HOW TO DECORATE YOUR ENTRY FOR CHRISTMAS

If your kids are anything like mine, they have been begging to hang up the wreath and decorate the house for Christmas since the day after Halloween! While we’ve fought this a little bit over the last few years, their excitement won us over this year and we are decorating extra early. I love the holiday season, mainly more catch ups with friends and seeing the magic of it all on the faces of the kids. To create space to enjoy this special time with them, I try to get as many things done before December, such as decorating the front entry and ordering Christmas cards so they can be written and sent in the first week of December. Last year’s cards were so cute and I can’t wait for this year’s to arrive! Even though we are the first family on our street to have a wreath up, it feels great to be ready when guests arrive. It really is just three simple steps to make your entry extra special.

STEP 1: HANG A WREATH

WHY NOT ADD SOME BELLS TO MAKE YOUR WREATH FEEL EXTRA FESTIVE?!

I chose a fresh wreath this year but if your climate doesn’t allow for that, this fresh wreath is by far the prettiest I’ve found online. Use a sturdy door hanger to hang it. I like to match the colour of the hanger to the door so that it is as inconspicuous as possible.

STEP 2: ADD A FESTIVE DOORMAT

Buy a fun and festive doormat wherever you can find one. Hardware stores often stock seasonal mats and this doormat is on its’ second year at our house. If you are ready to splurge on a gorgeous mat, this Merry + Bright doormat is modern and pretty much perfect. Where size permits, I love to add an extra rug as a base layer to an outdoor entry. Use a 3’ x 5’ rug suitable for the outdoors as a pretty underlay for the doormat and why not take this chance to add a pretty pattern or some colour. This indoor outdoor rug is THE BEST and we have owned it for over a year with three kids tromping over it daily and IT STILL LOOKS NEW!

STEP 3: ADD ACCESSORIES

Use this moment to have fun adding decorative features! Get the kids to help (cute buckets are a perfect place for them to add sticks or pinecones that they collect on walks). Display a small tree like this 3’ one in a wicker basket if your entry is under a covered area and add festive bins for added fun.

CHOOSE A LIGHT THAT ALLOWS THE LIGHTBULB TO BE CHANGED EASILY - I LIKE OPEN BOTTOM PENDANT LIGHTS OUTDOORS FOR THIS REASON

USE A BASKET FOR A SMALL TREE, FIREWOOD OR EVEN PINECONES! THE TEXTURE ADDS A LAYER OF WARMTH + INTEREST

PIN the image below to save the full look of a jolly, festive and bright entry for the holiday season below.

01. // Outdoor pendant; 02. // Outdoor base rug; 03. // Fresh wreath; 04. // Gold bells; 05. // Merry Christmas doormat; 06. // Galvanized bins; 07. // Tree basket; 08. // 3’ Faux tree.

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HELLO...I'M STILL HERE!

If it’s seemed like I’ve been on hiatus, nothing could be further from reality! In the midst of a VERY busy month, yes, I’ve blogged less. But, I’m still here.

Amidst everyday life of running a business and being a present Mom, we’re currently in the middle of packing up our house of 8 years, doing a refresh on the little rental house that we’re moving into and slowly getting move-in ready! At the moment, there isn’t one ‘finished’ room so it feels a little hectic! The exciting thing is that there will be a few ‘before and afters’ to share here on the blog and hopefully the afters will provide our family a home that we’ll be settled into in only a few more weeks.

As always, thank you for your continued support during this extra busy time.

OH MONDAY!

Just another manic Monday…

1. There’s no where I’d rather be than cozied up in a corner just like this with a good book and a little one to snuggle…it IS Monday after all! The best thing is that the chaise that’s used for a reading nook converts to a queen bed. Genius!

via 100 Layer Cakelet

2. I spent the entire day on Sunday in home decor shops and I feel like I could give you a run down of every item available in Vancouver, ha!

3. Speaking of shopping, I’ve been looking for alarm clocks for the kids and these ones are my favourite contenders so far. I should say, I am looking an analog alarm clock for each kids’ room so that we can learn to read a clock together. I’m having a hard time finding anything amazing and FUN for the girls but this robot is hands down the winner for Xavier.

4. Today the Baker playroom is being photographed! I’m excited to share a little behind the scenes over on IG stories if you follow me there. If you don’t, come join the fun and follow me on Instagram!

5. Leaving you with the prettiest nursery; if you have the chance, head over and see the whole space. The wallpaper is so lovely!

Design by Whitney Blake

OUR FAMILY FRIENDLY LIVING ROOM

They say that home is where your heart is and I believe this is completely true. For me, that means comfort, playfulness, support, love and moments of happiness when you need them most. Home is mainly the people you love, but creating a house that aligns with these feelings and qualities is something I have always loved doing. Last week, I shared Xavier’s big boy room and today, I’m so excited to share a glimpse into our family friendly living room!

This is a space that gets used by everyone. Forts are built, games are played and at the end of the day it’s a quick and easy room to clean up and look presentable.

The sectional is perfect for family movie nights and pillow fights too. It took a few years before we decided to buy a coffee table again and when we did, we chose a round one so that there weren’t any sharp corners for the kids (or us!) to run into.

The gallery wall is a random selection of both frames and art. Most are paintings that either I or the kids have done and there are also random materials from past travels. I always thought it would be a temporary display, but reality is that art doesn’t get changed in our house too often so it’s been up there for years!

While we don’t have fresh blooms on the table all the time, it sure is lovely when we do!

SHOP THE POST:

XAVIER'S BIG BOY ROOM

This week marks a major transition for our family; all three kids have started full time school! Overnight, it feels like our youngest, Xavier, is all grown up. In reality, he’s only 5, but it seemed fitting that I share the progression of his baby nursery and how, with some subtle changes, it became his big boy room.

When I chose the wallpaper (no longer available) for this space, I wanted something neutral and sweet enough for a nursery but that could grow with him until early childhood. He still LOVES this numbers paper and has somehow managed not to use it as a colouring sheet! In a few months, we’ll be leaving this home behind and Xavier asked if we’ll be able to take his ‘wrapping paper’ aka wallpaper with him. Sadly, we won’t.

While we won’t be able to take the wallpaper, we’ll be able to take the garland that was made for this room. I love how simple a garland is on the wall and that it transitions so easily from baby to big boy room. I love adding handmade elements to the spaces I design and you can find some of my favourite garlands on Etsy.

These Cuddle and Kind dolls are one of my favourite additions. Not only adorable, this Canadian company donates 10 meals to children in need for every doll sold. I love the heart behind them and the quality is high too.

As you likely already know, I love including book walls in kids rooms. It’s a gorgeous way to display books and creates a unique piece of rotating art that kids adore. I’ve previously shared how to create a book wall in your own kids room using my favourite book ledges.

The cloud and house pillows are the same from Xavier’s nursery and the star garland works as his nightlight.