it's all about the hospitable home
Transitioning the Great Room to Winter was rather easy.
The decorations that were Christmas specific were taken down and stored away.
Yet, there were many things that remained as they had a winter look and feel.
Everything in the room are things that I already had in my stash
with the exception of two fur trimmed pillows
that were on clearance after Christmas.
How do you decorate a porch in the South? You use Magnolia leaves!
My inspiration for the Christmas porch theme this year
were these beautiful fresh wreaths from Lynch Creek Farm
that were embellished with magnolia leaves.
Welcome to my Southern Magnolia Christmas Porch.
I love having multiple trees in my home for Christmas. It is fun and rewarding decorating them and finding ways to make them different from year to year. Other than changing out ribbon and other decorative floral adornments, my large tree pretty much is the same as it is my sentimental family tree full of ornaments gathered over many years. I collected many Hallmark ornaments in the past and I have displayed many of them in the tree in the media room. Many I have stored away…
So the following are many (not all) of the trees I have throughout the house. I always say from year to year that I am not going to do as much..but I cannot seem to live up to that promise.
The Great Room Tree…It is 12 foot and we had to place the lower branches into the ballaters so that it would fit in the area..the lower branches hang over the stair well and you can see the ornaments dangle.
I placed my carolers around the tree as if they are singing around a tree in a town square.
Among my more sentimental ornaments, I love to use Christopher Radko ornaments.
I add a garland of ribbon, usually two (a metallic over a flocked) that will connect to a large bow and various ornamental picks.
My upside down tree in the sun room. It is flocked and I used red ornaments with glass crystal icicle ornaments. The red shows up so nicely against the white flocking. Owls are perfect for that woodland look. I place berry floral picks and garland at the front top edge.
The base of the tree with pine cones, holly sprigs and a “visitor” the infamous furry squirrel.
The kitchen tree with Santa take out chefs. This has been there for the past few years, so I will change that around a bit next year.
The small vintage cookie cutter tree that sits in an old A&P grocery shopping cart.
The media room tree decorated with Hallmark ornaments and a few handmade ones by my son many years ago..
The topper…with silk ferns and hydrangeas. I used a metallic glittered garland band that twists nicely amid the tree.
The corner wall mounted upside down tree…I used brown and copper ornaments to coordinate with the mantle. Floral and leaf inspired picks are inserted on the top portion of the tree.
A close up of the top portion of the tree
When decorating the top portion of the 12 foot tree, I place (actually my hubby does) it in a bench with a vice so that I can decorate it completely from the workbench. The hubby climbs up the ladder and places the top portion in the tree fully decorated. Saves me from being up on the very top of the ladder!
A Hallmark miniature tree purchased many years ago and a train goes around the base of the tree…a favorite of my granddaughters.
My granddaughter’s tree. It is a themed tree every year of her choice. This year it is Legos..
The toy shop village made of legos..The tree and village sits in an antique wagon
An old Dept 56 faux “feather tree” with white and gold acorns. A symbol of Raleigh, the City of Oaks. Sits on the dresser of the guest room.
The tree in the Master Bedroom. I wrapped a lighted white flocked garland around it and placed silver ornaments and decorations on it.
A close up..I also used up all the silver ornament hangers I had. I thought they were cute by themselves.
The guest room tree..A metal tree with a brass finish. I added the green berried twig garland through the middle to add a bit more texture. Used white, blue, and green ornaments to coordinate the colors with the room. Added a few owls for more texture…
Placed white glutted ferns and antique Japanese fishing net balls that are green and blue under the tree
A small nutcracker tree in my hubby’s office. Only able to take picture from one side as the window creates such glare…
A magnolia and pearl tree in the other guest room.
A closer look..I used magnolia floral stems and garlands with pearl picks. My friend Pam took those pearl picks, stuck them in a styrofoam wreath and turned out gorgeous..next project…
The dining room tree. Decorated with various fruits, fruit garland, and pineapples. It is raised off the floor and I placed an evergreen garland at the base.
Another close up view of the dining room tree.
And finally, one of the greatest trees of all..the tree on Main Street at Disney World. You can see some of the “snow” that they spray through the air in the evening. It was a beautiful enchanting night.
You may also view my Christmas foyer here…
