that the blue people AND the neutral people can both see dreamy decorating here. I want you to show ALL the colors/styles. You do everything so well. (And although I don't think I will ever switch from a neutral Christmas, I did think your blue/white mitten/scarf wrapping paper was adorable!)
Thank you for this tour, i enjoyed it and i love blue and white also, beautiful decor.
Hello, this is not about this post, which of course, is fabulous. I have been looking for the name of the area rug from Walmart, I believe Safveigh or sometime like that had blues in it. Anyway, I just knew I saved that post but I cannot find it. If you could let me know, I would be so thankful. We are redoing a few things and I was hoping that rug could anchor my small living room. Blessings and thank you!
Of course... it all looks amazing! I need to up my tree 'game' this year! ;-) Twill be fun! Thanks for always inspiring, my friend!
Practically perfect in every way (Mary Poppins)
It is all so lovely and always so inspiring! Wishing you a beautiful holiday season, my friend!
Hi, I'm new here. I popped over to read your moving post and then back to here. I LOVE the blue and white! It is all gorgeous! I have a ton of color at my house during Christmas-- and no color scheme whatsoever. Maybe one day. I could not get into the neutral trend and I'm glad color is coming back into style because God didn't create a black and white world : ). Liberty @ B4andAfters.com
GORGEOUS is the only word to describe your blue and white Christmas!
Everything looks so festive and beautiful!
Your home looks dreamy for Christmas.
Your home is absolutely beautiful!! I'm in love with all that blue and white. One question. Did you make those jingle bell trees or did you decide to spend the money? :)
KariAnne, I LOVE your farmhouse style.....but I also LOVE (equally, I might add!) your blue and white design style!!!!! When I first saw your post with cardboard boxes set before your undecorated living room tree..... BIG boxes full of great BIG ornaments....ornaments of blue and white and blue with white and opaque and translucent and cool designs and swirls and.....omg I wanted to come and decorate with you!!! I wanted to see first hand how you were going to add all that magic to that tree (and the rest of the room) It turned out magnificently, just how I knew you, in all your awesomeness, would complete your design!!!! I LOVE IT!!! 🌲
So lovely. I am so behind! I need to get going! Enjoy your holidays and have a blessed Thanksgiving.
I love your style! What caught my attention in the living room is those beautiful stripe chairs. Did you buy two more blue ones or is that your neutral ones from the family room? No matter its stunning. Christmas is always my favorite time of year. Love, love your style and how you use a budget to accomplish these wonderful rooms. I admire all the "homemade" things given to you by family. God has Blessed you in so many ways and He continues to Bless you every day. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home.
MariAnne it's not decorating ADD, it's more like the Designers Showcase houses that are popular around this time of year (at least on Long Island). Every room with it's own spin on Christmas, each very beautiful. The best part? You get to live in it!!! Enjoy every moment of the beautiful life YOU created with your loved ones! Great job!
Loving both the neutrals and the huge splash of color! I feel the same way, just can't make up my mind if i want the "softer side of Christmas" or the Bring on the color, baby! So i did both ;)