Candy cane Christmas kitchen

December 13, 2010

Christmas kitchen

A couple of years ago, I decided to make our kitchen FUN for the holidays. Like, lots of candy cane stripes, red and white, a little bit of whimsy, FUN.

Last year I made some super easy wreaths using dollar store forms and ribbon (that I bought half off the year before at Target). I hang them on the backs of the kitchen chairs:

 

I love how simple they are, but the candy cane stripe adds a little punch. :)

I kept it simple on the table by just adding some sparkle:

Who doesn’t love a little glitter in their salt and pepper? ;)

I usually surround our back door with garland and lights, but I’m not even kidding you – the lights on almost every. single. strand I’ve pulled out of the bins were burnt out. (I had to replace ALL of them on our outdoor garland.)

They were burnt out on the kitchen greenery too, and I was DONE with that. :) So I went with our simple wreath on the back door:

It’s just a cheapy wreath with red ornaments stuffed in, and a dollar store ornament hanging from the middle.

I hot glued the ribbon over the hanger too. Pretty cute, eh?

I told you about the score that is my kitchen tree last year – I think it was around $80 originally, and I got it for about $15 after the holidays at Michael’s. It came lighted, with the urn, and it is all sparkly and pretty – LOVE it:

I’ve put a bunch of white and red ornaments on it, including my absolute favorite – the little red glass birds from Target a few years ago:

I haven’t seen them there again – which bums me out because they are just the most darling little things ever!

Our Ikea sofa table is decked out as well – it’s the perfect spot for my Santa hats:

And various fun stuff from year’s past(WHY must stores keep tempting me with cauuute stuff?) at the end of the table:

A candy-themed snow globe train, an adorable gingerbread house that sings and lights up (be still my heart) from Hallmark, and the carafe and plate we use for Santa’s goodies.

I don’t have much on the counters – just a couple Goodwill cookie jars:

And another Santa carafe holds candy canes for my nightly hot chocolate:

A friend and I found those adorable carafes at Flower Factory years ago, and we each grabbed up a few extras. I just adore them. Cause Santa does rock.

My giant Goodwill cloche on the island is filled with my standard greenery, ornaments and beady stuff:

IMG_2288

For those of you wondering, I take the cloche off, fill it up while upside down, then place the base over it and turn it right side up. :)

Last year I put gobs of greenery, lights and sparkly stuff up above our cabs, but this year I felt like I had plenty going on without them. So I just piled a few big ornaments here and there, and hung a couple from platters:

Originally, I had planned to place a very simple garland over our kitchen window and call it done – but then I pulled up the Christmas bins and it was kind of like Christmas when I opened them up – wink wink.

Every year, I forget about all the fun decor we have. Isn’t that so fun to rediscover everything?

I started with a little vintagey looking tree I found at a consignment shop last year:

Can I tell you how much I LOVE Santa boots? Love.

I ordered these blocks from my friend Amanda last year:

Oh my – they are so adorable!

I found these itty bitty Santa boots at Kirkland’s a year or two ago – and I fill them with red hots (one of my favorites!):

They are sooo small and insanely cute!

Since I still haven’t put any window treatments up on my nekked windows, I thought the window could still use a little somethin’ to dress it up for the season.

Instead of the garland I had planned, (which I have enough of around here anyway!), I saw a simple idea in a magazine a couple months ago and decided to give it a try.

I used a tension rod we already had and hot glued some red ribbon around it first. Because I’m freaky like that. :) I hung some candy cane ornaments from it with ribbon:

Those ornaments were $4 (on sale) at Hobby Lobby by the way – and you get a bunch of them!

I think it’s pretty darn sweet:

I think my absolute favorite spot in our Christmas kitchen is the Goodwill shelves I found earlier this year – I had so much fun playing around with this little vignette!:

It was all stuff we had, and I LOVE having this little space to decorate in the kitchen! It makes me HAPPY.  :)

So here’s our Christmasy kitchen:

IMG_2312 

Can you find our Elf on the Shelf in this picture?:

He forgets to move every couple of nights. ;)

Whew! Well, that’s the tour of our Christmas kitchen! Some of you have been following along as I’ve been working on the redo of this room – it’s definitely getting there. And I LOVE how it’s turning out!

The before and after pics aren’t the exact same shot, but you can see the difference a new sink and backsplash have made in the room:

before 

  after

OK, a few other changes too. :) And the after shot was taken at night – now that’s impressive! You can see more of the changes I’ve made in the kitchen by going here.

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Comments

  1. Seriously, I love everything!!!! Our Elf forgets to move every couple of nights too and frequently ends up on a chandlier as well. Too cute! Love your creativity!!!

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  2. Such a festive kitchen you have! So many fun details and touches! Your little Bubster must be SOOOO excited!!!

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  3. Your elf is as forgetful as our Tooth Fairy! Sometimes it takes her a couple of nights to bring the money! Everything looks too cute, Sarah!

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  4. It really is decor that makes you smile. It is fun and traditional at the same time. The boots are adorable!

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  5. Beautiful...everything looks so nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Beautiful...everything looks so nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Our elf, Feisty McElf, also in the same place for a few nights . . . however, my children know that is when he has REALLY found a good place to watch their behavior - or at least that's what the elf told me. I can't imagine it has ANYTHING to do with the fact that I am entirely too busy during December to remember to move him ;)

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  8. Sarah I love everything!! I can see Christmas every where and that makes my heart happy!! Christmas really exploded in my house!

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  9. So cute!!!!! I did something similar over my kitchen window with ornaments. I haven't posted about it yet though. :)

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  10. how fun the whole house looks....who wouldn't feel the Christmas spirit walking around your home! I'm sooooo gonna borrow that Santa hat idea! It's just about the cutest thing i've seen!
    Merry Christmas!

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  11. I most love the cloth Christmas trees and the Santa boots!

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  12. WoW! It looks so great! And I think I'm going to copy your ideas, as always. The chair wreaths, the santa boots, and the santa suit triangle things are my favorite! LOVE!

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  13. Love it all!!! It is so fun and bright : ) Merry Christmas!

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  14. It all looks great!! I have that same tree in the boot- LOVE IT! ;)

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  15. I love your kitchen! The ornaments hanging in the window is such a neat idea! Thanks for sharing, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!!

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  16. I like everything you put together in the kitchen. Simple, fun, sentimental and colorful, well done!

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  17. WOw...absolutely beautiful Christmas Decorating! I am going to do the christmas balls hanging from the window idea next year...and i love the candy cane wreaths over the chair backs!! Great site by the way!

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  18. So inviting and festive for the Holidays! I love your pop of red. You had so many great decorations. I just love finding decor I didn't know I had and making it work!

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  19. I'm new to your blog and glad I foud it. Your Christmas decorations are delightful. I love all the pops of red throughout your house and the elf in your chandelier. I need to make that little elf a new addition to our house this holiday. Off to find one tomorrow! He adds a nice whimsical touch. Love the Believe blocks! You've done a beautiful job decorating and making your home fun and festive.

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  20. I love your little goodwill shelve's decor too. By the way, I found some darling tiny red and clear glass birds at Target this year for my kitchen Christmas tree. They are precious. There were six on a card....maybe they still have them. You will love them.

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  21. Oooo, I love this. I never think to decorate our kitchen for the holidays but this makes me really want to give it a shot next year! Beautiful!

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  22. Hey Sarah! Girl..HOW.DO.YOU.DO.IT???
    You are CONSTANTLY doing things and changing things in your home! My Hub would kill me!!! YIKERS! Thank God i am in the business of doing OTHER peoples homes! I did a "Candy Cane Lane tree for a client...LOOOOOOOOOVED IT! Everything looks AWESOME! You are SO inspiring, Fer Shizzel!!!

    come by and check out my Candy Cne lane tree...Its buried SOMEWHERE in my 14 days of Christmas trees! EEKKK!

    xoxokara

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  23. Cuteness to the nth degree, Sarah! : ) I love the red and white candy cane look, too, and did a little bit in my kitchen this year. I have urn trees like that too! I got two of them at Goodwill last year for $15.00 each ~ also lighted ~ brand new with tags and extra bulbs still attached. I love them! I did a little countertop tree from Michaels this year with a red and whtie candy/baking theme. I don't normally have something that takes up a lot of room on the countertop, but I don't have an island. I'm still debating if I like it there or not.

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  24. looks fantastic! I love LOVE the santa hat "tree forms"!!!

    hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!

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  25. Looks great - question - how do you get electric to the lights on your table tree? It looks to be right in the middle?

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  26. It's a Christmas wonderland! I can't decide what I like best, Sarah. :)

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  27. I love it all - so beautiful! Where did you find the fun red and white fabric trees with polka dots on your Goodwill shelves??

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  28. It looks beautiful!! I loved your comment that opening up your Christmas storage boxes every year is "like Christmas" b/c I said the same thing to my hubs when I started diving into my boxes!! I forgot about some of the great things I scored at 75-90% off last year, so it was a blast to open all my "gifts"...

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  29. Wow! I love it (as usual)!

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  30. I love everything! What a pretty space! Merry Christmas!

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  31. Oh I love every single thing you did!!! Those Santa hats are so wonderful! I have the same santa boots from kirklands and use them as votive holders! I have a wicker boot on my kitchen table too that is about 100 years old:):) Love the idea of the ornamenys hanging in the window too!!!!!!! Merry Christmas! Come on over and see some of my Christmas! XO, Pinky

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  32. Your kitchen looks:

    1. warm
    2. cheerful
    3. inviting
    4. festive
    5. Christmasy!!

    Thank you for sharing all the special little touches. Wish I could join you for your cuppa cocoa!

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  33. It's not red like yours, but looks just like it. I bought this little bird from CB2 last year and they have it again this year:)

    http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=581&f=4545&fromLocation=search

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  34. Sooooo many great ideas! Thanks for the tour. (Do you have any Loblaws type stores in the states? I bought those litle red glass bird ornaments at one of their stores just last year)

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  35. I love your window treatment and all of the Christmas decor. The wheels are turning in my head trying to figure which idea i can copy now. Merry Christmas.

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  36. How beautiful & festive everything is! I love the wreaths on the chairbacks!

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  37. OMGOODNESS!!! This is all absolutely FABULOUS!!!! I love it all!

    You shoud come show off your decor at my blog on Tuesdays. Webbisodes and I host a Home Tour Tuesday and today is on Trimming the Tree! We'd love to have you:)

    Hope your day is great!!
    Daphne

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  38. The Santa boots are my fav :)

    ...and LOVING the wreaths on the chairs and the siple berries in the next photo...

    lovely decor :) ...and YES, I totally feel like it is "Christmas" when I dig into the bins every year to decorate. I totally forget what I bought "clearancing" the year before at 90% off :)

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  39. i love the festive decorations...xmas is my favorite time opf the year..

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  40. Your kitchen is adorable!!
    Our elf 'forgets' to move too....are they in cahoots??
    *hugs*deb

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  41. This is festive with a capital F. It all looks beautiful! I'll bet kids love it:)

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  42. oh my, i cant even pick out a favorite here! I just love everything!
    I have two shelves similar to your goodwill shelves, they are wood and sitting in my "to be used/repainted/etc" box, I am unsure where to hang them up but even though the wood is nice, It needs repainted I was thinking either black or white, I love how you have yours though so I think I might do mine black and hang them like yours and I think I have the perfect wall!

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  43. So pretty -- I really love the wreaths hanging on the backs of the chairs!

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  44. This is so beautiful and whimsical! i adore your decorations.

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  45. Your kitchen is simply stunning, and now I really want to get to our kitchen redo this March!!!

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  46. Too cute! I must tell you - my son's elf toilet papered the living room and the LR tree the other night. That pesky elf is causing some work, I tell ya. He also JUMPED from the top of the fridge to the coffee pot at lunch time. He's too much for me!
    MimiG

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  47. What a fun and festive Christmas kitchen you have created!

    ~ Tracy

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  48. Ya, those little white shelves with all the red and white decor on it makes me happy too!


    DI

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  49. I just love all of your Christmas decor! Especially, Santa Rocks!!! I love shopping the day after Christmas because the next year I never remember what I've bought!

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  50. Hello, I enjoyed my visit to your lovely blog. Your kitchen is charming and very festive. I look forward to more posts. I've added your button to my favorites page. Merry Christmas! Katherine
    P.S. I'm having a giveaway stop by and enter :-)

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  51. This is hands down the most festive kitchen I've ever seen -- love it! You have so much cool stuff!

    The carafe that says santa rocks is my absolute favorite!!! where was it from?

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  52. Wow-everything looks amazing! Oh and thanks for reminding our lazy elf to find a new look out spot! :)

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  53. Your kitchen looks great! I love the red and white theme. The santa hats are too cute!

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  54. Oh wow...love, love your decorations!

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  55. All of your work has truly paid off. It looks great. When can I (down-sizingboomer) come over to bake cookies?

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  56. I am in love with everything that you have done on Christmas decorating!!! So much so, I have decided that next year I will be going with these colors also! Currently we have burgandy & gold. I just love the whimsy of the red, green & white & with 5 kiddos I want to hang on to that feeling of a child like christmas. with are youngest being 10 I am really missing seeing them rip open trains, planes & baby dolls this year :(.
    Thank you for all that you do.

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  57. I was looking at the cloche wondering how in the world you got all that in there. I picture you stuffing it and trying to shut the lid quickly and every time having stuff fall out--something that would happen to me. Hilarious! :-)

    I really love everything. It all feels so whimsical. I love whimsy at Christmastime.

    I especially like the display you have going on on the white shelves.

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  58. FANTASTIC! I love the traditional Christmas colors. Makes you want to bake cookies in there!!

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  59. I love your kitchen! Every little detail is just perfect! Thanks for sharing! And I love your tree too! What a beautiful tree full of great ornaments!
    Blessings,

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  60. Beautiful kitchen. My favorite is the white shelves with the Christmas trees. I want those trees!!! I also love the wreaths on the back of the chairs. Never would have thought of doing that. Love it. Really, I love all of it.

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  61. So cute! I Love your kitchen and all the decor. Funny how that silly elf forgets to move some days in my house too. Especially in the beginning before "he" got in the habit. :)

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  62. So cute! I Love your kitchen and all the decor. Funny how that silly elf forgets to move some days in my house too. Especially in the beginning before "he" got in the habit. :)

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  63. So cute! I Love your kitchen and all the decor. Funny how that silly elf forgets to move some days in my house too. Especially in the beginning before "he" got in the habit. :)

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  64. So cute! I Love your kitchen and all the decor. Funny how that silly elf forgets to move some days in my house too. Especially in the beginning before "he" got in the habit. :)

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  65. Oh how pretty! Love the wreaths on the back of the chairs!

    And now you all that fluffy white stuff to make it feel like Christmas!

    Sorta miss that, only at Christmas!

    Merry Merry Christmas!

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  66. Thanks for the shout out for the "Santa I Can Explain" plate...oh wait there WASN'T one!!

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  67. Oops. I'm a dork. Just posted the wrong link. What I meant was...

    Look what I found!
    http://www.homemakingexpert.com/2010/12/chubby-red-christmas-birds-on-sale.html

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  68. I love everything!!!! Your blog is wonderful. I love your kitchen and all the decor.
    Thank you!
    Hugs,
    Lila

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  69. Everything looks so inviting. You have some unique decorations, but I especially LOVE the chair wreaths. I may have to try those myself next year!

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