Friday 29 December 2017

Best Reveals of 2017

Sharing the best reveals of 2017, along with the projects I’m most proud of!

I hope you all had an AMAZING holiday break! I have definitely used it to take some time off and simply relax. And holy cow, did the switch go off for me to take ALL of my Christmas decor down the second Christmas was over. My brain is already bubbling with tons of goals for 2018, and I need a clean slate!

Today, just as a way to give myself a little boost for the coming year, I thought it best to recap some of the changes that 2017 brought to the UDH. I often feel like the house makes such slow progress, and that can start to weigh on you after a while. So, recaps like these help to remind myself that even when I’m up to my ankles in sawdust, I DO have something to show for it!

best reveals of 2017

I’m not going to base this list on anything other than my own opinion on what I liked best about 2017. I’m not looking at traffic stats or any of the usual bloggery yard sticks to say what was and was not “best” for the year. Instead, I am looking at what made the biggest impact to how I live everyday, what made me more confident with DIY, or things that taught me most. I think, realistically, that’s a much bigger deal than what was popular. So, here we go!

The Laundry Room Reveal and Plywood Countertop

I kicked off 2017 with a bang: my new, organized laundry room! I’ve done things like installing a new tile floor in previous years, but the laundry room got its finishing touches with lots of new plants, better storage, and even a new plywood countertop (as well as cleaning product storage that looks like decor).

laundry room makeover diy plywood countertop

Laying a Concrete Slab

Every year, I learn something new that makes me feel kinda badass. So even though it wasn’t really a huge transformation, my new concrete slab on the side of the house is worthy of recognition on this list. The fence that surrounds it was also finished in 2017 but not shared (in fact, there are a few things I always meant to post about but didn’t), so that will be something I will be revisiting soon.

DIY concrete slab for trash cans

Speaking of concrete and learning new things…

My Most Controversial Post – ??

Strangely, 2017 also included one of the most controversial posts I’ve ever written: trying out a product after one of my fence posts got knocked out of its footing (I know, *gasp* not a review!! the horror!). Not every new product to market performs to expectations, and DIY is all about experimenting and learning new things. I’ve shared posts like these several times over the years, but what surprised me about this one was the rampant, condescending (coughcoughsexistcough) comments from new visitors to the blog who didn’t appear to actually read the post. Definitely an unexpected result, to say the least, but it also taught me a lot on what I will (insightful questions) and won’t (posturing bullshit) make time for in the day.

Sika fence post mix shows air pockets, leading to a less stable fence

5-Ingredient Spicy Chicken Quesadillas

5-ingredient spicy chicken quesadillas

For years, I’ve been averse to sharing recipes on the blog except for a few Christmas-related ones and family memories. But 2017 also spurred a new interested in nixing my pizza-ordering habit and eating a little better. That meant also cooking more at home. To kick off my new recipes section, I shared one of my easiest dinner/appetizer ideas with this 5-ingredient chicken quesadilla. I also introduced my contributor team around this time, which included more recipes!

Sooooo many backyard changes!

One of the most significant things that came from 2016 was a flatter backyard. So, after the sinkhole was filled in, it was like a lightbulb of inspiration: creating the new fire pit, adding a beautiful little corner garden of hydrangeas, ripping out the chain link fence, and the new addition for 2018: my pub shed! I have made a little more progress on it, so I’ll be sharing a new post on it and the goal is to finish in the first half of 2018. I am looking forward to year 2 and seeing how everything fills in this coming year… it will add SO much color!

new hydrangea garden

DIY 2×4 Coffee Table (Cut in about 15 Minutes!)

diy hairpin leg and 2x4 scrap wood coffee table

I got rid of some old furniture this year, especially in the living room. So, along with my new sectional, I needed a new coffee table. Instead of buying, I chose to DIY as part of a fun 2×4 challenge. While this may not be my forever table (I’m holding out for a thick live-edge slab, but that is an investment), I loved how it turned out!

The Master Bathroom Shower Reveal and Crown Molding Hack

Guys, this was SO HUGE for me. The master bathroom has been a pain in the ass for years. I almost want to laugh at myself that a sponsor was responsible for kicking me into gear with more motivation to make some progress. Sometimes, you need an outside force to breathe new life into a project that frustrates you. As a result, I got a shimmery, beautiful new shower and learned a lot more about renovating a shower from start to finish. I’m also pretty proud with the outside-the-box (to me) shower curtain I DIY’d and the creative solution for the crown molding I figured out. Honestly, that’s another post I’m pretty proud of; but if it’s anything like several other tutorials I’ve created regarding home hacks, it will take a while before that one gets more eyeballs!

master bathroom white and green shower makeover

Removing tile leveling spacers with rubber mallet

how to seamlessly transition crown molding over tile and drywall

How I Create My Own Cross Stitch Patterns

Before this year, I didn’t really share that I love to cross stitch. But in this post, I covered a new fall pattern I created as well as my quick-and-dirty process for how I generate patterns. Note: I have a new Christmas one also starring my pup Charlie, but that will be shared soon! You can also subscribe to have access to my free patterns library where I add all the new patterns!

fall tree cross stitch

A Most Thankful Year

View in St Lucia - with unicorn float - ugly duckling house

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to reflect on what you’re most thankful for. I did that in this post while celebrating the vow renewal of two of my closest friends in St. Lucia. Broken hearts, mental health, self-care, the value of true friendship, and more were touched on here. I think it’s one of my personal favorites of 2017 because it was so tough to find the right words. And I loved the way you guys responded to it and shared your own stories. Thank you for that. <3

DIY Plywood Wine Rack

diy wine rack from plywood and wooden dowels

It’s art. It’s woodworking. It’s functional. My wine rack is so many things that it was hard to figure out the title for the post! But my new wood-art-slash-wine-rack in the dining room was one of those projects where I worked hard on a single project for several weeks, learned new skills, and came out on the other side with something I’m really proud of. You can get the recap and download the free plans from my new woodworking plans library.

best posts and project reveals of 2017

What was your favorite post that I shared in 2017? I can’t wait to share what’s in store for 2018. This time, I’m breaking out my colored pencils to draw up some of the makeover ideas. Art is going to be a considerable part of 2018!

Come back this weekend, too. I have a few posts to get under the wire before the new year. Happy holidays, friends!

The post Best Reveals of 2017 appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.



from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/best-reveals-of-2017/

Sunday 24 December 2017

Brown Wrapping Paper with Feathers and Gold Ribbon

Want to get that brown kraft paper gift wrap look for cheap? You’ll probably laugh when I tell you where I found mine…

Merry Christmas Eve, friends!

gold + feathers + brown paper holiday gift wrap ideas

Going all out on a “theme” for holiday gift wrapping has never really been a tradition in my family. We might grab one of those 3-pack rolls of wrapping paper where they share a color scheme, but that’s about as far as we’ve ever gone. It’s not really that I haven’t ever wanted to try something a little fancier… it’s that I never had the time!

This year, I went for it with my neutral/woodland Christmas theme. And it was a lot of fun. Not all that much extra work, either.

gold and neutrals - woodland theme gift wrapping with feathers

The best part for me was finding the kraft paper for super cheap. I noticed that whenever a cheap DIY hack like this becomes really trendy, it gets repackaged and sold at a premium. The brown kraft paper is relabeled as wrapping paper, and then suddenly it’s $5-10 more expensive and has at least 4 fewer feet on the roll… funny how that happens, eh?

Instead, I went searching at the home improvement store in the dropcloth aisle where you find painter’s tape. There, I found the same paper for just $4. The roll is actually so long, it will no doubt outlast my desire to wrap things in it. That happens whenever I think I’m being “smart” by buying a huge roll (can anyone relate?).

flooring paper used for gift wrapping

For the record, these are all actual gifts. No fake empty boxes. So all of this pretty packaging is in the burn pile as I type this (oh well, fun while it lasted).

wrapped gifts under the tree

I was really excited about that glittery gold wrapping paper you see, too. But after trying in vain to wrap only two gifts and seeing it wholly reject my tape, I gave up. It also tore really easy (thick enough not to fold neatly; forcing it tears… UGH). Who designs crappy-ass gift paper that looks this beautiful but can’t be taped or folded without popping open again?? Even clear packaging tape was of no use. So frustrating. If you’ve got a solution for me, I’m all ears — I have almost two rolls of this beautiful, useless stuff.

flooring paper instead of butcher paper

I learned my lesson. Stick to the kraft paper and get creative instead. I found the feathers at the craft store and the bows were leftovers from my Christmas stash. The flourishes might have been a little more spendy than I usually go for, but the cheap paper made it about the same cost and looks a lot nicer.

Sources:

using flooring paper to wrap gifts

I guess I now understand why magazines will package all of their presents under the tree to match their theme; it looks way more professional than we all know I am. But unlike the magazine versions you might see, this was short-lived; about three hours after everyone (plus dogs) arrived for our Christmas dinner, it was all gone.

flooring paper instead of butcher paper 2

Have you ever used the kraft paper gift wrapping idea? I found tons of other ideas online that I am keeping in mind for next time!

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The post Brown Wrapping Paper with Feathers and Gold Ribbon appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.



from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/brown-kraft-paper-gift-wrap-with-feathers-and-gold-ribbon/

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Neutral Christmas Holiday Home Tour: The Dining Room

My neutral Christmas dining room has lots of mixed metals, mercury glass, and glitter, which looks great with my moody blue walls. Next step in our holiday home tour in 3…2…1…

Hi folks! Back again this week to take you on a tour of the dining room, simple but decked out for Christmas. I’ve already covered for you the entryway and kitchen on Monday, and the living room will be later this week!

Christmas dining room decor with copper mugs

If you’ve been around this blog for a while, then you know that even getting to decorate for the holidays is kind of a new goal realized. As I mentioned Monday, my family did Christmas early because of travel schedules, so the pressure was on for me to get all of the shopping and decorating done ahead of the holiday. On the bright side, that added stress had the house done in time to edit and show all of these photos before Christmas — so win-win, right?

dining room Christmas table with copper accents

There have been many times with half-painted cabinet doors in my dining room or an air compressor in my living room where I never thought I would get to this point. Just to show you that reality isn’t exactly in my rear view mirror just yet, here’s the dining room just a week ago:

couch sideways in the dining room corner

My old couch is awaiting its future with a new owner, but this is not exactly conducive to hosting a party. K and I managed to squeeze just enough free space in the garage for it, so it looked a little less cramped.

small dividing wall between living and dining rooms

My point is, simply, that I felt a real sense of excitement this year with being able to have my family over and enjoy the house with me. I’m still trying to figure out just what to paint on that white canvas, so if you have some ideas, please share.

dining room decorated for Christmas

Tableseting closeup: I really love my copper mugs. Pretty much any copper accent. I re-used the leaf chargers from my fall decor but REALLY regret not buying a second set of four. I scoured my local Homegoods and TJ Maxx already, but it was no use. If you happen to see another set when you go to yours, please let me know! I’d love to grab them.

nicole miller confetti plates

The glittery copper plates are also from Homegoods; Nicole Miller is the brand. Aren’t they pretty? I learned my lesson though and definitely got enough! I plan on re-using them at my small New Years party, too.

I snapped all of these photos just as my family arrived through the front door. Thank god they are used to me taking pictures of everything around me and are pretty good sports. I’m really hoping that they’re going to love that bit of overkill someday, when we’re all wishing we’d captured them (or they’ll just remember my shutterbug habits with an annoyed fondness… either/or).

my first year hosting Christmas dinner

The living room decor will be the last stop on the house tour, along with a separate post about the actual recap of the dinner. If only because I can’t resist from posting lots of pictures from all six of our crazy dogs…

Stella at Christmas

This week’s posting schedule is kind of topsy-turvy with extra posts because it’s just raining photos over here, so you’re in luck if you want to keep on scrolling. I’ll have a new cross stitch pattern for you tomorrow and a few more posts this weekend in an effort to get it all posted.

Phew. Christmas is crazy packed this year! What’s still on your to-do list?

Related: plywood wood art and wine rack

diy wine rack from plywood and wooden dowels

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from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/neutral-christmas-dining-room-holiday-home-tour/

Creative Ways to Use a Loft Space




The loft: it’s the incredibly chic architectural element you’ve always wanted. In pictures of lofted spaces, you see how a perfectly executed design scheme can make this type of addition both beautiful and functional. 

The only problem is, you’re not quite sure how to make your own loft into a functional yet eye-catching design feature in your home. Fortunately, there are so many ways to use a lofted space, no matter how big or small. Here are some of the most creative ways others have outfitted theirs — ideas you can take into your own home:


Home Gym


Rather than stick a treadmill into the back corner of your living room or in the unused corner of your bedroom, why not dedicate an entire room in your home to sweating it out? A loft gives you just the right amount of space for
all you’ll need to build a home gym. You might invest in a few pieces of equipment, or use the floor space to perform the moves shown on your favorite workout DVD.

Game Room


The idea of a bonus space that’s lifted high above the rest of your home imparts your loft with a sense of fun right off the bat. You can take advantage of that funky, entertaining vibe by turning your loft into a game room. You’ll want one gaming centerpiece, like a pool table or foosball table, to tie the space together. Then, add comfy chairs, a fridge for cold drinks and overhead lighting to make it a bonafide billiards room.

Movie Theater


In a similar vein, you can transform your loft into the entertainment area of your home, but with a twist. On one wall, hang a screen onto which you’ll project your favorite movies or sporting events. In front, a line of recliners or one big, comfy sofa will provide seating for everyone you love. Decorate the walls with movie posters or sports paraphernalia and voila: you’ve got a home theater that’s the perfect place to spend your Friday nights.

Home Office


Of course, you can make your home’s lofted space a bit more professional and turn it into a home office. Just be sure you have
all the elements of a lofted office: first, you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of storage in the furniture you choose, since most lofts don’t have built-in closet or shelving. 

Some of these filing cabinets and drawers might come as part of the desk you choose for your lofted office, too. Finish it off by choosing a comfy office chair, as well as seating for those who might stop by your workspace for a meeting. A desktop lamp, wall art and office supplies will finish the place off and give you a productive place to work from home. 


Meditation Corner


A smaller loft space might be too small for full pieces of furniture, but too big to leave completely bare. As such, you can use it as the background for your favorite relaxing practice, meditation. 

Meditation imparts a wealth of health benefits with regular practice, and it’s made even more effective when done in a space that makes you feel focused and relaxed. A dedicated corner of your home would be just the ticket, and an unused lofted hallway or bonus room could be the perfect location. Plus, if you fill the space with art, plants and other serene design elements, it’ll look beautiful regardless of whether or not you’re using it to meditate.

Library


The high ceilings in your loft give you all the space you need to build enough shelves to hold your book collection. Not only that, but you can give yourself a cozy recliner or sofa on which you can read the books you pull down. The high-up, private, serene space will be a perfect in-home getaway, an oasis where you can get lost in a book.

Kids’ Playroom


When your kids were little, you watched over them while they played to make sure they were safe and happy. Now that they’re a bit older, they play on their own. The only problem is, that without a dedicated space for their favorite toys, they end up all over the house.

Your loft space could just be the answer to your organizational prayers. Turn it into a playroom and a central place for all of the toys, board games, DVDs and other kid items that tend to get lost in the fray. That way, your kids will know exactly where to find their things, and exactly where they belong after play. Plus, keeping all that in the lofted space means their toys are out of sight.

It’s Up to You


These seven ideas make the most of any loft space, but only if they’re the type of room that’d be useful to you and your family. Think about the activities you love, or think about the type of room you wish your home had built-in; these are the types of ideas that’ll spark the perfect loft use and layout. In the end, it’s up to you to decide how to make the most of your loft and, once you do, you’ll find just how well your loft works for you — both visually and functionally. 


About Author: 





Kacey Bradley is the lifestyle and travel blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she frequently writes for sites like US Travel News, Thought Catalog, Style Me Pretty, Tripping.com and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blogto keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!






from HMH http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/12/creative-ways-to-use-loft-space.html

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Gifts All Wine-Lovers Will Go Crazy For

If your inner circle includes someone who loves a flavorful sip, these gifts for wine lovers is a must-view for your ideas list!

gift ideas wine lovers go crazy for

When you have a multitude of gifts to give — say, during the Christmas season, or when your friends inexplicably all have birthdays in February — many people might suggest making it easier on yourself by giving gift cards. However, gift cards are never the answer. No, no, no, friends. The answer is always: wine, give wine. Have you ever witnessed someone meet a gift of a bottle of wine with a frown of disappointment? No, you haven’t. This giving season, remember this and expand upon the wine idea by wrapping up a fun, wine-themed gift for all the wine-lovers you know (which, admit it, is basically everyone, right?).

My Picks and More (Shop This Post)

For The One Who Loves to Host:

While I admit the use and purpose of a wine decanter is a bit mystifying to me, I know for a fact nothing accents a dinner table or bar cart quite like a beautiful statement-piece of glassware. This Rabbit RBT Decanter has a uniquely elegant shape and luxe gold accents that are sure to impress your guests and make any get-together, no matter how casual, feel like a classy affair.

For The Game-Lover:

We’re all familiar with drinking games, here, but the Winerd Wine Trivia and Blind Tasting Board Game takes things to a whole new level. Perfect for anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur or someone who would love to learn more about wine, this board game is an interactive way to engage with our favorite fermented treat.

For The Home-Body:

There’s something truly cozy about sipping wine in front of the fireplace on a cold winter night. Give the gift that can recreate this feeling throughout the year with a Rewined Candle. Choose from favorite scents like Pinot Noir and Champagne, and be sure to clean out and save the container once it’s burned through; it’s made from a recycled wine bottle!

For The Recycler:

Speaking of recycling…there are so many Pinterest crafts out there that reuse wine bottles in clever ways! From lanterns, to flower vases, to cheeseboards, etc., finding the tools to make these crafts a reality can be tricky. That’s why the Genround Cutter is such a useful gift. Save yourself a trip to the recycling center and make drinking glasses, pencil holders, vases, and what-have-you with ease.

For The One Who Loves to Sip in the Shower:

Goodbye shower-beer, and hello shower-wine! Or bubble-bath-wine, whatever’s your style. This SipCaddy Portable Suction Cupholder means you never have to worry about knocking your glass of chardonnay into the tub water again. Whether your evening plans are to take a relaxing soak in the bath or you only have a limited amount of time before the in-laws show up, your wine will never have to leave your side.

For The One Who Always Forgets to Chill the Wine:

Please note I am always guilty of this. As a predominantly red drinker, I somehow only remember to put the white wine in the fridge right as my guests are knocking on the door. Hence why the ZEOTOUCH Wine Chiller would be so handy. Simply place the frozen stainless steel rod into your bottle of white, chilling it in mere minutes. It includes a pourer top, so you won’t have to remove it before serving!

For The Bookworm:

Give the gift of knowledge with the book, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. Ideal for those who want to know more about the varieties, geography, and ways to taste wine, as well as the best pairings with food. Colorful and reader-friendly infographics mean you don’t have to be a sommelier to understand the complexities that produce the good stuff.

For The Art Collector:

See also: The One With Bare Walls. This set of three posters “capture[s] the pure joy of drinking wine” with illustrations that are a little bit surreal, a little bit classic, and a little bit humorous. Perfect for anyone wanting unique décor on a budget.

For The DIY-er:

When buying wine off the shelf has lost its appeal, or perhaps feels too easy, the Craft a Brew Make Your Own Wine Kit is the solution. Consider this the go-to gift for anyone who said they wanted to be a mad scientist when they grow up, because this is true chemistry in the kitchen.

For The Quirky Drinker:

Have a friend for whom traditional is just not their style? Go with a set of stemless glasses with an unexpected and vintage-feeling design. Personally, I love a smaller-than-usual stemless glass; they fit well in the palm and feel somehow more French and sophisticated (maybe that’s just me). Also. these would be great multi-use glasses for those living with little storage space to spare.

Just remember the mantra, folks: wine over gift cards. Are there any fun and unique gifts for wine-lovers I’ve overlooked? What’s your favorite wine to give? I’d love to know!

P.S. Sarah here. If you want more ideas for craft beer lovers, DIYers, ideas from the dollar store, pets, and more, I’m reorganizing these into their own tag so you can spy them here. I’ve been meaning to create good gift guides for ages and have also just now added my own Amazon shop along with a page for products I use so you can see lots of the things I love, so go check that out if you are still struggling for some gifting goodies. I’m updating as I go (and there are only a few days left before Christmas, so I’m hurrying!), so feel free to check them out over the next few days as I keep adding!

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The post Gifts All Wine-Lovers Will Go Crazy For appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.



from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/gifts-all-wine-lovers-will-go-crazy-for/

Monday 18 December 2017

Neutral Christmas House Tour: Entryway and Kitchen

This year’s Christmas theme was all about winter wonderland neutrals: lots of gold, silver, white, and natural wood hues…

Hi folks! And welcome to my little Christmas house tour for 2017. This year, there was a HUGE milestone worth celebrating: my very first time hosting my family for Christmas dinner and opening gifts at MY house. My sister and her boyfriend will be out of town for the 25th, so we decided on an early date as a family. That meant prepping early, deciding our menu, and making sure the house was ready for not only the six of us (Mom, Dad, Em, her bf, me, and K), but the six dogs that are a part of the family, too!

I will happily report that only one of them had an accident (coughcough Buddy), but I’ll get to the actual family gathering later. Over the next three posts, I’ll be breaking down the house decor so you can get the full tour (even if you caught my live Instagram on Saturday night, this one will have much better lighting and fewer wine stains on my lips, ha). Let’s start with the entryway and kitchen.

Legalese: This post contains affiliate links, aka referral links — for the full disclosure policy, click here. Thanks for the support!

Front Door & Staircase

Just going to fess up now: some of these pics were taken as I had all six pups visiting. So things like a muddy front door and fur everywhere are just a given; please don’t judge too harshly on my lack of enthusiasm for cleaning as guests arrived (I have my tricks, but six dogs is a lot of dogs).

Christmas front door

Those of you who remember when I first painted my staircase might see a little familiar staging here with Charlie, but that pose is all her! She picks this middle section of stairs as one of her favorite observation spots in the house (her other favorite is right at the bottom, on the dog rug, with her head resting on the window sill and looking out for any evildoing mail carriers).

Charlie on Christmas stairs - black and white staircase

Confession: because of Charlie’s frequent trips, I had to repaint scratched up spots this year. I’ll have a post for you soon on how I’m planning on keeping them more pristine in the future (some areas just haven’t held the paint well, so that’s going to get revisited in 2018).

Christmas staircase gold and green

Entryway

The entryway is fairly plain right now, but that made a great blank canvas for letting the Christmas decorations shine all on their own. I have a few more plans to really bump up the front hallway’s presence in 2018! Things like adding small shelves for dropping keys, a place for quick shoe storage, etc.

simple neutral christmas entryway with hall mirror

Christmas front post

Kitchen

I seem to really like trees whenever I go Christmas clearance shopping (bottle brush trees, ceramic trees, really abstract-looking cones that might look like trees when sitting next to other trees, etc.). I’ve amassed quite a collection at this point (and probably won’t be stopping just yet). I took a few to use around the mantel in the living room, but the rest all went into the kitchen, along with all of the other white, silver, and gold elements I could find from my Christmas boxes that I keep stored in the attic.

woodland neutral christmas kitchen

(If you’re wondering about the kitchen window fabric or the shade, here’s how I made that a few Christmases ago!)

Speaking of the attic, one of my blog partners this year, Sears Parts Direct, would like me to remind you that going up to the attic for Christmas decor is a great opportunity to check and switch out your HVAC filters (it’s something I do myself because I’m prone to forget, so I actually keep an extra stashed up there ready to switch out when I go up there during the winter — convenient tips and tricks, people, that’s what I’m all about). If you need a reminder system where filters ship to you when they’re ready to switch out, Sears Parts Direct has an automatic reorder program for that here.

The smallest bottle brush trees are new this year, which I found from the Target dollar spot for just a few bucks each. I really wanted more, but they get scooped up so quickly that only the little ones were left by the time I found them (and this was November!). They still made for a nice collection along the kitchen window sill.

dont forget to decorate the kitchen window for christmas - gold and white neutral theme

Kitchen Bar

The rest of the trees (from places like Joann’s, Target, Michael’s, Homegoods, etc. collected over the years) all went along the kitchen bar area (I thought of actually using this space for cheese & drinks during the afternoon, but decided to use as a display instead). You might also recognize the silver reindeer from previous years’ decor, the gold leaf candles from last year’s NYE crafts, and the centerpiece from my fall tablescape.

gold silver and white trees on kitchen bar

Note to self: do not wear red sweaters around shiny objects when your theme is neutrals. It shows up in the picture. I had to eliminate so many shots because of red glare! 😉 (And I realize I could probably Photoshop them out, but it’s a far better idea just not to get yourself into a time-consuming editing process in the first place, d’oh!)

gold white silver treescape in kitchen

So, that’s about all the photos and all the details that are probably appropriate for one post. I have lots more, so I don’t want to give you just one post where it takes forever for the pictures to load! Come back Wednesday and Friday for more (I can’t decide yet if I’m going to do the dining room or the living room next, but probably in that order), along with a recap of our Christmas celebration. Be prepared for lots of photos of dogs; I thought it best to take photos as the chaos unfolded to show you a “real” view of what our holiday was like. It’s… very real. More soon!

Are any of you doing your Christmas on a different day this year? It seems like our holidays get tossed around a little more with significant others and family schedules; I assume this is pretty normal and will probably continue as we get older.

Shop Neutral Christmas Decor Ideas

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The post Neutral Christmas House Tour: Entryway and Kitchen appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.



from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/woodland-christmas-house-tour-entryway-and-kitchen/