November 19, 2012

Christmas 2012 Living Room Tour

Happy Holidays y'all!

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is this week! WOW... has November flown by or what? And have I mentioned that I super duper excited for black Friday shopping as well? The hubby has off this year so we get to go together... I am so excited and still trying to decide where to go first... I'm thinking Lowes. Does that surprise you?

I started decorating our house for Christmas about a week or so ago. We actually usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving but you know what, who's rule is that? I don't care... I do what I want. I have really enjoyed having it up early. 31 days just isn't enough enjoyment for me, okay? Hehe.

This year is different obviously because we are in Florida and I am enjoying a new home to decorate. I usually going 110% all out for Christmas because it's my favorite time of year... but I'm excited to say we get to go home to North Carolina this year for Christmas to spend it with our families. First time in 6 years for my husband and in 2 years for me, thank you Mr. Air Force. Not that I am not thankful to being able to travel to many different places including living in 4 different Air Force bases in 5 years. We are happy to be here in Florida and are finally settling in and I have to say, it feels great to do so. I haven't "loved" every base that we have been to but I've tried to make the best of it and be positive. I have no godly idea why I hear some people say they dislike Florida and this base but then I also hear them say this is their first duty station. They just don't know how good they have it.

It's a brisk fall night in Florida and we love having our windows open. I've been listening to Carrie Underwood and decorating all day. It's not perfect but I am far more enjoying this year at Christmas than last. Although, while we were in North Dakota last year at least we had snow :) I haven't gone all out this year either on account on us going home to N.C. in just a few weeks! So excited. Still. Have I told you how excited I am about N.C.? I can't WAIT to just give my mama & daddy the BIGGEST hugs ever! I miss them everyday and am so thankful to have them both in my life. So thankful.

On a side note, I have to share with y'all some exciting news here at Home by Ally! I was contacted yesterday about being interview for a local newspaper here in Florida! Talk about making my day! And today I received another email from a vendor who wants me to try out their product & let y'all know how I feel about it! I am loving it and it makes me feel so good about all the positive feedback.

Here is our living room this year at Christmas/Thanksgiving. If you haven't noticed, I rearranged our furniture. I sold our small dining nook table and put our oversized chair in its place. I flipped our sofa and our t.v. cupboard opposite each other. Sometimes that is all you need is just simply to rearrange. I forgot to mention that furniture placemat will be included in my "design consults" which are coming soon... so stay tuned and follow me along this journey!


Obviously, I ramble a bit.

The iron gate on my entryway table is from Ross. The t.v. stand is from Ashley furniture believe it or not. I just customized a bit more to fit my taste. The end tables and coffee table are from Ikea. You can find them here. The mirror I actually just bought from the kindest lady off of Craiglist. They are not all creepers, yay! The pillows on the couch are a light mint green and cream. They are Ralph Lauren and are from Marshalls. The lamps are from Hobby Lobby.

Isn't this mirror just gorgeous? I originally didn't plan to hang it here because I have another mirror waiting in N.C. for me. For now, I will enjoy her sweetness being here. I love how much light it reflects in our narrow living area. And a tip for y'all, mirrors make small spaces appear larger and are great about reflecting light. If you can help it, try to face a mirror to a window so the natural light can reflect off the mirror and into your space. There is my pretty Christmas tree in the background. I just realized I didn't have my huge bow on top when I took this. That's ok. DARN IT, no it's not.


And here is the mirror in focus. Gorgeous white in the shape of a window and the actually frame is slightly distressed in a faint gold. I am loving it in the space. 


I found this print on Pinterest and I LOVE it. And I need it. I stress. A lot. And I'm clinically OCD as well as having severe anxiety. But this is my daily reminder to breathe. And no matter what, God is in control of everything, whether I like it or not.


I got this old milk cans from my wonderful mother in law.


Our T.V. cupboard is also from Ikea. You can find it here. It has a lot of storage and it just down right pretty with its glass doors and classic white color. I redid the styling in the cupboard as well with adding little touches of the holidays such as pine cones in that metal pitcher and small bells in the little glass canister to the left. The little doxie is also riding a sleigh ornament in the middle. My husband got a kick out of that placement. :)


I love just lying on our floor and looking at our tree. It's not perfect or the most pretty tree in the world but it's ours and I love it. But on another note, look below. Hello! Do you see me?


I absolutely adore our stair railing. I did plain light garland (white lights) from Hobby Lobby. I added the burlap ribbon and pine cones. The finishing touches were the antique sleigh bells and the tiny apples & cherries that are covered with gold and bronze glitter. Everything on this railing can be found at Hobby Lobby and the dollar tree.


Here's another view. I just drool over my antique sleigh bells. They are just gorgeous. Pinecones add a rustic touch to any decor, especially during the holidays. I also love the smell they give off.


Here I am... snapped a picture for y'all of me. I shoot with a Nikon for those of you who have asked. It is a professional grade camera, Nikon D700. I use a Nikon 50mm 1.4, Nikon 85mm 1.4 and a Nikon 24mm 2.8 wide angle. I also like to shoot people in my spare time. If you haven't already liked my photography page on Facebook, please support me and go "like" it here. You can find my photography blog and website here. I thank you in advance.


Here is a beautiful photo of our tree adorned with bronzes, golds, silvers and burlaps. Lots of mixes of texture and colors but all in the same family and ones that compliment each other. Again, my bow isn't in the photo :( Bummer on me for that one.

It also has silk white poinsettia leaves that I am obsessed with every year. You can also find white silk poinsettias on top of my milk planters in vintage inspired wire crates.


I got a huge burlap tree skirt a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love. It is super thick and lined on the opposite side with silk. All for $19.99 at TjMaxx. I will take it considering the ones I looked at last year on Etsy, though handmade which I love... were $60 +. Ally 1. $60 skirt 0.


Like I said, I know our home isn't perfect and in fact it never will be. I have days where I want to get rid of everything and start fresh. And I have days also where I love it and I am content where it is at. The trick is to just find the right balance. My best advice to someone who is trying to find their "style" or do their living room is to first start with a great basic, neutral sofa and furniture. Add elements of color and pop in your accessories. And remember to bring "you and yours" into your space. You do this by photos, pillows, antiques, old keep sakes, vintage items that you have a tie to, etc.



I hope y'all enjoyed my 2012 Christmas home tour. It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful, right?
 
I am linking to a link party here!
 
 

XOXO,
Ally


16 comments:

  1. You sure know how to make base housing look fabulous! That's not an easy task. Congrats on the upcoming interview. I look forward to seeing your future work and making a purchase!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Courtney! Glad you are here and I hope you stay awhile...& come back lots!XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fab living room...totally stealing some ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love all your holiday decorations!! We just put up our Christmas tree last night did our decorating. A little pine scent and some warm golden lights do wonders for the room's coziness levels. :)

    xo,
    Stephanie (Big Mario Life)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Perfect is highly over rated anyway right? Besides.. it's perfectly WONDERFUL :)
    Thanks so much for sharing at the Dollar Tree link party! Happy Holidays to You!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ally, it all looks so beautiful! Love the soft colors and greenery. Thanks for sharing at our Home for the Holidays link party!

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