The week of Thanksgiving I not only began decorating my home, I decorated a friend’s home too.  It’s so fun to stretch myself and decorate in a space that is not all white, use stuff that belongs to someone else, and create a look they will want to look at for a few weeks during the Christmas season!  I did do some shopping with my friend in mind and I took along some things I wasn’t using in my house.  There IS a good reason to hoard stuff I guess 😉

I took one of my cast iron urns from outside over thinking I might fill it with sticks and create a tree of sorts.  We ended up with this instead and I think it turned out great – perfect spot for an indoor urn.

The rug I’ve had for years.  I bought it to put under my nativity and used it for a few years.  It’s been packed away for the past several years but it’s one thing I just couldn’t get rid of even though I hadn’t used it for a long time.  I’m glad I still had it.

Turn around from the front door and the stairway rises beside the dining room and the hallway leading to the kitchen and living room.  We didn’t want to scratch the woodwork by hanging garlands so we hung the stockings her instead.  I love the look!

To the right of the front door you enter the dining room.   Angie’s 5 children were delighted to help out wherever they could so they set up these trees for me.  Angie strung the lights and her girls added some decor.  The black top hat was from the dollar section at Target.

Baker’s twine adds a festive touch as laces for the skates and a ‘ribbon’ on the top hat.

Adding some festive touches to what is already in a cupboard is a quick easy way to add holiday cheer.

Angie had one extra stocking so we used it on the dining room side of the stairway.

Turn around from the tree display and you see Angie’s beautiful china cupboard.  I love this cupboard!

I just added Christmas-y stuff to this cupboard too.  No need to empty and replace unless you really want to.

The faux fruit I’ve had for years and years now too.  I don’t always find a spot for it in my house but it’s another thing I just can’t get rid of.

The little wreaths were a new purchase this year – I wasn’t sure when I bought them if I would use them or if I would use them at Angie’s.  Since I didn’t find a perfect spot for them in my house I took them along and they worked great on her cupboards.

This plaque hangs on a wall in Angie’s kitchen.  A bit of boxwood tied on with red and white baker’s twine and you have instant Christmas decor.

This glass urn was already on Angie’s kitchen island with the crown in it.  I added the boxwood and a paper ornament that is among the stash of decor I can’t part with.

Glass vases with boxwood and ornaments and a miniature nutcracker tucked into the corner of the kitchen counter adds a bit of seasonal decor to the kitchen.

At the other end of the counter we placed a metal star and a book with a winter scene.

Angie made this nativity when she was a teenager I think she said – I just LOVE it!

Love the gold detailing

This darling wooden church is just perfect on Angie’s mantel in the living room.  I found it recently at an antique shop and got it to use here.

The burlap trees are from Hobby Lobby and were so cheap I couldn’t make them myself that cheap.  There are some tutorials out there if you have the stuff on hand and want to make your own!  My friend Ann, from On Sutton Place, has a tutorial if you want one.

On a side table in the living room I put a faux log with a small drawer.  Angie’s son was enthralled with it and filled the drawer with ornaments for me.  He kept wanting to push the drawer clear in though – true male – he doesn’t get the whole ‘decor’ thing 😀

The wreath Angie has had for years.  I convinced her to get it out and hang it up!  Tucked some fresh boxwood in and added the bell to the center.

Somehow this large nativity just looks great on a piano.

Angie’s girls helped me fill this basket with holiday goodies.  They were such fun and were delighted to help.  We put a few things in their bedrooms too and they were thrilled.  I didn’t get pics of any of that though – I’ll have to go back!

And finally, I tucked some fresh boxwood in the dining room curtains.  A great way to add some festivity and it’s so simple.

Next week I’ll share how I decorated another friend’s home!

Hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly and you are finding time to slow down a bit and enjoy it.

Jill