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.

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.

2016

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 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

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

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!

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.

2021

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

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!