A Connecticut Cottage at Christmas
My favorite decorations at the holidays are twinkle lights and candles. I kept it pretty simple this year, but never short on my two favorites! The house looks, smells and feels like Christmas from the moment you walk in the door.
Our entry has small closet that’s great for all the coats, boots, hats and winter gear that you have when you live where it’s cold, but one of the first things we did when purchasing our home built in 1900 was to add hooks. I don’t think anyone had ever hung hooks in the entry of this house. Hanging a coat, a hat or a bag on a hook is far more likely than putting it away in a closet. I’m not sure how people managed without them for over 100 years! Our is made from reclaimed wood we found in Red Hook, Brooklyn after Hurricane Sandy. We tried to hang hooks on the wall, but old plaster walls made that difficult. Hooks on wood made it possible and adds a bit of history.
We are officially empty nesters as Madeline is living in New York City after graduating from Bucknell in May and Patrick is a freshman at Syracuse. When they both come home for the holidays, I want them to feel Christmas from the moment they arrive home. That meant keeping some traditions like a big tree with all of their favorite ornaments. The ones from their grandmother that signify every important event and activity through the years. Like playing the violin, going to Australia, playing golf, surfing and for Patrick–mostly baseball related ornaments. 
A very heavy old crock in the dining room that I found at an antique mall with Brooke holds a small tree decorated with cinnamon house ornaments and dried citrus. It smells so good! The crock normally holds a monstera plant, but it’s too heavy to move.
This year I added new stockings from the Hearth and Hand Magnolia Collection from Target. How could I resist since they are black and white? I used old candlesticks with black candles and two sets of the Nesting Houses. The little angels are from when I was a child. I love to mix old, new and vintage with fresh greens on the mantel. We used to have a vintage mirror but it fell and the frame broke into pieces. We replaced it with this one from Serena & Lily.
I have sprigs of evergreens in vases and bottles all over the house.
In the front of the house I have a small tabletop tree from Terrain. I love it! It is decorated with vintage ornaments that I found while going to flea markets with a dear friend while living in Southern California.
In the kitchen I hung a pine cone garland and added twinkle lights, fresh citrus on kitchen twine and swags made from our evergreen trees. I added a few cinnamon sticks and dried citrus.
A wood board from Terrain holds a fresh evergreen sprig, a mini conifer and a scented candle on a Saarinen table with Riviera chairs from Serena & Lily.
Candles, sprigs of evergreen in an old bottle from our first trip to Paris and a Tiffany bowl of white beach stones from our recent trip to Montauk on the coffee table for a small touch of Christmas.
Thank you for visiting our home tour as part of 12 Days of Holiday Homes hosted by 11 Magnolia Lane and Evolution of Style. Thank you to Lynch Creek Farm for sponsoring again this year and supplying everyone with a beautiful wreath. We each were able to select the one that suited our decor. Naturally I chose the Bare Traditional.
Make sure to head over to my dear friend Cindy’s home for her tour, I know you are going to love it! Then make sure to check out the home tour of Painted By Kalya Payne.
House looks lovely Annie – as always! 🙂
Wow, Annie! Your home is amazingly beautiful–and how nice to have snow in your photos, too (slightly jealous here in North Carolina)! Your kids will definitely “feel” Christmas from the moment they walk in the door. Enjoy your time together as a family, and thanks for joining the tour!
I just adore your home! Makes me want to take everything down in my own home and start over!
I love the modern cottage feel of your entire home! The touches of Christmas are not glaring but definitely stand out! As always, honored to share this home tour with you! Cheers!
I love your style of decorating. Looks very seasonal and warm, but very peaceful and serene too. Such a lovely home !
A-Mazing! I pinned a lot…and will now read through slowly. I’m speechless…just love everything.
Merry Christmas!
Mary Ann,
You’re too sweet! Thank you dear friend!
xo
annie
PS. love that little touch of pine on the art in the foyer. 🙂
I love how simply festive it all is!! Gorgeous home! Merry Christmas to you & your family!
Annie, what a wonderful post full of holiday eye candy! The touches of greenery all over your home, inside and out, are just perfect! Love the gingerbread ornaments you made – I think
we will make those next week when school’s out. Thanks! And the pinecone garland, all the S & L pillows, the black and white theme, and the fact that you are able to incorporate sentimental objects into your decor that look so good! This is my definition of great design in a cozy, holiday home! ?.
Stefanie,
You are always so sweet and thoughtful! Thank you for your kind words and attention to every detail. I hope you know how much that means! Merry Christmas to you, David, Kate and Olivia!
xoxo
annie
Annie your decor is absolute perfection. You are the master of less is more. I LOVE your front porch. I CANNOT BELIEVE you got those darling stockings at Target. Your pictures are amazing…well your just amazing!! LOVE IT ALL!!
Cindy! You are too sweet! Thank you for your generous words. Quite a compliment coming from you! I adore your style and your house tour was the first time I saw your front door. It’s simply amazing! Merry Christmas!
xo
annie
Annie your fresh greens and twinkling lights are so beautiful and compliment your Connecticut cottage so perfectly. I love it all, and I’m your kids just love walking through that door and coming home!
Thank you Lisa for your sweet words! I bet we are both just days away from having our college freshman home for the holidays! I pick up Patrick tomorrow. Merry Christmas!
Just perfect Annie! Warm & cozy.
What a wonderfully cozy Christmas home! I love how classic and elegant it is! Thanks so much for joining in on the tour this year! 🙂
Thank you Jenny for including me this year in the Home Tour! It was fun to see such a wide variety of Christmas decor! Merry Christmas!
Now this is just lovely……..warm and peaceful. What time is tea served?
Thanks for reading Maureen! Coffee all morning, tea all afternoon!
I pinned away!! Love all the black and white and the simplicity of your home, so beautiful!! Your porch is postcard worthy for sure!
Thank you Kathysue for pinning! Our first snow of the season was well timed. Merry Christmas! xo
this is drop dead gorgeous and amazing annie. why isn’t this in a magazine. it blows everything i’ve seen this year away!!!!!!!!! i haven’t even put out one piece of christmas yet. i’ve been so busy with work. i must get on it bc you have truly inspired me. wow!!!! xo
Janet! Thank you for your sweet words. I am heading to Syracuse tomorrow to pick up Patrick and my plan is to make a quick stop in Hudson on the way. I’ll keep you posted!
So beautiful! Love seeing it with the snowfall! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Becky! I just saw your Instagram post…you had snow in Houston?! I loved your gingerbread houses and simple cake on your house tour! Merry Christmas!
annie, i was so excited to see this! i finally had time this morning and just loved soaking in your tour- everything looks so beautiful and i love how fresh and modern your home is!
Thank you Cassie for your kind words! I just saw your Christmas porch! Oh my goodness, it’s so festive. And you have chickens!
So wonderful Annie! I am decorating in my brain this year since I can’t do much. Love how your fireplace turned out too. It is fantastic ; ))
xo kelley
I saw your pinecone garland with ticking stripe! Love! I might be copying you next year Kelley!
Oh, I love the simplicity of your decorations. Your home looks warm and cozy but not over the top. Love the lights over the sink. “The better to see you my dear. ” Happy Holidays.
Thank you Sandra for your kind words! I just read your story of how you met your husband. What a wonderful story!
Beautiful and fresh looking! What brand and color white have you used on your walls? Love it.
I used to use Benjamin Moore Cloud White, but recently I’ve been buying Behr paint in the same color “Cloud White” and I love it!
Hi Nicole,
It’s Cloud White from Benjamin Moore, but lately we’ve been buying Behr paint in Cloud White at Home Depot and we are so happy with the quality of Behr paint.
annie
Beautiful….I love your home with all of it’s black and white goodness:)
Thank you Sherry! Happy New Year!
xo
annie
Curious where you purchased your pear and apple b/w print? Love it!
Also really like the black rug in the entry… who makes it? Thanks!
Hi Kim,
The black and white apple pear poster is by Enzo Mari. I purchased on Amazon and used to have a link under my SHOP page, but it’s unavailable currently. You may have seen the very large red apple print that’s more popular. The rug is from Serena & Lily and it’s on sale! I think there is a link under my Shop tab. Thanks for reading!
Annie
The love the dark rug in your entry way. Where did you get it?
Hi Jenn,
It’s from Serena & Lily! It’s linked under my SHOP tab. And it’s on sale!
Annie
LOVE your home…..could you share what woven blinds you used in your kitchen and your paper towel holder or is it for butcher paper? I also love your galvanized buckets on the front porch……again, from where? Thank you for sharing your wonderful talents.
Hi Bonnie,
The woven wood blinds are from Blinds To Go and we have them throughout the house. They are pretty inexpensive compared to others and we are very happy with them. The butcher paper holder was an eBay find and the galvanized planters are from Rejuvination. I think they are linked under my SHOP tab. Thank you for your kind words and for reading MLT!
annie
Hi! I was wondering what exterior paint color you painted your house? Such a gorgeous home! Love the white, it’s perfect, let me know. 🙂
Kirstin
Hi Kristin,
Our favorite white paint is Benjamin Moore Cloud White both exterior and interior. It’s the perfect white, in my opinion. Lately, we’ve had Home Depot mix White Cloud using Behr Paint and it’s half the price, excellent quality!
Annie
I’m about 3 months too late to comment on all the Christmas gorgeousness (it is stunning!!) but… was curious about a source for those hooks near your chalkboard wall! I love them!
Hi Liz!
Those are just Ikea hooks. The ones that come in two sizes. These are the smaller ones that come in a pack of four!
xo
Your home is gorgeous! Where is your front door from?
Hi! Where did you get your wall lanterns next to you front door ?
Hi Annie! Where did you get your outdoor lanterns on both sides of your door?? Thank you!
Hi Abby,
Our house was built in 1900 and they are very old…and there’s no markings on them. Try Bevolo. They have beautiful copper lanterns. We used them on our California house!
Annie
It all looks beautiful! May I ask where the bowl holding the fruit is from? Thanks!
Ur home is beautiful and serene! Where did u find the paper towel holder in ur kitchen?
Hi Sabrina-It was a vintage find on eBay. I think it was probably in a shop of some kind back in the days when they used that sort of thing. Annie
love what you did! what color white are your walls and fire place?
Hi ruth- They are all BM Cloud White! It’s my favorite white exterior and interior.
I’d love to know what the silver cylinders on the front porch are made of.