Welcome to the second instalment of the 613 Holiday Series.  This week’s topic  –  Holiday Decorating!

Holiday decorating should reflect the style of home that you live in.  So with that in mind, I’m showing you how I seasonally embellish my two very different homes for the holidays.

First up, my city home, where I try to keep everything sparkly, elegant and simple. I do this with natural and faux greens…particularly magnolia leaves, pearls, crystals, mercury glass together with silver and snow white pieces.

I found these little birds last year and love the little touch of whimsey they give the mantel.

Here’s how it looks in the evening with this year’s addition of the new type of wired LED light strings.  I love how the wires are barely visible.

I’m still looking for this year’s addition to my mercury glass tree collection.

After seeing birch logs wrapped in these LED lights in the Pottery Barn store in Miami last year, I was determined to do the same in my home.  I so love the look they may just stay past the Christmas season.  And you can see here the ornaments that I hang in the window above the fireplace. I do the same thing for the transom window over the front door.

Now, at the cottage, which is a log home, I use natural elements, like pinecones, evergreen boughs together with vintage pieces and a few touches of red.

My adorable Santa seagulls nestled among my vintage encyclopedias.  They make me smile, every time!

Vintage pieces, such as this sap bucket are the perfect touch for a country or rustic home.  It literally took me a few minutes to put this display together.  Some fresh evergreens, birch branches, a few frosted faux stems and berries and you are done!

A vintage green glass jug with some faux branches and cotton stems help to add some height to the top of my dining room hutch.  Loving the jingle bells!

This chalkboard banner was picked up while shopping in Almonte a few weeks ago.  I’m thinking it has found it’s permanent home here and I’ll be just changing up the message per the season.

Well that’s it for me but be sure to follow five Ottawa bloggers as we set our tables, deck our halls & try to survive the holiday season with style & cheer. Grab your eggnog and toast to the season with us every Monday until Dec 23rd. Happy Holidays!   Check out their holiday decorating below!

NewberrySykes

The Sweetest Digs

Just Settle Down

Keep it Beautiful

Oh yes, stay tuned as next Monday’s instalment is Oh, Christmas Tree!