How to Cook Up an Inviting Festive Christmas Kitchen

Welcome to the The Christmas Blog Hop! I wait ALL year for this post.  For those coming over from  Summer Adams Designs, welcome! Can you believe how beautiful her new PNW home is? Summer’s home is less than 2 weeks old and it’s all decorated in Winter white!   I’m happy to be sharing my recent kitchen renovation and how to cook up an inviting festive kitchen ready for Christmas entertaining.

Christmas season is in full swing and there’s no better way to entertain than with an updated kitchen.  As I mentioned in my last post, we host Christmas Eve for my family every year. Yep, that’s 45 family members for a sit-down dinner and full out holiday celebration that includes, a gift exchange, silly photo booth, a big family portrait and a four course meal that rivals any 5-star restaurant. 

Gather Round

Our home is a California ranch with very few rooms but big open multi functional spaces. This layout is conducive for some serious entertaining. We have tall 11-foot ceilings and a big southern exposure wall of windows but the kitchen always seemed to be a bit on the dark side. A few months ago we decided to lighten things up with new countertops, lighting, new kitchen sink, faucet, and backsplash tile. The renovation was finished the day before Thanksgiving and now our kitchen is the perfect place to gather and make memories. 

The first thing we swapped out were the dated undersize glass island pendants for new wood and hammer tin oversized pendants from HomeGoods. Now these bright lights add rustic charm and bring your eye up to the center tray ceiling. 

Everything Including the Kitchen Sink

The next change was removing the dark laminate counters and replacing with Misty Carrera quartz counters, an extra deep single bowl stainless steel sink, and a Trinsic Pro Single Handle Pull-Down Spring Spout Kitchen Faucet with Touch₂O^® Technology . The kitchen was now becoming the dream space I envisioned. 

For years now I’ve wanted to take our kitchen from cookie-cutter to an innovative Pinterest worthy gathering space. I’ve always admired industrial faucets and clean lines. After putting several touch technology faucets in client’s homes it was time for myself to be the lucky recipient. With it’s shiny chrome finish this tall faucet commands deserving attention. The light lets us know the temperature at initial touch.  The Delta Trinsic Pro was the five star upgrade we’ve been waiting for!  

Pops Of Color

Next we addressed the backsplash and changed out the off-white backsplash to a bright white classic gloss subway tile. Previously, I had used a contrasting grout to accentuate the design but this time I wanted it all to blend. My accessories, cookware, and appliances would add color.  I dressed up the cooktop area with my favorite bottlebrush trees and a Joy to the World cutting board.

Also new to the kitchen is a fabulous floorcloth from Ladder 34. This is the most durable for floor cloth I’ve ever seen. it’s made from reclaimed fire hoses!  The red and white stripes reminds me of a candy cane.

Counter Intuitive

I never like to clutter up counters but to satisfy my family’s sweet tooth there’s always either cookies, cakes, or some sweet concoction set out for the taking. 

My favorite sunny corner of the kitchen is an area where two windows meet. This area gets sun all day and my plants thrive there all year round. This year I move the plants to my husband’s office and replaced them with a 4.5 flocked Christmas tree. I decorated this “sweet” artificial tree with my favorite food related ornaments. I’m partial to the flying saucer, how about you? Under the tree is my daughter’s dream car and the best smelling balsam pine candle from Agape Candles. 

Looking back to the right of the double ovens I grouped my favorite red and green vintage pottery. Little pops of red add to the festive mood. The black island grounds the space and is in stark contrast of the bright white additions.

Craigslist Score

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I found the base of the sideboard on Craigslist for $200. The finish was quite damaged but I had big plans for this beauty. I constructed the top part and painted the entire piece with gray chalk paint. I then gave it an antique glaze and dressed her up with turquoise blue glass knobs. It helps me store my overflow of dinnerware. I added fresh pine garland on the top and little touches of Christmas decor.

New this year is a letter board.  These fun message boards have been showing up recently on social media. Everyone is drawn to this vintage inspired sign. Coming up with catchy phrases, quotes and funny sayings has been a daily contest.

Coffee Central

In the morning room, I replaced the small vintage wooden chest with a concrete top round Epicenters Coffee Table from Raymour & Flanigan. The round top and wooden base complement the large oversized drum chandelier. This area is the spot where I have morning coffee, check my emails, and catch up on the days events.  I also updated our large blue armoire by painting it navy blue. The dark rich color and weathered finish anchor the wall and balance out the black island.

I created a fresh pine bough and juniper limb arrangement for the coffee table and added pine cones and festive colored glass bulbs. If I keep it water it should last all month and the smell is heavenly!   

To the right of the armoire I decorated my Christmas 7 1/2 foot pre-lit tree. There’s nothing more beautiful than turning off all the lights at night and having the tree lit. 

A Room With A View

As I mentioned earlier in the post our entire south facing wall of our home is windows. On any given day the light floods in. This was the perfect backdrop for my 12 foot farm table that I built with my father. To read the post on how we built it this one of a kind farmtable. This year, setting the table was all about plaid!

Taking center stage is an all green winter floral arrangement from Wisteria Flowers and Gifts. Flanking the arrangement are two plaid glass finials and green etched mercury glass candle votives.

Down the middle of the farm table is a red plaid table runner. I used my bright green flatware and layered green plaids and stripes. 

Making their holiday appearance were my hand painted water goblets.  I placed a small fresh pine and cranberry arrangement on each place setting and tied a personalized name tag for all my guests.

Draping over each bistro chair is a red and green plaid linen napkins . Last year I began collecting plaids in all colors and styles.  Layering and mixing the styles to create interesting pattern play became a favorite of mine.  Are you decorating with plaid this year? 

I finished accessorizing the table with deer antlers, whimsical animal sculptures and my favorite bottlebrush trees. Hanging from the curtain rod‘s are oversized papier-mâché harlequin bulbs.

Mixing high and low is my go-to for creating an inviting and unique tablescape. It’s tough to tell the expensive china from the dollar store finds.

 The table is set and we’re now ready for the Holidays and entertaining!   How will you decorate this year for Christmas? Do you host a big crew or intimate few? 

Heart of The Home

Long after the Holidays end and family & friends leave we will be enjoying our new kitchen.  Creating a welcoming and efficient kitchen was important to us. We are a family that all participate in creating family meals and the kitchen is used for more than just cooking. It’s the gathering place of our home. We now look forward to hosting more holidays, gatherings, and countless family dinners. Thanks again for visiting! 

May you all have a blessed Christmas. I’m off to prepare for Christmas Eve!   xox Amie

Make sure to visit our Christmas Kitchen Home Tours!

Amie @ Memehill | Gloribell @ Know How She Does It

Ashley @ Modern Glam | Kathleen @ Lindsay Hill Interiors

Sheila @ Maison de Cinq | Julie & Jodie @ The Design Twins

Kim & Lacey @ Styled with Lace | Janine @ Happy Happy Nester

Oscar @ Oscar Bravo Home | Mysha @ Remington Avenue

Martha @ Simple Cozy Charm | Joan @ 2 Ladies and a Chair |

Jackie @ Finding Lovely | Summer @ Summer Adams

Judy @ Life is Better at Home | Amy @ Crazy Chic Design

*I have received products from Delta Faucet in exchange for this post. All expressed opinions are 100% mine.