Christmas Home Tour – Part 2
Welcome to Part 2 of our Holiday Home Tour! This week I’m joining an awesome group of bloggers for the Home For The Holidays Blog Hop, organized by Emily at Table + Hearth (you can start at the beginning of the tour by clicking here).
For those of you who are new here, I’m Amy and I live in a small, rural community on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona with my husband, two kids, and four pets. We’re celebrating our second Christmas in our “new to us” home; and we’ve (slowly) been making improvements to make it comfortable and functional for the way our family lives. We’re a busy family on a tight budget, so we’ve had to get resourceful when it comes to furnishings and home improvement projects. We’re not exactly DIY pros, but we are always willing to give something a try, especially if it saves us a few dollars. But enough about us, welcome to our home!
This year I decided to decorate the front porch. Our winters here in Queen Creek are usually pretty mild, and we practically live on our front and back patios, all winter long. Of course, it was cold and rainy on the weekend I decided to take these pictures.
My hubby and I found this adorable carafe while thrifting last weekend, and its just perfect for helping us keep a steady supply of hot cocoa on hand.
I don’t usually leave throw pillows and blankets on my chairs (critters and stuff), but I grabbed some from inside the house to cozy up this space.
My front door is dressed up with a simple wreath, and a small bit of garland. I didn’t realize just how small a piece of garland this was, until I got it all stapled to the door frame, then stood back to take a look. Oh well, too late now, it will just have to do. :)
Come on in, hang up your coat, and let’s get warmed up.
Our entryway is fairly small, just enough space to put a bench, a shelf, and a console table on the opposite wall. The hooks are great for hanging our coats, scarves, and (usually) bags and backpacks.
I recently found the artwork on clearance at my local grocery store. I had been eyeing a similar piece at World Market, so when I saw this one for such a great price, I snatched it right up. I made the coffee filter wreath a few weeks ago – it’s something I can move to another room after the holidays. Or not.
The other side of the entryway also got a little holiday makeover. A simple wreath, some mercury glass ornaments, and a poinsettia lend a little festiveness to this area.
Our home is an open-concept floor-plan and the main living areas (kitchen, great room, entryway and dining room) all flow together so I tried to make sure the decor transitioned easily from one space to the next.
Our family/great room is where you’ll find us hanging out most often; watching holiday movies, playing board games, or relaxing on the sofa.
Our dining room is very “rustic-glam” this Christmas. I used a lot of natural elements in this space; pine-cones, greenery, and some birch logs my brother-in-law hauled home from a recent trip to the mountains.
I love changing out the chalkboard art for each new season. My daughter is the resident artist, and she re-created a greeting card design from (here).
The dining room also has it’s own mini-tree in a galvanized bucket. I re-used my DIY cotton ball garland from last Christmas, as well some Dollar Store ornaments, and a couple of the birch-bark stars I shared here a couple of weeks ago.
I love making up tablescapes (you can see my recent ones here, here, and here). I used some birch logs, greenery, pine-cones, and mercury glass ornaments, for a simple, rustic tablescape. And yes, that’s my burlap table runner, yet again. It’s so versatile and I believe strongly in using (and re-using) what you’ve got.
This guy was another grocery store clearance find. Love when that happens.
The last stop on our tour is the corner of the great room that holds the Christmas tree. I used the burlap garland and the Dollar Store ornaments from last year, adding a few new ornaments picked up for cheap.
A faux fur rug acts as a tree skirt and is the perfect spot for our wooden crate advent calendar, which helps fill up the empty space until Santa brings the rest of the gifts next week.
We don’t have a fireplace or mantle, so the stockings have been hung on the half-wall that separates the kitchen from the great room. Hmmm… looks like we’ve all been good this year!
And that concludes Part 2 of our Holiday Home Tour. In case you missed Part 1, you can click here to find it. Thank you so much for stopping by! Please make sure to visit the rest of the bloggers on the tour – there are so many beautiful homes to see!
Wishing you Happy Holidays from my family to yours!
Sharing Here:
I don’t even know what to say….Your home is absolutely stunning! I just want to come over and never leave! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
Katie @ Little House of Four recently posted…{Christmas Tour Part 2} Home For The Holidays
So sweet of you, Katie! You’re welcome anytime! Happy holidays to you, too!
Wow, your home looks like it came straight out of a magazine!!! So, so lovely
And can I say, I am dying over that antelope with a scarf… cutest. thing. ever. Also, love your gold pinecone pillow, it’s beautiful 

Naomi recently posted…A Year in Review | 2014
Thank you, Naomi! Both of those items were favorite finds for me this year! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Amy, WOW! Your house is over the top gorgeous! So many beautiful things to look at.:) Just fabulous. Nice job!
Shannon Churchill recently posted…Home for the Holidays Home Tour
I absolutely LOVE your home! The rustic and neutral decor is totally perfect. And that Chalkboard! Oh my goodness, it’s my favorite thing ever. Your daughter is an amazing artist! Absolutely gorgeous.
Erica recently posted…Christmas Home Tour
Thank you for your sweet comments, Erica! It’s been so much fun getting ready for the holidays, and doing this “tour” with you! Happy Holidays!
Oh.My.Gosh. Honestly, this is a magazine photoshoot home! Totally stunning!
Bre @ Average But Inspired recently posted…Christmas Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thank you, Bre! You’re too kind! So glad to be on this “tour” with you!
Oh Amy, this is amazing!!! I’m going to fly you over next year to do this to our space, seriously. I can’t even choose a favorite aspect but I’m noting that I need more blankets, branches, ornaments, and whatever badass grocery store you’re getting that art from! And your daughter has some mad chalkboard skillz! So happy you could join us this week

Emily @ Table + Hearth recently posted…Bobbie’s Kiss Cookies
Thank you so much, Emily – you are too sweet! You don’t need any help with your space – it looks amazing already!
Oh My!!! I love your home! Casual and comfy! I especially love your tv console table!! just so pretty! I also love how you find things at your grocery store! You must have a good one on your hands! Thanks for sharing! I’m going to take myself on over to your part 1 tour!
Laura @ A Nurse and A Nerd recently posted…Home For the Holidays Tour
Thank you, Laura! Yes, I do have a good grocery store – I’m always amazed by what I find there! Thanks so much for stopping by!
WHAT grocery store are you shopping. I need to visit it, they have amazing stuff and you have a great eye. Your home is warm and beautiful. The two things we all strive for. WELL DONE!!!
Thank you, so very kind of you! My fave grocery store is called Fry’s Marketplace – I believe they go by Kroger in other parts of the States. Best wishes!
Gorgeous! Love the mixed metals in the living room!
Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek recently posted…Holiday Home Tour
Thank you so much, Katie!
Loved seeing the blog Amy. It is stunning and so glad I came over today to see real deal. So much talent! Love the chalk board and that antelope with the scarf, so cute! Thanks for sharing your home and your talent with us.
~ Kate
Thank you, for stopping by and sharing it with me!
Amy, as beautiful as always!!! So cozy and lovely. I am loving your rustic tablescape with those logs in the middle!! Merry Christmas, friend!
Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness recently posted…No-Sew Monogram Wine Bag
Thank you so much, Amanda! Merry Christmas!
Your home is absolutely amazing! Merry Christmas

All that’s Jas recently posted…Tiramisu Cheesecake
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Your porch looks so cozy! Love your holiday decor!
Emily @ Elizabeth Joan Designs
Emily recently posted…Your Designs This Time – No. 41
Thank you so much!
Beautiful ~ this is the style I absolutely love and would want around ALL year! So jealous of your grocery store lol! I have admired that deer print @ WMkt for a while now.
Thank you for your sweet comments, Tara! I was so excited to find the print for such a bargain – I had my eye on the WM one, too – waiting for it to go on super sale so I could afford it. So glad you stopped by – have a great day!
Looks awesome! Thanks for joining HSH!
I have featured you post today at Home Sweet Home! Thanks for joining me!
Sherry recently posted…Home Sweet Home #202
Thank you so much, Sherry! What an honor!
I’m visiting from the Home Sweet Home party–I love your home! Your Christmas decorations are some of the prettiest I’ve seen. I adore rustic glam. Have a great weekend.
Thank you so much, what a sweet thing to say! I’m glad you enjoyed my Christmas home – it was so fun to put together! Thank you so much for stopping by my little blog!
Hi, your home is beautiful and you are quite the decorator. Would be interested in where you bought your front hall bench. I just love it and my front hall is small like yours so would be perfect. Also, do you buy most of your home furnishings at Pottery Barn? You have great taste!!
Thanks so much for the kind comments, Julie! The bench is actually a sofa table that was given to me by a friend. Hubby cute the legs down and painted it to match our decor (it was an orangey-pine finish). I don’t typically buy from Pottery Barn (although I love their stuff), many of my furnishings are Craigslist deals. The sofa actually is a PB sofa, purchased off Craigslist!