A traditional red and white scheme feels natural in this cottage on Ontario's Lake Simcoe. The look is warm and cozy, perfect for the Begg family's Christmas rituals.
Every second year, Style at Home design editor Stacy Begg and her extended family spend the holidays at their year-round cottage on Ontario’s Lake Simcoe. Seven adults and nine kids gather to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and revel in the quiet joy of the idyllic wintry landscape. For the Begg family, this means skating on the lake, bundled-up walks through the woods, hearty meals and plenty of hot chocolate (or spiked eggnog for the grownups). The holiday magic is brought to life in the snug space with a traditional red and white scheme and natural elements, such as evergreen boughs from the property. Here, Stacy lets us in on how she sets the dreamy Christmas scene.
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House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Candy cane colour palette
A festive candy cane-coloured Christmas palette was easy to integrate into the cottage’s existing neutral decor. Red and white drapes and toss cushions were installed in the living room for the holidays and are easily swapped out at the end of the season.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Candy cane colour palette
A festive candy cane-coloured Christmas palette was easy to integrate into the cottage’s existing neutral decor. Red and white drapes and toss cushions were installed in the living room for the holidays and are easily swapped out at the end of the season.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Traditional red and white
In the living room, a fir Christmas tree is adorned with red and white decorations – many are heirlooms – along with a few rustic ones, which create a look that’s traditional but not fussy.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Embellished fireplace
Stacy reveals that there’s always a fire crackling during the winter season. The original brick fireplace is embellished with a simple garland, matching wreath and, of course, a pair of stockings hung by the chimney with care.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Craft nook
A craft nook is the ideal spot for a present-wrapping station – complete with Christmas tunes playing in the background. Cedar wreaths are hung from the door frame with long lengths of shiny red ribbon.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Light-filled kitchen
A spacious, light-filled kitchen is especially useful at Christmas. “There’s always someone cooking up something delicious in here during the holidays,” says Stacy. She added casters to a small table to create the movable kitchen island, which provides extra countertop.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Decorated dinner table
The family enjoys a traditional Christmas dinner at the dining table, set with natural touches including linen table runners, seasonal place cards, wooden tea light holders and pots, mini birch logs and potted rosemary plants (which resemble petite evergreens).
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Festive bedroom decor
One of the five bedrooms shows off the classic festive scheme used throughout the cottage. A grey and white checkered duvet set is paired with plenty of cozy linens as well as a woolly red Hudson’s Bay blanket.
House tour: A traditional red and white Christmas
Bright entryway
The bright entryway houses warm jackets, scarves and waterproof boots for hours of outdoor fun – meaning no frostbite for Style at Home design editor Stacy Begg and her family. During their Christmas vacation at the cottage, the Begg clan enjoys taking post-prandial walks, sledding and going for leisurely skates on Ontario’s picturesque Lake Simcoe.
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