Craftsman Style Home Christmas Decor
This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. Read more here.Newlyweds learn compromise as they create the perfect craftsman style home Christmas decor! Vintage is mixed with cozy cottage and thrifted treasures.
2024 has flown by like a flash! I wish I could say I put out a lot of new content on Marty’s Musings and was diligent about my social media posts. I love this corner of the web so much but this year reality took first place in my heart.
I’ve spent this last year living my best life and turning it upside down at the same time!
Some of the highlights:
- Got engaged in June of this year! (Read Part 1 of our love story.)
- Planned a wedding in ten weeks and got married on August 31st!
- Spent a few months helping Dennis (my husband!) declutter his home to prepare for my move.
- Sold my house without putting it on the market, packed up and moved from Greensboro, NC to Troutville, VA in September!
- Spent the last three months establishing my new identity here in VA (social security, driver’s license, new doctors and all the numerous tasks that must happen when you get married AND move!)
- Helped Dennis heal from a partial knee replacement surgery.
- Began fixing up the craftsman style home Dennis and I are sharing. So many before and afters to share in the near future!
Whew! I’m exhausted just reading the list, and there’s so much I haven’t included. When I was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in June of 2021 my life shattered. The betrayal in my 35 year marriage was almost more than I could bear. My body was sick and my emotional and mental health a wreck.
But I found the strength through my faith, family and friends to buy a little house (see all the cottage home posts here.) As difficult as they were, I also blossomed in those three years as a single woman. After two years keeping silent I went public with the diagnosis when I started a YouTube channel in June of 2023. The support and encouragement overwhelmed me in the best way. Through that process I gained the courage to try online dating for the first time. And now I’m married and living happily in another state!
That’s definitely the shortest version possible and my hope is to share the story and give hope to others who have experienced a life shattering event. I’m definitely living proof that today is not the end!
I lived in a ranch style home for 30 years, a cottage style home for three years and our current home is a craftsman style home. We’ve already made many changes and we’re learning to blend our “stuff” and still stay married! Seriously, though, Dennis has lived here 20+ years and I’m thrilled to start this new life with him in the mountains.
I thought it would be helpful to add a few tips on how we managed to blend two different homes and styles for the Christmas season! My previous home was definitely a cozy cottage style while Dennis used a lot of family vintage pieces without a specific color theme. He loved my cottage so I knew we could combine our belongings into a beautiful home we both love!
Declutter first before you join households.
When I got divorced I downsized from 2000 sq. ft. to 1000 sq. ft. so I had already done a LOT of work. (Read quickly declutter and downsize your home here.) Dennis and I spent a few months doing the same with his home. We have a large heated space in the attic and a basement so “unfortunately” there’s still much to go through!
Anything you can purge as you go through Christmas decorations together is a win!
Compromise.
Ugh. Why is this so hard sometimes? You both bring pasts into this new relationship as well as your possessions. Unfortunately for me (or Dennis actually!) I have a vision of the way things could/should be in our home. Yes, I’m a bit stubborn after living on my own for three years but I’m working on it!
Realize most of it is just stuff and pick your battles wisely. Show each other grace and understand you’re building a future together while also establishing a culture in your home.
Be aware of what’s valuable to the other person and honor their desires as much as possible.
The little knick knack that means absolutely nothing to you might be the other person’s favorite trinket from their kid’s childhood. Most everything can be displayed in a manner that’s pleasing to both of you but it might take a little bit of work!
We have a teenage daughter and this is her childhood home. Making sure she sees beauty in the general living areas and also has her own space is important.
Put relationships first ahead of designing the perfect home.
I’m a relational person to the core but I’ll confess this year was hard when it came to all the stuff we both owned. I’ve become more minimalist and Dennis has a hard time parting with sentimental objects. Blending our two homes has definitely been a process but we have to remember we’re now partners.
I’ve had to remind myself over and over that relationships in this home are more important than any home decor piece.
Do one year at a time.
The way you decorate this year may not be the same next year. You have twelve months to get to know each other and continue to go through your possessions. I believe it takes time to develop a style that works for both families. I “might” be a wee bit impatient so this is a great reminder for me!
Now for our bungalow decorated for Christmas in a style we’ve come to call vintage modern farmhouse!
Craftsman style Christmas home tour
One of the things I love most is our front porch with a swing! We added a small tree to the front entrance planters and love how it welcomes visitors to our home. Everything else was either thrifted or decor from previous Christmases.
Christmas pillow covers mix with everyday pillows on our front porch to create cheery outdoor decor.
As you’ll also see inside I added Leland cypress branches cut from our property. Such an inexpensive and easy way to decorate for the season! These big buffalo plaid red bows are perfect for the windows.
I sure do love the red front door and the arrangement Dennis bought years ago. I added the Merry Christmas sign (dollar store!) and a bit of fresh greenery.
The arch between the den and dining room is one of my favorite features of this 1940s home. If you’ve followed me very long you may recognize the white chalk painted hutch with the colorful wallpaper inside.
We have blended a few new items with his “stuff” and my “stuff”! The rug and the striped chair were mine and the neutral gray sofa is a custom order. It’s basically dog proof which is perfect for his miniature dachshund Leo and my big dog Carson!
The room was designed around this mountain photograph Dennis took and had made into a canvas. I knew it would work well with my blue and coral colors. I’ve learned to create a neutral background for the pops of color I love so much. We had most of the main floor painted one color to help tie everything together.
The blue table is vintage from my parents used it in my previous homes. The lamp is from Dennis’s parents and although it’s probably too big for the table we both love it!
Dennis and I both had our own Christmas trees but we decided to use his. I went a bit more vintage by using a buffalo check wooden garland and less blue ornaments than my usual tree.
Dennis has some classic vintage ornaments that we mixed with bows and the red and white picks. It’s not a designer tree for sure but to us it’s beautiful and represents our new home and life together.
I’m so happy with the fireplace and we’ll spend many winter evenings curled up in this room. New stockings mix with old ones for my stepdaughter and our dogs!
The mantel features a theme of churches and houses. I literally just dragged out the my decor and became aware of similar items. Leland cypress branches mingle with a strand of lights and a vintage mirror from Dennis. It IS possible to blend styles and still create beauty!
To many people I’m sure this vintage mistletoe might be tacky but to us it represents a chance to sneak a kiss and make new memories!
Moving into the room I believe has changed the most so far. We both have china hutches in this room as well as a trunk of mine and a side table of his. But the biggest change is our new farmhouse table. We scoured Facebook marketplace for months and finally settled on ordering a custom table.
We are in love with it! The vision has always been to create a table where family is gathered, friends are invited to hang out and new memories are made. Dennis found the black chairs for $12 at a thrift store but I’m on the hunt for a few extra.
I mixed his vintage Christmas dishes with ones from the dollar store that I loved. A bit of greenery and Christmas balls and the table is simple but perfect.
Still a favorite piece, I love my china hutch and try to keep the accessories a bit more simple to keep the emphasis on the beautiful colors. Definitely a show piece and the first thing you notice as you walk through the front room.
This antique pie safe is a perfect place for Dennis’s nutcrackers. You might be amazed that inside is our pantry! Creating storage in an older home is definitely the topic for another post!
Thanks for visiting! From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!
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Marty, You are truly an inspiration. I am so glad to call you friend. Thanks for sharing your story.