I was going through old photos this weekend and found pictures of my 2007 Christmas dining room from our English Tudor in Portland, Oregon. It’s always a joy to look back at holidays past and notice how our decorating style changes over the years.
The dining room in that house was impressively large. There was room for a baby grand piano—actually two at one point—and enough space for substantial furniture. Nowadays my dining room fits four people comfortably; none of my current rooms match the scale of that old space.
We hosted many holiday parties and family gatherings there. The layout was perfect for entertaining; at our last holiday party in that home we welcomed over 100 guests. It was always wonderful to invite friends and neighbors and fill the rooms with conversation and music.
One of the baby grands was a player piano, so it could play by itself. Turning it on to fill the house with Christmas songs made the season feel especially festive.
I miss the rich woodwork, painted wainscoting, leaded glass doors, and the combed plaster walls—so much authentic architectural detail that gave the home personality.
I also miss the glass chandelier. I still have the toile lampshades and hope to find a spot for them in my current home soon.
Even though I miss aspects of past homes, I appreciate things about my new place as well. With time, it will settle into being “home” too.
TIP: This wreath is made from broken or imperfect ornaments, glued and wired onto a form. It’s a creative way to repurpose spare decorations that might otherwise be discarded.
Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me back to 2007.
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend as much as I did. We spent time with family and relaxed, and now I’m excited to continue holiday decorating and welcome the Christmas season.