I'm Dreaming of a Grey Christmas.. - Northern California Style

A holiday table at my dream French Chateau.

Suddenly, it seems the home decor world is loaded with natural burlaps and linens and books covered in plain brown wrappers. Here in California, the neutral colors seems to compliment the natural light-flooded rooms and have beachy appeal. Just add trees and greenery and you have fresh Christmas look!

I, for one, am ready to embrace a calmer palette for the holdays. I put away much of my tired old decor and kept only my favorites. Don’t you almost feel criminal or something if you don’t put out the whole shebang? It does feel cleaner and less cluttered. And there’s nothing like Christmas to clutter your house up big time! Don’t get me started on that..

Love the Tiffany Blue and burlap. Quite a contradiction. Photo via Habitually Chic.

My tree for sure needed calm, and my cheesy synthetic tree skirt wasn’t making the cut anymore, so I headed out to find some resolution. (Never mind it had been snagged about a million times by the cats in their fervent worship of the tree! ) I had burlap on the brain and headed to the fabric store. There I found pink and blue burlap. Really? If you’re going for that look, then why would you want pink? Also if you are thinking pink, why then burlap? Well, I digress, but I huffed out of there and I’m still with said tree skirt. I’m keeping my eyes out for a neutral one like my neighbor Kims.

Her tree skirt. Sorry I was so busy getting the cute Eiffel Tower in that I cut off the tree top. 🙁

The great part about burlap is it’s a utilitarian fabric. No sewing needed. Just cut and arrange! You can’t hem this stuff! ( It would be hard.) Another great thing, it’s CHEAP, if you didn’t already suspect so. The downside- darn scratchy… Well, I hope you’re not wearing it! In a pinch, linen will have the same look, much higher price. Linen is for investment pieces, like the ones sold at Restoration Hardware.

Linen walls and books covered in kraft paper.

via Lovely things. Suddenly kraft paper wrap looks luxurious.

You may have also noticed the emergence of all things grey, linen and burlap in Restoration Hardware and many other home shops. It has it’s orgins in Belgium and the designer Axel Vervoordt. He has lead what is called the wabi-sabi movement in interior design and decoration. To quote Belgian Pearls, a lovely blog on Belgian Design, “ Wabi–sabi stands for finding beauty in imperfection, that it values simplicity, pureness and modesty. Back to basics.”

Okay, I guess that is where the the humblest of fabrics, burlap, enters and distressed, unfinished woods too. You can see how the plain brown wrap on books, etc. also calms everything. Perhaps the attraction to this aesthetic is due the craziness of modern life and the need for less. It has something very clean about it. Kind of the opposite of holiday decor, which is why it’s restraint may be a welcome change.

Great table and tree skirts. Love the stockings trimmed in linen or burlap.

I got very excited when I saw some burlap wired ribbon all over the trees at my favorite local boutiques, Fioris. It looks very California and cute. The stylish Kim ( yes the friend again, not me) also loved it and refreshed her formerly red ribboned door wreaths with new burlap bows. Didn’t it turn out chic?

Kim’s door with burlap.

Check out Kim’s burlap pillow on her bed too. I’m jealous.

Once I started looking around, well it seems I have been embracing some burlap too. I just didn’t notice all the things in my house that are linen or burlapy. Sorry, probably not a word, but I’m making it one. Check it out. I’m liking it and may add more. I figure in this frenetic season the more zen around me, the better.

My favorite frame from a trip to Hawaii.

Another Pottery Barn frame. Love this photo of my Grandma and grandkids.

Burlap pillow cover from Pottery Barn bought last Christmas.

If you want a fresh, California Christmas look, think burlap, grey and white, and add twigs and branches!

Burlap candle holders with our address on our mantle.

Wannabee burlap?

More frames in linen and burlap.

Here’s the find of the week. Mini-trees from Trader Joes in darling burlap wrap. I think they were $5.99! What a cute small gift! Bet they are going quick.

And now, I’m on way to the Goodwill truck this weekend with some shiny, red items!