Monday, December 17, 2012

christmas lights mid-century modern style

I think if I had to pick my absolutely favorite thing about Christmas decorations, I would have to pick the lights. Christmas lights on homes are just so darn pleasant.

christmas lights mid-century modern style

But in Southern California (and I assume Florida and Hawaii), light wrapped palm trees kick off the holiday decorating season and are particularly awe inspiring.

Nothing says Christmas more to me than light wrapped Palm Trees. What is not to love?

christmas lights mid-century modern style


You think I am kidding? We live in a community called Irvine Terrace. It is one of the original communities in Corona del Mar, alongside Pacific Coast Highway and was constructed in the 1950's and the early 1960's. We pay a nominal Home Owner's Association fee of $490 annually. And what do we get for our $490? A fourteen foot roof limit (view protection) AND Christmas lights.

I love our lights.

christmas lights mid-century modern style


christmas lights mid-century modern style


These are the lights at the back entrance to the housing tract. Equally stupendous.

christmas lights mid-century modern style


christmas lights mid-century modern style


Cool tree on the hill that a nearly original resident wraps every year. I couldn't get a good picture so I had to do a weird effect. It is actually quite beautiful. Maybe I'll crawl up the hill in a week and try to get a closer picture actually in focus.

christmas lights mid-century modern style


The Fashion Island entrance takes on kind of a Stonehenge look at Christmas. Fashion Island is across the street from Irvine Terrace and is your basic, average, widely upscale shopping mall.

christmas lights fashion island


Fashion Island was in the news last weekend. We were sitting home exhausted after a long afternoon spent at Costco and Target and started hearing just a TON of sirens and helicopters. Christmas can be a very sad and desperate time for some.

christmas lights fashion island


christmas lights fashion island


christmas lights fashion island


Just like any neighborhood, we have a few people who really go all out with lights.

christmas lights irvine terrace

christmas lights irvine terrace


He looks a little embarrassed, doesn't he?

christmas lights irvine terrace

christmas lights irvine terrace



The all red house is one of my annual favorites.

christmas lights irvine terrace


christmas lights irvine terrace


The neighbor's next to the all red house do lots of green. Lovely.

christmas lights irvine terrace


The prior three homes (lion, red, and green) all line a cliff and have magnificent views of Newport Bay and Balboa Island. Because Irvine Terrace has fourteen foot roof limits, we have views of these homes' garages and, consequently, we could actually afford to buy in this housing tract many years ago. I just want to clear that up.

The house next door to ours scraped their mid-century and did sort of a Tuscan one story. Frankly, their mid-century needed to be scraped due to many, many poor remodels.

christmas lights irvine terrace


Their lights are awesome! Yay!

christmas lights irvine terrace


And the house across the street has a children's choir! How sweet.

christmas lights irvine terrace


And our house? What could be more mid-century then a charming scene of Santa dashing to the rooftop with his reindeer?

christmas lights irvine terrace


My dad made this years ago in his wood shop. It became too big of a project for him to put it out so Albert gladly took it over.

christmas lights irvine terrace

christmas lights irvine terrace

We love our Santa. And our wrapped Palm Trees.


For more beautiful Christmas decorations go check out The Inspired Room and The Cottage Magpie.

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15 comments:

  1. Don't get arrested climbing into neighbors yards. LOL. Seriously, this inspires me to wrap a tree here or there. Thanks for the ideas and beautiful pics!

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    1. You are right. I need to watch that. I have a pretty good lens and didn't encroach too much. And of course, Southern California. What yard? I want (Albert) to wrap our big palms really bad but Albert is kind of a kill joy.

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  2. The lights in your neighborhood are fantastic, and I love your wrapped palms and the Santa your dad made. I can just picture you in stealth mode, climbing up the hill to take pictures of your neighbor's tree! :)

    I live in a neighborhood with huge trees, and the homeowners a couple of streets over always wrap the ones in their yards. It's pretty impressive to see a whole block decorated that way. As much as I love the look, I have to admit I'm a bit of a killjoy like Albert. I'm way too lazy (and too cheap) to wrap the big pecan trees in my front yard. I can't imagine how many strands of lights that must take! Hmmmmm, now if I could only talk my SIL into doing it...

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    1. I love the wrapped trees. Honestly, I think most people pay to have them wrapped here, and then the lights just get cut off after Christmas. I am a little curious as to how much that costs. Yes, I need pictures of that tree, but the hill has a lot of ivy and stuff, so am afraid of **ahem** critters... e.g. rats.

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  3. The entrance to your tract is worth every penny you pay in homeowners fees--it's really pretty. And, yes, Leo looks a little disgruntled. That red bow just doesn't say "King of the Jungle."

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    1. Poor Leo. He look angry. Normally he looks regal.

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  4. Just wonderful! Love those palm trees! I feel quite lame now, though.

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  5. Rebecca, I have never seen lights as truly wonderful as these in all my life! You American's sure know how to knock yourselves out when it comes to decking the halls! Wow!

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    1. Aren't we whacko? In Southern California we don't have to contend with the weather like in the Midwest or East Coast. And it isn't summer like in your neck of the woods. So I think it is the perfect recipe for Christmas lights! Speaking of recipes...

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  6. It's so wonderful and festive where you are! I absolutely love your santa and reindeer!! I really like decorations in yards like your santa and the choir in your neighbours yard. Adds that something extra that lights alone don't do.x

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    1. Exactly Donna. Everyone needs plywood cutouts in their yard at Christmas.

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  7. Although I never have time to decorate much at my own house I just love to drive around and see all the creative and totally beautiful ways other people do it. This is absolutely gorgeous. Wrapping the tree trunks is probably one of my favorite displays. It almost makes you never want to take them down. Your dashing Santa is, well... DASHING!
    Love that you shared them... it was so fun to see. Really got me in the spirit!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Stacey! I love the wrapped trees the best. He is a dashing Santa for sure!

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