christmas tour with balsam hill

(We partnered with Balsam Hill for this post. For more on our partnerships please visit here.)

We’re thrilled to be here today to participate with a fun Christmas tour. There’s something about snuggling in with the holiday lights once that decor is up, that feels oh so nice. If you’re new around here, we’re so glad that you stopped by!

While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the rest of the fabulous websites participating in the Balsam Hill Christmas Tour – their spaces are beautiful!

• French Country Cottage 
• Thistlewood Farms
• The Inspired Room
• Miss Mustard Seed 

Just a little about us: We’re a husband and wife rehab and design team in Nashville, Tennessee. We relocated with our three kiddos and two rescue pups just over a year and a half ago, and it’s here that we help clients love where they dwell. We offer everything from total rehab and construction, to design services and our product lines to help create beautiful spaces. It’s our greatest passion, and we’re honored to be able to document it all here for our amazing readers, along with our own journey in a rehab we’ve taken on since last year.

So let’s begin, shall we?

Of course we’ll be sharing more this week, but here’s a sneak peek of our outside transformation from just a week ago- this door y’all. We’re also mid-basement renovation, so it’s just really fun to take a break from all things drywall dust to make it really feel like home.

Our home has come so far, and this time last year, we had just moved in after taking on the main and upper levels of the 1976 total rehab project. We stumbled upon this house and fell in love with the yard and location and all things future for our own family.

So there was something pretty rewarding about actually placing a wreath on our new door. We still have paint and a few things left to do {along with allll the landscaping, so stay tuned}. But we’ve come so far! Just to give you an idea…

It had good bones but needed a lot of love.

You can read more about it in our entire series here, but it was your basic hasn’t-been-touched-since-carpet-in-the-80’s, 1976 house.

So here’s a little on the inside…

The main level was previously divided into 4 small rooms. We knocked out the ceilings and walls for one main great room area.

I think the thing about Christmas is, that since we took this beast of a home on, we were thrilled to actually put up a tree. When times got crazy, I would think about where the Christmas tree would go. It made absolutely no sense, but it was nice to look ahead to all things idealistic calm: the holidays.

We have a not-so-little magnolia tree in the yard where we regularly pull trimmings from every season for some fun greenery. People ask us all the time, where we keep our TV. This is our compromise in a television set, as it’s hidden behind this framed floorpan that was an original of my grandfather’s.

{You can check out more on that story, here.}

The holidays for us, are all about realistic, cozy accents with fun color.

It’s all about gathering and rest. A real retreat when things get kinda crazy.

We love sparkles and glimmer mixed in with the old pieces that tell a story.

Our home has come so far!

It’s definitely an expression of us and what we love.

Our kitchen is our favorite place to gather.

We love that it’s open and fun and ready for all things projects and baking. The kitchen originally only had one window, and when we opened up the walls, we decided to add another window for symmetry on each side.

We stumbled upon these stained glass additions at the flea market, and loved adding a touch of history to the home. In the afternoon, the sunlight shines right in, adding even more warm glow of color.

And now for the best part, since I’ve shared a little of our story…

Our tree this year, is a stunner. We absolutely love the color combinations and awesome texture.

Usually we go for natural, but this year opted for their beautiful Vermont White Spruce flip tree, and I’m honestly telling you I can’t tell the difference. It looks so real. Small bonus: I love that the needles weren’t falling off every time we tried to add an ornament. It’s just nice to switch it up every now and again, and this year we are loving faux. We love that it comes on wheels and you can flip it upside down for easy storage when not in use, along with an awesome remote control for on and off.

Yes, we’ve officially hidden that one from the kids since they were having a little too much fun with it all.

Balsam Hill’s ornaments are gorgeous. We loved mixing and matching, and how they blend in oh so seamlessly with our sentimental pieces.

We used their coastal elegance ornament set, along with the rope set for added texture. And we loved throwing in some darker color with with midnight frost ornament set. 

The kids have oo-ed and ahh-ed over this one.

We just can’t get over how gorgeous it is.

And since I have this thing with stars around the holidays, their gorgeous Star Beaded Tree Topper was icing on the proverbial cake.

I think it’s the idea of a promise. And hope.

Their chunky knit stockings are perfect by the fireplace.

The insides are so soft, we couldn’t get over how amazing they are! We love what a soft, neutral accent they add!

Our family’s tradition is hide the mistletoe.

Every year we’ll put it in a new place. The kiddos love looking for it and then tackling whoever is standing unsuspectingly, underneath.

I have to say, I feel like it should still be August, and I’m always the reluctant seasonal decorator.

But this year, it all just seamlessly went together, and we adore the way it warms up our home. Because it’s officially feeling like home.

We just love it here, after waiting so long.

While we’re at it, we had to show you a little of the kiddos’ shared space, as well.

This is what we fondly refer to as the sleeping room while the basement has been underway, and while we may split them up soon and give our oldest {12} a space of his own, we have truly loved this room. So we just had to add a little sparkle.

Of course they love having their own little tree to add their favorite decorations to, as well. We want them to grow up remembering how special the holidays are with their own unique touches and traditions.

Even Mr. Moose got a little color lift of his own for Christmas.

We kept our room simple with a few pieces of sparkle, as well.

We always love keeping it simple and colorful.

Even the stained glass feels festive this time of year.

We also decided to deck our handmade hideaway this Christmas and the kids love it. So be sure to check out the fun pieces we added to the outside! They had a blast.

Rigby and Fitz have been a little curious about all things Christmas- this is their third official celebration with The Mills family.

But one thing is for sure, they love our tree, too!

Thanks for stopping by for our little Christmas tour! While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the rest of the fabulous websites participating in the Balsam Hill Christmas Tour – their spaces are beautiful!

• French Country Cottage 

• Thistlewood Farms

• The Inspired Room

• Miss Mustard Seed 

Pssst: Balsam Hill is having a Cyber Monday sale- save up to 50%!

Have an inspired day!

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