Holiday Homes 2025

CHRISTMAS CORNUCOPIA Mottahedeh’s Duke of Gloucester china, a perennial favorite, lays the foundation for a tableau that trades traditional holiday hues and motifs for a mix of gilded finery and radiant ripe fruits. In an oversize brass vessel, paperwhites nestled in a base of floral moss and lush Selaginella take center stage. Bright orange kumquats and Lady apples complement the room’s regal navy walls, making dark blue linens a natural fit. Pair the dinnerware with a gold-rimmed plate and a crystal clear charger etched with an artful lattice border, anchoring each setting with a gilt place mat. Heirloom silver goblets and flatware top off the scene. JUBILANT SPREAD On sideboards and additional surfaces, fashion vignettes that bring the beauty of the tabletop full circle. A towering bouquet of white snapdragons…

“CHRISTMAS WAVES A MAGIC WAND OVER THIS WORLD, AND BEHOLD, EVERYTHING IS SOFTER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL.”— NORMAN VINCENT PEALE, AUTHOR Basking in serene natural light, a tranquil breakfast nook reprises the beloved blue-and-white scheme. Antique china, collected on the homeowner’s travels to Scotland, layers seamlessly with more contemporary pieces—from burl wood chargers to bamboo-style flatware. A trio of miniature ginger jar ornaments hung from satin ribbon in navy and dusty blue hues embellishes the classic cedar wreath dotted with dried orange slices. Below, a twosome of ironstone cachepots houses rosemary topiaries, while simple arrangements of orchids and creamy roses garnished with fresh greenery ground the table’s center.…

FINER THINGS At each setting, one perfect peony, along with a tiny sliver of cedar, is placed in a glittery ornament to serve as a place card. The dining room’s dazzling chandelier is reflected in the mirror above the mantel where Gala apples rest amid a beribboned garland of greenery. SEASONAL SCENE A beautiful bouquet of blossoms and fruits in rich hues brings a regal touch to the display, enhanced by green-and-gold goblets. Beneath an ornate mirror, a seasonal vignette features a potted peppermint amaryllis and a malachite box, as well as serving pieces in Christian Dior’s Gaudron Malachite china pattern that graces the majestic table setting.…

A fir surrounded by neatly wrapped parcels gains sculptural elegance from calla lilies and oranges, all arranged on a classic piecrust table. TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE A snow-white kitchen provides a pristine backdrop for a tree in a chinoiserie pot, echoed by diminutive transferware plates and ginger jars hung upon the branches. Ruby bows add a finishing touch and pick up the striking hue of poinsettia petals. Twinkling strands of tinsel and mercury glass ornaments recall holidays of old on a presentation bathed in the soft glow of tea lights. A silver tray plays off the sparkly streamers, while a crowning star evokes the wonder of the very first Noel. SILVER AND GOLD Basking in gentle sunlight, a slender gilded tree shines vibrantly beneath orbs tinted in a spectrum of sugarplum hues.…

CUP OF CHEER As Christmas draws near, it doesn’t take much to ready your home for the merry moments ahead. Leave existing mantel decorations in place, and simply incorporate a garland of juniper and cedar interspersed with red carnations, white tea roses, holly, and hypericum berries. To add height, pull out a couple of favorite silver goblets, and use soaked floral foam to hold freshly cut ‘Blue Point’ juniper. Nestle red berries around the lip of the cup for a jolly finishing touch. Create a striking centerpiece using a tiered stand and an assortment of small silver cups brimming with Fraser fir, spruce, cedar, red carnations, holly, and hypericum berries. Fill in the tiers around the vessels with pine cones, greenery, and more holly. Make extra arrangements to top table…

Shortly after autumn’s pumpkins and pine cones are tucked away, the Christmas spirit begins to fill the Booker home with warmth and joy. “We start on Thanksgiving night. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite traditions,” says Deidre Booker, whose family of four looks forward to bedecking a farm-fresh tree together every year. “I love it when the whole house is decorated, and I can just stand back to enjoy it. I’m very sentimental about different pieces from my childhood or that I’ve collected or bought somewhere special, like on our honeymoon,” Deidre says. “I know where every ornament is on the tree.” In addition to the grand holiday centerpiece, swags of greenery lend flair to everyday décor throughout the house. From lighting to paint colors, Deidre curated the home to…