(courtesy http://www.twelveonmain.com)

The holiday season is upon us, which always brings with it a cause for reflection and planning.

Winter temps have come early to my neck of the woods.  Each morning the kitchen fireplace hosts a roaring fire creating a cozy environment where my creative thoughts blossom and flow as I sip on morning coffee.

Due to our many travels my husband and I have purchased sculpture, art, and artifacts from places near and far.  As a result, our home is an eclectic mix of Italian, Parisian, Asian, and Mexican style (if you can imagine that!).  Recently, I have fallen in love with Farmhouse simplicity.  Dare I say, “I would like to redecorate?”  I think not.  Rather, I am going to work on implementing touches of what I call, Farmhouse Traditional, and I am going to begin with holiday décor touches.

For our family it is Christmas.  But implementing new décor and/or tradition to any celebration can be fun and fresh.  Whether one celebrates Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Winter Solstice the holidays provide a great opportunity to introduce a new style or change in tradition.

(courtesy growingupherbal.com)

I’m beginning my revamping plan by nixing much loved Victorian Christmas wrappings and updating to a Farmhouse theme.  My journey started on Amazon with a purchase of butcher brown paper for gift boxes and continued on with a shopping spree at Michaels’ with items that included brown paper shopping bags in assorted sizes, red and green raffia ribbon, and buffalo plaid tissue paper.  Next, I’m going to adopt the method of placing my Christmas tree with stand inside a thatched woven basket that will soften the design and eliminate the need for a tree skirt.  Awesome!

It’s not an entire redecorating splurge,  but it sure is a new approach that will pave the way to implementing other Farmhouse Traditional touches to my current décor theme.  Taking special care to not overdo and to choose just the right pieces will open up a whole new look where broad and diverse belongings will get along quite nicely.

Happy Decorating, Happy Holidays!

India