House Tours

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Images: Donna Griffith 

House Tours

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Two sisters prepare for a holiday party that's anything but predictable. Because when it comes to Christmas, tropical is about as far from traditional as you can get.

 

There’s a first time for everything. Jeanette Seymour bought her first solo home four years ago, a two-bedroom Toronto rowhouse that looks transplanted from the streets of a quaint English village. But when it came time to host her first holiday soiree there last year, Jeanette, a kindergarten teacher, wanted it to seem like she’d decked her halls and dressed her dining room a dozen times before. “I planned to have friends over for cocktails, but I’d never really decorated my own house for Christmas,” she says. “I’d always celebrated at my parents’ place.”

Enter Jeanette’s sister, stylist and cookbook author Sasha Seymour, who helped her younger sibling come up with a plan and a holiday decor palette that would suit the 850-square-foot space. Though Jeanette’s place exudes English country charm on the outside, the interior is pure feminine glamour, from the mirror-clad walls and vintage oil paintings to the French doors and retro checkerboard-patterned bathroom floor. “It’s light and airy inside, so the last thing I wanted was to bring in the traditional deep reds or heavy tartans of Christmas,” says Jeanette. “They would have dominated my small space.”

Sasha’s suggestion? She would update Jeanette’s existing decor by creating a tropical foundation of turquoise, white and seagrass, then layering in juicy accents of coral and green – suitable for everyday, but amplified for the holidays.
 

Photo Gallery

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House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Festive four-foot tree

A four-foot tall Christmas tree, dressed with vintage ornaments to match the pops of colour in the artwork and toss cushions, sits in the corner of the living room

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Velvet toss cushions

When dressing homeowner Jeanette Seymour's living room for an upcoming holiday party, Sasha (her stylist sister) suggested switching out Jeanette's usual toss cushions for velvet ones. "Velvet is cozy for winter," Sasha explains. "Plus, it lends weight to the tropical vibe."

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Fireplace mantel

Eucalpytus boughs adorn the fireplace mantel in the living room, enhancing the quiet still-life oil painting. "We used eucalyptus everywhere because it's not as heavy or as traditional as sprcue or fir," says Jeanette.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Dining room tree

Sasha brought a tall, slender Christmas tree into the dining room and wrapped its pot with robin's egg blue fabric for a clean look.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Brass for warmth

Patinated brass adds a warmth to the bar area atop a mirrored console in front of a mirrored wall.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Spirit of the holidays

"I wanted to capture the spirit of the holidays without the massive effort," says Jeanette.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Dining room makeover

While updating the all-white dining room for the holidays, Sasha gave it a mini makeover. For a punchy, party-ready look, she suggested coral drapery with graphic Greek key detailing on the leading edge and a valance for a polished vibe. Vinage white dining chairs were reupholstered with a bold green malachite print.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Eucalyptus wreath

In the bedroom, the fresh eucalyptus wreath hints at the holidays, but still blends with the decor, matching the sage green nightstand.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Vibrant decorative accents

The bottom shelf of the nightstand comes alive with brightly wrapped gifts that mirror the vibrant hues in the toss cushions on the bed.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday

Freshening-up station

The bathroom dressing table, which once belonged to the Seymour sisters' grandmother, serves as a freshening-up station for guests, complete with clean towels, perfume and hand cream. Green and pink accents bring a preppy palette to the predominantly black and white space.

Image by: Style at Home By: Beth Hitchcock Source: Donna Griffith

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House Tours

House tour: Bright and bohemian holiday