As if pulled straight out of a fairytale, this picturesque family home exudes all of the Christmas spirit and holiday joy for miles around. From the luscious green plants to the sparkling Christmas ornaments, each decoration tells its own story. “I pride myself in having a warm and welcoming home,” remarks homeowner Michelle Millonas. Through much thought and consideration, Michelle has curated her home to reflect the blend of family traditions and memories, whilst still maintaining its Christmas charm.
Although the initial decorating process began in November, Michelle is always on the lookout for new designs and compositions. “I am sketching ideas pretty much all year round,” Michelle explains. “I may see something in nature or even during a visit to a vintage shop that begins the creative process for a new idea.” And these ideas are brought to life in Michelle’s designs, starting with the careful unboxing and sorting of Christmas decor. “I am very methodical in storing my decor,” says Michelle. “Each box is labeled by room and even area of the room, and I have pictures of past years,” she explains.
In fact, every room in the house has a focal point, placed with effort and intentionality. In the dining room, with all its vintage decorations and traditional Christmas greens and reds, is a tribute to Michelle’s grandmother. “My grandmother was my greatest inspiration,” Michelle notes fondly. “She taught me how to decorate a Christmas tree and she said, ‘If you can still see green, you don’t have enough ornaments on the tree.’” And sure enough, each tree in the home is decorated to the maximum, with twinkling lights and the vibrant colors of both inherited and homemade ornaments enveloping the trees. Christmas colors and motifs can be seen throughout the home, whether in homage to past traditions or incorporating newer holiday trends. Located in the music room, a classic nativity scene is present, adorned by various plants and figurines. This scene is contrasted by the collection of violins hanging on the wall, all in various states of size and color. “The violins were my husband’s grandfather’s and were found in the basement of his childhood home, so we wanted to prominently display them as tribute,” Michelle says. Her attention to detail creates a warm, familiar environment in her home, creating a space that is welcoming and nostalgic.
Even in the kitchen, a homemade gingerbread house is placed, decorated with candy collected throughout the year. A standing reminder of the family’s annual gingerbread house making tradition, and the joy that is shared throughout the family. Outside, the front porch is taken into careful consideration as well. Michelle’s mother, a florist, helps to transform the entranceway, carefully arranging potted plants with deep red ribbons and ornaments. Two wreaths are hung on the front doors, adorned with pinecones and berries, warmly inviting all who come to visit. The decorating process has become an important tradition, where Michelle states “It’s fun to see how it evolves every year into something really beautiful. I love that it’s the first thing guests see when coming to my home.” For Michelle, the most important part of her home is not the decorations or the furnishings, but rather the shared space that she can enjoy with her family. Every decoration is memorable not because of their design and quality, but rather because of the shared joy that these decorations bring to Michelle’s family. As Michelle puts it, her end goal is to sit with her family and enjoy the beautiful home that has been transformed. “We leave everything up until February to make the winter season seem less dreary after the Holiday bustle. Decorated trees come down first—but I tend to leave the trees up with just twinkling lights a bit longer because they just make me happy”.
