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.
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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."
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.
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.
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.
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