I was so, so excited to decorate my cottage for Christmas this year. I have to confess, this is not always the case. In fact, since I am focused on holiday decorating pretty much year round, from the holiday markets in spring to decorating the stores in July, I can become a Grinch when it comes to dressing up my own home. Last year, I was in full bah-humbug mode and only managed to slap a wreath on my front door. But this year, the holiday magic was back. And I had a blast dreaming about how to make my snug little home merry and bright.
This is our second Christmas in our little lake cottage, and I’m still experimenting with how to decorate it for the holidays. Our historic Greek revival in Atchison was large and grand, and called for a formal, showy treatment. But Innisfree is different. Our ode to Christmas needed to be simpler, more edited.
Lucky for me, I work with a team of insanely talented designers at Nell Hill’s. So, I invited the visual team to come over to the cottage and dream with me. I had a vision, and they helped me bring it to life.
Our Atchison home was old and drafty, so one Christmas I set up a dining table in front of a roaring fire, a romantic, out-of-the ordinary dinner party for just us two. I decided to do the same thing at Innisfree this year. I pulled the two wingback chairs in our living room in front of the hearth, then slipped a side table between them.
I wanted the table setting to be festive and inviting, but not overdone. Inexpensive plaid trays became chargers, holding my favorite gold rimmed china. To make the place settings a bit more special, we added holiday ribbon, looped to look like a bow. I love to decorate with fresh flowers but I am terrible at floral arranging. So when I create bouquets myself, they have to be simple, like these sweet little roses tucked into a dish of cranberries.
Nothing beats a signature drink inspired by the season. Prosecco is my passion, and it doesn’t take much at Nell Hill’s for us to pop the cork and start pouring for customers. So I’m always up for a prosecco-inspired cocktail, garnished beautifully with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
When you decorate your mantel for the holidays, try one of two approaches: remove everything from the mantel and build a stunning new display, or keep your existing décor and add in a few holiday touches. We did the latter this year. We twisted some honeysuckle vine around my mantel, then wove in a mix of faux greenery picks and berries. I love how it turned out, full and lush and a bit wild.
To ensure all the holiday displays in the cottage flowed together, we used the same greens throughout. Just as we did on my fireplace mantel, we kept the little display on the shelf above my stove as-is, then tucked in greens. This little wreath looks so sweet hung above the stove. Since I go to great lengths to never, ever cook, it’s not a fire hazard.
My sister, Judy, is flying in for Christmas, and I can’t wait to have lots of sister time around the table. Just as I did for fall, I’ve created a holiday look for the table that I will use all season long.
I have a red-hot, abiding love for plaid, so in the winter, I wrap the cottage in a riotous mix of plaids, from the pillows on the sofas, to throw blankets on nearly every chair, to table accents. This charming table continues my love poem to plaid, with its table topper and seat cushions.
One of the beautiful things about aging is gaining perspective. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself during the holidays to make everything perfect. Now, I do everything I can ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress, like setting a lovely table well in advance. That way I can slow down when my family and friends are here, to be fully present and entirely engaged.
When my family gets together for the holidays, and the wine starts flowing, it’s story time. We laugh until our sides hurt as we recollect the crazy things we did together as kids. Here’s one of my favorite Christmas memories: When I was about 5, my entire family came down with the stomach flu on Christmas Eve. Never one to miss a party, while the four of them fought over the bathroom, I made merry in the living room. I plugged in the revolving silver Christmas tree and ripped open the gift from my great uncle, who had a habit of spoiling me. At the time, Barbie was everything in my world. So you can imagine my glee as I opened a Barbie record player and a stack of 45’s. I spent the morning dancing around the living room in my jammies. Best Christmas ever!
Several years ago, I made the switch from fresh cut Christmas trees to artificial. Had something to do with stepping on brittle pine needles hidden in the carpets for months. I found artificial trees easier to work with – they don’t come crashing down quite as easily, the ornaments and ribbons stay where you put them, and they don’t drop needles everywhere.
But this year, I tried something brand new: a live tree, which will be planted in our yard as soon as the holidays are over. I fell in love with this little old Charlie Brown tree, with its irregular shape and diminutive size. When we decorated it for Christmas, we took our cue from the burlap-covered root ball and filled the tree with natural treasures. Honeysuckle vines swirl in and out, bird’s nests and faux birds are perched on branches. A faux popcorn garland is lazily draped around its spindly girth.
Thank you so much for spending time with me at my cottage, pausing for a moment from the hurly-burly rush of the season. I want to leave you with this fun poem penned by Bruce, our multi-talented head of visual design as Nell Hill’s:
T’was the Night Before Christmas … at Innisfree
T’was the night before Christmas when up at the lake, no dinner was cooking, not even a steak.
The garland was strung on the chimney with care, in hopes that it wouldn’t fall on my chair.
Our Lyric was nestled right next to the tree, while visions of biscuits filled her with glee.
All decked in tartans, both red and green, the table was set for holiday cuisine.
With nut bowls! With crystal! With candles and rose! On china! On bread plates! Oh, how it glows.
And then, in a twinkling, I spied by the fire …a cocktail table all set to inspire.
As I drew closer, it was set just for two, with ribbon so festive, I couldn’t guess who …
Would leave this surprise, it must be a trick. This might be the time to believe in St. Nick!
It’s been quite a year with much to convey, from birthdays and s’mores to pizza flambe.
And I’d like to say, as I turn out the light, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Next Week … Bring in the New Year with a gathering.
Anne says
December 7, 2015 at 11:02 amLove your home! Is the side table antique or a reproduction that can be purchased in your shop? Also the plaid trays; can they be purchased in your store?
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 7, 2015 at 11:20 amYes! Just give us a call at 816-746-4320 for all the info.
Nancy Berry says
December 7, 2015 at 12:27 pmLOVE this issue of your blog!!! It all looks so inviting!! Thank you sharing your home and ideas. You give me something to look forward to on Monday!:)
Terri says
December 7, 2015 at 1:41 pmI always look forward to your decorating posts, and especially your holiday decorating. Thank you.
jodbarker says
December 7, 2015 at 2:03 pmI love your tree! Mine has birds and vines,
and pinecones from the yard…
Marsha says
December 7, 2015 at 2:24 pmI notice your dog is on the furniture. Do you have tips for pet hair? I have a lab and am constantly fight dog hair!
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 7, 2015 at 4:08 pmYes, between Lyric and the two cats, we live with pet hair! I love to drape washable throw blankets over their favorite sleeping spots.
Barbara Carlson says
December 7, 2015 at 2:30 pmAre the green chargers shown for sale or are they antiques?
Kathy P. says
December 7, 2015 at 3:14 pmLove your decorating. Enjoyed your little story about your Christmas when you were 5.
Joyce says
December 7, 2015 at 4:05 pmBeautiful and homey and Lyric is beautiful as well!
Janet says
December 7, 2015 at 4:28 pmMary Dear Mary! What do serve your guests if you don’t cook? I am so interested in how you manage this. I too do not enjoy cooking anymore. I am good at throwing a few simple things together but holidays are trickier! What do you do?
Thank You, Janet
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:11 pmJanet, I am lucky to have friends who are great cooks and I work next door to a great restaurant that does carry out.
Joan says
December 7, 2015 at 6:14 pmSo inviting! I wish one of your stores was near me. Are the chargers available in your store?
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:11 pmYes, Joan, they are!
BARBARA says
December 7, 2015 at 7:04 pmThank you Mary Carol, as always you very wisely do, got the spirit of Christmas right there , no much, no little, just waht is needed to feel it. Nice table and enviroment, I love you poem too. Thank you for sharing with us this beautiful spaces and feelings. Best regards .
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:12 pmThanks so much, Barbara!
Linda says
December 7, 2015 at 7:41 pmThank you for sharing so many different things on so many different levels. I have been an avid Nell Hill’s fan for several years, and this is my favorite posting ever!
Merry Christmas, dear friend whom I have never met, to you and your family!
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:22 pmThanks so much, Linda!
Jean Brennan says
December 7, 2015 at 9:04 pmI love your idea of dinner for two by the fireplace! I am going to steal this idea for Christmas this year for my husband and me. Merry Christmas, Mary Carol!
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:13 pmEnjoy, Jean!
Vicki says
December 7, 2015 at 10:55 pmMary Carol, your home looks so cozy and inviting, and I thank you for this wonderful post with all the great inspirational photos. Love , love all of it!!! We are in California desert now, and I miss visiting your store, then coming home and adding the Nell Hill’s touch to my own home. (Somehow, as lovely as it is, abundant roses blooming, palm trees and 70 degrees does not say “Christmas” to a Midwesterner at heart) Also, your unused kitchen looks perfect to me!!!! Merry Christmas!
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:13 pmCalifornia sounds wonderful!
Donna McDonald says
December 8, 2015 at 7:46 amThank you for the pictures, they are beautiful. I may have the same silverware as you. Is it the Old Masters pattern made by Towle? I have had mine for more than 50 years and I love it.
Mary Carol Garrity says
December 8, 2015 at 2:12 pmIt’s so wonderful to have dishes and others that you can treasure for decades, isn’t it?
Mimi Tafour says
December 8, 2015 at 4:07 pmHi MC,
Just love seeing your sweet puppy dog. Pets just make a home …..home. Your home looks like it is your place of “peace on earth”. Have yourself a “Merry (little) Christmas”! and GOD bless dear friend.
Lisa Mercado-Fernandez says
December 9, 2015 at 2:46 pmThis is the most beautiful post. Funny when you left your home and moved into the cottage by the lake I thought will it ever be as beautiful and looking at these photos it is a dream. Cozy and elegant and beautiful and the christmas feel is in every nook and cranny. What a lovely sanctuary you have created. Love it so.
God bless and always much love your way
Lisa
http://www.leeshideaway.blogspot.com
Robin Frank says
December 18, 2015 at 2:38 pmYou are the treasure … And your blog the sweet gift to unwrap every week …. Merry Christmas dear old friend !
Karen DINardi says
November 9, 2016 at 3:58 pmLove the red plaid I have been using it for years along with black velvet.
June says
October 30, 2019 at 6:42 pmI love your home, it’s so cozy and warm. Can you tell me where you bought your kitchen rug? Thank you.