Cottage Christmas in Round Top

Texas Countryside Cottage - The Cottage Journal

Sprinkled throughout the whitewashed house, bright rugs and large art keep the aesthetic cheery. “I’m notorious for selecting oversized, overscaled pieces for small rooms,” he admits, “but in today’s sometime humdrum society, a little whimsy is especially pleasing to the eye.”

Treasures like a seemingly life-size deer tell tales from Mike’s many travels, while stars of all sizes add a back-home “taste of Texas.” And although the holidays are never white in these parts, when the season rolls around, Mike adds plenty of merriment with his collection of understated accents. A soaring wooden tree, for example, was crafted out of repurposed house trim, while an antique wagon brimming with bears and jolly Saint Nick himself sits at its base.

Texas Countryside Cottage - The Cottage JournalTexas Countryside Cottage - The Cottage Journal - Stain Glass Antique Door

Mike’s father’s stories about growing up in the Depression era are what inspires this laid-back sentiment. “He felt fortunate to receive a fresh orange for Christmas. Imagine that,” Mike adds. “‘Simple’ can go really far during the hectic holidays. In today’s fast-moving world, you should focus on enjoying family and friends most of all.”