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Feature Friday: Mary Kay Andrews Christmas House 2013

December 27, 2013 By Rhoda 59 Comments

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I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and being around Mary Kay Andrews (aka Kathy) a few times now and she is just a delightful lady, down to earth and so friendly to talk to.  Mary Kay is her pen name that she uses for her fiction books and her real name is Kathy.  She has been in Atlanta forever now, writing for the Marietta Daily Journal in her earlier years, as well as the Atlanta Journal and Constitution and then her fiction writing career took off and she hasn’t looked back.  I’m happy to read and feature her books on my blog, she’s a Southern chick lit author and has thousands of fans worldwide.  I am the lucky lady who got to see her Christmas home this year and photograph it all to share with y’all!  I asked her if her home had ever been photographed and she said no, so I’m happy to have the Mary Kay home tour scoop.

You’re going to enjoy this 1925 Craftsman Bungalow style home in historic Avondale Estates (near Decatur) here in Atlanta.  A little sidenote about Atlanta and neighborhoods.  There’s a little acronym around here called ITP and OTP. Any guesses what that means?  You see, those who live inside the I-285 perimeter call themselves ITP’s, because they live inside that circle of an interstate which goes around and around Atlanta.  Inside the perimeter is very desirable real estate.  It’s usually older historic neighborhoods and homes and they are beautiful and desirable.  I love them too.    I, however, am a longtime ‘burbs girl. I’ve never lived inside the perimeter, always outside and I’m quite happy to be outside.  I’m not a true city girl, although I do appreciate the older neighborhoods down closer to downtown Atlanta, I will more than likely never live in one of those neighborhoods. But, I love to visit and see how folks live in those historic homes.  Maybe I’ll be invited into some others along the way, you never know.

This bungalow is a beautiful home and Mary Kay has it all decorated just the way you would expect.  She’s a longtime junker, which is another reason why I love her so much.  She loves a bargain and shops the same way many of us do.  Yardsales and estate sales and finding deals at antiques stores and thriftstores.  She’s a girl after my own heart, a collector of vintage things and things with meaning that have been loved on.  These things fill her home and it’s definitely a homey, cozy place with an English feel of slipcovered furniture, collections of meaning, and pretty things.

In other words, you are going to LOVE THIS ONE!

Before we get to that, I’ve chosen the winner of the Christmas Bliss book and the winner has been emailed.  Just so you know, I always add a link when the giveaways close in a post once it has ended and Rafflecopter adds the winner’s name to the widget in the giveaway post, in case you wonder who won a giveaway.  You can always go back to the original giveaway post and look at the Rafflecopter widget. I always post names too on older giveaways before I started using Rafflecopter.  Rafflecopter just makes it easy to keep up with winners!

MKA house exterior

I found her beautiful street in Avondale Estates and pulled up to this.  Gorgeous, isn’t it?

front porch

When Mary Kay came to the door, the first thing I said was, “of course, your house would be turquoise!” I wasn’t surprised since I’ve seen pics of her beach cottage in Tybee Island. She loves color and the inside is colorful as well.

urn with tree

Natural greens outside are so welcoming.

porch sofa

Greens are everywhere, along with magnolia leaves, a staple in the South at Christmas.

front door

The front door was wrapped in real garland with pine cones and berries, pheasant feathers and magnolia.  Truly Southern!

greens and pinecones

Beautiful displays.

front door wreath

I adore this natural wreath with the simple green and burlap ribbon.

Kathy and Tom

I took a quick photo of Tom and Kathy, before Tom left and I am so sorry I didn’t get it focused correctly.  They are a super nice couple and have been married for 37 years, Kathy told me.  Two children and also grand children fill this house for visits.

inside front door
Coming in the front door is the fireplace with 2 vintage chairs flanking it.  It also has built-ins on either side with a beautiful mantel, perfect for Christmas decorating.

fireplace

I love her layered and collected rugs over the seagrass rug.  She has some beautiful antique pieces from long time collecting. Notice all the beautiful millwork in this historic home.

mantel

The mantel all festooned with pretty Christmas décor.

side window

These small windows above the builtins have pull back curtains and poinsettias inside silver cups.

candles and greens on mantel

She said these taper candles were an estate sale find and they are LED. I love them, they were so pretty and flickery.

painting

I love how she tucked silver and gold balls into the magnolia leaves, creating an instant Christmas mantel with simple silver candlesticks.

blue ornaments

A pretty silver bowl gets piled with aqua blue ornaments, a favorite trick of mine too.

ornaments

Loved this I had to take more than one pic. That bowl is awesome, isn’t it?

foyer to dining room

From the foyer this is looking towards the very English Ralph Lauren feel dining room with red walls and navy blue accents.

white sofa

Another look at the foyer area with the living room seating nearby.  Kathy was waiting for these 2 white sofas to come in so that I could come and photograph it all. They are beautiful slipcovered sofas.

living room

The living room has a corner entertainment center, floral drapes and all those beautiful oil paintings grouped together.  I love this room.

lr gallery wall

A happy mix of pretty colors.

coffee table

I’m sure this coffee table has a story, it’s nice and large and oh so vintage.

lr vintage chairs

She did tell me she’s had this pair of chairs for a long time, found at a steal and recovered several times with slip covers.  Love the blue and white and the shape of these pretty chairs.

vignette in lr

The corner round table has a beautiful nativity for Christmas.

lr table

More estate sale finds in this gorgeous chest and mirror, Kathy has scored some major pieces.

christmas on table

Adorned with some lustrous silver pieces and a small tree in a silver urn, this is a beautiful side table for the Holidays.

living room (2)

This looks to be a very cozy room to hang out in.

dining to living

Looking towards the sunroom, you can see their beautiful large real tree in there.

sunroom

It’s a cozy space, just right for a sofa and chair.  The tree is stunning with all her collected vintage ornaments.

sunroom table

Side table.

sunroom tree

Beautiful tree dripping with vintage goodies.

sunroom builtins

She had built-ins added in here too to help corral her book collection. I imagine an author would be a book collector.

live tree
The tree was so lovely to look at.  I spotted some similar ornaments that I have too.

vintage ornaments

There’s nothing prettier than these old Shiny Brites.

built in sunroom

Built-ins on either side, just shallow enough to fit and holds a lot of things.

vignette on bookshelf

I love how she added some ornaments on the shelves to Christmas it up a little.

secretary filled with  Christmas

Back in the living room, the secretary in there holds an adorable collection of snowmen.  So cute!

Christmas collection

You can imagine that her grandkids love all of this vintage goodness, stored in the bottom of the entertainment center.

plant and tree

That tree is magnificent.

dining room

Back to the dining room, she has red walls and lots of pretty Blue Willow dishes.  Mary Kay shares all about this table setting and having a pretend dinner party over on this blog post, My Make Believe Christmas dinner party, so don’t miss that read!

red dining room

It definitely has a Ralph Lauren vibe.

window seat

A cozy window seat flanks one side of the dining room with huge windows looking out.

pillows

Pretty pillows in red and navy.

wall sconce

Cute Christmas display on a sconce.

hutch

The hutch is all decked out in fresh magnolia and her collection of vintage bottlebrush trees.  Love these too!

hutch vignette

These little trees are the cutest!

dr centerpiece

The center of the table is gorgeous with fresh greens, antlers, pinecones and a glass container of apples.  So pretty and I am not sure my pics do it justice.

Christmas greens on table

It truly was stunning to see.

table setting

Place setting with napkins she has scored along the way too.

to kitchen

She mentioned the light fixtures in here were a fun find along the way at some sale and she got them both hung up over her table, just the way she envisioned it.  They are beautiful too!

kitchen 1

Now let’s go into the kitchen. It’s nice and spacious and I think Kathy told me they have lived here 8 years and the kitchen was completed before they bought the house, but they added a few things in here.

kitchen 2

It’s a nice and modern updated space, but still has vintage charm.

kitchen 3

She did mention that they had that huge stained wood built-in cabinet built after they moved in and it looks like an antique. So pretty with lots of storage, I’m sure. Looks like it fits right in here.

kitchen sink

The kitchen window treatments are so charming.

Christmas in window

And I bet this deer head is vintage too.

plant on island

A plant on the island adds some beautiful green to the room.

table to kitchen

Isn’t this all so pretty?  I can hear you all oohing and ahhing with me over Mary Kay’s house.

bath

Moving into the hall bath, I love the vintage tile on the floor. It’s small gray and white checks and I love it.  She left the blue tiles that were here and worked with them and I think it’s gorgeous.

shower curtain

A charcoal and white toile fabric looks just right in here.

bath vanity

The black and white wallpaper gives such an English feel too and that mirror is perfect hanging over the skirted vanity.

bath wall

Gold sconces, an orchid in a trophy cup and a cute Santa towel, adds just the right touch in this bathroom.

I hope you enjoyed seeing Mary Kay Andrews home all decorated for Christmas as much as I did! What a treat it was to go in and get to take in all in and then photograph it to share with all of my readers.  Thank you, Kathy, for inviting me over to see your wonderful home. What a treat it was for me too!

I’m  sharing some gold and silver sparkly ideas for New Years Eve over at Wayfair today, so I’d love it if you check that out!

Top Projects 2013

And don’t forget Monday, I’m doing my Top Projects of 2013 link party to close out this year, so it will be very fun. If you have a post to link up, I hope you’ll stop by and do so.  I got a lot accomplished this year, did you?

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Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating Ideas, Feature Fri. 59 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claire says

    December 28, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    What a treat! As one of your other readers have commented, its so nice to see some color! And I love the real decorating that has that been accomplished over time and events. It is indeed very inviting and warm. I tend to be a “more is more” type of decorator, as Mary Kay identifies herself, and she is certainly as creative in her home as she is in her writing! I will enjoy taking this tour a few times! Thank you!

    Reply
  2. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    December 28, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    What an honor to scoop the Christmas home tour, Rhoda. Kathy’s home is beautiful- thanks so much for sharing it with us.

    Reply
  3. Deborah L Fry says

    December 28, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    Kathy’s home is gorgeous and your photography is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
    I will be keeping an eye out for a silver bowl like that one LOL 🙂

    Blessings,

    Deb

    Reply
  4. Katrina says

    December 29, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    LOVE her house!!! I love that she lives in a a gorgeous, cozy, inviting home and not a macmansion!! Love all her use of fresh greenery and blues and reds!!! Her house just looks like the perfect place for a Christmas gathering. I have seen pics of her beach house also and it is soooooo cute!!!

    Reply
  5. Helen says

    December 29, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    Thanks, Rhoda and Kathy for sharing this special treat! I’ve been crazy over Kathy’s books for years. I especially love her writing style, creating detailed scenes in my mind. Her home reflects her attention to details. I love her cottage!

    Reply
  6. Margaret Kelly Duffy says

    December 29, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Heriz Rugs, unpainted furniture, black and white kitchens, antiques, barley twist, staffordshire, blue and white, sterling silver,….the list goes on. It is all classic and timeless. Trendy decorating comes and goes, but the sophisticated and trained eye for decorating, always returns to the classics. This home is lovely!

    Reply
  7. Andrea says

    December 29, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    Rhoda…what a treat! Not only is Kathy’s home gorgeous…..but she is my favorite author! Her new book each year is my treat to myself my first day on the beach (gulf coast). the tough part is waiting to read it until we get to the beach! Just finished Christmas Bliss! My family and I also just visited Savannah and Tybee Island and I had hoped to stay in her Tybee home, but wasn’t able to …… no fear…..I took the long way to the beach every time and enjoyed it’s beautiful exterior. I wonder which of these beautiful rooms she writes in…..I know this year’s new book will not disappoint! Thanks for this tour!!!! Andrea in Illinois

    Reply
  8. Dawn says

    December 30, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    What a beautiful tour! Thanks for sharing it with us. I love the red light fixtures in Kathy’s dining room. Her whole home is just so very inviting.

    Reply
  9. Lucinda says

    December 31, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    I think this has to be one of my favorite holiday tours! I love that she kept the original tile in the bathroom. It’s the kind of home that makes you want to stay for a while so you can soak it all up.

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Happy New Year ~ Rhoda!

    Reply
  10. Kathg g says

    January 1, 2014 at 8:47 am

    What a beautiful home. I loved the home just seeing thd front entrance. Definately a home full of love.

    Reply
  11. The Quintessential Magpie Blog says

    January 1, 2014 at 9:06 am

    Rhoda, I have seen and been entertained in homes from mansions to cottages, but this home really is a home. It is absolutely adorable and demonstrates what such great attention to detail can do. I adore all of her collections, her choice of colors (our St. Augustine getaway is similar in exterior color!), her fabric choices, and just the general warmth here. I love that it has personality and is not some cookie cutter, copycat design. That is one thing I miss seeing in the magazines. So many of the houses these days look just alike. Not so here. You know someone interesting lives here.

    Thank both of you for sharing. It was such a treat! And kudos to her designer for helping to create this imaginative and very charming home! I want to go curl up with a good book in front of that wonderful tree and just gaze at those vintage snowmen and Santas! Swoon!

    xo

    Sheila

    Reply
  12. janice nowak says

    January 5, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your home this holiday season. It’s just beautiful and I personally strive to achieve this look myself each Christmas but apparently fall way short. It’s just lovely. Every nook and cranny. However, I would love to ask what the square footage of this lovely home is and would enjoy perhaps next season a Christmas tour of the rest of the home. It surprised me to see the foyer is behind the dining room, as the picture appears with the porch to be the front of the house. Just another surprise around each corner. Love it!!!! Thanks again Rhoda!!

    Reply
    • ANITA LEMMEN says

      January 8, 2014 at 7:17 pm

      I love this house, would also like to tour other rooms, I am getting out all my silver and giving it a polish, would like to get in touch with slip cover seamstress, love the tour.

      Anita

  13. Jennifer says

    January 10, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    I am a HUGE Mary Kay Andrews fan 🙂 Thanks for sharing her delightful home with us!

    Reply
  14. Ann says

    September 22, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    Would love to know what the name of the exterior turquoise color is??
    Thank you!

    Reply
  15. Lauren says

    February 26, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    This post was such a treat to read! I love diving into the details of homes. Is there any way that you could share the name of the color of the house exterior??? I am in planning to paint mine and ADORE this teal!!! 1000 thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 26, 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Hi, Lauren, I don’t know the color. Mary Kay has since sold this house and moved, but you could go over to her Facebook page (Mary Kay Andrews) and ask her there. She is active over there!

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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