Friday, December 23, 2016

A Kitchen Tree For Christmas

Our kitchen tree basking in the morning light of winter
Photo: Chronica Domus


Like many of you, I eagerly anticipate the annual ritual and excitement that revolves around decorating the Christmas tree.  It is one of the highlights of the season in our household.  Each year I seek inspiration from not only the room in which it is to be placed, but also from the existing colors and objects within that room.  Once a spark of inspiration is aglow in my mind's eye, I never quite know where it might take me.  If you've read my previous post, you will know that I have already decorated our well-loved goose feather tree, also seen here and here.

I have missed decorating an actual evergreen tree these past two Christmases as my family and I have been far from home for the holidays.  This year, however, I was determined to return to tradition, albeit a tradition with a slight twist.  You see, not only is our tree the smallest we have decorated in recent times, but it has also been placed in the kitchen, a first for us.  And, why not?  After all we do find ourselves spending much time in the kitchen either cooking, drinking our morning coffee, or dining casually at the old pine table.  Why shouldn't we enhance the space with a little festive flourish?

My daughter Patience and I began our decorating endeavors by studding navel oranges with fragrant cloves to make pomanders.  I remember making these with my own mother and only wish we had then discovered the benefits of a simple bamboo skewer to hasten our workload.

Chronica Domus
 A bamboo skewer is a most helpful tool when studding a bowlful of oranges with cloves
Photo: Chronica Domus


Patience and I set the pomanders upon the shelves of the hanging plate rack, nestled among clippings of fresh spruce and pine.  Ah, it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!

As we greatly enjoy snacking on citrus fruits during the winter months, our kitchen is never without a bowl brimming with brightly hued mandarin oranges.

Chronica Domus
An enormous English ironstone bowl filled with the season's best fruits, juicy mandarin oranges
Photo: Chronica Domus

With so much orange dotted about the kitchen, surely the tree must get in on the act too.  Rounding up all the vintage glass ornaments I could find in assorted fruit, nut, berry, and basket shapes, a tree befitting our working kitchen rapidly took form.

Chronioca Domus
Amber, orange, green, and silver were the predominant colors of this year's Christmas tree
Photo: Chronica Domus


By adhering to a color scheme of amber, orange, green, and silver, the finished tree reflects the colors of the nearby citrus fruit and its foliage.  I added silver to pick up on the polished nickel hardware on the bank of drawers, upon which our diminutive tree rests.

Chronica Domus
Pine cones are a particularly loved ornament shape I enjoy collecting, and this petite orange example is a color not often found among them
Photo: Chronica Domus 


Chronica Domus
A green glass snoozing cat in a slipper marks the occasion of Norton's first Christmas
Photo: Chronica Domus


I crowned our pint-sized kitchen tree with a festive vintage orange and white striped ribbon reminiscent of those hard candy ribbons one sees for sale around Christmastime.  This one, of course, is calorie free.

One of the reasons I was drawn to this particular evergreen tree was because of its log stand which the nurseryman thoughtfully and, I believe, so stylishly provided. Woodsy and appropriate for such a little sapling, it reminds me of those decadent chocolate yule logs my mother reliably sourced from our local baker each December.

Chronica Domus
A tree stand reminiscent of a chocolate yule log, perfect for a tree befitting the kitchen
Photo: Chronica Domus


A surprise awaits those curious enough to cast their eyes upon the log stand.  If you look very carefully, you shall spy an elusive woodland creature at rest:

Chronica Domus
An old mercury glass deer reclines atop it's woodland resting spot
Photo: Chronica Domus


Surrounded by freshly clipped greenery, and placed upon one of our everyday porcelain kitchen platters, I think this year's Christmas kitchen tree looks particularly festive.  It certainly helps brighten up an otherwise utilitarian space.  Now, why have I not thought of putting up a tree in the kitchen before I wonder?

Chronica Domus
Photo: Chronica Domus


Chronica Domus
Even the old Douglas fir floorboards of our kitchen coordinate with the orange tones of our tree
Photo: Chronica Domus


One final touch remains.  No Christmas tree is worth its salt without at least one present beneath it. This year, I am placing a special surprise for Patience in this charming flocked yule log candy container.  The container itself was handmade in France and sold at one of San Francisco's little hidden treasures, Bellocchio.  I was lucky enough to have purchased several such whimsical containers over the years from this beguiling establishment.  Sadly, the artisan that supplied them to Bellocchio has closed their small atelier upon retirement. In a world swamped with mass-produced tat and frippery, it grieves me to know that this annonymous artist's skills have been lost to the passage of time.  It also makes me cherish my whimsical little candy boxes just a bit more for of it.

Chronica Domus
Shhh... can you keep a secret?  A Christmas surprise awaits Patience, hidden within this whimsical yule log candy container
Photo: Chronica Domus

Chronica Domus
Norton proved himself of little help when it came to the decoration of our kitchen tree preferring instead to frolic in a wicker basket 
Photo: Chronica Domus


Now that our decorations are in place, it is time to relax and enjoy the upcoming festivities with family and friends. We've awakened to the sight of shimmering frost upon lawns and neighboring rooftops these past several mornings.  It's finally feeling like a proper winter around here.  

I wish you all a relaxing and peaceful holiday season and a healthy dose of good cheer to tide you over into the coming year.

Merry Christmas one and all!

CD

28 comments:

  1. The tree is simply lovely, gorgeous vintage baubles. Wishing you a happy Christmas and her's hoping 2017 will be a good one for us all.

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    1. Thank you elaine and I too wish you a very happy Christmas.

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  2. The tree is so pretty! I love silver pine cones also. Merry Christmas - best wishes for 2017!

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    1. Hello Karen of Fair Oaks,

      There's something rather wonderful about hanging glass pine cones among the branches of a Christmas tree. I once felled a tree with real pine cones attached to the branches so I chose just to decorate the tree with white lights that year. It looked magical.

      Happy Christmas to you.

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  3. I adore the tree; the deer and the candy box! And I love that store!!!

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    1. Oh, thank you Penelope Bianchi. I really must write a blog about that wonderful little treasure of a store one of these days.

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  4. Hello CD, You Californians are so spoiled! The kitchens in Taiwan are not even large enough to keep cookware in, let alone trees, cats, children, etc. Also, our oranges are not usually festive and brightly colored--more of a blotchy green with yellowish-orange (although the taste can be wonderful).

    Seriously, all looks very festive, and I wish you and your family Happy Holidays!
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim,

      I do feel quite spoiled that our kitchen is adequately scaled for our humble abode but it is certainly no where near the size of modern homes of the McMansion variety. I think you can park a car or two in those.

      Merry Christmas to you and I wish you a wonderful New Year.

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  5. You kitchen tree looks beautiful CD and beware of kittens near Christmas trees. you will soon find out! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Hello lindaraxa,

      I've heard all about those naughty kitten capers and have already warned Norton that he'll be back on the streets if he even attempts such antics with our tree.

      I wish you a wonderful Christmas with your family and a very happy New Year!

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  6. Replies
    1. Thanks so much Naomi, and a very happy Christmas to you too!

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  7. As they say, good things come in small packages. Your tree is delightful and I love the idea of orange clove pomanders. I must say Norton looks thoroughly at ease ( and rather regal) in that basket. The ribbon collar is a dapper touch. Our own three felines never assist with the holiday decorations although they are only too happy to burrow under the tree skirt. Happy holidays and all the best in the new year!
    KL Gaylin

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    1. Hello KL Gaylin,

      The pomanders are so much fun to make and smell wonderful. So pleased you liked Norton's festive ribbon - he was perfectly accommodating and allowed me to fiddle with it for several minutes without complaint. It sounds as though your three are settling into their festive surroundings nicely too.

      Happy holidays to you and all good wishes for 2017.

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  8. Merry Christmas, and a truly wonderful new year.
    David & Peter. x

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    1. Merry Christmas to you both and I hope you are enjoying your Christmas festivities in WBP this year.

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  9. The tree is charming and the plate rack looks wonderful. The entire kitchen area you share looks like it could be in a cottage in Britain.
    Hope your Christmas is jolly and fun.
    xo,
    Karen

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    Replies
    1. Hello Karen,

      Thanks so much, Karen. I do so enjoy our kitchen and I can't think why I've not placed a Christmas tree there before.

      I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas too.

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  10. Hello CD,

    Your kitchen tree is a treat. I particularly love the colour scheme. Wishing you and yours the best of the season .. with a special mention for Norton.

    Spud.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, thanks so very much Spud.

      Norton and I wish you and yours a fun and festive Christmas and a very happy New Year.

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  11. Your kitchen tree is absolutely gorgeous I love it. The colour scheme is so beautiful, CD you really have a talent for decorating. Merry Christmas to you and your family! xx

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    1. Hello Dani,

      Merry Christmas to you too and I'm so happy to hear the tree meets with your approval. Norton likes it too but has not figured out a way to get up on the counter yet.

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  12. Beautiful Christmas decor all around. My Estella has been combing thru the CD archives and is your newest devotee praising your fab style..GSL only remarked he, as alwsys, was way out front on The Divine CD.
    I hope your Christmas and New Year are a joyous one for you, Patience, Norton, and the preternaturally fortunate Mister CD.

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    1. Hello GSL,

      Do tell your Estella that CD is honored to have her enter the fold and hope she joins in on the comments section too.

      Happy New Year to you!

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  13. This is enchanting! I love how you set the tree on a platter, too. So delicious!

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    1. Thank you, slf. I shall henceforth refer to our little tree as the "delicious tree".

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  14. Happy New Year!

    I love all of your beautiful decorations! I too have a tree in my kitchen and I love it as you mentioned it is where I spend the most time and I don't want to miss out.

    I hope that your daughter liked her surprise.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns,

      Pleased to read that you too are enjoying your Christmas kitchen tree as much as we've enjoyed ours and yes, Patience loved her yule log surprise.

      Happy New Year to you and thank you for stopping by.

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Please do leave a comment as I enjoy the dialogue with my readership, thank you.

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