Discovering the Spirit of Christmas: A Modern-Traditional Home Tour for the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk 2020

Welcome, dear friends, grab a warm mug of hot cocoa and step inside! It’s that wonderfully festive time of year again for the annual Holiday Housewalk, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to open our doors and share our cherished Christmas decor with you.

For those new to the enchanting world of the “blogosphere,” each year, the incredibly talented Jennifer Rizzo orchestrates an extraordinary event. She gathers a diverse group of bloggers, each with their unique style, to showcase their homes, beautifully adorned for the holiday season. It’s a journey of inspiration, creativity, and festive cheer, and if you’ve missed any of the previous days this week, you can begin the full tour from Day 1 here to see the entire delightful line-up.

It’s a genuine honor to participate in this grand celebration of homes for our third consecutive year. To look back at our previous holiday transformations and gather more inspiration, feel free to explore my past Holiday Housewalk tours here. Today marks Day 3 of this wonderful tour, and you’ve found yourself at the very first stop! If you’re joining us from the captivating Duke Manor Farm, a warm welcome to you! And for those who prefer to start from the absolute beginning of today’s leg of the tour, you can dive right in here.

The Enchanting Foyer: A Timeless Christmas Welcome

Stepping into our home, especially when it’s aglow with the soft shimmer of twinkle lights, always prompts a moment of heartfelt reflection. I love putting on some classic Michael Bublé and simply soaking it all in—the year’s challenges, the valuable lessons learned, and the countless blessings received. Every single aspect of it. This year, more than any other, has truly deepened my gratitude for the sanctuary of home and the unwavering love of family. It was with this profound sense of appreciation that I set out to infuse every corner of these rooms with as much joy as possible, utilizing beautiful decor pieces, many of which were sourced from Bed Bath & Beyond.

To ensure a smooth and stress-free decorating process, I opted to avoid bustling shopping crowds and potential shipping delays. Instead, I conveniently selected several items from the Bed Bath & Beyond website and utilized their efficient curbside pickup service. This allowed Robert, Olivia, and me to enjoy a wonderful time decking out the trees and meticulously stringing up garlands, all while our youngest, Regan, peacefully napped. Our foyer has always held a special place in my heart; it was one of the rooms that instantly captured me when we first moved into this house over three years ago. This year, I decided to embrace a simpler, yet utterly elegant approach to its Christmas adornment. I curated a delicate display featuring a charming bowl of preserved boxwood clippings, a single, glowing candle positioned atop our treasured secondhand Eastlake chest, and a classic mixed pine garland gracefully draped along the railing, accented with rich burgundy velvet ribbon. I truly believe this minimalist and timeless look might be my favorite rendition of this space yet—effortless, refined, and enduringly beautiful.

The Cozy Breakfast Nook: Festive & Functional Charm

Our intimate kitchen table, affectionately dubbed “the breakfast nook,” consistently presents the most delightful challenge when it comes to holiday decorating. Being the smallest room yet experiencing the highest traffic, it demands a delicate balance of festive spirit and practical functionality.

Understanding its unique demands, I opted for a truly minimal approach to the table decor this year. A simple round tray serves as the foundation, elegantly holding a sophisticated burgundy vase adorned with a single, fresh pine branch, flanked by a pair of understated candle holders. This arrangement offers just enough festive touch without overcrowding the space, ensuring it remains welcoming and usable for our daily routines.

One of my favorite finds this season was a modern, light-up Christmas tree terrarium, which settled perfectly on our console table, adding a touch of contemporary holiday magic.

To complement its modern aesthetic, I flanked it with some natural wood beads, a delightful bowl brimming with bells (a constant source of amusement for our two-year-old!), a couple of charming mini houses I had on hand from the dollar store, and a truly realistic-looking mini tree nestled in a basket base. This thoughtful combination created a vignette that is both stylish and playful.

Christmas brunch is a cherished tradition in our family, a highlight of the holiday season. I eagerly anticipate the morning when we’ll gather, still in our pajamas, around this very table, ready to feast on cinnamon rolls and create lasting memories. This little nook, despite its size, truly embodies the warmth and joy of our family Christmas.

The Heart of the Home: A Buddy-Style Christmas Living Room

Without a doubt, our living room is the undisputed heart of our home—the space where we spend the most cherished moments as a family. It’s where we sprawl out on the floor with cozy blankets, or snuggle up together on the couch to watch “Elf” for what must be the thousandth time. This year, I decided to go all out, channeling my inner Buddy the Elf, infusing every corner with an exuberant, yet tastefully festive, spirit!

Dominating the room is our magnificent artificial Christmas tree, which truly stands as the most realistic-looking one we’ve ever had the pleasure of owning. Its lifelike branches provide the perfect canvas for our curated collection of ornaments.

Olivia, with her budding creativity, was a fantastic helper in crafting these delightful cinnamon salt dough ornaments just a few weeks ago, carefully shaped to resemble classic gingerbread cookies. The wonderful aroma they emit subtly fills the room, adding an extra layer of sensory delight. I also took the time to dry orange slices, a touch that immediately evokes a warm sense of nostalgia and traditional holiday charm. To enhance the tree’s vintage appeal, I gently crumpled some burgundy velvet ribbon, giving it an antique, worn look. The wood bead garlands we used also contribute to this charmingly old-fashioned aesthetic, mimicking the beloved effect of traditional popcorn garlands. In fact, several of these versatile wood bead garlands are so beautiful and adaptable that they won’t be returning to the Christmas storage bins; I plan to use them year-round on tabletops and intertwined with various spring, summer, and fall greenery.

To complete the tree’s festive attire, I incorporated beautiful burgundy and gold shatterproof ornaments—a practical choice given life with a lively toddler! For a subtle touch of modern elegance, I interspersed black and gold ornaments throughout the branches. The inspiration for our entire house’s decor this season, with its unique blend of modern, traditional, and Scandinavian vibes, actually sprang from a serendipitous find last year: those enchanting Dala horse prints I discovered on clearance. They set the perfect tone for our cohesive holiday theme.

Our mantel received an equally elaborate treatment. I layered a lush garland, then meticulously tucked in preserved clippings, more of those lovely dried orange slices, additional burgundy ribbon, and delicate fairy lights. The result is anything but minimalist, and I absolutely adore its rich, bountiful look!

For a personal touch, I reused my beloved DIY personalized stocking tags from last year and strung up even more of the versatile wood bead garland, tying the entire look together with a cohesive, handmade feel.

While I embraced the clever TV art trick for capturing these beautiful photographs, I typically don’t leave it on constantly, as the image tends to appear quite bright on our non-Frame TV. However, acquiring a Frame TV is definitely high on my wish list for future holiday seasons!

To maximize comfort and warmth, I topped off the space with a generously sized, cozy basket overflowing with soft throws, perfect for snuggling up on chilly evenings.

For an added touch of gentle radiance, I incorporated a beautiful mauve candle, casting a soft, inviting glow.

And to truly envelop the room in a captivating aroma, this black tobacco & amber candle works wonders, making the entire space smell utterly amazing!

These particular candles are battery-operated, yet they boast the most incredibly realistic flickering flames I’ve ever encountered. The added convenience of a timer means that as soon as dusk settles, our candles magically illuminate, creating a consistent and effortless ambiance.

On our inviting window seat and across all our seating areas, I indulged without reservation in an abundance of plush pillows. The moss green velvet pillows, in particular, are exceptionally squishy and soft, offering unparalleled comfort. Their rich color and luxurious texture also make them perfect for transitioning seamlessly into the entire winter season, and they’ll be a fantastic reuse for fall decor next year.

A beautiful cream block pillow also joined the collection, another versatile piece that will surely remain a year-round staple. Complementing these, a corduroy pillow wonderfully brought out the exact rusty/burgundy tones present in our area rug, creating a harmonious and layered look. Olivia has already staked her claim on the heavenly soft faux fur throw, affectionately dubbing it her “cloud blanket.” I also tossed in a couple of gray and cream check pillows, which I fully intend to keep out to enjoy throughout the entire winter season.

I know I find myself saying this every single year, but I genuinely believe that this year’s Christmas decor is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite yet! The blend of modern touches with classic elements, combined with all the warmth and personal touches, truly feels like home.

For those curious about any of the specific decor items or furnishings, you can find a comprehensive list of all our sources here:

***Room Makeover Sources & Paint Colors

I’ve been incredibly impressed not only with the exceptional quality of all our decor pieces from Bed Bath & Beyond but also with the remarkable convenience their services offered, especially given the unique circumstances we all faced this year. It made the entire decorating process seamless and enjoyable.

Regardless of where you are in the world, or how different this particular holiday season might look for you, I want you to know that you are deeply loved. I sincerely wish you the happiest and most peaceful Christmas. I am filled with so much hope and optimism for what the next year holds. Truly, good things are just around the corner, waiting to unfold.

The next captivating destination on this wonderful Holiday Housewalk is the home of my dear friend, Lucy, over at Craftberry Bush. If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting her beautiful space before, you are truly in for the most gorgeous and inspiring tour imaginable!

Merry Christmas, everyone!