I feel like this year I went more back to my roots to remind me of how my mom decorated when I was gorging up in Germany. The fact that I haven’t been home for Christmas in almost 20 years has certainly added to the fact that I just want to feel a little more like being home.
I also wrote a post about my favorite German Christmas decorations on Friday which you can see HERE.
German Influenced Christmas Home Tour
Growing up we always had an advent wreath and this year I decided for the first time to have one too. It looks so pretty on our new table. The wood bead garland moved to the fireplace. I wrote a post last week HERE where I explain how you could make a similar big one.
Fireplace area
Which is completely different from last year:
chairs HERE or HERE | rug HERE | gold table HERE and HERE | silver end tables HERE | pouf HERE (I added the tassels in this tutorial HERE | similar throw HERE and HERE | similar art HERE | lamp HERE | noel candle HERE | plaid pillows HERE | art HERE | similar candle holders HERE and black candles HERE
Seriously, little Willy is such a little poser. He really loves it.
See more of our tree by clicking HERE.
Across from the fireplace things aren’t all that different but I did change things up a little bit.
Living Room Area
I remembered that my parents had several different straw stars on their tree and I ordered some for us too HERE and HERE. Originally I had planned on crafting some but it would have been so expensive to order the supplies from Germany that it was much cheaper to just buy them. For some reason you can’t buy the crafting straw and forms here in the US. Maybe on our next trip home I will buy the supplies and bring them.
This year I hung up my vintage German Rosenthal Björn Wiinblad Christmas plates in the living room and I really like them in that spot. My parents have a huge collection of them and this definitely makes me think of home. You can find these vintage plates on Etsy. For example HERE, HERE and HERE.
Remember my DIY fabric and wool tassels (click HERE for tutorial). They are hanging on the lamp now.
For Christmas we used to sit by our real wood fireplace and crack nuts with my parents.
The miner and angel made their annual appearance again too.
Did you notice Maya’s ears? Her ear troubles continue and because of it her ears are droopy at the top which is so cute.
throw HERE | black and white fringe pillows HERE and similar ones HERE| fur HERE | similar jeans pillows HEREand HERE | similar table HERE | candle HERE | disco ball HERE | rug HERE | star burst HERE | similar mirror HERE | similar pouf HERE | similar coffee tables HERE | similar sofas HERE | similar lamps HERE and HERE | similar drum HERE | similar black lamp shades HERE | my curtain tutorial HERE and similar curtains HERE | miner and angel HERE or HERE | small tree HERE | blue ornaments HERE
The pinecone art I made last year (click HERE) is hanging over the secretary desk this year. I moved the desk for the first time into the kitchen hallway to make room for the Christmas tree.
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Now please check out Tammy’s beautiful tour at Pink Peppermint Design to continue with the blog hop.
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Tschüß,
More of my Christmas decor posts:
cassie bustamante says
December 4, 2017 at 4:13 amjust gorgeous, julia! i love all of the german influences, and love those little incense holders. i also love your more neutral palette with the touches of blue. beautiful, my friend!
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:00 pmThank you!It feels good to be back to my childhood 😉
Marty Oravetz says
December 4, 2017 at 7:55 amOh I lvoe it all. How wonderful to share your German Christmas theme. I love the straw ornaments and the advent wreath too. Everything looks so beautiful. Your home is always such a favorite and always dressed so beautifully for every season. Thanks tons for joining the tours.
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:00 pmThanks so much Marty. I’m thankful to be part of the tours again.
Monica Benavidez says
December 4, 2017 at 8:53 amJulia, this is all so gorgeous! I love that your kitties make an appearance. You have me thinking about doing dark blue next Christmas- love the matte finish.
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:01 pmThanks Monica. Those dark blue Christmas balls are my favorite and of course the kitties have to be part of the tour. They are my assistants 😉
Shell says
December 4, 2017 at 9:48 amAbsolutely gorgeous Julia! So warm and welcoming : )
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:02 pmThanks Shell
Amy says
December 4, 2017 at 10:02 amI just love your style and you’re so talented! Beautiful job.
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:02 pmThanks so much my friend
Brigitte Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 10:34 amHello Julia !
I follow your website for a few years…and I like it very much. I’m french (so sorry for my bad English), I live in Provence.
I also have four cats…and I have a question for you because my cats are always changing the place where they sleep…Do your cats make the same thing …and how do you do with that if they do ?
I wish you a Merry Christmas and to your family too of course !
Brigitte Julia
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:02 pmHi Brigitte, so nice to meet you.And yes my cats sleep everywhere and change all the time which I think is so cute. It’s their house and I live in it 😉
Jennifer Lifford says
December 4, 2017 at 11:37 amYour home is beautiful! I love that wood garland and all of your German touches. It’s on my bucket list to make it to the Christmas markets in Germany one year. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:03 pmThanks Jennifer, I hope you get to go because it is magical.
Vel says
December 4, 2017 at 2:20 pmOnly YOU can pull off something folksy and stylish at the same time Julia! Love it! I adore all the German decorations you placed lovingly around! I WANT THOSE PLATES! LOL! And the wooden garland by the fireplace is just fab! Amazing as always my dear! As always so honored to share this home tour with you! Cheers!
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:04 pmThanks so much Vel, I love being back to my roots. It’ feels nice to include more and more German things into our home. Can’t wait to see your tour.
carol says
December 4, 2017 at 3:03 pmLooks great! I particularly like the Rosenthal plates…I think I’d keep them up all year round.
All of the advent wreaths I’ve ever seen use 3 purple and one pink candle…are 4 white candles in the German tradition?
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:06 pmMy parents actually have them up all year around since I was little. My brother hates them and I used to not like them either but now I love them.
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:42 amI never heard of the pink and purple candles by the way.
Kathy says
December 4, 2017 at 5:10 pmOh my goodness, you have so many great German decorations Julia! I love the natural advent wreath, Christmas tree star, and the German Christmas plates. Beautiful!
Julia says
December 4, 2017 at 6:07 pmThanks Kathy. I have so many of these plates. They don’t all fit on the wall 😉
Debbie says
December 4, 2017 at 8:32 pmYour house looks gorgeous.
Those precious kitty angels are adorable.
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:37 amThanks Debbie. I love taking pictures of them
[email protected] delirium says
December 4, 2017 at 8:41 pmYour home is so stylish and cozy Julia and I love that your are going back home to your German roots, traditions and decorations. The wooden bead garland was one of my favorite things. Can’t believe you DIY’d that! So honored to be on the tour with you my stylish friend!
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:38 amThanks Jennifer, mine is actually not DIYed but I came up with an idea how you can make your own.
Laura at Inspiration for Moms says
December 5, 2017 at 12:43 amI am always so excited to see your home decorated for Christmas! I love all your neutral decor, it’s all so gorgeous! Merry Christmas!
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:40 amThanks Laura and Merry Christmas to you too
Battulal says
December 5, 2017 at 6:01 amJust awesome post..loved it.
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:40 amthanks
Brooke Christen says
December 5, 2017 at 6:43 amSo fun with all your German inspiration! Love the star garland on your mantle. Your cats! I bet they always want to be in the shot!!
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:40 amThanks Brooke and yes they certainly do.
laura janning says
December 5, 2017 at 11:39 amJulia- i love your german heritage influence that you used in your home this year. Im sure the gentle reminders will bring a smile to your face when you think back to your special christmas memories. happy holiday and hugs to you!
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:41 amThanks so much Laura, they do and sometimes a tear too
Ulrike says
December 5, 2017 at 5:30 pmHello Julia! Very beautiful! I love your style – and your cats! My mom also collected those Rosenthal plates.
I am also a german living in the US, in Maryland, with my hubby and our four rescue cats.
Just stumbled across your blog a couple of weeks ago and binge read everything.
Viele Grüße von Ulrike
Julia says
December 6, 2017 at 5:36 amOh hallo Ulrike, Kommentare wie Deine machen mich immer überglücklich wenn ich von jemandem höre der meine Erinnerungen teilt. Diese Teller waren total in wie ich klein war. Letzten Sommer in Deutschland habe ich in ein paar Läden gesehen dass es neue moderne Winblad Sachen gibt. Als Kind hab ich diese Teller gehasst und mein Bruder der 10 Minuten weg von meinen Eltern wohnt hasst sie immer noch 😉 Liebe Grüße auch von mir und frohe Weihnachten.
Haley says
December 6, 2017 at 7:10 amThis looks great! i love your tree decorations
Builders in Newham says
December 6, 2017 at 8:46 amSo gorgeous place, it reminds of my old house. Brings so many good memories…
Christy @ our southern home says
December 6, 2017 at 1:12 pmI love your clean and polished look for the holidays. You kitties are such cuties! XO Christy
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
December 7, 2017 at 4:28 pmOh that sweet Willy has captured my heart! I absolutely adore your wall of plates. I shared the tour on IG. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Emma says
December 8, 2017 at 4:27 amSimple but yet so pretty!!
Judith Bryce says
December 8, 2017 at 4:27 pmThank you for this. I have loved looking and as I did so I saw an angel and miner from the old East Germany – like we have here in Australia. Although our climate is much warmer and Christmas us in the midst of summer, we set out our German Christmas here.
Cristina says
December 9, 2017 at 3:26 pmYour home is always so warm and welcome! I love the wooden garland, the straw starts and the gorgeous plates. So good to learn about German traditions through your pretty home!
SimpleDecoratingTips.com says
December 11, 2017 at 5:42 pmSo pretty! Love those little nutcracker candle holders! So I’ve read so many cat owners that have issues with their cats messing with their trees and ornaments… do your cats bother yours? I have a dog and he couldn’t care less about our Christmas trees… 🙂 Liz
Doreen says
December 12, 2017 at 11:15 amAlways one of my favorites and you didn’t disappoint! Love all the German pieces. Such treasures! Love seeing your adorable cats! That Willy is a ham and fits right in with your decor!
Kim says
December 23, 2017 at 5:03 pmI love the black and white for Christmas. Beautiful tour.