Have you looked at the calendar? Christmas will be here before you know it, so I thought I'd better take you on a holiday house tour before the big guy has a chance to mess up the place. And by "big guy", I mean Santa.
Not talking LeBron James here.
Warning: I never met a photo I didn't want to post on my blog, so run to the bathroom and then grab a cup of coffee. This is going to be one of those long ones.
OK, you're back? Let's get this party started!
Our home is an open, great room concept. This is looking from the entry hallway into the living room and out the back door.
No, there is not an alien spaceship landing in my backyard. This room is a killer to take photos in, so it just looks a tad bit bright out there.
Just in the last few months, I moved the couch away from the wall and have it floating in the middle of the room. I think it makes the room feel more cozy.
This view is from standing in the kitchen/breakfast room area.
And this should be no surprise to my regular readers, I managed to get a thermos in the Christmas decor! Because really people, a plaid thermos just shouts Christmas.
In years past, I always hung a wreath of some sort from this printer's box. In my attempt to create a new look this year, I made a Christmas tree out of bells instead.
You really don't want to know how many trips to Michael's it took to make that thing.
You may have noticed that Santa likes to move around quite a bit in these photos. When I told him he could stand next to the Skotch Kooler I purchased this fall, he thought I meant "scotch" as in the alcohol and he ran right over there.
He's made out of a hard plastic and has a hole in his back to put a light in. Apparently he is not that rare, since when I posted him on facebook and instagram quite a few people commented that they had the same one.
You'll always be special to me, Santa! Even though you can party like it's 1999.
Is this not the cutest microphone to talk to Santa with? My son is sooo past that age of believing, so I got it more for it's cute vintage look. I bought it last year at Hallmark.
No self-respecting vintage Christmas home tour would be without a bottle brush tree tied to a toy car.
This was my mother's bobble head Santa bank. He comes out every single year and it just wouldn't be Christmas without him 🙂
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen . . .
I really don't see why people question why he can travel the world in only one night?
My deer takes his shots with a camera, not a gun 🙂
Although with no hands/feet, I'm not sure how he presses the shutter.
I tried to pretty up the dog toys with a red Coke crate.
Speaking of dogs, Sheba, the Shiba Inu, is getting a little bored with this whole thing, so maybe we should wrap this up.
Oh, almost forgot the Christmas tree. A Christmas home tour is not complete without a Christmas tree.
I don't do a "themed" tree. It's red, green and white balls (no blue balls this year) with ornaments we've collected over the years and ones my son has made. Nothing wrong with a themed tree. Just not my thing 🙂
I know you're going to ask "Where are the Shiny Brites, Pam?" "Did you forget about your blow molds?" "What happened to your putz houses and train around the tree?"
Well, I tried to put my whole house in one post, but it took me forever and a day just to whittle down the living room photos to a manageable amount, so come back later in the week and I'll do a separate post on the kitchen and the porch. Who knows, maybe even the dining room if I get energetic.
If you're new here, you may want to check out my Holiday Front Porch For The Picnicking Ski Bums, Christmas In The Kitchen, my chalk painted skis, how to make cloved clementine oranges or my mason jar luminarias.
OK, if you're still with me. And haven't wet your pants (I told you to run to the bathroom first). Stop on over to the other bloggers on the home tour and give them some love.
I'm also linking up to Jennifer Rizzo's Holiday House Walk
Feathered Nest Friday and Inspired By Charm's 12 Days Of Christmas Party
ThrifterSisters
You nailed the rustic theme! My favorite would have to be the deer. He looks super sassy with his tipped hat:-) Just keep him away from Santa. He seems like he could be a bad influence.
Happy Holidays!
Erica
Laurie Dickson
I must admit, I was a little giddy to see your home tour, but now I'm just frantically searching for a vintage dinky car and one of those darn trees! 😉 Or maybe I'll change the name of my tour... Bahahaha, I'm kidding of course, I adore all of your vintage touches and your post is so full of funny, I died laughing a couple of times... glad there are no blue balls this year! xoxo
gadawn57
Laurie, I looked and looked for vintage car too (had the trees from my village, even Dollar Tree has some trees) and finally bought car at local decor store. Pam is one of my favorite bloggers!!
suzieQ
I've been meaning to comment for a while; your new photo of yourself with new hairdo, etc. is very flattering and really captures your fun personality! I am so going to copy Santa flying on the globe since I have 4 globes so 4 Santas can be given jobs. I also like your bell tree, very clever, Pam. Your tree is a wonderful shape and like you, I am not into themed trees. My daughter wants a Shiba Inu but I hear they are very independent and strong willed, though they are beautiful, beautiful dogs. How did you manage to get her to lay bored and uninterested on the couch for your pictures? Perhaps she is above all this fussing or did she supervise you before and is all tuckered out?
Oh, and that microphone? If it is missing, I haven't seen it! 🙂
gadawn57
I have to admit it...I copy so many of your decor vignettes in my home this past year, including THERMOS!! I have a nice little collection going now and I kept my plaid, red/black and silver ones in kitchen with santa mug with bottle brush tree. Never could find decent vintage toy car / truck so found one that 'looks' vintage at local decor store and put bottle brush trees in back of pickup. Still need to find Scotch kooler though OR metal plaid picnic box! I love what you did with the globe too!!!
GADawn57
Melissa
everything looks perfect! now... if you could tell me where you got that pillow with the french bulldog on it... i'd really appreciate it! 😉
Pam Kessler
I bought it at the Pottery Barn outlet two years ago. It was in clearance back then so I don't imagine they would still have them. Maybe eBay???
[email protected]
Everything looks fabulous, Pam! I get so many ideas for using vintage from your vignettes! I love, love you maple syrup can. We usually go to Vermont at Christmas and if I can ever find a similar can in an antique shop, it will be mine. Displaying it would remind me of all of our fun trips. It's wonderful that you have your mom's bobble head Santa and that you display it every year. I also love your idea of putting Santa and his reindeer on a globe. Now I want to do that, too!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
that hat on the deer is awesome! love it, pam! gorgeous and fun home!
Musings from Kim K.
Lots of fabulous rustic/woodsy ideas that I need to borrow for our A-frame, that deer head is fantastic all decked out for the holidays. I love your Mom's bobble head bank. So special. Loving the idea of putting the plastic sleigh and reindeer on the globe too! Brilliant!!!
Junkchiccottage
Love your decor this year Pam. OMG! so many cute vintage treasures. Love the santa on the globe and your north pole intercom and of course the deer head with hat and camera. All so whimsy and great. You rocked it out with this decor. Your whole post just made me smile. Thanks for sharing.
Kris
Vanessa
I love all your retro Christmas decor. Very nice
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Your Santa and reindeer traveling the globe is such a great idea and so darn cute, Pam! I love all your vintage finds used to decorate your living room, and your tree is gorgeous! And your red painted skis look fabulous wearing my favorite color. :o)
Thanks for sharing your holiday home tour with us!
Vickie
Robin Johnson
You've outdone yourself this year. I adore your tree, love that it has more meaning to you than a themed tree would. Love how you worked in your trusty thermos, typewriter and vintage camera's - - so "you"
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Love, love, love it, Pam! Full of such whimsy and fun! I have that Santa and sleigh...and a globe...pinning! Such a fun idea! Your deer on the wall looks so great all spruced up for Christmas!
[email protected] The Picket Fence
I adore everything about it! I have done vinyl santa on a globe, but I love yours.
Postcards from the ridge
Be still, my vintage-loving heart! I love all those vintage touches! That jingle bell tree is so clever. And the thermos is perfect with the red and green plaid. Perfectly vintage, all of it. Thanks for sharing it all with us! ~ Angie
Jamie | anderson + grant
Love all the vintage....especially the unique maple syrup can (which coordinates perfectly with your thermos by the way 🙂 Your idea of creating the ornament tree in the printer's box is so genius! Loved being a part of this tour with you today!
TARYTERRE
Love all the decorations. Your tree is gorgeous.
Http://whatmeeganmakes.com
Your rustic touches always catch my eye. Especially your Holiday decor! You are one talented woman, Pam.
Thanks for sharing your goodness with us.
Christy James
Love all of your whimsical touches! The thermos really does say, "Christmas" and it's perfect as a tree base! Of course the deer is a big hit too! XO
Lindsey Allen
So many vintage treasures! I enjoyed taking the tour! I think the deer head is my very favorite!
[email protected]
Kristen @ Pursuing Vintage
I love all your vintage touches! Santa on the globe is my favorite!
Leslie Stewart
I just love your style Pam! The santa on the globe is the best!
Happy Holidays!
Leslie @ House on the Way
Virginia
LOVE all your vintage trinkets!
Shanna Gilbert
I love all of your pretty vintage decor! It makes a home so much more interesting! It all looks gorgeous and you even have a pretty pup!
Jen @ Girl in the Garage
Pam you have so many great ideas for your Christmas decor! Love the Santa on the globe, dressed up deer head (which usually makes me creeped out, but not yours... lol), all the vintage Santas, plaid thermos, and the fact that so many of your decorations have been passed down to you. Thanks so much for joining the tour - Merry Christmas!
Anne
I love that you decorated your deer head! Very cool vintage touches! I love your tree made from bells! Your tree is gorgeous! Awe Sheba is so cute <3
[email protected] at the Crossroads
Pam, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. My favorite things have to be Santa on the globe and the microphone! You have such an interesting collection of vintage goodies!
Christy Little Our Southern Home
Pam,
I love your vintage style. You had me at that amazing globe with Santa traveling it. So creative!!!
Artsy Chicks Rule
I love all of your rustic vintage touches Pam!!! How wonderful!!
Nancy
Honeybee
Love the pine boughs in the top of the thermos. I have that same one. Such a brilliant & charming idea! Such a festive home, thanks for sharing & inspiring.
avery street design
This is so cute...I just love the deer head! Stopping by from dwellinggawker 🙂 Amazing job! xo, Laura
morethanhungry.com
Oh Darn! I used to have a round plaid cooler and thermos just like that and thought I'd never use it. Such a cute idea with the greens!!! Great post packed with inspiration. Thanks!
Linda
First of all I really like your decor. Love all the plaid too. We're Scottish. I'm glad to see that you used chalk paint on the skis. Good idea. Might be doing that to an old set of ours. We're from Georgia but we used to drive EVERY weekend to Sugar Mountain in North Carolina to ski. That was mid 70s. Our kids were young then and often we accompanied 30 or more high school kids. What a wonderful but exhausting weekend. Last time we skied was late 80s or early 90s. Went to Montremblant in Canada. But also Skied Snowshoe a lot before that. In summers we water skied every weekend. Usually with a pile of teenagers then too.
Miss those good times but old body can't hang with it anymore.
I can't believe it but I spied 2 items that I have. The fat plastic Santa (not the bobble head one). He used to hold something in his left hand but don't remember what. I glued a plastic green lantern from some other broken ornament. Looks like it was supposed to be there. Plus. The Santa Sleigh with reindeer on the globe (Great Idea!!!) I still have from way way back. Plastic poinsettia and all. Our youngest...son who is now 45 (daughter is 50)...used to "drive" it with his matchbox cars when he was little. (He races now !!). I had to keep gluing the red reins and whip back together. I can't believe it survived at all !!!! Daughter tried to get me to trash it several times. Oh No!! I had it before she was born.
Well keep up the good work and postings. I'm enjoying it all. Thanks. And Merry Christmas. It's just around the corner!! Linda