I spent this weekend in cosy Christmas rapture! Whilst the winds and rains swept all the remaining leaves from the trees, I was knee-deep in baubles, glitter and greenery. I stuck on Smooth Extra (which plays just Christmas music at this time of year if you didn’t know – you’re welcome), put up the tree and bopped around my living room to everything from Wham to Nat King Cole, throwing a bit of festive cheer over everything.
I was going to “Christmas up” the dining room as well but with two insane animals in my home (Meisha, my most curious and destructive Bengal cat who kept trying to climb the tree and Quito, our Sheltie puppy who as yet does not understand the meaning of QUITO STOP EATING THE BAUBLES) and even with Wayne trying to keep them out of my way, I realised I was fighting a losing battle attempting more than one room. So the dining room will be tackled in the next few days hopefully and then I’ll share that with you later on.
For those of you who may be coming here from Mimosa Lane on the Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours, welcome!! I absolutely ADORE Albertina’s style and she’s a tough act to follow! She has such an artistic style and she’s hugely inspiring! A little about me, well, I’m an American ex-pat living in Manchester, England with my partner Wayne, our 2 kitties (our other is Pablo, a complete star and so ridiculously well behaved) and one very happy, high-strung pup. I’ve lived in the UK since 2001. My style is definitely eclectic and glamorous and I love a bit of boho styling as well so that’s pretty much what you’re going to find here. Hope you like it! And a huge thanks to Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co. for hosting this fabulous tour! There are a whole bunch of bloggers (36 of ’em!!) sharing their Christmas homes this week so it’s going to be a week bursting with Christmas inspiration so get those pinning fingers ready.
Aside from a few of the baubles I received from John Lewis, I pretty much just used what I already had. I knew I wanted to do gold and white this year but decided to throw in a bit of black as well to marry with the existing colour scheme in my living room. I already had a some black and white baubles from a few good years ago so using those along with some inexpensive black baubles, a few white and gold ones and some greenery, the scheme came to life.
I always try to use things I already have around the house that aren’t necessarily ‘Christmassy’ and as I already use a lot of gold and brass, I figured I’d pull some items in from around the house like my marble cake stand (from here) and a couple of vintage brass elephants. Filled with inexpensive gold baubles in different finishes and a book stack, the simple coffee table styling was complete.
I also added some black tassels to the TV cabinet to tie into the black/white/gold theme and I love how they look so I might end up leaving those after Christmas!
Who says curtain tie backs can’t be Christmas decor??
I have an old falling apart magnolia garland that I’ve probably had now for over 10 years. Somehow, I can’t bring myself to throw it away and I’m so pleased I didn’t! As a total afterthought, I decided to wrap it around in the inside of the light fixture – this is probably the most favourite thing I did in this room! So simple.
I took pictures with the lights on the tree both on and off and I must apologies for the graininess of some of the shots – we’ve had nothing but very dark skies and rain for the last week now and waiting for a bright day to shoot was just not going to happen any time soon. But it sure does look cosy with the Christmas tree all lit up!
On the other side of the room, I added a garland to the radiator cover and a black sparkly stag to the chest of drawers. I mentioned on Instagram recently that I finally got around to replacing the lamp shade on my antique glass lamp and I love it so much more in black so again, it just worked well with the theme.
The room spray and the candle are both DIYs I created – you can check out those tutorials here and here. They looked so perfect with the theme, I had to include those in my decorating! And they both give the room such a lovely Christmassy scent. I truly believe that interior design should appeal to all your senses, not just your sight!
Here’s a few more shots because I went a little snap happy!! I don’t have any of my presents wrapped yet but those Kate Spade boxes just worked so well, I had to include them.
The reflection of the tree in the mirrored doors of the TV stand make my heart all giddy. It’s the little things, right?
Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of bokeh and elephant butts. WHAT.
Now if I can just figure out how to keep this little one from trying to eat the tree, we’ll be all set! ;)
And now, I shall urge you to check out the next home on the tour, Claire Brody, who is just another amazingly talented blogger or check out the full list below to see all the tours from the beginning!
As I said, I’ll be doing the dining room hopefully over the next week if I can get my mini-zoo to cooperate!! Have you started your Christmas decorating yet? What do you think of a non-traditional black, white and gold theme?
Check out the full tour from the beginning! I’ll add to the list as each group goes live through the week!
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
that tree is divine! i love it so much- beautiful as always, kimberly. and hello quito- such a pretty pup!
Aww thank you Cassie my dear!! Quito says ‘Thank you, I know!’ Ha! ;) xx
OMG! I love it! Its stunning! I want to move to your home, can you please adopt me? I promise to behave, I clean after myself! Your dog is so cute!Your photography!Is stunning!
Hahaha!! Aww thank you my dear! Mwah! xx
Your home is lovely and the Christmas decorations are gorgeous! I truly enjoyed the tour. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Debbie! Merry Christmas to you too! :) xxx
Gorgeous photos, Kimberly! Beautiful decorating too, the perfect mix of classic and avante garde.
Thank you Jennifer! It was so dark the day I was taking these pictures so they’ve got more of a moody vibe than I had intended – ha! xxx
You have such a lovely home!!! Love your touches of gold and the tassels are just perfect!
Thank you so much Amber!! xx
Looks amazing! I love all the black touches and the geometric baubles are very elegant. You are all set for a very glamorous Xmas – so jealous… By the way do you mind tell me where the knobs for your TV stand came from (the rectangular ones)? If you’d rather not I understand.
Thanks so much lovely! No issue with telling you at all, it’s just that they are original to the furniture so I didn’t change them out ;) Sorry about that, it was a very lucky find! xxx
So so so beyond gorgeous. Love how cozy and colorful it is. Can’t believe how big Quinto is already.
Aww thanks Julia! I know, he’s like a proper dog now!! He’s getting his adult hair in finally so looking forward to him looking like a Collie soon rather than a scruffball! Ha! ;) They grow so quickly! xx
Oh Kimberly!!! I love the colors in your living room. So, so luxe. The Christmas decor is stunning! xo
Thank you so much Claire!! Mwah! xxx
look at that Quito :) Well, I LOVE IT ALL…duh! every detail is so beautiful K! All the black, gold, and silver just fits so perfectly in your home. It’s cozy and glam all at the same time. xoxo
Thank you so much my lovely!! xxx
Oh I love it because it’s so very you and so very bling and totally OTT. You know I’d probably go nuts within a few hours in your christmassy living room, but it’s gorgeous nonetheless ;-) Still, no tree until Christmas eve for me, ha! xo
Good thing you aren’t coming to mine for Christmas then, I’d have to ply you with drinks to hang out in here!! Hahaha! Mwah! xxx
So pretty, Kimberly! Your living room is a longtime favorite of mine :) Thank you for joining in!
Thank you so much Lindsay and thank you for having me, such a privilege to be part of an amazing tour! xxx
Kimberly, your home is SO LUXE! I swear, everything ties together perfectly.
Thank you so much Brittany!! Mwah! xxx
Love the garland on the chandelier! And everything looks so cozy!!
Thanks so much Whitney, I have to admit, it’s been loving being in this room at night with everything twinkling ;) Gotta love Christmas! xxx
I didn’t realise that Smooth Extra had started, I thought it was on the 1st December, yes i love that channel we also listen to it in the car, and you can guarantee as soon as we get home one of my favourite songs comes on and i won’t get out till its finished lol.
That new light you’ve got in your living room is just gorgeous, i love it, it looks brill with the wreath rapped around it, in fact it all looks fantastic, xxx. Yes i have started to put my decorations up ive nearly finish i put 6 trees up so it takes a while, ?xxx
Hahaha – I’m like that with the radio as well! I need to hear it to the end especially if I’m singing along at full blast! My neighbours think I’m nuts I’m sure ;) And thank you so much! 6 trees though?! OMG! I barely have enough room for one lol Happy Decorating!! xxx
Oh my life your home is so gorgeous and glam. I love your theme this year and that puppy !!! he is divine xx
Aww thanks so much Karen!! xxx
It sounds like a perfect thing to do on a rainy weekend. Your room looks great and I really love your tree and the brass elephants. I’m keen to start Christmassing up my home now too, although my OH isn’t keen on the tree going up so early. Maybe next weekend….
Thank you Rachel! I’m grateful that Wayne doesn’t mind the tree being up early – he loves Christmas even more than I do I think! :D Next weekend sounds like a pretty good compromise! xx
Oh how wonderful Kimberly! Loving those little elephants :)
Thanks so much Kate! xxx
very dramatic and gorgeous! Love all the brass.
Thank you Jillian! xxx
Your home is stunning! I love all the accents of white and gold.
Thank you so much Julie! xxx
I’m so smitten with your living room and tree and your fucshia drapes….so much pretty & ideas in one room, very inspiring!
Thanks so much Katrina, so happy you like it! :) xxx
Lovely! I’ve just put up a quasi-Christmas tree (i.e. an actual fallen down tree from the forest, with fairy lights). I thought it was stylish and understated. My boys would have been far happier to come home to your Christmas living room. I sense I will soon be adding another tree to ours
!
Oh that sounds gorgeous and so simple! Hey nothing wrong with having more than one tree – I wish I had the space for another ;) xxx
Your home is gorgeous! I looked at this early in the morning and I guess my eyes were blurry because I kept seeing leafy palms mixed into the garlands. Then I realized that it was the wallpaper on the dresser. Still, a fabulous idea. :) I love the pink curtains against the monochromatic tree and decor.
Hahaha! Leafy palms mixed into garlands sounds like a fab idea – maybe next year!! Thank you! ;) xx
Please tell about the flocking!
I want a flocked tree, too. Is it real?
Do you flock it yourself? Or does it come the tree farm already flocked?
Loving your flocked tree! xx
Thank you Margaret! It’s an artificial tree and came already flocked ;) I love it too! xxx
Kimberly! What a beautiful home tour! I love your flocked tree and your gold, black and white glam theme. So elegant and chic. I’m glad you kept that magnolia garland too….love how it looks up there! Loved every single detail! Thanks for your sweet words. xx
Thank you so much Albertina! Loved yours as well ;) xxx
Oh goodness. I just love all of this. Those wine colored curtains are perfection. And don’t even get me started with your photography! Amazing! :)
xo Michael
Thank you so much Michael! That means a lot coming from someone I admire ;) xxx
Looks wonderful Kimberly. Has made me in the mood for Christmas now.
Thanks so much Geraldine! I’m definitely in the mood for Christmas now myself ;) xx
This is SO dreamy… You’ve excelled yourself darling! X
Aww thank you so much lovely!! xxx
How utterly LUXURIOUS!! Your space is just stunning and I love all of the pretty marble details :)
Thank you so much Carrie! I’m so happy you like it! xx
So glam Kimberly! Love it all but what’s that new paper on the chest of drawers? Love that too much :-)
Aww thank you Carole! I know I already told you this but just in case anyone else has the same question – it’s from Sian Zeng and is called Summer Tropical Bloom :) xxx
Gorgeous! I’m so in love with your tree!
Thank you so much Caitlin! I adore my flocked tree, even if those little white bits get on EVERYTHING (including me and the pets lol) xxx
Your home tour is insane!!! So so good. I loved the idea for the room spray. I think I’m going to make some for my brother in law as a gift! Is the scent masculine at all? Or do you have a recommendation for a masculine scent?
amandakatherine.com
Aww thanks Amanda!! That’s so kind of you! And I’m so happy you are going to make the room scent! I would say it’s a very neutral scent – not particular masculine or feminine, it smells very cinnamon-y so perfect for Christmas really :) My other half loves it too! xxx
So beautiful! I love the tree and the floral wreath on the chandy is such a gorgeous touch! How about that marble compote?!?!
Thanks so much Gwen! I do love a bit of marble!! :D xxx
All kind of awesome Kimberley!! And your pup is adorable. Obv xx
Aww thank you Karen, he’s a good little model! ;) xx
wow absolutely adore this! The house has changes so much since we first shot it for Heart Home! I’m loving the white vibe ;) And that last pic of your little one – makes my heart melt! Just gorgeous! xxxx
I know, I look back at that shoot and think the same thing – the house is SO DIFFERENT now! And still more changes to come, it never ends really ;) Thanks so much hun! xx
Lovely lovely! Only recently started following you, but what a fab find you are! Do you mind telling me if the hexagonal baubles are new and if so, where are they from? I rarely buy new as I like the tradition of using “memory decs” but these are so cool!
AWw thank you so much Louise, I’m so happy you found me! :D The hexagonal baubles are ones I bought a couple years ago from John Lewis – not sure if they still have the same ones but they are my go-to for pretty baubles if it helps :) xx
Gorgeous details and stunning tree!
Thank you so much Aniko!! xx
It’s impossible to pick my favorite part of this room because it’s all so great!! I love the little touches (especially the gold ornaments in the marble bowl and the wreath around the chandelier) that all make it feel so cozy and inviting! And that photo of the elephants in front of the tree!! Love it all!
Thank you so much Jenn! I’m so happy you like it :) Those little elephants have been EVERYWHERE in my home, I never tire of them ;) xx
Your home and decor are FLOCKING beautiful! Sweet pup too! Merry, merry!
Hahaha!! (I see what you did there ;)) Merry merry to you too Kelly! ;) xxx
yOUR HOME and style is just absolutely divine!!!!! Love everything in your home!
Such a beautiful space and all the details are just breathtaking- Beautiful job!!!
You really do have a eye for detail and design. I love what you have done. Hope you have a very Christmas