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Seaside Christmas Home Tour 2020

I’m so excited to welcome you into our seaside Christmas Home Tour! Come in for some easy coastal inspired Christmas decor plus a virtual holiday housewalk with friends.

In a time when so much is different and good cheer is needed, I’m so honored and humbled to be taking part for the third time in Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk. Can you believe the tour is 10 years old!!!! If you want to start the tour from the very beginning here is day 1.

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If you’re coming by from my friend Lucy’s home over at Craftberry Bush, welcome! Isn’t Lucy’s home just gorgeous?

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Welcome to our seaside Christmas home in coastal New England. If this is your first visit to our home we live in a 1927 Dutch colonial in Scituate Harbor, we can walk to the beaches, Front Street, beautiful shops, and restaurants. Santa arrives each year to visit the harbor by boat!

Seaside Christmas Home Tour

Shingled house with blue door decorated for Christmas

I like to keep my decor inside and outside classic to go with the cottage feel of our home. You’ll see I’ve also used a lot of blue and white – that color combo mixed with fresh greens says Seaside Christmas!

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Decorating the Exterior for a Coastal Christmas

Blue door with garlands around door and wreath on door

For the past few years I’ve used these beautiful garlands and wreath from Balsam Hill. I love how easy they are to put up and they look great every single year. This year I decided to go with simple burlap and gold ribbons from Michael’s.

My urns are vintage and those are faux trees from Front Gate. I’ve had them for a few years. Poppy wanted to help welcome you all to our home!

Black lab sitting on brick walkway at front entry

Can you believe she’s 10 this year?!? She loves posing. I tried to get my family to take part in the tour but all my guys are camera shy this year. Ha! Ha!

Black lab and lit garland on front steps

The deer was originally from Lowe’s and we’ve had it since the boys were very little.

Wicker reindeer lit for Christmas

One thing that’s different out here – is the white lights! We have candles in every window but we decided sprinkle some white lights in our window boxes. In the boxes I’ve used a mix of real and faux greenery and white birch branches. The birch branches are from Trader Joe’s. The flickering white candles inside our home are from Balsam Hill.

Shingled home decorated for Christmas lit up at night

I’m also really excited that the bushes we planted when we first moved in 7 years ago are now big enough for Christmas lights!!!! Under the bushes are crushed shells but they almost look like snow in these photos.

Magical glowing Christmas lights on a homes exterior

I’m not sure if you can see how magical it looks at night, but in person it looks so beautiful! That warm glow is so much needed right now.

Christmas lights aglow outside a coastal home
Window boxes filled with greenery and glowing white Christmas lights
Blue door with lit garland and lit wreath

We got the string lights from Lowe’s and couldn’t believe they were $2.99 a box! We bought a bunch.

We always decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving so we were in a flurry trying to get the house done in time for the housewalk. I’m so excited for you to step inside.

Blue door with lit wreath and black dog sitting on brick steps

Seaside Christmas Touches in the Living Room

Girl standing in front of a Christmas tree with red plaid shirt on

I’m still decorating our front hall, so let’s start the tour in the living room. You’ll see we have dark woodwork throughout our home which I love. It adds so much warmth. I’ve painted the walls a creamy white and love using white slipcovered furniture for that truly coastal and relaxed look.

Christmas tree next to a fireplace, mantel decorated with coastal elements

A few years ago, we refaced our fireplace with fossilized ocean flooring and added the gas fireplace. We love it so much. It instantly adds ambiance and a focal space to our sitting area.

Dark wood mantel with stone surround, mantel has candles and wooden houses

I love the wood mantel which is original to our home so wanted to figure out a way of keeping that intact but updated the look with stone.

The mantel is decorated with a frosty garland, mini fairy lights, wooden houses from Target and beach treasures!

Coastal Mantel

Wood mantel with starfish shells, greenery, and fairy lights

Starfish, flickering candles, ornaments and driftwood mingle on our mantel for a truly collected look.

Christmas tree with shells and blue & white ornaments, mantel with wooden houses and candles
Mantel with ornaments and fairy lights

I love finding shells and seaglass on the beach with my kids. We search all year long, even in winter.

Dark wood mantel with greenery, white candles, and ornaments
Christmas tree next to a mantel
Shells on a Christmas mantel

We love sitting by the fire with coffee and the kids open their stockings right here.

Cozy Sitting Area in the Living Room

Our tree is decorated in blue and white – my favorite colors! We put the tree here last year after hearing from my friend Jeanne Stewart (who grew up in our home) and said that’s where they always had the tree. The tree is from Balsam Hill and you can see more about it here.

I’ve added a few other ornaments this year including this one from Buttonwood Books. Minot Light flashes 1-4-3 and people say it means I love you! I also added simple white starfish. I decided not to put a star on top of the tree as I just wanted simplicity.

Christmas tree in a room with dark woodwork
Close up lighthouse ornament

You can see the whole room here:

Traditional living room decorated for Christmas

As you can see, I have our normal pillows out and kept the general decor quite simple. I found this lamp at Native in Scituate Harbor a year ago and still love it. Marie imported four lamps and I have the only blue and white one.

Lamp with a blue and white shade with white taper candles in brass candlesticks next to it on a table

Furry blankets, brass candlesticks and flickering white candles make our living room feel cozy for Christmas. The felt trees were from Target a few years ago.

Felted trees on a galvanized table

Would you believe that this table isn’t really galvanized? Luke built this table and I created the faux effect with paint. Luke’s planning on building me a live edge table for here soon…

White candles in vintage brass holders
Candle in silver container

I just bought that candle from Buttonwood Books over small business Saturday and it smells so good! You can also get them online if you’re not local. Here’s the cedar fragrance.

For the tree I got a spray on fragrance and it really smells like the real thing!

Classic Christmas Decor for the Living Room

Let’s stroll to the other side of our living room. We love cuddling on the couch and watching Christmas movies.

White slipcoverd couch with carved wood table, ornaments on table and Christmas tree in background

I really love house plants so tried to keep some of them out even at Christmas.

Lit candle by a bowl of ornaments

Another Frasir Fir candle. I love the ceramic pot. I took an ironstone bowl from our dining room and filled with with a bunch of Christmas ornaments. It’s a quick and easy way to give a festive feel.

White slipcovered couch with fur throw and Christmas tree in background
Bowl filled with ornaments

You’ll also notice the faux fur blankets in here. We’re all obsessed with them. Luke and the boys gave me the white one for Christmas last year and my mom gave me the navy blue one. Everyone fights over that one, including Max:

Dog sleeping on couch on navy fur throw

But Max usually wins…

Dog cozy on navy throw
White slipcovered couch with resting dog and navy blanket

I’m happy to share both those throws are on sale!

Through the french door is the boys’ playroom BUT it’s such a mess right now. Well, it usually is. I guess that’s what a playroom is for, right?

The bar cart is decorated for Christmas with a giant pine cone, fresh greenery from Trader Joe’s, and, you guessed it, another candle.

Bar cart with candle, glasses and giant pine cone

We love to mix up cocktails or serve some spiked homemade eggnog.

Mirrored bar cart decorated for Christmas

You can read more about the bar cart here and more about that beautiful fish print by Jeanne Stewart here.

A Rustic and Warm Dining Room

Hutch decorated for Christmas with greenery and white plates

Our dining room is south facing and gets wonderful light. We have the dark woodwork in here but also an antique Welsh Dresser and a farmhouse table my husband built from reclaimed heart pine. You can read more about the table here. Our white slipcovered chairs are by Ikea and I have cleaning tips here.

Since autumn I’ve been dreaming about creating a tablescape devoted to gingerbread house cakes. I got Conor this cake pan and knew we had to create something magical. I’ll be sharing the recipe and some tips soon, but here’s how the table came out:

Rustic Gingerbread House Tablescape

Conor and I spent the majority of Saturday baking these sweet little gingerbread house cakes.

Gingerbread house cake on cake stand
Wood table strewn with dried oranges, greenery, ornaments

We also dried orange slices. I’ll share more about these in a later post.

Gingerbread cake on wooden stand

We loaded the pine table with faux garland and several faux branches. Then piled it high with fresh eucalyptus, mercury glass ornaments, dried orange slices, dried hydrangeas from our yard, and real and faux candles.

Rustic table setting for Christmas

I mixed and matched wooded cake stands and ceramic.

It really looks magical. Perhaps something you’d find in an English cottage in the woods.

brass and crystal chandelier. Hutch with Christmas greenery
Dried orange slices
Tablescape with cake stands and gingerbread houses

My oldest makes hand dipped candles. You can see one here. We’re going to make more later today so I’ll share a tutorial on that soon.

Hand dipped candle

The Welsh Dresser is decorated with lots of greenery, faux candles, and baubles.

Antique Welsh dresser decorated for Christmas

My ironstone is vintage and I love adding pieces here and there. I use it for family dinner as well.

Wood hutch decorated for Christmas
hutch decorated for Christmas
Pretty Christmas decorations

The chippy cabinet in the corner was a yard sale find I painted with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. Can you believe I got that for $20?!? This is also decorated quite simply.

Blue cabinet decorated for Christmas
Gold mirror, greenery and flickering candle in brass holder

And here you can see the full dining room and some with the candles flickering.

Elegant dining room with wood table, white chairs, decorated for Christmas

I played with the gingerbread cakes and did another tablescape with them which I will share next week. 😉 They were just so much fun to play with. Conor is decorating them to his hearts content today while John and I dip candles.

Wood table set for Christmas

I hope you enjoyed coming into our home for the Holiday Housewalk. I’ll be sharing our sunroon, entry, and kitchen next week. If you’d like to see how our home looked on previous home tours you can see them here:

Classic New England Christmas Home Tour

Holiday Housewalk 2018

Before I send you on to the next house I wanted to thank you for being here. This year has been hard for all of us. It has made me realize the importance of time – time with friends, time with family, the importance of traditions, and the need for hope. I’m wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. More than anything this year I’m hoping for peace and love. I’m craving time with my family to just be us. Sending you all so much love from our home to yours!

Exterior Coastal New England home decorated for Christmas

Next up on the tour is The Golden Boys and Me! I can’t wait to see how she’s decorated her beautiful home.

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Jennifer
3 years ago

Oh, I love the big ornaments on you Welsh dresser and cabinet!! I’ve scrolled back up to look at them like 10 times!! So pretty Danielle…now for a teeny bit of snow outside!!

Dianne
Dianne
3 years ago

Your home for the holiday season is absolutely beautiful!!! From outside to inside the flow and cozy feel made it so inviting. I love the natural mixed with seaside look. It’s a lot of work but you nailed it. I also live on the south shore and I know it can be tough in the winter but there’s no where else to be!!!!
Happy Holidays to you and your family😊

Ethel Alderson
Ethel Alderson
3 years ago

Thanks for inviting me to the tour. Your ginger bread house are the light of the tour!
Looking forward to.the next blog about making them. Happy holidays!

Calypso in the Country

What a beautiful tour and I love how sweet Poppy greeted us. You’ve definitely captured the seaside feel at Christmastime inside and out. Your home is so warm and welcoming and love all the sparkling ornaments and glistening lights. Gorgeous!
Shelley

Kelly Elko
3 years ago

Danielle, your home is always a favorite! I absolutely love the sprigs of greens tucked into your hutch and your adorable little gingerbread centerpiece. I will fight Max for that blanket any day!

Jennifer Rizzo
Jennifer Rizzo
3 years ago

Danielle,
Your home is absolutely stunning. I love the Coastal Inspiration and Seaside Christmas. The blue and white theme is amazing. Poppy and Max are such cuties! You are incredibly talented! Thank you for being part of the Holiday Housewalk 2020!

Sandra Magle
3 years ago

Your home is gorgeous…and please resist painting all that gorgeous woodwork. Like many trends, painted will eventually wane, and everyone will be stripping their woodwork all over again…and it is way harder to strip than paint. Such classic details deserve preserving. I love your fireplace just as it is.

Cassie Bustamante
3 years ago

danielle, your home is so beautiful! i adore that gingerbread tablescape SO freaking much, and also love seeing your house aglow at night!

Kristin salazar
3 years ago

Everything is so pretty, I love you dinning room hutch with all of the greens! Merry Christmas!

Shannon Fox
3 years ago

Your home is so charming, from the front door in! I always look forward to your dinning room so much! And it’s extra amazing this year.
Happy Christmastime.

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living

Danielle, I always love seeing your home. My next house is hopefully going to have natural woodwork. It’s so beautiful. Your pups are adorable and that dark blue throw is the perfect color for Max. Your dining room – I’ll always remember you talking about that Welsh cabinet when we were in Chicago together. I’m so jealous of it. LOL. LOVE the gingerbread cakes (and so glad you’re sharing them this Saturday). I’m anxious to see the hand-dipped candle tutorial too! How cool that your son loves making them! Thanks for the tour of your gorgeous, festive home!

Erin
Erin
3 years ago

Love every bit of this. Can you tell us how you made the gingerbread houses? I’m going to get the pans. My boys will love this.

Erin
Erin
3 years ago

Oh, thank you so much. I bought the pan and cannot wait.

Debra Hubbs
Debra Hubbs
3 years ago

I love your home so much! Your Christmas home is such a blend of cozy, simple yet elegant, and just beautiful! Poppy and Max are adorable.

Courtney Affrunti
3 years ago

Your holiday home is so beautiful, Danielle! Love all the pretty touches and I am swooning over your dining room hutch. Love seeing your sweet Poppy welcoming us. Merry Christmas!

Susan
3 years ago

oh my goodness, your home looks so charming all decorated for the season! Your window boxes and exterior decor are stunning!

Jennifer Holmes
3 years ago

Absolutely beautiful, Danielle!

Diane@InMyOwnStyle
3 years ago

Hi Danielle – Your home looks festive and cozy throughout, but I love your dining room. The table, the hutch, the decor all looks so inviting. Enjoy every inch this season.

Tiffany Frost
3 years ago

Your home is breath taking beautiful! I love your Welsh Cabinet! Lovely!

Hugs,

Tee

Sheila
3 years ago

Such a gorgeous tour Danielle! Love how you styled the hutch so perfectly! And the gingerbread and the dried oranges are such a nice touch!

Sheila