Christmas Console

Let the Christmas decorating begin!

I know many bloggers have already completed their Christmas decorating so they can share their pretty results to inspire the rest of us.   For them, I'm grateful. But for me, it's a stretch to have completed the decorations before Thanksgiving.    This is the first year we're starting before Thanksgiving, and I'm going slowly but surely, hopefully to complete the transformation before the first weekend of December.

I'm starting this year with this console table in the living room.   

This table serves as a pretty storage area all year long. At Christmas I like to hang these photographs framed in bright Christmas red and shiny gold.  Our Christmas decor is fairly traditional with lots of red, green and gold as the primary colors.  This console sets the stage for the rest to come.

I used these same photo prints in this same spot last year, but they looked quite different with the old grey walls.  This year the walls have been painted a warm brown, and it feels very different - better - to me.  

These red mercury glass candleholders are from Pottery Barn last year.  I saw them in their catalog and wanted them, but didn't want to pay for them!   After Christmas I found them on clearance in the store, and picked up two of them.    Sometime soon I'll change the candles to white, but these green candles are the only ones I could find right away in my candle stash.

I like how the greens give a pretty and natural base to the glistening red.  I like how the Santa figure's red velvet suit mimics the shiny red glass.   

The red cardinal in the evergreens is a reference to my dad, who we lost this past May.  Our family name is Bird, and my dad's favorite bird was the cardinal.   Also, lore tells us that when we see a cardinal in our yard, it's a reminder of a loved one from heaven.  

I hope you are enjoying your holiday season.   I'd love for you to leave a comment, so I can visit your blog to admire your decorations too!

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Linking To:

Fluster Buster:  Fluster's Creative Muster Party

Between Naps On The Porch:  Metamorphosis Monday
Ivy and Elephants:  What's It Wednesday
StoneGable:  The Scoop
A Stroll Thru Life:  Inspire Me Tuesday
Creative Country Mom:   Christmas in the Country Holiday Link Up