Many ask me if I miss the traditional Red-Light District of the original Casa du Borghese that has been my trademark the last 22 years. And while that will return again one day, it has been nice reverting to the nostalgic colored lights. I will admit to missing those. As always, the decorating just got done last weekend. I can't take too much Christmas right after Thanksgiving...it's too soon for me. Besides, I also keep the joint bejeweled till the week after New Years. But it's been nice seeing some other family treasures and heirlooms. I also keep it simple...loads of my holiday obsession: bottle brush trees. Many in these photos are all family heirlooms or given to me as gifts. Mine own are still in storage. Otherwise, there could well be upwards of 150 bottle brushes!
Do any of you remember these angels? My grandmother had a whole set of these, each played a different instrument. She used to set up a little diorama with angel hair on a hallway table with them. Alas, I think this is all that are left of them. They were from the 40's and 50's. Brought back a lot of memories when I came across them.
And the tree contains loads of birds and shiny brites.
I decided to get a dozen and half protea to place around the whole house also in lieu of typical holiday flowers. I adore protea, and they last forever.
We love all our Muller German Christmas pyramids. I love these things. My two are still in storage. Mind blowing, they are all handmade and craved. The bigger one above was bequeathed to me from my late aunt.
The hooch!!!! Yes... 5 bottles of gin!
This glass epergne was also bequeathed from my late aunt to me and belonged to my great- great grandmother. I always loved it.
The Mistress's Boudoir!
My newest elephant from Sheldrick Trust. I bought an assortment of these from them to support the Sheldrick Trust Elephant sanctuary to give as gifts.
Yes...I have my own little simple tree in the boudoir with a few bird clips ornaments on it. And below...this clover was given to me last St Patrick's by a co-worker....and it has triple in size...I can't believe it is still going.
A peek in the spare quarters....
And speaking of perseverance...
Can you believe these pansies are still going? Even after we had temps many nights in the 30's and low 20's!! The warm spells bring them right back. They look nice by the back door with the three mini lit trees and assortments of greens and pines.
Meanwhile Buster wasn't much help.
I love the decorating, but it's the story behind everything and the memories they conjure and bring back. To me it's one of the favorite parts of Christmas. Nothing like coming home in the evening to a candle and tree lit home, and a nice cock-a-tail....so very calming and makes the holiday worth it.
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Stunning, of course, I expect no less.
ReplyDeleteLove the tree and am gagging for the wreath!
It mist be the bells your gagging for!
DeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteI really like you have incorporated all the heirlooms in the decor. It's so much more... meaningful? I love the detail of the flowers and those old ornaments!!!
And do we both have stuffed animals? That elephant looks like my sock monkey!
Buster!!!
XOXO
I love old ornaments and Christmas decorations.....they just seem so nostalgic and pretty!
DeleteBuster has a sock monkey too!
Your bottlebrush tree collection is beyond compare! Every time I see a bottlebrush tree now, I think of you!
ReplyDeleteMaybe my drag name should have been Belinda Bottlebrush!
DeleteNice. At one point my mom had f8 entire settings of Blue Willow, and then she gave it away.
ReplyDeleteWHAT!!!!!!!! That would be a gorgeous set to have.
DeleteI believe I see you holding up a cell phone in that blue ornament's reflection.
ReplyDeleteBoy I guess it was a good thing I wasn't naked!
DeleteI almost remarked, you are wearing pants in that selfie! The things that elephant will see!
DeleteHe has gone blind by now.
DeleteGin and proteas. Perfect. Jx
ReplyDeleteTwo fo my favorites!!!!! I love protea this time of year.
DeleteThe house and Buster look so elegantly joyful. I’m worried you don’t have enough gin.
ReplyDeleteThat was me!
DeleteIs there ever enough gin????
DeleteI think your job of decorating your house for Christmas is a full-time job, a job that you love.
ReplyDeleteYour right Xersex...I do love doing season decorating....and I have in the past decorated other homes for the holiday...it pays ridiculously well.
DeleteI absolutely love how you keep it mostly natural with greens and protea, and very simple. You have handsome taste and some very interesting items, done clean and simple. I have friend that have items in every nook and cranky. By time I leave, I was ready an hour ago to leave. I love the small trees. I must add, I love the color of your bedroom!
ReplyDeleteI have scaled back from when i first move out. I only have things given to me now...or heirlooms.
DeleteI love my German wooden carved people and nutcrackers bought on a Christmas market tour of Germany and Austria. Your decorations are absolutely magnificent. Does Buster light up, or maybe its just you who gets lit. Gigi
ReplyDeleteEver since my aunt and uncle got me my first Christmas pyramid I've been in love with them since. I actually have several wooden items from the Mueller company. The only thing that is lit 24/7 is me.
DeleteAlways a charming post!!! Even though my Jewish, I have always did some small touches of Christmas. I always take your idea of balls on vases and compotes, but now you're wanting me to get some bottle brush trees. Your living room desk and that accent chair are gorgeous. That desk looks old like me!!!! You certainly have a good hand. Im ready to spend some time with you over a drink.
ReplyDeleteYou can come have a drink with me anytime!
DeleteMy kind of Christmas decor. It’s not obnoxious. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI too love the wooden German pieces and I love those little log cabins that burn incense. The little trees around it are so cute. And what's not to like about seeing your balls?
I love the log cabin too....and it smell wonderful.
DeleteSo pretty. All of it. I don't have the patience for it all, now, so I love seeing what you do each year. Ha! The first thing I noticed in the boudoir was the elephant!
ReplyDeleteIt takes me about 7 hours to get up and about 2 hours to get down and put away...much like when I did drag!!!!!!!
Deletewell, in my youth, i was always of the opinion that one could never have enough bottles of Gin around. Then one Christmas a friends mother, while swilling my Gin, told me to be careful how much I drank for fear of getting "Gin Skin". I had no idea what that was but being a vain little gayling the next day I switch to Vodka. Which, of course, was the reason I eventually stopped drinking all together.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of gin skin...but if it's any consolation, I've been drinking gin for 20 years...and everyone guesses my age 9 to 10 years younger...and haven't been sick since 2017. Either it's the gin or Im a freak.
DeleteYou really DO have the spirit!
ReplyDeleteYeah....Henricks!
DeleteI agree with Agnes Goldberg, your early Christmas post of your decorating always inspires me. And I love how clean and nostalgic looks. I even bought a few bottle brush trees. And Buster looks like he might be all thumbs.
ReplyDeleteAnother one converted!
DeleteI absolutely love your Christmas tree. I too love colored lights cuz they remind me of my childhood. Seems like all you see is white lights anymore. If you ever get rid of that living room desk let me know I love it. You always have the best touch. Or so I hear!
ReplyDeleteI like white lights too, but your right...it's all you see mostly now. The only thing I can't stand is the tree came pre-lit....and I hate LED lights...there are too bright. I like the old fashioned colored lights better.
DeleteTundra Bunny here...
ReplyDeleteAs always, your seasonal decorating is stylish and elegant, even if Buster likes to get lit, LOL! I love how you create little vignettes and small curated collections for your guests to discover and enjoy -- you prove the old adage that "less is more"!
Thank you Tundra!!!!! I have scaled back and now use mostly natural elements, and family heirlooms and given gifts to me.
DeleteAbsolutely love your home and the natural, and vintage Christmas decorations! I think they make Christmas feel more like Christmas and not branded per say. I do remember those plastic angels. I had totally forgotten about them till I just saw this. My parents had the set. No idea what happen to them. I believe they were from Hong Kong of all places.
ReplyDeleteI also can't believe your pansies are still going?!?!?!?!
I should search it.... I'd love to find the other members of the "orchestra."
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! Love the simple elegance added, very festive! I adore the use of protea...how outside the box...and I too LOVE bottlebrush trees.
ReplyDeleteI just wasn't in the mood for poinsettias this year.
DeleteI love how you’ve made it simple and elegant. Seeing it all puts me in the mood! And it all sure does look nice and comfy too. I put up my little Charlie Brown tree again.
ReplyDeleteI had a real Charlie Brown Christmas tree, three of them when I had my apartment...I did them in the other rooms, outside of the living room.
DeleteHow thoughtful, tasteful and fun... just like its creator. Kizzes. Thanks for sharing. Love the fir tree collection.
ReplyDeleteStop in and I'll show you my yule log!!!!
DeleteI love what you did this year, and it's officially the holiday season when the bottle brushes are out.
ReplyDeleteYou got that right! And I found more!
DeleteYour home is absolutely gorgeous. Simple, tasteful and understated! I myself always love your tree and I'd admit to loving the German wooden detailed Christmas Pyramids. We've seen those, and they are not cheap. And your bedroom is very comfy looking...I can see why you hate getting up on Mondays.
ReplyDeleteWell done indeed!
Keep talking big boy...I know you want my shiny brite balls.
DeleteAs usual your Christmas decorations are exquisite; I don't know how you have the time, what with all the cooking and having fun!
ReplyDeleteBut your whole place looks amazing. You had me from the first picture with all those pheasant feathers. And your bedroom pictures are phenomenal I love the overall vibe of the whole room. I should bring you to my place for a week.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous tree
ReplyDeleteYou always decorate your home so tastefully, and it looks nothing less than gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteP.S. 5 bottles of gin? Where have you stashed the rest?
Your place always inspires me. You never disappoint.
ReplyDelete