Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Mantel and Staircase






Hi there!
Thanks for popping by today.

Still tweaking things here
and was thinking about
how December allows us 
so many visual reasons 
to share 
with blogging friends,
doesn't it? 









In our home,
like many of your homes,
we have holiday traditions and routines
for making everything 
look festive
for family and friends.








(But before all the trimmings are up.... 
there is an invasion of  
plastic storage bins around here!
If you stack them up high enough, 
you can create a walled corridor!
Yes, there are THAT many.
Do you have the same
thing at your house?
Embarrassing! )


My favorite vintage ornament. A Santa head as big as an apple!



Still have lots to share
and may run out of days 
before the 25th







Vintage and antique postcards hang on the tree. My daughter added clear glitter
to them for some sparkle and then added vintage tinsel pipe cleaners for hanging them.















Gotta go!
Santa  called and is
having a problem with
stocking stuffers....
needs some suggestions!




Stay warm~
Alison











Linking up with


SavvySouthernStyle


























41 comments:

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Beautiful Alison! Love the postcards on the tree and those Bells in the garland on the staircase! Just gorgeous!

Lou Cinda :)

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

The banister is stunning...I love the bells. Looks like it took a long time but it was worth it!

AntiqueChase said...

Banister heaven!! Girl you are sooo talented!!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

So beautiful, Alison! I love the stairway!

Richard Cottrell said...

It would be fun to spend Christmas in your beautiful home. Merry, Merry! Richard from my Old Historic House.

Amy Chalmers said...

So pretty once again over here!! Bravo Alison!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Beautiful Alison! I love the big bells on the balister!

Sweet Old Vintage said...

Hello... thanks for stopping by and leaving kind words... I am going to spend a morning and come back and read many of your back post as you have posted so many lovely things... Your home in stunning... May your holiday be very peaceful and filled to the brim with love....

Designing Domesticity said...

Beautiful, as always! Now if we can just get a bit of snow it will actually start to feel like Christmas around here!

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Oh Alison, your home is gorgeous!

Calypso In The Country said...

Your home looks amazing! I am loving that banister! I have stacks of plastic bins everywhere too. Before I took them back down to the basement, the kids started piling them and knocking them down! Why are the boxes so appealing to kids?!! Have a wonderful Christmas! I will be shopping right up until the last minute...why am I still on the computer?!!
Cheers!
-Shelley

Carole said...

Keep it coming....you can show us more into January...it doesn't stop for me. I'm just getting started.
Love the banister!

hugs
Carole

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Oh Alison, it is all gorgeous!! I just LOVE those bells, where did you find them??? Thye are fabulous! I bet I have WAY more bins than you:):):) XO, Pinky

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Beautiful and I love the way you did the garland on the stairs.

The enchanted home said...

Alison...looks AMAZING, so inviting and cozy yet charm galore and totally beautiful! So magazine worthy, wishing you the happiest of holiays!

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Alison, I love your banister! The bells are gorgeous!! All of your decor is just perfect! Your home really has the Christmas spirit!

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

I want to see it all! Those bells are marvelous. Where did you get them?

Becca Bertotti said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, Alison! Your mantel is classic Christmas! And, the banister is over the top beautiful ... LOVE the large bells and ribbon! Fabulous ... truly fabulous!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Everything looks so pretty, Alison! I love those bells you have in your stair garland! As soon as I unpacked our bins, I got them back up in the attic so I wouldn't have to look at them until January 6th, which is when I start to dismantle Christmas at our house.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Your staircase is absolutely beautiful!! LOVE the horseshoes.. and ofcourse the gorgeous garland...

Andrea said...

My 7 year old daughter is hanging over my shoulder, waiting for the computer. When she saw your mantel, she exclaimed: wow, that is so cool =) I also LOVE your garland on the stairs-gorgeous!

Kelly said...

Your home looks so pretty all decorated for christmas using the reds and plaids. It goes perfectly with the style of your home. I love your garland on the staircase too. Those bells are so unique.

Linda said...

Those BELLS... Are they ever gorgeous.Your decorations are just stunning.

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

Tres magnifique, says my Aunt FiFi! I personally love the bells on the bannister, but I must say, you're quite the piggy! I've counting 3 silver trophy cups so far and you were eyeballing my one and only! Have a wonderful time enjoying all the fun!,
Barbara
From Chez Babs/The Treasured Home...and no, I'm not drinking, but wish I was!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

GORGEOUS Alison! Your mantel and staircase look stunning!! I love the large bells. Have a wonderful Christmas! Martina

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

RESOURCE UPDATE!!!

Some of you are asking about the bells on the stair railing, my mother found those last year for me and mailed them to me.
She got them at a craft store in Pennsylvania called Pat Catan's.
Here is the link:
http://patcatans.com/

They have stores throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Thanks for asking!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Gorgeous, Alison! I love the trophies on the mantel and the staircase garland is fabulous.
xo,
Sherry

Sarah said...

Beautiful, Alison. Those bells are fabulous. Your mantel and banister are gorgeous. I know Polohouse must be EXTRA special at Christmas. ;-)
Merry, Merry ~ Sarah

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

So pretty, love the silver trophys on the mantle and I have the same bells on the stairs..but the smaller versions.

The French Hutch said...

Beautiful Alison! Your home looks picture perfect and so gorgeous for Christmas.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
Emily

michele said...

omg, gorgeous, alison. i love everything equally! fine. i love the trophy cup with the greenery and berries best! but honestly it all looks composed by a class act...YOU.

hoping 2012 will mean a face to face for us--let's do dinner somewhere halfway?

smiles.

michele

Babs said...

Your home is looking very festive, Alison! LOVE the bells and garland on your banister.
Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Hi Alison! Oh, your home is so beautiful! I adore your railing and those huge bells and greenery! Beautiful! Your decorations look so wonderful too.
Everything is gorgeous.
be a sweetie,
shelia :)

A Hint of Home said...

I love your staircase and adding those bells are so unique. Very pretty!

Tallulah's Antique Closet said...

Luv your Christmas decor and your beautiful tree.......Julian

Anonymous said...

Your banister took my breath away! I'm stunned by the beauty. The horses hanging on the wall blend beautifully with the garland and bells. Those bells! Incredible. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous home.

Sharon

Rebecca said...

I love EVERYTHING! Nothing beats the traditional Christmas colors for me...red & green, plaids, luscious greens and white lights...

♥Merry Christmas, Alison.

Sue said...

I ♥ how you dressed the staircase, Alison. It is just so darn pretty and the bells are quite popular, I see! Will check out that site. I know what you mean about boxes and bins everywhere- I had 40+ all over the house until I finally finished. What a disaster, but the end result was worth it for me- I love decorating for the holidays. Merry Christmas wishes to you! ~ Sue

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Beautiful decorations! Love that bucket!

Thanks for visiting my blog and the kind comments on my Nativity collection! Thanks, also, for the invitation to join your upcoming meme. I would love to!

Merry Christmas!

Katherine
(P.S. - I have a daughter named Alyson!)

Tina said...

Beautiful mantle! I really am loving those bells.

Linking from WoW us Wednesday.

Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Gor-jus!