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In our farmhouse kitchen, I chose red as an accent color to add a special holiday touch to our everyday look. For the island centerpiece, I put pieces of freshly cut pine branches around a vintage enamel pail filled with collected pinecones.

Above the hood hangs a red holly wreath tied with a handmade burlap ribbon.

Tip: To create a burlap ribbon for your own natural wreath, simply cut a narrow piece of burlap, which you can purchase at your local crafts store, and sew it on the sides to prevent fraying.
by Julie Ranee Photography  
This view of the kitchen includes the dining table, where another display of pine garland and pinecones comes together atop a burlap table runner. The simplicity of the display allows the natural elements to take center stage.
by Julie Ranee Photography
My kids and I made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and icing, and paired them with a small evergreen tree on top of our hutch. While during the year I display the jadeite dishes you see, the antique green thermos plays nicely with the holiday color palette.
by Julie Ranee Photography
Nothing says "rustic" like old barn wood. I used an empty flea market frame and filled it with a simple green wreath to complement the table display.

Tip: Finding different ways to display pinecones allows you to use them throughout the house without the threat of too much repetition. For the centerpiece, I used an antique wooden box to stand the pinecones upright. A shorter display like this allows for easy table conversation.
by Julie Ranee Photography
In the living room, the natural elements used on a sofa table that's a wooden ironing board include pine garland, buckeyes, peach pits, pinecones and sand from a beach vacation. While we use an artificial Christmas tree, it fits right in with my rustic holiday decorating style. The paper garland on the tree was made by hand using vintage sheet music.

4 Rustic, Romantic Christmas Ornaments to Craft in Minutes
by Julie Ranee Photography
Straw hats topped with a red star are a rustic alternative to a traditional Christmas tree. Antiques such as the typewriter, metal drawers, cameras and baskets nod to the rich history of the season.

I normally have these hats on display but was prompted to add the red star for Christmas after a friend told me their collective shape reminded her of a tree. One of the hats is one that my father wore while he helped us build this house. The others are sourced from flea markets and thrift stores.
by Julie Ranee Photography
More pine garland is placed in the transom window and on top of the cabinet finished in blue milk paint. A natural wood Nativity scene sits beside a small evergreen tree on top of the cabinet.

Tip: To make the long pine garland, I tied together pieces with string. The seasonal window greeting is made of papier-mâché letters covered in strips of vintage sheet music. I purchased the letters at my local crafts shop and used a decoupage medium to adhere the sheet music.
by Julie Ranee Photography
In the bathroom, I placed natural pine garland above the medicine cabinets. The antique apothecary cabinet was purchased at a local auction for only $15 and fits in easily with the rustic holiday decor.

Tip: The bathroom is an ideal place for seasonal greens because the high humidity keeps them nicely hydrated.
by Julie Ranee Photography
On the staircase, I added another wreath-filled flea market wood frame and a pine garland to showcase red glass ornaments and a typography sign that captures true spirit of the season.

Tell us: Does your home take a cue from the outdoors? Let us know in the Comments below.
by Julie Ranee Photography

Comments

olldbobbi Very nice. And I love your furniture, too. In fact, I love your whole house :))
5 months ago · ·
Laura Gaskill I love all of this so so so much! Refreshingly simple & beautiful...and I want your kitchen!
5 months ago · ·
near north interiors Your home is beautifully decorated. That apothecary cabinet for $15?! Wow, terrific find. Great piece, thank you for sharing.
5 months ago · ·
buchanan6 I love your style
5 months ago · ·
normpo So nice and Christmassy! I have glass doors on my kitchen cabinets and I have one cabinet filled with green Fire-King bowls, dishes and coffee mugs. I love that! It must be awful when the holliday season is over, to have to take all the greenery down. I had to laugh when I read the little clip asking Does your home take a cue from the outdoors? In the winter mine does, I have to keep the heat so low that it's almost like being outdoors. Happy Hollidays everyone!
5 months ago ·
Cheri I used red twig dogwood and birch logs with holes drilled in top to hold tea lights
5 months ago · ·
Dana Veach Excellent! I love your creativity, decor and photos...all added up to make a great article. Thanks!
5 months ago ·
kaz2 The hats with the stars remind me of when I was working in a place that was very short on space so we hung tinsel on the wall in the shape of a Christmas tree (with none marking hocks). Then we hung all the cards that were sent to us in the middle of the tree. We got lots of comments about it.
5 months ago · ·
Julie Ranee Photography Thanks for the nice comments everyone!
Normpo, we are having a mild winter here right now. Hope it is the same for you. Stay warm!
Cheri, love the birch logs and red dogwood! I will have to remember that for next year.
Kaz2, nice Christmas tree idea!
Merry Christmas!
5 months ago · ·
Tile-Stones Love the fresh simplicity.
5 months ago · ·
sevenzeroseven WOW! LOVE them all, but especially love the bathroom!
5 months ago · ·
gschneider What a cheery, inviting & refreshing atmosphere throughout. Love the hats above the metal library card file cabinet (?) & the light-handed Christmas decorating in each room.
5 months ago · ·
Teri Offield Very nice. Great job.
5 months ago · ·
eCustomFinishes Well done. Looks like the garlands were pulled right from the tree! Im sure the guests noticed.
5 months ago ·
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