It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without a house tour.
Even if we’re not home this year, we still wanted to open our home.
I found a set of these red Noma bells at an estate sale a while back and knew immediately what I’d do with them. Four more sets and a box of “blinkers” later and I swear our front door has never looked so festive.
The big tree this year is entirely American unsilvered glass World War 2 era ornaments.
When silver nitrate – used to make ornaments reflective – was deemed unnecessary during the war, the ornament designers countered with hand-painted details and colors that look like stained glass…. especially when the sunlight shines through them.
If you look closely, you’ll notice that some of them even have pieces of tinsel inside and a few have paper caps and hangers – those are the absolute rarest.
On the mantle is my ever-growing collection of plastic Santas.
Made by companies like Union, Miller, Empire, Rosen and Rosbro. Most of these are dime store candy containers.
One of them is even a baby rattle.
My Rosbro snowmen candy containers have been moved to the coffee table with a vase of Kentlee glass candy canes.
There’s a smaller tree filled with quite a few early Corning-made ornaments. These were designed by the Stuben glass division of Corning. The designers looked for inspiration from German imports, but their deco shapes were more streamlined and decidedly American looking.
I’m completely obsessed with finding them.
The C-6 cone lights and punched tin reflectors are from the 40s too. They heat up pretty quickly, so I have them on a tabletop dimmer.
There’s a third tree in the living room
This one’s even more 1940s ornaments; mostly early stencils and hand-painted designs.
If you’ll look closely, you’ll see there’s also a flock of Santas.
I’m pretty sure they were made by the Coby Glass Company.
Anyhoo…. Scooby,
And the rest of us wanted to wish y’all a Very Merry Christmas.
And a Shiny & Brite New Year!
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
All your decor is stunning! Love the bells around the door! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Shiny & Brite New Year as well! 😊💕🎄
Absolutely gorgeous… all three trees. The bells are a great add!
Hi! I just found the picture of your bedding in your master bedroom and it’s EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for but can’t find! Then to my luck, saw the picture was posted 10 years ago 😔. Do you happen to know where you bought it from or a website or anything that has a similar comforter??
Hi Lyndsey. Yeah, this was quite a while ago. The khaki comforter is Ralph Lauren. But I think you are asking about the bed blanket. The red/black one? Right? That is a long-discontinued Pendleton blanket we nabbed in Albuquerque years ago. Check their website, there are tons on other blankets.
Oh My Gosh! Can I move in with you? I LOVE all your ornaments and trees and especially the Santas!!!! I promise I will behave!
Thanks for taking the time to post these lovely pictures and provide some historical context and information. THAT makes all the difference.
Thanks David! It’s the history of these things that I find the most fascinating… and I’m so glad to pass it on to anyone willing to listen.
Great to hear you are doing well…and really running out of things to post about…wouldn’t be the same holidays without a look-see into your beautiful decorations! (You’ve inspired me to collect some “new” old things!)
Happy Holidays and not only a shiny-brite New Year…but a safe and healthy one, too!
–Erik in NW Ohio
Happy Holidays Erik! So glad I could inspire you to rescue those new old things!
Thank you for giving us a grand tour of the three beautiful trees!!
Merry Christmas!!
Thank you Vicki! Merry Christmas!
Absolutely gorgeous and inspirational! The bells around the door are charming. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home once again! I hope your holidays are shiny and brite! May 2022 be a healthy and happy year to all!
Thank you Debra. Wishing the same for you and your family in 2022!
Always a treat to see your Christmas collections!
We miss you guys! I love being able to tour your home from Seattle … even while you’re in NYC. 🙂
Awww thanks Kim, miss y’all too….. and love watching those teenagers of yours grow so quickly.
Simply beautiful. Love all your decorations. Wishing you and yours a joy-filled year ahead.
Simply beautiful decorations. Love them all. Wishing you and yours a joy-filled and blessed year ahead.
Thank you so much! Wishing you a better year than the last one as well.
These trees with the antique ornaments are breathtaking! Where do you find these old ornaments? Garage sales? Flea markets?
Hi John. Thank you. I find old Christmas anywhere I can. Flea markets, antique stores, estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, Etsy, EBay (mostly), even friends who know I appreciate old stuff.
Absolutely phenomenal!
Awwww shucks, thank you so much.
First I would like to say your house is beautiful. I love it! I’m a big fan of Shiny Brite ornaments, I have been collecting them since 2013 including bubble lights. I remember my grandparents had similar vintage ornaments from 1950s in our house in Cuba. Your Christmas trees are amazing!! Love the colors and all the vintage decorations, makes me go back in time……good memories ♥️
Awww thank you Michel, glad I can spark some of those warm memories for you.
I’m new to your blog …all I can say is you boys have great taste!
Love the trees and everything else!
Aww shucks Cinch, thank you so much.
I’ve collected vintage Christmas decorations for several years but just discovered your site today. Wanted to thank you for the information you’ve provided regarding history, manufacturers, & years that different items were produced. I also wanted to say that when I got to the pics of the tree decked out in Premier wartime ornaments, I practically licked the screen – mouth watering & delicious were the first two words that popped up in my brain. (Apparently I have an oral fixation & didn’t realize it until now) Thanks so very much for the info, the ideas & the inspiration!