Sing we now of Christmas, sing we here noel! Yes indeed, here at our home you will hear singing all through the holiday season! For a music teacher, vintage Christmas collector, and home decor blogger it is certainly the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year! Today I will be sharing my music room for the It’s A Wonderful House Christmas home tours that I have joined with 19 other bloggers! If you have just come over from Slightly Coastal, I know you have already been treated to some amazing Christmas decor. A special thank you to Olivia at Reinvented Collection for hosting this tour and for all of the inspiration she provides on her beautiful blog too! I am also excited to be linking up this post for Jennifer Rizzo’s 2017 Holiday House Walk Link Party. There is truly so much inspiration in blog land right now. I hope you find this post inspiring too!
Our holiday home is always busy and bustling with the sounds of the season! At Christmas time we have many guests and visitors who are greeted at the front door with a shabby wooden treble clef “wreath” that is on display year round. I simply change the seasonal floral and greenery picks for the seasons. This year I have created a simple, wintry welcome with boxwood, blue juniper and eucalyptus.
While standing at the front door you will more than likely hear familiar carols being sung or played on the piano or guitar, since the music room is right inside. Come on in and join the chorus!
When you first enter our home the music room is just to the left through a set of original French doors, in what was typically called a parlor room in the 1920’s. It is the perfect room for the music lessons I teach weekly.
This week marks the fourth anniversary of moving into our yellow brick home! The very first thing we did was set up the Christmas tree right in the center of the parlor before we even had our boxes moved in. Since then the parlor-turned-music room is also known as the Christmas room!
It is a beautiful space for displaying Christmas treasures and singing familiar carols. I especially love sitting in the living room and looking in at the glistening tree lights through the nearly 100 year old glass…even when there is a falling star tree topper hanging on the side of the tree. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful, right?
It is the perfect space for displaying Christmas treasures and singing familiar carols. I especially love sitting in the living room and looking in at the glistening tree lights through the nearly 100 year old glass…even when there is a falling star tree topper hanging on the side of the tree. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful, right?
Young and old alike enjoy this room! My son’s toy train that whistles and whizzes around the glittering Putz village at the bottom of the tree is loved by all who visit. I will be sharing more about the train, village, and tiny treasures in an upcoming post.
I have been teaching music either in public school or in my private studio for over twenty years. Because so many children of all ages are in and out of our home during the holidays, I decorate with little ones in mind, and I enjoy being a big kid and playing with all of my Christmas goodies too! I style the 130 year old organ on one side of the room (a family heirloom) and the piano on the other side with carefully curated vignettes that have special meaning or tell a story.
When it comes to Christmas decorating, it is my wish to create a magical experience for anyone who visits our home. Although there are many antiques and vintage collectibles, I encourage children to look and explore. Nothing makes me happier than to see them smile and gaze at the Christmas wonderland! It makes all the hoarding of vintage Christmas so worth it! And it’s not just the little kids… elderly visitors often smile in remembrance of some decoration or ornament they find familiar from their past. Christmas magic!
I love a designer themed tree as much as the next decorator, but our family tree is very traditional and I find it to be the most beautiful of all because it is ours! It is adorned with a mixture of old and new ornaments with special memories, along with photos of loved ones, handmade decorations, and the family’s collection of Santa ornaments from all eras and in all styles. Several strands of multi-colored mercury glass beads and a beautiful mercury glass star are the finishing touches.
Our copper tile ceiling is one of my favorite features in our home. It is especially pretty at Christmas when it reflects all the lights. I have used some pretty copper bulbs on the tree to tie in the colors.
I have a few music ornaments on the tree, but I wanted to add even more music touches around the room for Christmas. When I found a plain music note banner at the Target dollar spot, I decided to make it into a Christmas decoration to hang above the piano. To find out more about the banner click here: Deck The Halls With A Festive Sheet Music Christmas Banner.
Deck the hall with handmade garlands, Fa La La La La, (la la, la la!)
In addition to the banner I made a paper chain garland out of vintage sheet music and I am really loving both of them together draped over a pretty faux small needle pine garland and tied up with yummy velvet ribbon.
The room is not very large, but I have had over twenty children gathered around the piano and crowded out in the entry for our yearly Christmas caroling parties. Beautiful voices in four part harmony fill our home and hearts. Those memories are so priceless to me!
I have decorated the top of the piano with some shabby chic Christmas treasures and trinkets. In late fall I found some vintage pink ornaments so I have been experimenting with adding touches of pink and it is a fun change!
With all the Christmas decorations around the room, students can get a little distracted during lessons…but we have such fun during the holidays!
Here is a precious vignette made up entirely of junkin’ finds. If you love little vignettes and treasures like these, there’s a lot more where these came from! Let’s take a look at the organ now.
The organ sits across the room from the piano. It is also decked with meaningful Christmas treasures and even more vintage junkin’ finds!
Isn’t this the cutest little metal pail? This special treasure actually belonged to my grandmother, pictured here at age three. She carried this charming lunch pail to school every day in the 1930’s with “half a pocket book sandwich (fold over) and a piece of fruit if we had it.” Although I am fascinated by it, at 86 years old she finds it humorous that I decorate with her “old junk!”
Sing we now of Christmas, noel sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear! Sing we noel, the King is born Noel! Sing we noel, the king is born noel! Sing we now of Christmas, sing we here noel! No Christmas room is complete without a reminder of the reason for the season! Each year I display my vintage Italian nativity on the old organ. I am still unpacking and decorating the rest of the house, which means I will be switching things around off and on throughout the season. I will put the full nativity set on top of the organ soon.
Next to the organ in the corner is a wonderful vintage desk, perfect for filling out Christmas cards and scheduling lessons and Christmas recitals.
An antique pressed back chair is actually quite comfy for sipping tea and looking through Christmas magazines or watching the deer out the window in the forest across the street!
If the desk looks a little messy, there’s a reason for that!
Those little vintage knee huggers are back again this year to wreak their elven havoc! Santa can barely get his letters typed and cards sent out without them getting all tangled up in the typewriter ribbon and scattering things about on the desk! (The kids LOVE the elves and look forward to seeing what new mischief they have created each week!)
Hanging above the desk are two beautiful antique pieces. I love the large guilded picture frame and smaller antique mirror hanging inside. I have had the frame since October with no idea where to put it, but when I found the mirror yesterday I came up with this idea, just in time for the tour!
I really love the ivory velvet ribbon which I have used here and on the music note banner. I collect Christmas from all time periods, but Victorian Christmas is probably my most beloved. This lovely ribbon seems perfect for evoking a touch of Victorian Christmas charm.
A gold tinsel tree holds some of my oldest ornaments along with some vintage reproductions.
I sometimes sit at the desk and study vintage Christmas. Yes, study! I pour over books and magazines to learn about vintage customs, traditions and decor that I can incorporate in my own Christmas decorating. I like to learn about holiday customs, decor styles and collectibles that would be fitting for a home built in 1921 and I try to add a few 1920’s touches for authenticity.
This little vintage “Patsy” style 1920’s composite doll only had a head and torso when I rescued her at a yard sale. I bundled her up in a winter sweater and hat, then tucked her down in a music gift bag in a chippy shabby sled for my own take on a 1920’s Christmas present. I have another Patsy head that is getting some tlc. She will definitely be making a debut in an upcoming Christmas post too.
This easy upcycle is like getting a new Christmas treasure. Merry Christmas to me!!!
Now we are going to play musical chairs here in the music room and head over to the cozy Christmas corner on the opposite side of the room. My favorite Frenchy chair sits among many wonderful Christmas finds.
There are so many beautiful things in this corner including two salvaged columns, (recent Craigslist scores) a sweet antique picture of a little girl in a winter cloak with her dog, an antique chandelier, some fun snowmen, and boxes of vintage Shiny Brites!
I love my new pillow from Home Goods which features a vintage Christmas postcard graphic of Santa with his sack of antique toys. Be still my heart! A sweet little snow girl and her teddy bear are sitting pretty, just waiting for Santa to fill the feed sack stocking full of more vintage Christmas treasures! Next to the chair is a chippy-shabby tiered garden stand which holds a few more snowmen and some other favorite vintage treasures.
Oh! I just noticed a new treasure behind the tree! It looks like Santa has already paid me an early visit and left me a sweet antique doll to enjoy during the holidays!
These happy snow folks are in no danger of melting here in the bright winter sun! The music room looks so pretty in the day time when the sun is shining, but it is even more magical at night. I love to play carols by candlelight, just like in days of old! I do have the benefit of modern illumination from 1000 lights on the Christmas tree however!
Do you have a favorite carol? I love them all, but Away in a Manger is at the top of my list. I can specifically remember my Mommy teaching me this particular carol at a very young age. We would sing it together when she tucked me into bed during the holiday season. We still sing hymns and carols together!
Well dear readers now that it is officially December I can happily conclude my posts with “Merry Christmas!” I am wrapping up my music room tour for now but I will share more throughout December as I continue to decorate and make changes. I have started making a paper chain for the tree too! It might take a while to finish, but I plan to slow down and enjoy Christmas this year! It will be fun to work on while watching Christmas movies with the family.
There are still so many tiny treasures and details I would have liked to have shown you here today, but I have decided to save them for later posts. I often get questions and comments about the Christmas train so I will be blogging about it soon along with a tutorial for the music banner and garland. I am just now really getting started on the Christmas decorating and I am looking forward to sharing more with you throughout December! I am excited to be teaming up with sweet Debra from Common Ground for a spectacular Home For Christmas Blogger’s Link Party December 13th-26th so do plan to join us! (Live now!)
Now if you are looking for more Christmas inspiration be sure to visit all of the beautiful homes on the It’s A Holiday House home tours this week. You can find the full tour schedule below. Next up is Dru at Polka Dot Poplars. I am on my way to check out her beautiful home now!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Amber
It’s A Wonderful House Tour Schedule:
Welch House- Reinvented Collection
Linking Up With:
Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday House Walk
Merry Monday
Encouraging Hearts And Home Blog Hop
Foodie Friday And Everything Else
Welcome To The Weekend
Creative Inspirations
Morning Cup Of Joe
47 Comments
Beautiful, and so Creative!! Amber your music room is filled with so many wonderful vintage treasures! I’ll have to go back through your post and read and study your photos again. I love the little doll that you saved and made into a beautiful vignette!
December 1, 2017 at 4:17 amYour music room is incredible! I so much enjoyed looking at all of your vintage and Christmas treasure and you have styled it all so beautifully. I know you music students look forward to coming to your home for their lessons so that they can enjoy this room. I look forward to seeing more of your home this month!
December 1, 2017 at 12:05 pmHi Paula! Thank you so much for your kind comments! I have added a few more pictures since this morning too. The sun had not been cooperating all week but I had a chance to get some better shots early this morning and went ahead and added them in, so you might enjoy the new photos too. I am on my way to check out your blog now! Thanks so much for stopping by!
December 2, 2017 at 2:36 amHi Amber…I love your music room! All of the beautiful decorations must make it a wonderful place for your students…although I can see how they might get a little distracted 🙂 I think my favorite is your music chain garland…such a creative idea!
December 1, 2017 at 1:36 pmThank you Wanda! So nice to meet you on the tour! The kids certainly do enjoy coming here! I am so glad you like the paper chain too. It was one of those ideas I had in trying to replicate simple decorations from long ago while adding a bit of my style.
December 2, 2017 at 2:33 amThank you so much for visiting today. I do hope you will return again soon!
Amber, I eagerly await your amazing posts! I am always so in awe of your vintage decor and so inspired! Your Christmas music room could not be more wonderful! I love that you have your grandma’s lunch pail! Your FaLa banner above the piano turned out amazing. I could go on and on, I love it all!
December 1, 2017 at 2:19 pmThank you Kristin! I am exhausted but really excited to get the DIY on the banner posted soon. I loved your tour as well. I have been once and I am going back to visit again to take in everything in more detail!
December 2, 2017 at 2:30 amFor me, Christmas is all about the music! I love how you’ve combined my favourite things, Christmas music and vintage decor together!!! So beautiful! Your entire home is gorgeous! ????????????????
December 1, 2017 at 4:31 pmThank you so much Rebecca! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to taking your tour now! Please visit again soon!
December 2, 2017 at 2:29 amThis is such a great idea and your tree is gorgeous!
December 1, 2017 at 5:20 pmThank you so much Lynn! I enjoyed your tour today too!
December 2, 2017 at 2:29 amAmber, I love it all!! I could spend an hour easy in that carefully looking and admiring all of your decorations with a big smile on my face. I adore all of the vintage touches. And, although not Christmas, I love Beethoven on the piano!
December 1, 2017 at 5:22 pmThank you so much Angelina! I think I added about 8 more photos since you visited and some that are right up your alley! The weather did not cooperate this week but this morning the sun was out so I tried to sneak in a few more photos before too many people saw the post. I had the same problem with Grateful Gatherings! I have visited your amazing tour once and I am going to head back now to see more! Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by today!
December 2, 2017 at 2:28 amAmber you always amaze me!!! I am completely inlove with your music room! I always love seeing your treaures!
December 1, 2017 at 7:00 pmThank you so much Larissa! I wasn’t even quite finished this morning when you saw the post. I have added more photos I think you will like. Headed over now to Olivia’s to swoon over your tour again!
December 2, 2017 at 2:19 amYour music room is so charming and elegant. I’m in love with your FA la la banner on music sheets and your vintage typewriter. It’s all fabulous. Merry Christmas.
December 2, 2017 at 4:27 pmThank you Sue! I just shared a post about the banner you might like. Merry Christmas!
December 8, 2017 at 2:12 amOMG!!! When I saw your comment that you so graciously left on my post, I rushed right over!! I ADORE THIS ROOM!!!! I am a Victorian soul and love Vintage items too, especially Christmas!! his room in your beautiful house is simply exquisite!! I can only imagine how the eyes of the children who come to your home open wide with delight when they see your decorations!! There is so much that I love that I do not know where to start from the wreath on the door to the vision of the Tree through those beautiful doors, to those stunning pianos , decorated so tastefully!! I LOVE IT ALL!!! I just sent an email to a friend of mine who is not a blogger to check out this post. Her Mother was in the choir at her church and was into Music too so I know she would love this. Oh! And the paper garland made from music sheet s…Love it!! I do not know if you saw the posts about my Sitting Room. I have a lot of vintage items in that room. Here are the links:
December 3, 2017 at 12:37 pmhttp://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/2017/11/christmas-in-sitting-room-part-1.html
http://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/2017/11/christmas-in-sitting-room-faux.html
By the time I am done, there will be over 20 Trees in our townhouse including 3 in the doll house!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Debbie your comments are so nice and encouraging! It truly makes me happy when I know my decor has sparked something with my readers and friends. Thank you for sharing my post and I will be looking forward to checking out your other posts too!
December 8, 2017 at 3:43 amAlways my favorite! You did it again, Amber! Everything is simply breathtaking!
December 4, 2017 at 11:13 pmEverything looks so beautiful Amber!
December 6, 2017 at 1:29 amYour vintage style is impeccable, Amber! So many beautiful vignettes, it’s really hard to choose a favorite. I can see why the kids (and adults) get distracted from lessons!
December 6, 2017 at 12:54 pmThank you Rita! Yesterday I had my youngest student (five) and the majority of the time was spent explaining all about different ornaments, the train, the snowmen and just about everything in the room. There was no keeping her eyes off the tree!
December 8, 2017 at 2:14 amI have spent way too much time here, pouring over every photo with an eagle’s eye to catch every delightful detail! So many enchanting and delightful Christmas treasures and whimsies in one room – it makes one giddy! I do love a room where you just can’t decide where to look next! I have subscribed to your blog and look forward to seeing/reading much more in the future.
December 6, 2017 at 3:22 pmThanks for sharing – and, belatedly, Happy Pink Saturday!
Hello Tristan! So nice to meet you! I am so happy you loved the tour, and I think you will really enjoy the rest of my holiday decor which I will be posting in the next few weeks. I can’t wait for Pink Saturday this week, I have some new posts to share. Thanks for your nice comment and for visiting today!
December 8, 2017 at 3:41 amThis is so beautiful! It’s simply breathtaking with all those little details.. I can’t decide which I love more the music note paper chains, the treble clef door wreath or the fa la la la banners made out of music sheets too. Your students must love going to lessons in December.
December 9, 2017 at 9:45 pmThank you so much for your sweet comments. I am so happy you enjoyed the tour! This past week I had my youngest student (5) and she absolutely could not concentrate, she wanted to explore all around the room! Thank you so much for visiting today!
December 11, 2017 at 1:31 amEverything is beautiful! I do love your sleigh with the composite doll and the little deer.
December 10, 2017 at 7:19 pmThanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thank you so much Cindy! I can’t wait to link up again this week. Thanks for hosting!
December 11, 2017 at 1:30 amWhat a gorgeous room, one beautiful thing after another.
December 11, 2017 at 4:09 amWow, Amber, what an amazing music room! Your tree is gorgeous, but my favorite??????? that ceiling, oh my GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 11, 2017 at 9:08 pmOh thank you so much for your kind compliments. I hope you will return again soon to see more Christmas tours. Merry Christmas!
December 13, 2017 at 6:40 amWhat a fun and festive room for the holidays! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
December 11, 2017 at 10:41 pmAmber
Your home is beautiful. I love vintage all vintage and love all the music themes. Twenty years of music teaching, wow, God Bless You! My son is a music major, masters in music education, we need more teachers in music. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.
Merry Christmas!
Debby
December 14, 2017 at 1:48 amDebbygoesshabby.blogspot.com
Thank you Deborah! How awesome about your son. I love your shabby style. Thanks for hosting the party!
December 14, 2017 at 2:42 pmWow… the Christmas tree is looking gorgeous. These pictures are looking beautiful.
December 15, 2017 at 9:53 amThank you so much! So glad you visited today!
December 16, 2017 at 3:37 amAmber, what a beautiful music room! As a pianist and vocalist, I really appreciate the beauty you have shared with your students as well as your readers! I had a pipe organ for years and finally sold it! I must revisit to see every detail…amazing!
December 16, 2017 at 12:56 pmHi Amber,
Okay, so where do I start… Ha ha. First, you already know I adore your tree even if the tree topper was hanging off the side. It really wasn’t noticeable and you know I would say something like, “What’s going on over here? Can that be moved?” Hee, hee.
The ornaments on your tree are wonderful and so interesting. I miss that look so much. These old world style trees are fun to spend time looking at. Each doll is precious in their own unique way. My mom would love them too. No other style captures the magic of Christmas and warmth of the season quite like the Victorians did. The little girl with the puppy hanging on the wall is so cute and I adore the little lady in a green dress beneath the cloche. Is that a Hummel figurine? I used to have a little lady caroler in a blue dress but I’m unsure where she went off too.
Your garland, though…. that is incredible! It’s one of the best ones I’ve seen. Also, all the sheet music gift wrap is incredible. It’s a tough style to find up here. I’m hoping these retailers up here will start bringing in more of the elegant gift wrap styles. Minions and goofy prints are cool too but they don’t quite work with our aesthetic do they? ????
Your grandmother’s lunch pail is gorgeous. My grandmother laughed at me using her old stuff too. Their generation had some of the best things. As much as the older generations scoff at it, I’m sure if my grandmother saw how cheaply made new and “modern” is now, she would be shocked. Everything was made to last and incredibly beautiful down to the last detail.
Your Christmas music room is incredible! I can see why the children would be more interested in playing than actually playing. Hee, hee. Thank you so much for joining It’s A Wonderful House Christmas Tour. This is a real gem among all the tours.
oxo,
December 16, 2017 at 5:13 pmOlivia
Amber your gorgeous Music room was chosen as my feature for our month-long Holiday Link Party. It is truly a stunning room. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2017 at 3:37 pmOh wow Mary I am so honored! Thank you so much. Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2017 at 3:07 amYour music room is awesome and awe inspiring!!! I have been playing/teaching/directing/arranging, etc., for 59 years yesterday! You and I have many of the same “music themed” ornaments. Your garland is beautiful and gives me an idea for next year. I have a stack of antique wooden organ pipes over my piano….the garland will be wonderful atop them!!
March 26, 2018 at 9:44 pmThank you so much for the “cool” inspiration in our 90 degree (already) weather!!
Blessings,
J
Thank you Jay! I am so glad you stopped by today. I love the idea of antique wooden organ pipes! Thanks for visiting, and come back again soon!
March 29, 2018 at 2:40 pmJust letting you know that I stopped by! I bet your piano sounds lovely in that house!!
October 17, 2018 at 10:49 pmIt’s the beginning of another lovely holiday season and I wanted to let you know, Amber, that I borrowed a photograph of Beethoven for a post I wrote ~ Decorate Your Angelic Statuettes for the Seasons. It’ll share up in today’s Share Your Style #232 so hopefully a bunch of people will stop by! <3
Happy fall hugs to you! I was just reading Debbie-Dabble's nice post above. Glad she found you!! I know I really enjoy studying how you layer everything in your vignettes. Definitely an artist's touch…
Bisous,
November 13, 2019 at 5:56 amBarb 🙂
Thank you Barbara! Let me know when the post is live!
November 13, 2019 at 8:13 pmAmber, this post of all your posts is probably my absolute favorite (and I do like many!). There is just soooo much Victorian goodness to feast the eyes upon… And I do the same thing with reading magazines as I have some Country Living copies which are upwards of 25 years old. They always inspire!
I think I already sent you a message but if not, I shared your picture of Beethoven in a post I wrote this week about Decorating Your Angelic Statuettes https://www.frenchethereal.net/2019/11/decorate-your-angelic-statuettes-for.htm.
Happy to share one of my favorite photos of yours! Many hugs to you and I am glad the weather is cooler for you now to be able to decorate again outdoors. Summer was hard for me this year, too. Stinks getting older…
Happy fall hugs,
November 16, 2019 at 8:03 amBarb 🙂