One of my favorite Christmas Day moments is always the big brunch. (Leave it to me for my favorite something to be food. Ha!)
Every year, my mom makes the best Christmas morning breakfast casserole, and our family sprawls out around the table with goofy grins on our faces in that post-present-opening buzz.
If you’re visiting from Taryn’s house at Design, Dining, and Diapers, welcome!
Today, I’m joining in with Ashley from Cherished Bliss and some blogger friends for our last week of the Christmas Room Series to show off our dining rooms. But since our dining room already got the grand tour the other week, I thought I’d take a peek where the real action happens on Christmas.
(P.S. You can see all of our past Christmas shenanigans here for lots of ideas.)
Our kitchen is where Robert, Olivia, and I and all of our nearby family always end up gathering every Christmas morning in our pajamas, so I set our breakfast table for a holiday brunch. I love repurposing these grapevine wreaths as chargers when I feel like getting fancy.
And a sprig of rosemary, a gift tag as a place card, and a jingle bell ornament makes an easy place setting if you want to have some fun with it.
(Affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)
For a centerpiece, I just grabbed a plaid scarf I had to repurpose it as a table runner, placed some thrift store candle holders I painted and distressed, and weaved a length of garland with a strand of cranberry beads for something festive.
(Table Decor Sources: Scarf Runner | Grapevine Wreaths | Red Napkins | Flocked Garland | Cranberry Beads | Gray Distressed Candleholders | Jingle Bells)
In our kitchen, I got a little carried away this year since we gave it a big makeover this past spring. I’m so flippin’ excited to finally have white cabinets to go with all those pops of red and greenery!
I stuck this old toolbox on our bar and just filled it with some pine cones and Christmas lights since our barstools somehow always end up around our kitchen table where our crew gathers.
In the corner of our countertop, I keep this small cocoa bar all season long when we want a quick treat during our movie watching…which is pretty much every night. Quoting Christmas Vacation is a sport in our house. (Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?)
If you want a copy of this Hot Cocoa Bar sign for yourself, you can download it here:
And in my faux rusted scale (one of my favorite thrift store flips everrr!), I just filled it up with sugared cranberries and lit a frosted cranberry candle to go with it. Mmmmm. All the yummy sniffs.
(Kitchen Decor Sources: Galvanized Tray | Red Striped Towel | Large Cutting Board | Small Cutting Board | Faux Rusted Scale (tutorial) | Barn Wood Frame | Mug Drying Rack | Antique Toolbox | Wooden Candleholder | Barstools | Cake Stand | Farmers Market Sign (tutorial) | Pendant Lights (tutorial) | Flush Mount Light)
Now that the kitchen is all decked out, Olivia and I love turning on our favorite Christmas station on Pandora and having a jam sesh in our aprons while we’re baking. And right now… I really need someone to take this plate of cookies away from me because I have no self control. At all.
Two weeks from now, I guarantee this view will be far from “perfect”, with ripped wrapping paper tossed all over our living room and dirty breakfast dishes left all over our table and countertops. It’s my absolute favorite kind of mess. (And truthfully, it’s only this tidy and styled for about 30 seconds to take these photos anyway, but it’s nice while it lasts.)
However you choose to decorate on Christmas, if you go the full monty with your best china or dole out paper plates, I hope your table is surrounded by the people you love most.
But if it’s not. If there is an empty seat or two for a far away friend or a loved one who is no longer here, I pray that you can still hold tight to those precious memories and that you fill it with love and kindness and generosity the way Christmas is meant to be.
Next stop on the dining room tour is my talented friend Heather from Setting for Four!
U are so talented. Would love to eat in that kitchen
Thanks, Christie!
Thanks again for your warm words and lovely decor. Always love reading your blog. It is, after all, family that holds us together, no matter what we have been through! Blessings to you and your family, Lauren. God’ s love shines through you.
Thank you, Eileen! That means so much to me. <3
Lauren,
You never cease to amaze me with what I call your “decorating from your heart”!
Your family has to feel the love that you put into your home to make it special for them.
Girl, you are super talented,making much of little. That’s REAL talent,but the gift here is the love that exudes in every detail!
God bless you and your sweet little family this CHRISTmas!❤️
You are a sweetheart, Melba! Thank you! Hope you have a merry Christmas!
Lauren, Lauren, if your home gets any more beautifully festive my Christmas brain will explode. It all looks incredible, perfect, inviting. It must be pure joy for you and your family. Thank you so much for sharing it all. Cheers and Happy Holidays, Ardith
Thank you so much, sweet Ardith!
Pinning! Love your Christmas decor and your table pine and bead garland is gorgeous!! So fun to be on this tour with you – Happy Holidays! xo Heather
Thank you so much, Heather! xo
Everything is so, so pretty!!!!
But that image with the vintage scale stole my heart.
Merry Christmas to you & your family!! ~Shannon
Thank you, Shannon! Merry Christmas to you and yours too!
Lauren, I love it. It’s so cozy and welcoming. Thank you for sharing your pictures.
Thank you, Bonnie!
Lauren, sooo pretty! I want your house when I grow up! Love love love your blog that i follow daily! Always think of you when we go to Charlotte, you’re like an old friend.Merry Christmas!
Aw thank you, Karen! You are too sweet! Merry Christmas to you too. 🙂
You always have the prettiest details in your home – I love it.
Also “all the yummy sniffs” LOL exactly how I feel about candles ?
>> Christene
Keys to Inspiration
Haha! Thanks, Christene!
I can’t even decide which part is my favorite! I love all of your little details! And that would beam with that garland…heart eyes!! It all looks so pretty. I just adore your style!
Thank you, Jenn! I adore your style too!
Adorable as always! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
My goodness your home is absolutely stunning. I love how you’ve dressed up everything. Looks fabulous for Christmas. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday this week!
Thank you, Marie!
Lauren I had to share my Christmas decorating experience. Since following your blog I really took extra time and care this year and used all of my decorations in new and interesting ways. I have three sons in their early 20’s. Two of their male friends commented on how nice our house looks and my 20 year old asked me where I got my love for Christmas. He said he would be proud to have his house decorated like ours. Wow! This from guys makes it worth all the effort. Thanks for the inspiration!!
That is so great, Anne! Thank you so much for sharing that! Hope you and your family had a great Christmas! 🙂
I love your blog! You have the best tips! I am looking for a great Breakfast Casserole recipe…would your mom share?
:)Amy
SSSHHHHH, it is a family secret. LOL Just kidding. It is so simple you will probably wonder why we think it is so “THE BEST”. It is the “Southern Grits Casserole Recipe” from http://www.allrecipes.com . ENJOY!!! I hope you like grits!!