Now that the dust has settled, literally, in the recently renovated home of designer Jackie Glass, nestled in the heart of Niagara Escarpment’s incredibly beautiful wine country, Glass was excited to decorate her new home for the holidays for the very first time. After two years of missing Christmas, due to the constant chaos caused by the renovation, it’s easy to understand why she wanted to keep the holiday decor simple and low-key.
But for Glass, this didn’t mean ignoring her lifetime urge to inject a touch of holiday glitz and glam into her decor. Even if a little recycling of old decorations from her previous Hamptonstyle home were all she had to kick-start the theme in her new modern home. After all, that’s what creative people do, right? Create incredible spaces with what you have, even if it’s only a four-year-old, pre-lit white-flocked Christmas tree – not very modern – and a few odd, white Christmas balls.
Jackie’s house of glass
As only designer Jackie Glass does best, a freshly decorated home featuring her signature neutral palette, inspired by the incredible natural woodland views through the magnificent floor-to-ceiling glass walls, celebrates Christmas with a touch of glitz and glam in a sophisticated monochromatic black, white, grey and silver palette. “After years of renovation chaos, I wanted to create a calm yet joyous holiday spirit in my new home. A peaceful place where my husband and I could celebrate the holidays in a serene environment with our friends and family, many of whom have been so supportive through our gruelling renovations,” says Glass.
Here, she invites us to step into her stunning mid-century modern glass house as she reveals how she lovingly created a simple elegant holiday decor by pairing favourite old decorations from Christmases past with a few new bits and bobs to pay homage to her home’s sleek modern style.
Hamptons meets mid-century modern
Glass’s previous home was designed with the popular Hampton’s-style esthetic of the early 2000s. Its Christmas decor (featured in Reno & Decor Dec/Jan 2018 issue) is a tough sell for Glass’s new mid-century modern look in her new home. By choosing just a few elements, like the white pre-lit flocked tree, some traditional family ornaments and a few new decorations, Glass was able to pull off a modern look that looks beautiful in the window overlooking the snow-blanketed woodlands beyond.
Glitz & glam ornaments
To help modernize the flocked Christmas tree, Glass chose a monochromatic collection of geometric-shaped ornaments in grey, white, black and glass with a touch of glitter to trim the tree. Using this simple palette for the holidays creates an elegant look that can be easily enhanced with a pop of a favourite colour without sacrificing the overall look.
Snow-covered woodlands
From Glass’s living room, the views of the freshly snow-blanketed Niagara Escarpment woodlands bathed in golden rays of winter sun naturally set the tone for the room’s nature-inspired holiday decor. “I chose natural boughs, pinecones, glass, white and silver accents to decorate this serene space for the holidays. It’s where we would entertain our friends and family while enjoying the glorious views of gently falling snow so I didn’t want any holiday decor to distract from the views,” says Glass.
“FROM GLASS’S LIVING ROOM, THE VIEWS OF THE FRESHLY SNOW-BLANKETED NIAGARA ESCARPMENT WOODLANDS BATHED IN GOLDEN RAYS OF WINTER SUN NATURALLY SET THE TONE FOR THE ROOM’S NATURE INSPIRED HOLIDAY DECOR.”
Wrap it up
Glass kept the theme going with gifts wrapped in inexpensive paper picked up at the discount store. Who knew kraft paper in tan, white and black, trimmed in luxe double-sided satin or sheer ribbon, could look so chic?! Glass added a few gifts wrapped in coordinating coloured metallic papers in keeping with her palette.
Festive bar cart beauty
Be prepared for invited and unexpected guests stopping by to celebrate the season. “I always have a pretty bar cart fully stocked and ready for any holiday occasion.” Glass has decorated an acrylic and silver bar cart with a few evergreen boughs, mini-lights and ornaments to add a little glitter.
Dining room glam
In the dining room, for Glass it’s all about the view no matter the season. Glass accents, a few natural boughs and pinecones is all it takes to set the stage for a winter-white Christmas celebration. The gas fireplace and a delicious holiday feast complete the look and elevate the spirit of the holidays when family and friends fill the room with laughter and love.
When guests arrive, Glass’s covered main entrance porch sets the scene for the holiday celebrations underway inside. “Year-round we spend many quiet hours watching the dogs on the lawn in the early morning and before bedtime on this cosy covered porch. This year we’ll add a heater!” says Glass.
SOURCES:
HOME DESIGN by Jackie Glass, Jackie Glass Inc LIVING ROOM: RUG, Imperial Rug FLOOR, Lauzon Flooring FURNITURE, through Jackie Glass Inc. DINING ROOM: Dekton FIREPLACE WALL, Cosentino FLOOR, Lauzon Flooring FURNITURE, through Jackie Glass Inc.
Photos: Karen Kirk