Today, my friends, you are in for a special treat. I’m opening the doors to the Bertone Homestead and sharing our Christmas Home Tour with you. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and welcome to the holidays with the Bertones!
After I originally published this post, I realized that our Christmas decorations mostly stayed the same, but got updated a little bit each year. So instead of sharing this year’s decorations, I’m adding in photos of decorations from various years.
Christmas Home Tour – Outdoor
We live in a 1962 split level on historic land. A few years ago, we painted the homestead from a boring beige to a gorgeous Benjamin Moore’s Philipsburg Blue. We keep the outdoor decorations simple and classic true to the historic colonial tradition.
The front porch is my favorite spot – simple garlands, a vintage sled, and live greens.
I am in love with the wreaths by Daisy Mae Belle. Her Christmas wreaths are simply stunning!
PS – we have another one of Daisy Mae Belle’s wreaths inside too!
Psst… want beautiful Scripture + Gratitude printables to celebrate the beauty of the Advent Season? Click below…
Living Room – The Hub of Christmas
We are in the minority who appreciate a traditional home with rooms instead of the ever-popular open floor plan. One of the downsides, however, is that we sacrifice with really small rooms. Our living room barely fits the everyday furniture, let alone a tree at Christmas. But we make it work. Let’s call it cozy. Yeah, that’s it.
There is a sweet story behind the tree. When Hubby Carter and I were first dating and sharing our first Christmas together, Stepson was just a little guy and was quite distraught that Dad did not have a Christmas tree. “How is Santa going to find Dad without a tree?”
Carter called me and asked me to come over right away to help him pick out a tree. We went to Rite Aid and picked out the only sad little tree left on the shelf. I brought over some of the decorations from my tree and helped him decorate.
Since then, that tree has held a special place in our hearts. For many years, we held onto our special little Charlie Brown tree because of the fond memories. But it was finally time to purchase a nicer tree which is much bigger. The ornaments that grace this tree are a mixture of my childhood, gifts from friends, and from places we’ve visited. Christmas is all about traditions and special memories, whether it’s the old tree, this tree, or the next one.
The wreath on the door and the garland on the mantle are from our local Scout Troop, which sells live greens as a fundraiser. The poinsettias are purchased from our local high school fundraiser. We love supporting our local community whenever possible. Traditional. Warm. Cozy.
Speaking of local, we purchased this adorable burlap stenciled bag at one of our local merchants. It lives beside the fireplace and has seasonal greens and decor.
A tradition that I started years ago, back in my single days, was to collect Christmas ornaments whenever I traveled. It was an inexpensive reminder of those trips every year when I decorated the tree. When Carter and I got together, we continued the tradition. Our first family trip was our “familymoon” after we got married, and we introduced Stepson to the tradition and he enjoyed picking out his first family ornament.
When Stepson’s bio mom took him to London, he came back with an ornament for our tree. I love how he has embraced this tradition.
Christmas is a long-standing tradition in my family. My Grandfather was my hometown Santa Claus for many years. The picture on the far left is him. The picture in the middle is my Father with Santa (not my GF), and the picture on the right has my Mother on the holiday float as an elf. In this vignette, I’ve combined the Christmas traditions of the past with some current decor, such as the little red Christmas tree car DIY.
A Little Christmas Americana
Our home’s decor has a nod to Americana. Not 100% colonial, just a nod. And I love having the same nod throughout the house. We have a small Americana Christmas tree in the bedroom and a tabletop one in the kitchen.
Back Porch – The Adirondack Room
Our friends and family affectionately call our back porch the Adirondack Room. It fits. It’s a cozy and relaxing spot, and even though we aren’t back here as much in the colder months, I love to decorate it for Christmas. Plus, you can see the tree from the road behind the house.
This was Carter’s little red wagon when he was growing up.
We also added some Christmas pillows and outdoor greens in a vintage crate.
And of course, a tree that lights up at night!
Bonus – Hot Chocolate Station
This little nook is everyone’s favorite! CLICK HERE to see the entire festive and rustic Hot Chocolate Station.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas Home Tour of the Bertone Homestead. It may not be fancy or magazine-worthy, but it is full of warmth and love and family traditions.
More Christmas Resources You Will Love
Advent Scripture + Gratitude Printables
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Love, hugs, and home for the holidays.
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