topic Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING in Holiday

IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Oznell — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:01:19 GMT

I like to read how other people approach "un-decorating" after the holidays.

I used to leave up Christmas decorations until Twelfth Night; but I got restless and put the last of my decorations away yesterday. Sometimes, the longer I put it off, the more depressing it can seem! So, chop-chop it's all done.

After Christmas, like a lot of people, I like a more sparse, "clean" look. Took away the red -- berries, plaids, ribbons, etc. Emphasizing "winter white" right now, and natural woods and greens. But I do want New Year's warmth, and a little bit of sparkle.

So I've put out more creams, golds and brass, and still have pine sprigs. A little bit of crystal and pressed glass for the icy 'sparkle' of winter.

A few examples: In dining room, I took out the red wooden cranberries I had in a massive wood bowl. Now there is a faceted gold bead garland coiled in it, with a few pine sprigs interpersed. My vintage brass swan nestles in with it...

Coffee table has been "stripped down" to neutrals. I have my old wooden Bombay company tray. On top, three things. My thrifted pale wooden shorebird, a vintage pressed glass dish I've put tea lights in, and this reactive glaze pottery I got at Big Lots a few season ago:

The whites and taupes are restful to me after the colorful tumult of Christmas.

Do you tend to "subtract" your holiday decor, and leave everything else as is? Or do you play around with other colors and textures for the rest of the winter? If so, please describe!

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

godi — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:58:22 GMT

I do not decorate for holidays anymore. I like to change up to cozy now. A throw blanket on back of couch. Velvet throw pillows. I turn to browns and oranges. I like my smaller lanterns scattered about to lite dark corners.

Your home sounds lovely @Oznell

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

GingerPeach — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:13:31 GMT

This year I was like @godi .

The only real Christmas decor was a wreath on my front door.

It came down yesterday and was replaced with the usual one of leaves, dried flowers, and a big bow with dangling ribbon.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

queendiva — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:45:26 GMT

@Oznell : I like your post-holiday winter pallette!

Staying up at least through the weekend: the creche, Christmas card display and the light display on the entry bombe chest. Outside- lights. Will light one last time on Thursday for Epiphany.

Already back in the basement: DR display Santas, LR mantel decor and LR Christmas items.

Staying up until later in January: wreaths, Big Lots lighted candle centerpiece on the DR table and the tree. Gotta have the lights from the tree!

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

kitcat51 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 01:10:31 GMT

I add a few Christmas decorations that work for Winter to my everyday primitive decor...this year in the living room it's sisal deer on the coffee table & drysink, metal snowmen on the hearth & green pine tree Luminara candles on the mantel. I like keeping seasonal decor simple. Enjoy your lovely home @Oznell.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Marsha2003 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 01:22:56 GMT

My winter look is different from my holiday/Christmas look. I use different accessories, throw pillows, bedding, kitchen and bath linens and different shades on my chandelier. Other than cream/ivory battery-operated candles, there's nothing from my Christmas decorating still out.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Sooner — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 01:24:17 GMT

The outside lights came down today, so we put out so little that's pretty much it. I don't decorate seasonally so I sort of like my things the way they are.

We still have the big tree that someone will come take down--but it only has a few large scale ornaments on it so that isn't a problem. It is so pretty!

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

1Snickers — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 02:32:18 GMT

@Oznell Your description of what you did sounds much like mine. I like to put different items out.
I have a vintage brass swan that I love. I put it on the chest in the foyer next to a brass candle holder with beaded glass and the firefly type lights. They play off each other.

The living room has a white sofa. I keep the matching pillows and add one seasonal in the middle. White with beige stitching. A White and beige, grey arrangement is on the coffee table with burgundy velvet roses because my oriental rug is that shade.
In a dark corner I placed Valerie's white birch tree that plugs in and comes on automatically. It's in front of her taller green plants. With it I don't miss the tree lights.
The battery candles are all changed in holders or lanterns. They are in the living room, foyer, den bookcases and on the mantle with winter but not Christmas figurines.
The kitchen table has a tall filler vase with candle and the cranberries with small pine cones were removed . I always replace Christmas filler with corks and a few small grapes in the top layer mixed in for the New Year.
The place mats there are switched to fruit with grapes and a wine bottle center tile. Fun!
🦢 🕯 💡🌹🍾🍇🍐

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Grade1Teach — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 10:16:12 GMT

Although I LOVE Christmas and the beauty of the bright lights and decor, I enjoy getting my house back to "normal" after it's over. I wrote in another thread that my home is decked out in seasonal decor from September through December (fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas) and it can be a bit much at times to keep putting things away and changing things out.

That being said, I do add some winter touches to my home once Christmas is over. I have a large Luminara Heritage lantern that I put three white Luminara candles in for the winter. I decorate the inside with white-tipped pinecones and some greenery. I have some crystal bowls and a beautiful silver platter that I decorate with the same pincones and greenery in the living room and on the dining room table.

I purchased a beautiful antique-looking snowflake ornament set from Martha Stewart last year. It came with five large beaded and glittered wired ornaments. I love them and hang them in some of my windows.

I also have a beautiful cloche from Valerie Parr Hill (my favorite purchase from her!) that I keep in my kitchen. I change that out seasonally as well. I have beautiful "winter" ornaments inside. They are white or clear with glitter and beading. I also put a few winter green ones in there for a pop of color.

I have a few other snowflake related decorations that I have around the house too. Nothing I have is too much or too crazy. I just like adding white, a touch of silver, and some natural tones to my home during the winter months. Once Easter gets closer, I start adding some pastels.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Oznell — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:00:44 GMT

@godi, @GingerPeach , @queendiva , @kitcat51 , @Marsha2003 , @Sooner , @1Snickers , @Grade1Teach :

Thank you for responding with your own very individual "takes" on after-holiday decor. Love reading what other people do, you have charming ideas and you've also given me some things to try out over the long, lingering winter!

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

ECBG — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:49:41 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
I add a few Christmas decorations that work for Winter to my everyday primitive decor...this year in the living room it's sisal deer on the coffee table & drysink, metal snowmen on the hearth & green pine tree Luminara candles on the mantel. I like keeping seasonal decor simple. Enjoy your lovely home @Oznell.

@kitcat51

Are you speaking of primitive decor or primitive furniture?

I have primitive furniture and I keep out a berry arrangement from fall through spring, from Christmas through March, I have a snow covered David Winter house. My primitive carriage footwarmer stays on the hearth all of the time.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

kitcat51 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:22:56 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
@kitcat51 wrote:
I add a few Christmas decorations that work for Winter to my everyday primitive decor...this year in the living room it's sisal deer on the coffee table & drysink, metal snowmen on the hearth & green pine tree Luminara candles on the mantel. I like keeping seasonal decor simple. Enjoy your lovely home @Oznell.
@kitcat51

Are you speaking of primitive decor or primitive furniture?

I have primitive furniture and I keep out a berry arrangement from fall through spring, from Christmas through March, I have a snow covered David Winter house. My primitive carriage footwarmer stays on the hearth all of the time.

Both. I love old paint but can't afford much of it so I combine them with reproductions...my favorite aged painter is Sally Whims & I have many of her smalls & furniture pieces. I like a clutter free look, my favorite magazine is A Primitive Place & I have a carriage footwarmer too sitting on a bucket bench. My family doesn't understand the look but that's ok...now if I could move all it into a old hewn log or stone farmhouse I'd be in prim heaven. If you're not familiar with Whims, search Sally Whims or Whims of Ohio...I think you'll like what you see. Be well @ECBG

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

ECBG — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 22:37:37 GMT

@kitcat51

Very interesting. I feel I know exactly how you feel when you look at and enjoy your primitives.

We built this house around the antiques when I was pregnant with our first child. I didn't want to be SO far out, so our children would have friends to play with as they grew and be close enough in to be able to get necessary tasks done.

I am a retired teacher who was able to teach all of the Interior Design in our school.

If you'd like to see our collection, it's under the thread "Here's My Country Christmas".

Since that time I replaced the lamps in the greatroom with hand thrown ginger jar lamps from Pottery Barn. In the dining room I added a corner china cabinet from 1850. I have looked for one for decades and they were always sold. I had this one brought down from the north at the start of the pandemic.

At least I had something to polish with lemon oil while stuck at home!

This thread shoes the corner cabinet.

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Holiday/Christmas-In-A-Primitive-Dining-Room/td-p/6681699

If you would like to "stroll" through some high quality primitives, go to Etsy, PT Gallery. I got my corner cabinet from him and a darling antique trunk from the late 1700's with the name "Sophie" painted in the front. This vendor will even work with you to do layaway. He is a "dream" and has the real thing!

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

sunshine45 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:40:34 GMT

all of my holiday decor is still up, including our outside christmas lights.

i never take it down before the 6th.

i will probably begin this weekend, but i dont like to rush to take it down, nor do i take it down all at once. every day it will be a few items until it is all put away. i would get too depressed if i did it all in a day or two.

first up for dismanteling will be my holiday bar area.

i will leave some of my winter mugs out to use, some winter wine and cocktail glasses......plus some red bar accessories.

i will leave out some of the gold glitter candles and winter candle holders that are not too christmasy looking.......deer, snowmen, winter scenes, etc.....

everything else, one room at a time.....no major rush.....and spring is not that close yet.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

kitcat51 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 03:57:45 GMT

I enjoyed looking at your Christmas pictures, what a welcoming & cozy home filled with beautiful antique pieces...my favorite is the pie safe but I just saw there's a pic of the corner cupboard so will take a look as soon as I post this. What's your favorite piece? The etsy dealer has great primitives, I could get in alot of trouble browsing there...Thanks for sharing it. Are you familiar with Judy Condon books? Your home should be featured in one. Fun chatting. Take care @ECB ***OK, just looked at the corner cupboard pics & WOW...it looks prim perfect in that room with the beams, picture, table, ladderbacks & pie safe.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Catiele — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:11:53 GMT

I leave two wreaths and a wooden snowman up until March. I have porch which is why two wreaths. I also have a window box with greens in it.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

ciao_bella — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 21:51:49 GMT

My Christmas tree is coming down tomorrow. It would have been down already but I was talked into leaving it up until the end of the weekend.

Other than the Christmas tree, I don't decorate "Christmas'. I try to decorate 'Winter' so most can be left up all season. On my front door, I have a silver and white wreath with some naturl sprigs of brown twigs here and there. It has an icy look to the wreath.

I do leave the one candle in each window, which are on timers, all winter long. My mantle is decorated for winter with some greenery, red cardinals and silver snowflakes. I also add in some sprigs of white and silver and it becomes very winter.

On my kitchen table, I took down the small, lit Charlie Brown tree along with the Christmas placemats. I replaced the placemats with silver/white snowflake mats. In the middle of the table where the Charlie Brown tree was, I put a very pretty white lantern and on the glass panels are white snowflakes. Inside the lantern, I put a strand of white fairy lights that come on at 5pm and go off 8 hours later. My tablecloth on that table is a deep wine color, so the silver/white snowflakes mats and lantern really standout.

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Oznell — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 02:33:43 GMT

That pretty, white/deep red combo, and the lanterns (perfect for Christmas, and after Christmas) and cardinals you incorporate, spell 'cozy winter wonderland' to me, @ciao_bella ....

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

Imadickens — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 04:59:54 GMT

Sounds wonderful! Do you hire out?

Re: IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND SPRING

ciao_bella — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 21:12:33 GMT

Here is a quick picture of my kitchen table in the winter theme. The silver snowflake placemats were from Marshalls 6 heavy vinyl placemats were $12.99 and the white snowflake lantern was purchased at Aldi's for $7.99.

You can't see it in this picture but I put a strand of white fairy lights are in the lantern that is on a timer. It looks beautiful lit up at night on the table. If I can get a picture of it later when it goes on, I'll try and post it.