BH&G Farmhouse Christmas

Merry Christmas It’s the most joyous time of the year, and farmhouse holiday decorating captures the spirit of the season with simplicity, comfort, and traditions. On these pages you’ll find home designs, handmade projects, and ideas to enhance the gladdening moments we all treasure. Our featured homeowners deck their halls with fresh-cut greens, cozy textures, and lots of sparkly lights. We hope you’ll be inspired by crafted gift wrap and ornament ideas (page 74), outdoor decorating (page 92), and vintage collections beautifully displayed (page 42). No matter your farmhouse decorating approach, each style embodies Christmas joy. Turn the pages to find inspiration for every room of your farmhouse. We wish you the most heartwarming holiday season yet!…

GREAT CLIPS SNIP SPRIGS FROM YOUR BACKYARD EVERGREENS, ASK FOR DISCARDED CLIPPINGS AT A TREE FARM OR GREENHOUSE, OR VISIT A FLORIST FOR SPECIALTY VARIETIES. 1 RUSSIAN SAGE Silver-gray stems seem to shimmer in winter gardens and seasonal arrangements. 2 & 4 JUNIPER Breathe in (ahh) the pine scent of Grey Guardian (2) and ‘Sea Green’ (4) juniper. 3 BOXWOOD Even when cut, the glossy leaves hold their bright green color and shine. 5 MYRTLE When rubbed, myrtle’s leaves have an aroma similar to eucalyptus. 6 SPRUCE Save the lower branches from your live tree to make a forest of mini sibs. 7 ROSEMARY Enjoy the fragrance in December, then put the sprigs to use in the kitchen come January.…

SAINT NICHOLAS DAY Also known as the Feast of Saint Nicholas, this popular European holiday has been celebrated since the fourth century on December 6, marking the death of the Catholic saint. St. Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness and is an early inspiration for today’s Santa Claus. To celebrate, children would fill their shoes with carrots and hay on the night of December 5 to feed the saint’s horse as he traveled across the countryside. During the night, the horse feed is replaced with candy and gifts as a morning surprise for the kids. Advent Calendars Believed to have originated in the 19th century when German Protestants would leave chalk marks on doors to signify the countdown to December 25, Advent calendars remain a way to mark the days that…

. SANTA CLAUS HAS HIS WORKSHOP FULL OF HARDWORKING ELVES. Becky Cunningham has her own dream team: a personal knack for do-it-yourself and a husband with carpentry skills. Working side by side on their Louisiana farmhouse, this couple’s creative endeavors easily rival the buzz of Santa’s workshop. “If I show Shannon a photo of something, he can build it,” Becky says of her husband’s talents. His woodworking skills, along with her innate gift for design, have helped the couple turn their one-story modular home into a welcoming showstopper filled with vintage, farmhouse style. “The house was pretty plain, but we have customized it to fit us,” she says. It all started with the kitchen island, Becky remembers. “That one item inspired everything. When I saw it at a flea market, I thought, This is…

GELATIN MOLDS A Pleasant Perch Vintage aluminum gelatin molds make delightful stands for bottle-brush trees. Spray-paint a few molds with metallic hues and let dry. Invert molds and use hot glue to secure trees on top of half the molds. Remove hangers from ball ornaments and, with the shaft side down, use hot glue to secure balls to the remaining molds before gluing trees on top. Adorn some with glittery chenille stems or ribbons. Jingle All the Way Vintage gelatin molds give this trendy bell accent, left, a twist. Simply string molds, painted-gold beads, and jingle bells onto leather cord and tie to stockings, a wreath, or the tree. Turn to page 30 for detailed how-to instructions. Molded to Perfection You can fashion this rustic wreath, opposite, in 15 minutes flat. Gather about 30 vintage metal…

FOR ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION around Christmas, the season can also exhaust us—which makes Allie Lundeen think of her favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” One lyric, especially, resonates. “‘The weary world rejoices,’” she says. “This world feels very weary, but through the baby Jesus we have the hope of eternity. It’s not just about gifts and decor.” With that lyric in mind, Allie and her husband, Ryan, keep their focus on faith and family. Even amid the holiday hubbub, they take the narrower path of choosing to make memories with their brood and follow traditions, many of which were passed down from her own mother, Sue Young. “My mom was a huge influence; she went all out with the decorating,” Allie says. “I still remember the magic of it…