Dining Room Holidays Living Room

Christmas Decorations (Part 2: Downstairs)

Yesterday, I showed you the upstairs, as it is decorated for Christmas. Today is all about the main floor.

PInk Christmas Tree

I did find a better place for my DIY Colorblock Christmas trees than the dining room hutch. I split them into two groups and put half on a side table, along with a snow globe, little brass tree, and tiny deer. I have a lot of deer in the house right now. I put the others on the coffee table. I added a poinsettia (poisonous! [oops, they’re not]) and my Eames bird (sharp little spike feet!) for the photo shoot, but those are both now safely out of reach. The kids play on the coffee table everyday, so I usually keep it completely cleared.

Colorblock Christmas Trees

Fa la la la la, pink Christmas tree.

Pink Christmas Tree!

So, the pink bulbs. They’re not my favorite. I love (LOVE) my pink Christmas tree, but I’ve always wished the bulbs were clear. Well over a third of them were burnt out, and we’ve tried many times to find replacements. Last year, I called Treetopia (the company I bought the tree from) to ask about replacements, and they said that they couldn’t help. This year, I tried again because we had the magazine shoot scheduled, and I didn’t want a bunch of dark spots on the tree (since I’m sure the pink tree is what they were most interested in). Apparently you can now buy replacement bulbs, and the “lightbulb specialist” I talked to said that they were available in clear with a pink base. Huzzah! Two weeks went by, and I received my bulbs. I ordered 250 clear bulbs, I received 50 pink ones. Better than nothing, but not what I was hoping for. Thus, the onslaught of hot pink lighting. Supposedly replacements will be on their way, probably sometime in January. I like pink as much as the next person (OK, way more), but I want those clear bulbs.

That was a fun tree-light diatribe. Onward, to the dining room!

Christmas Living and Dining Rooms

I picked up all of the mercury glass on sale from west elm, and the banner across the window is from Minted and Alt Summit. The rest of the table setting was done with what we already had on hand.

Christmas in the Dining Room

There are a couple of kid-friendly flameless candles in the corner, and a few twee vignettes in the hutch. Our stockings are hanging by the built-in, and that area has also been de-coned, as noted. There was just too much going on over there. Related: Oh look, more deer!

Dining Room Christmas Details

Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Tree on a Toy Car

This is what the table will look like when we host a family brunch on Christmas Eve. Except, you know, with food. I’m angling for Chilaquiles. That’s sort of festive, with some red and green, right?

Dining Room, Set for Christmas

I’m looking forward to seeing all of our decorations as photographed by a pro. I’m not sure if I’ll get a sneak peek, or if I have to wait until next year when the magazine comes out. I’m eager to see it though! When I was contacted for a possible shoot, I responded “you know our tree is pink, right?”

Seriously, those clear bulbs need to get here.

Dining Room, Looking into the Living Room at Christmas

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  • Meghan
    December 21, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    Beautiful! I am envious of your pink tree. I tried that this year & my family said if it’s pink, you will spend Christmas alone. I ahve all boys. sigh.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 21, 2012 at 6:42 pm

      Aw, sad. My men are cool with pink, luckily.

  • Melissa | I Still Love You
    December 21, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    Oh wow, your living room just radiates pink light!! It sure looks lovely from here.

    I told Chris I would buy real Christmas decorations the year we owned a home (buying good Christmas decorations doesn’t make sense when you move 9 times in 6 years). This year is our first Christmas we own a home, I was hoping to buy some great decorations, but Chris convinced me it could wait until next year because we’ll be out of town this Christmas for 2 weeks.

    I’m hoping I can score some awesome Christmas decor on sale after the holiday so I’ll be sufficiently prepared for next year. I keep going back and forth between a real tree and a fake white tree. I think fake white will be less hassle in the long-run.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 21, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      It’s been nine times? You’re a trooper! You should be able to get some good deals at least, waiting until after Christmas.

      And I love white trees. (Almost as much as pink ones.)

  • May
    December 21, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    That… uh, that is a very pink tree. I think I agree that clear bulbs will be better, because whilst I do love pink, that is a LOT of pink. Is it just the abundance of pink lighting or are all your gifts wrapped in pink paper as well?

    This is the first year I’ve decorated a tree, and it’s just a little fake desk one with far too many cheap plastic ornaments on it, but I’m thrilled to bits with it. My room looks so pretty! But it isn’t as elegant as yours, not even close :)

  • Catherine
    December 21, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    Oh wow, I love all the pink! Can’t wait to see it next year with the clear lights, too. :)

  • Tonya
    December 21, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    Your home is lovely! Love the new dining room chairs and the white painted woodwork! I know you’ve had both for a while but these pictures really drove it home to me! Merry Christmas Christmas!!

  • Kristín
    December 21, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    hahaha – thanks for sharing :)

  • jbhat
    December 21, 2012 at 6:54 pm

    Soo festive! I love what you’ve done for both the upstairs and down. I am already waiting with baited breath to see the magazine pages. The shoot must have been a blast.

    Seasons greetings and happy holidays!! Have a wonderful time celebrating with your family.

    jbhat

  • Audrey
    December 21, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    It’s lovely! The pink is perfect – I showed it to my husband, trying to get him on board with loads of pink. Sadly, his college fascination with the color is over – now it’s too feminine. Bummer. This girl will live vicariously through you!

  • Miranda
    December 21, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Nicole, you did such a fantastic job styling for this shoot (and then making it all kid-friendly again when the shoot was over!) I think your pink tree is lovely, but I especially love your reindeer and the personal touches and knick knacks you’ve added to make the space feel really personal and special!

  • judi
    December 21, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    I have admired your pink tree for the past few years. Thank you for mentioning Treetopia. I may have to purchase the lovely aqua tree they sell for next year. My men would balk at a pink tree, sadly.

    Oh, and one can never have too many deer.

  • Jules
    December 21, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    Did you ever see that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry and Kramer couldn’t sleep because the Kenny Rogers’ Roasters moved in across the street?

    • Making it Lovely
      December 21, 2012 at 8:59 pm

      HA! Yes. That neon glow? That’s what you see when you open the front door to my house. I’m going to walk in like Kramer every time now.

  • JC
    December 21, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Thoughts on unplugging the tree lights and just stringing white lights in their stead?

    • Making it Lovely
      December 21, 2012 at 9:02 pm

      The lights that are on the tree are really ON there, and the pink wires are well hidden. It would be a hassle to restring the tree, and then the wires would be visible.

  • Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms
    December 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    Wow. I never thought I would like a pink tree (I apologize, I’m a redhead. It just doesn’t work) but that tree is actually awesome! As is everything in your home.

  • Julie
    December 22, 2012 at 7:13 am

    Look it up; poinsettias are not poisonous, contrary to popular opinion.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 22, 2012 at 12:56 pm

      Ah, well don’t I feel silly. I guess it can go back on the coffee table then!

  • Shauna
    December 22, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Just a beautiful home, Nicole, full of loveliness. Seasons greetings from the Alps (where Christmas is almost invariably white and boring).

  • Kate
    December 22, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    It looks awesome! Have a blessed, restful holiday! Kate

  • Alison
    December 22, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Fabulous! Every last corner looks wonderful. I have the same tree from Treetopia, inspired largely by your blog! We’re on our third year with it, and my husband doesn’t mind the pinkness at all (he likes the quirk factor I think), and of course my little girls (5 and 22 months) are growing up with it as their family norm lol. I’ve kind of come to terms with the lights myself… last year I thought they were too much, somehow this year they’re not so bad, but then again we’ve moved and maybe the new house/room/tree positioning etc. make all the difference. Knock on wood, but all my lights are still working for now. Thanks for helping to inspire one of our favorite holiday traditions, the pink tree!

  • Anja
    December 23, 2012 at 12:32 am

    Very cute! I love the style – even though the pink is so bold, it is kind of balanced by the blush tones in the room. Very nice! I have noticed that many people are not quite as crazy about pink as you and I, but I really don’t care. Thanks for putting it out there! =)

  • Loni
    December 23, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    This tree made it into my Sunday AM Round up! How I wish I could have a pink tree, unfortunately there had to be compromise!

  • Kristina
    December 25, 2012 at 7:56 am

    I love love love all of the pink going on in your living room, it’s so pretty! Merry Christmas!

  • Sofia
    December 26, 2012 at 12:47 am

    Wow, I never thought you could make pink look christmasy, having a pink christmas tree would be my sister’s dream..!

  • Chloe Moon
    December 26, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    I LOVE all the pink!!!! I have to make some of the color block trees for next year!! =)

    Btw your wallpaper in your dining room is stunning!

    Merry belated Christmas! =)

  • Rachel
    December 26, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    I love your home! Where did you get your star Christmas tree topper? It’s amazing!

    • Making it Lovely
      December 26, 2012 at 11:28 pm

      Thanks! It was from Pottery Barn, a few years ago. I think they still sell them (or a similar version) each year.

  • Erin @ Dwell & Tell
    December 31, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    *Lovely* as always, Nicole. :)

    Sorry for the delayed comment…. catching up on my blogland while on a brief break from work.

    I always thought the houses photographed for Holiday issues of mags were just decorated in the summer or something, so this is quite interesting! Can you tell us what magazine it is?

    Erin @ Dwell & Tell

    • Making it Lovely
      December 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm

      I always thought so too! And then I would wonder how they were able to find fresh greens and Christmas trees. I’m not sure if I’m able to share the publication yet though, sorry.

      • Erin @ Dwell & Tell
        December 31, 2012 at 10:34 pm

        Ah, no worries… just keep us posted on the publication. :)

        As always, you have a fan and follower (of five years) in me. Happy New Year to the Balches!

        Erin

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