Christmas Sunroom 2015 "Farmhouse Christmas"

I'm really excited to finally be sharing our Christmas home tour for 2015. Although we are ALWAYS working on different projects in our home, I have taken some time this year to really add that festive touch of Christmas to the main living areas of our home. I've teamed up with some other awesome bloggers who also will be sharing their beautiful homes so I highly encourage y'all to stop by and show them some love! There is nothing like a good ole' home tour! 

Now, I know how I am when there is a good home tour…and even more when it's Christmas. I really try to read what the writer is writing but I look at the photos first…and then I read the post. So I'll keep the words light. For today, unlike a lot of the other folks, I'll only be showing you our sunroom because I have a few other projects this month I want to show you in different spaces so I will save those for another time! I really enjoyed decorating in here this year. We previously had painted the sunroom with an oops gray that I loved for like a month. I still did/do like the gray but something came over me the other night and I was craving my go to color, "Oatlands Subtle Taupe" by Valspar, which a very close match to Revere Pewter just about. I really enjoy the light and brightness of this space! Enjoy!

I purchased a few of these very cheap mercury glass votive candle holders from Marshalls. They have a slight reflection of a snowflake although it is hard to see that in the photos. I sprinkled some pine cones on the top of the TV stand and flocked the garland with mostly naturally things like my NC pine trees, some red berrie picks from our tree out front & some old fashioned lights. I'll more than likely add some fresh greenery when it gets closer to Christmas… but I want to enjoy them before they die off ;-)

I have LED candles in the lanterns that are on timers so they are super pretty at night… I'm thinking after looking at these photos I'll go get some plain red satin ribbon and tie the tops of those cute little trees from Michaels. I'm really a sucker for anything simple… and although my tree is decked out, that is really it. I don't like a lot of fuss and really wanted my tree to take center stage.

Below I used old architectural porch salvage spindles and simply drilled small holes in the top points & threaded some twine through to create my own custom ornaments! I really love these since I've never seen anything like it and even better, this is something I made and won't be able to find in a store!

There's something about this deep classic red that has my heart this year. I really wanted some heavy, glass old fashioned style ornaments and these below did not disappoint. I purchased these from Tuesday Morning in a variety of patterns & even colors. If you look closely at our tree, you will see that there are red, white and silver ones that also mimic mercury glass. I didn't really purchase anything new this year except for the woodland style "birch wood" ribbon which I got in NC at a local shop & these ornaments above. Everything else I really pieced together with things I've had over the years. 

Thank you mama for this cute little driftwood reindeer I've had for years! I stuck some fresh boxwood & a cute tag on him for some festivity! 

And thank you to my daddy for my cute little vintage ice skates that hang on my grandmothers old sled. 

All the pine cones I had fun picking up last time I was up in North Carolina visiting my folks. North Carolina will always have my heart, with its tall pines…. and southern accents! I miss home lots, especially this time of year so anything to remind me of it will always mean a lot to me and these are no different. I'll be keeping these out for awhile I have a feeling...

 I hope y'all enjoyed a small glimpse into our Christmas sunroom! I can't what to show you more so please stay tuned! As always, I love to hear your thoughts and how your holidays are going!

XO

Farmhouse Fall Home Tour!

I'm so honored to have teamed up with these ladies for the 2015 Fall Home Tour using the hashtag #farmhousefalltour. Remember we would absolutely love to see your Fall decorating so use the hashtag on Instagram and you may be featured on any of our accounts as a showcase! 

Now, I'm going to go ahead and tell y'all...lots of photos! I always tend to hold back photos of my own in fear of them not being "perfect" or just right for the photos but here recently, I heard the saying... "Progress, not perfection." And my, my how fitting for my life. So, without further ado, enjoy the Fall Home Tour at Home by Ally for 2015. Enjoy and let me know what y'all think!

We'll start with walking through the front door. If you follow along on Instagram (you can find HBA Here!) you will see I've been working hard on a project I've had in my head for some time in the entry! That reveal is coming soon so stay tuned for that! I have a very simplistic style. I don't like a lot of fuss or an "overly" decorated space or lots of accessories. I'd rather it be minimal where the room can truly speak to you and your family...

The front "formal" living area is going through those changes as well so although you won't see the full room in this tour, I am really excited for those changes and can't wait to show y'all! Now, let's make our way to the dining area... We recently found a "new to us" antique maple table that is larger in diameter to fit just one more slipcovered chair at the table. We also have two extra slipcovered chairs for guests in our office when the time comes so it's nice to have that flexibility! We plan to strip the table to its original wood state and just put a simple wax on it. I really am in love with raw wood, especially rustic, raw pine. Something about the warmth and rustic nature of it has my heart.

We also recently found a beautiful Allen & Roth chandelier (lantern style) with open sides at Lowes Home Improvement and we quickly switched that out over the weekend. It's a little larger than the last one and more substantial which I am in love with. My husband says it looks the same but what do they know ;-)

I picked up these custom pillow covers I had made yesterday also! I've had this idea in my head for these vintage bank bags for years! I simply had the idea of fraying the edge since the bags are smaller  originally and sewing the fronts onto simply linen white pillows. I LOVE the results! They are so authentic, original and not something you can just go buy anywhere! I'm planning to have more made as well as many other ideas I have for custom pillows to be carried in the store! If you haven't visited the HBA space at Vintage Living Marketplace, what are you waiting for? We have an amazing set of vendors and you really should go check it out! You can find the stores FB page HERE!

Below are my Decor Steals herb boxes! They also appear to be made of pine and although I loved them, I wanted to tone down the "orange-ness" of the pine boxes. I simply washed a white wash mixture over the boxes & wiped clean after a few seconds to give them more of a washed pine look. I also spray painted the handles matte black instead of a rustic reddish-brown that they original were. 

I added faux and real greenery as well as some mums for fall! I've had a few people ask me on Instagram do I seal the boxes when I water the flowers. The flowers I put in these are actually in pots. I simply take them out when I want to water them and leave them at the sink to be watered. Once the soil is semi-dry after watering, I place them back in their boxes. I do have wash clothes on the bottom of each box for excess drips just in case! ;-)

This sign has my heart. It's a custom sign that I'm giving away a FREE SIGN HERE. Go enter before it ends because Sophistiqa's work is AMAZING and I am so honored to have partnered with her and her hubby! They are the sweetest family and I am glad I have some of their work in our home!

This dork likes to photo bomb every picture. I think I have 30 of these with his "bunny." I just love him. Do you have animals that always seem to steal the spotlight when you are doing something? Or kids? Hehe...I'm sure y'all can relate! But he's cute so it'll be ok!

So, that's the tour. I really hope you enjoyed how I decorated our home for fall. I really enjoy no fuss decorating and love bringing natural elements into our home. I can't wait to show y'all all the projects I've been working tirelessly on! If you want to save any of these photos or Pin them on Pinterest, please feel free to do so by hovering over the photo and you'll see your option to "Pin on Pinterest." I really enjoyed teaming up with these sweet ladies so make sure you go to their blogs and show them some love for their homes too! I am so honored! 

Monday

Meadow Lake Road | Migonis Home | Bless'er House

Tuesday

The Fat Hydrangea | Sypsie Designs | The Refined Relic

Wednesday

Anderson + Grant | Seeking Lavender Lane | Little Glass Jar

Thursday

Gracie Blue | Home Remedies | Home by Heidi

Friday

Home by Ally | Cherished Bliss | Dandelion Patina