Our Merry Christmas House

This house is the same one from the previous post, only now it is full of Christmas decor.  Still beautiful, but now replete with snow, wreaths, red table settings, and - well, you will see.

The front door just lures us in with its open door and candlelit staircase.  Looks so warm and inviting.

The table setting makes me wish I knew what the holiday menu included.

I always loved the primitive painting on the wall.  Since I dabble in painting myself, I one time wrote to the owner and asked her its provenance.  She was nice enough to respond to my letter, but unfortunately I cannot remember what she said about it.  The kuchens and fruit salad are very tempting since I am posting this blog at 9:45 AM.

Several sweet vignettes of the season.

Another view of the fireplace I love with its hearth now full of antique toys and holiday treats.

The text above this photo says it all.

Love the old grandfather clock on the staircase and the candles.  (I always used to put garland on my banister and have discontinued doing it in favor of a more zen holiday decor, but this image makes me want to rethink things.  Maybe zen is just not for Christmas.)  Also, much as I love this warm decor, I would worry about those candles under the garland.  With my luck, my staircase would have a real holiday glow.

The homeowner even decorates her bedrooms.  (Actually, I always liked the bedrooms without Christmas cheer.  They were a bit of a respite from holiday overkill.)

This ends my posts from my earliest inspiration, and I'm rather sad to leave this particular house.  Always loved it.  I will tuck the pages away in my files again because we have "miles to go before" I'm done with my design journey.

One Early Inspiration

These pictures from a 1974 issue of American Home, a magazine no longer in
publication, served as some inspiration for the house my husband and I built in
the early 1980's.  Though I wanted an old house, George said, "You never finish
with an old house.  I'll build you a new house that looks old," and he did. I loved
this house the moment I saw it, and seeing it again brings back lots of memories.
My husband grumbled that he was building a  house from pictures - an exaggeration
considering we had architect plans in our hot little hands.  But, much of the interior
design of this house inspired the interior design in our own.  Looking at it now,
warm feelings flood back - the Maine location, the beautiful antiques, the coziness,
and of course the food images.  How much do you love that fireplace!!

OK, I hate the avocado green appliances and red counters, but love the hooked rug in front of the sink, the tea caddies on the shelf, cups of tea and rose geranium on the table, and antique basket on the floor.  We must take the good with the bad, and it does look like cooking occurs in this kitchen.

In the images of this home's living room and dining area, I've always loved the large window in front of the table, the comfortable sofa and, again, the antique accessories on the tables.

Moving to the upstairs (where no cooking occurs, but charm abounds), the fireplace in the master bedroom is a treat, the highboy is to die for, and the canopied bed and its linens are so appropriate.  Also love the oriental rugs, but I now would also love a large seagrass rug under the orientals.  Am so conflicted sometimes in how to integrate my old taste with the new.  Originally, we had the same trim color in this bedroom in our living and dining room.  Now, the trim is all white.  The attic access door looks just like ours, but, of course, ours is white.  About the guest room - I am so over quilts.

Is this not a great house!  And in Maine which makes it even better.  Next time I will show you the same home all decked out for the holidays.  I know the season has passed, but I want you to see how lovely this house is all seasons, and there will be more food in the next posting.  (Why can I not keep the printing over to the left?  And why is one image hanging off the page??  Bear with me as I discover the intricacies of blogging.)