Decking The Halls

 

My favourite time of the year is here!  And though we live in the tropics and there is no snow or frost anywhere in sight, I have attempted to have a “white” Christmas. At least in my holiday decorations. 🙂

My usual decorating style is somewhere between classic/modernist and minimalist.  It’s a direct (and opposite) reaction to being my mom’s daughter. My mother is a very talented decorator.  I grew up in a succession of beautiful homes (we kept moving because of my dad’s job, so we lived in about 5 houses? or more, growing up).  No matter where we were, whether we were renting temporarily, or owned the place we lived in, my mom always made sure that it was tastefully and beautifully decorated no matter what the budget.  She has a passion for collecting beautiful antique furniture, glassware, books, and a host of other stuff, and she arranges everything so beautifully.  And yes, you would be right to say that she was the complete opposite of “minimalist.” The word is not in her vocabulary. Or maybe it is, but she has hid it away to a small, not often used room in a far corner of her consciousness, together with such words as “modern”, “ascetic”, and “martha stewart”,  and threw away the key.  Naturally, when it was time for me to plan the decor in our own home, I went for the exact opposite.  🙂

But not during Christmas.  Christmas is when I become my mother’s daughter through and through.  This year, in particular, I let go of the reins and decorated with wild abandon. We even got a tree! Yes, a 6-foot tall Christmas tree with pine cones! hahaha. The little one is now old enough to appreciate it, and actually ask for it.  In fact the 2 boys have been begging and begging to get a tree, and so, in spite of the fact that we have a small flat here, we went for it anyway.  I was going for a very clean, all-white, minimalist look at first, with just touches of gold and silver to make things festive.

But the boys would not be appeased. And as my mom kept reminding me, Christmas is for children!  And so we searched for a tree that we liked. I scored this one on gumtree.com! It has lovely thick pine leaves and actual pine cones! Loved its quirkiness, and the fact that it’s slightly lopsided. I think it gives it character. 🙂

 

You can probably see how I attempted to at least keep the colors to a minimum: white, silver, gold, and some red.  The kids made a few ornaments out of LEGO, because they wanted to contribute.  This being the first time we  had a tree, most of the ornaments are new.  I blew my budget at Tangs, EggThree and Crate and Barrel.  Although some of these ornaments came from back home (I brought some over last year.)  I would have preferred it to be like the tree at my parents’ house, where all the ornaments have a story to tell. But I suppose we’ll get there someday.

Here’s the rest of the decorations around the flat:

Details. Details. It’s all about details! 🙂  The 2012 Swarovski snowflakes that I got last year to commemorate our first year in our own home. Mini trees I found at Crate and Barrel. The mother and child sculpture that my dad made.  The long ledge in the dining room, decorated with all white, silver, and gold trimmings and candles (my favourite of all). The white and silver snow globe; mercury candle holders to add more glitter.

The reading nook and bookshelf are not spared.  That silver curlicue tree? That used to be our poor excuse for a christmas tree for the past 8 years! 🙂

And yes, a corner in the kitchen has trimmings too!

(Looking at this picture reminds me that we need a bar cart desperately. Or at least a proper drinks cabinet.)

Here’s the dining area ledge all lit up.

When I took this picture, the kids were asleep, and the hubby and I were drinking spiked coffee in the living room while listening to Sarah Mclachlan sing Wintersong.

It was such a perfect moment.