Chalet Christmas Decor Past and Present

Friends we know the constant push for new on Social Media - which had me thinking about the Chalet and how much or actually how little the decor shifts around here. I grew up with a mother whom I emulate; Rita put out the same Christmas decor year after year adding just a few new touches.

Many of you won’t be surprised to hear as the youngest of four and the one with a zeal for decorating (I moved the furniture around my bedroom often) I pushed to decorate for Christmas asking where this or that should be placed until I knew it all by heart. I led the charge from the age of 11. I did the majority of decorating with my parents and siblings helping out - I have a strong memory of Daddy walking into the Livingroom to place a single ornament on the tree and telling me I was doing a good job.

Our Christmas decor is basically unchanged since 2020. Let’s take a look back and see it’s evolution ❤️.


2015:

We had our tree decked out in front of the French doors.

2015 our late cat fred asleep on his box

2016:

For many years we placed part of my husband’s train set and vintage train lanterns on the mantel. The Tree was in it’s spot in front of the French doors.

2017:

This really shows off the mantel. Back then I embraced vintage and celebrating with the decor. The train along with the vintage train lanterns look wonderful and the skis with berries were a fun focal point on the mirror.

2017 our late cat fred enjoying the fire

2017 our newly enclosed sunporch held the tree

2018:

The Tree moved into the livingroom corner because it was a bit difficult to access presents on the sunporch the previous year.

2018 Tree

2019:

The year I went Pink! I purchased bottle brush trees, pink deer, ceramic houses and new stockings. It was a fun look. I placed the tree back on the sunporch but, closer to the french doors ensuring ease of access.

2019 Tree back on the sunporch

2020:

Oh 2020 I scrapped the pink and embraced blue with green and white. I think many of us changed our decor - I looked at my home and the colors I love and said - this is what I want Christmas to be too!

2020

2020 Mantel details

2021:

This was the year I decided I would keep some of my chinoiserie ceramics on the mantel and this friends - this was IT for me. Such a perfect marriage of enlivening our home with once a year decor but, not loosing the essence of my decorating style.

2022:

Last year I played with the placement of the holiday touches. I used one of my Asian bookends as the centerpiece and I loved how he held court. I left more chinoiserie pieces on display during the holidays.

2022 Mantel

2023:

This year I left the white Chinese Figurine on the mantel - he was a wedding gift I will always treasure. The original is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art permanent collection. I added a new to me piece I bought at the Big Green Barn spring sale - Some Xmas Verses first printed in Williamsburg over 200 yrs ago - the piece is dated Christmas 1955 on the back. Other than slight changes - a different tray on the coffee table… leaving even more chinoserie on display than last year and adding new bits to the TV cabinet the overall design is basically unchanged since 2020 and I LOVE IT!

I hope you enjoyed this peek at the Chalet decor over the years. Til next time be well and I’ll see you over on Instagram.

CHALET CHRISTMAS 2022

Hi Sweet friends I hope this finds you well and hopefully enjoying a break. We shared a lovely Christmas Eve celebration here at the Chalet with family; and then on Christmas Day after presents and Mass spent an equally lovely time with more family. This week finds us relaxing and grabbing time with friends.

Over on Instagram I’m sharing a tour of the Chalet in my stories and usually I would have already posted about the decor here but, this year I rejigged my calendar to share the Holiday Hour Tour and well here we are.

On Christmas Eve the desserts are set up on the sideboard until after dinner.

The image below is what I dream of all week leading up to Christmas Eve.

We are all about hors d'oeuvres. Crabmeat Dip, Chopped Chicken Liver, Cream Cheese with Hot Pepper Jelly, Mini Hot Dogs, Shrimp and various hot appetizers.

When I was growing up my late mother Rita focused on bites and desserts only on Christmas Eve with guests arriving at 7:30pm and my father’s birthday was the 23rd so there was always left over birthday cake served.

We include dinner because our family arrive in the afternoon. After serving other entrees over the years - for the last few years my sister has prepared wonderful Swedish Meatballs and I prepare String-bean Casserole and Mashed Potatoes. Everyone saves room for dessert. My sister bakes amazing Chocolate Bark, my niece delicious Chocolate Chip cookies and I bake Magic Cookie Bars and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

White Christmas is always playing on the television! This year like last year we played trivia. This year the crowd favorite was FRIENDS.

As we close out 2022 I want to express my deep thanks.

Thank you for taking the time to “pop by” the Chalet. Thank you for following along on Instagram and Facebook. It means the world to me. I’m super excited to see where Chaletmomma Designs takes me in 2023 and I can’t wait for you to take this journey with me.

Happy New Year!

xo