Every family has decorations they’ve held onto for years or ornaments passed down from previous generations, but if you’re looking to add some new pieces to your collection, or you’re decorating your very first home or tree for the season… what better way to be inspired than taking a holiday house tour?
This year the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington offered a tour of three distinctive homes in each of Burlington, Mount Hope and Hamilton. Elizabeth Cabral and Eddie Gomes, owners of Epiphany Style in Burlington, decorated several rooms in the Burlington home, located in the Tyandaga community.
Themes & Colour Schemes
So what are shop owners and designers using to create the perfect holiday atmosphere this year? “We tend to be eclectic and use a lot of earthy tones and natural materials like stone, wood and burlap,” explains Cabral. They use a winter wonderland theme and bring the outside in, so some trees look like they have snow on them, and they like to feature wooden animals.
White is a popular colour again this year. “We’re using a lot of white. We tend to stay traditional in the sense that we always bring in red or green – different shades, but this year it’s going to be a bright Christmas red or traditional holiday red and also burgundy tones,” says Cabral.
Other themes that have taken off this year are using metals (such as chrome or brushed nickel, which Cabral says look very nice with burlap); whimsical decorations (think plush moose and reindeer bundled up in sweaters and scarves); glittery pieces in champagne or silver; and vintage-inspired ornaments. “They blend very nicely with modern decorations,” she says.
True Tradition
A look that never goes out of style is traditional red and green, though shades may vary from year to year. “We like the traditional look and we tell people that you don’t need to decorate from scratch,” says Cabral. “Use whatever you’re comfortable with and whatever gives you that warm feeling. Trends are trends whereas with the traditional colours, there are pieces you could keep forever and they’ll always be in style.”
Added Touches
Another room that garners attention during the holidays these days is the kitchen. “People are starting to decorate their kitchens a lot more,” notes Cabral, who loves to use apothecary jars. During the holidays they can be filled with decorative balls, small ornaments, or cinnamon sticks with red ribbon. “It’s the easiest way to change it up and it’s inexpensive,” she says. 
Another simple way to decorate is with popular word signs. Just swap out your year round art for some Christmas signs or place them on the mantle. Christmas pillows also make a big impact, notes Cabral. Fragrant greenery or juniper can be hung off a dining room chandelier or a kitchen fixture, or you can drape some greenery sprays off a cabinet for a nice effect. Don’t forget the front door. “Putting a wreath or something different on the front door makes a big impact and you don’t necessarily have to do anything else. It’s very inviting,” says Cabral.
From open houses and cocktail parties, to overnight guests and Christmas morning, Cabral says the main thing is to “Keep it homey, warm and inviting,” says Cabral. “Because that’s what Christmas is all about.” See photos from the tour online: holidayhousetour.ca
Editor’s note: Not all products featured in the printed edition of this article are from Epiphany’s store, however all decorations featured in this online version are. We apologize for any confusion.
LOCAL LINKS –
Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington Holiday House Tour
holidayhousetours.ca
Epiphany Style, Burlington
epiphanystyle.ca
