This year was the perfect year for me to have a friend volunteer to open her home in the Marietta Christmas Candlelight Tour today.  I say that because I’m not doing too much decorating in our state of transition.  We will likely be moving into our new home some time around Christmas or New Year’s.   So when my friend said she was on the Christmas tour and asked if I would like to help, I jumped at the opportunity!!   She might not have really asked…I may have just offered to help, and she let me.  🙂 And, it is probably because she has an amazing home.  It is old and filled with character and so different that my home (the last one and the new one), so it is really fun to decorate.

So, today along with probably 1,500-1,800 other people, I toured her home to take in all the beauty of it.  And, I took advantage and snapped pictures to share with all of you.

Welcome to my friend, Michelle’s home.  Her family’s home was stop number 4 on the tour.

As you walk in, you are in this beautiful large foyer.  I never had actually wrapped pine roping on a banister, because I’ve never lived in a house with a stairway like this.  It was a fun task, but so worth it in the end.  The tour was only of the first floor of her home, so we worked with the gate she has to decorate it and make it obvious that guests weren’t to venture upstairs.

She and I went out and picked up the bench at a local antique shop the day before the tour.  It was a perfect fit in the foyer.  Fresh flowers, natural greens really make the space feel festive.  The beautiful artwork doesn’t hurt either (courtesy of Kerry Sacco).  Michelle thought I was a bit strange when I asked if she had any scarves we could use, but I looks right at home draped over the end of the bench.

To the left of the foyer is her living room.  It is grand!  I didn’t photograph all aspects of the living room, but there is also a section of floor to ceiling bookshelves.

The living room mantel is just one of three fireplaces you will see.

Next up is the dining room.  The space is large and elegant.

I did a little bit of DIY action to decorate this mantel.  The mirror was a new one that Michelle picked out, but it was not the right color.  I gave it a few coats of gold spray paint and then antiqued it to make it not so bright.  The wispy wreath was just plain, and I took berries off a wreath I had that was falling apart and just attached them to the plain wreath, added a ribbon to hang it and it was done.

The dining room is equally as large as the living room, so it has several neat components to it.  The beautiful hutch did not need much decorating to dress it up because it was so pretty already.

The wine rack just needed a few hints of Christmas to make it fit right in.

Along the wall that the wine rack on, is another little DIY project.  I picked up this beautiful and heavy mirror at a yard sale this fall for $10!  It was just wood and a bit worn.  I used Modern Masters metallic gold paint on it and it shines now.  I love that it reflects the mantel so well.

The side buffet in the dining room was another fun spot for some Christmas greens and bling.

I love how the table is so simple, yet elegant.

Now, we move on to the kitchen, which has so much character and charm.  Just like the other rooms, this space was fun to decorate.

Michelle had picked up this table at a local antique shop, but needed some chairs.  And, before I even saw the table she was describing the type of chair she wanted….and it just so happened that I had 6 of those exact chairs in my shed!  They were already black, but a little bit rough and worn, so some black spray paint was needed and they were good to go.  I didn’t paint them too perfectly, because Michelle likes the rustic charm.

The fireplace mantel in the kitchen took a little bit for us to pull it together, but once Michelle said she had the old windows from her dining room in the basement, it sealed the deal on the direction of the mantel.  The window is just amazing!  The two taller candlesticks used to be a fiery red, but some gold spray paint with a bit of antiquing made them fit right in.

I loved the fireplace with the candles burning.

The little bar top table just needed some greenery, artwork, and fresh fruit.

Can you just see how amazing this kitchen is?  We kept this long wall and buffet area pretty simple.

I think her kitchen is just so unique and homey.  It really didn’t need much added to it to make it feel like Christmas.

So, what is your favorite part?  I can’t decide if I love the dining room or kitchen mantel more.