Passionate about imparting her style on her newly built property, Kate has shared her hints and tips on her decorating journey with her followers, @new_build_forever_home - ever since she got the keys. Here, we take a tour around her home as she continues the quest at Christmas - visiting rooms that don't inherently come with the traditional features associated with Christmas, such as the classic Victorian fireplace and wide open hallway. Read on and hear more about her story of interiors, DIY and style - and how she brought character, atmosphere and warmth to her newly built home for Christmas.
Tell us a little bit about your home Kate, and the process of buying a new build property?
We reserved our home when it was just a few bricks high back in February 2020. The coronavirus really slowed the process of the build, and we didn’t move in until January 2021. We chose this house type due to the layout which included a generous kitchen diner and a 1930’s style that came with bay windows and high ceilings. We chose to personalise the house as much as possible by adding the majority of the flooring ourselves, including the herringbone pattern LVT (luxury vinyl tile for those who don't know!) in the hallway and kitchen. We’ve continued to add character to each room and we’re currently working on the hallway and downstairs bathroom. I think this is our forever home, but I do love the idea of a renovation, so we’ll see.
“...we continued to personalise the space by removing some of the standard finishes, including the handles on the kitchen cabinets, and replacing them with handles that we felt suited our style.”
Did you make plans on how to stamp your style onto the interior before you moved in? Or has this been an evolution?
I decided to create an Instagram account to keep track of all the inspiration I had started to gather during the build process. I was excited for the opportunity to start from scratch with a blank canvas, but also a little bit daunted. I tried to remain focused on my desire to add as much character as possible to a new build home. I created mood boards for some rooms, whilst others have just evolved.
I love the look of period homes but didn’t like the idea of a renovation when we were looking to buy. My children were very young, and so we didn’t have the time. Therefore, we added ample character and features to our beautiful house instead, using panelling, colour and design choices. The only drawbacks to the house are the narrow hallway and small family bathroom, but you can’t have it all.
Do you decorate every room at Christmas? How do you add touches to other rooms of the house?
Christmas decorations appear in the kitchen, living room and hallway. I don’t tend to decorate the bedrooms, but sometimes the kids like to style up their spaces a little.
As the hallway is so narrow, I keep it simple in the entranceway and focus on the stairs. I use slender garlands to decorate the banister and this year I have giant honeycomb decorations to add to the garlands. I will also add some small touches to the narrow console table and mirror above. In the kitchen, I keep the decorations away from the surfaces as it’s a functional space. I focus on adding festive touches to the shelves and introducing Christmas tea towels. Last year I even made a suspended ceiling wreath over the dining table using a hula hoop!
We so often associate Christmas interiors with period features, such as the fireplace. Talk us through how you have decorated your hearth this year.
The fake chimney breast and shelves provide a great focal point in the living room without the need for a grand surround. The bioethanol burner creates a cosy atmosphere and the green paint and panelling elevate the space - I’m proud to say I designed and painted/panelled it myself! I haven’t decided on the final Christmas arrangement for this focal point yet. I currently have a mistletoe and pine swag hanging over the mirror and candles on the mantle. This swag is a great accessory because it’s so full and festive and easy to display. I chose to position these large paper trees and gifts on either side of the chimney breast to make the most of the feature. The tiny light-up trees on the shelf and the stars (bought from C&C a few years back) ensure that every corner has a little Christmas sparkle without it being too fussy, in order to keep the look in tune with my style. Closer to Christmas I will likely add real foliage for scent and to further enhance the mantlepiece with a larger arrangement, adding in tapered candles for additional glow and atmosphere.
What ideas do you have for your festive table this year?
My dining area is monochrome with off-black panelling halfway up the walls, so I like to keep the colour palette simple to complement this. This year I have opted for an embroidered linen table runner, sage linen napkins and luxury glassware, so the table feels really inviting. Candles are a must for me on any table arrangement as the quality of light they give off adds so much atmosphere. The candlelight also catches the gold on the champagne coupes perfectly. I plan to display two of the champagne coupes on my kitchen shelves all year round and they will stay there way past Christmas. They’re beautiful and functional and they add style and character when on display.
“Candles are a must for me on any table arrangement as the quality of light they give off adds so much atmosphere. The candlelight also catches the gold on the champagne coupes perfectly. ”
Once Christmas is done are there any decorations you like to keep up to keep the cosy feel through January?
Absolutely! I usually remove the foliage from the stars and keep them up all year round. I’ll keep the eucalyptus tree up - for the light and to keep the atmosphere cosy. The eucalyptus accent tree makes such a statement. I love how cosy the room feels when the tree is on. Plus, in the summer, the tress can be used outside so it’s incredibly versatile. Any fairy lights I have dotted around on shelves usually stay in place until Spring.
And finally Kate, once it's all over - do you have any exciting DIY plans for the New Year we can look forward to following?
In the New Year, I will be focussing on overhauling the downstairs bathroom with a storage cupboard for cats and shoes. I’m currently deciding on paint and paper and love this part of the process. Into the Sprig, I will likely begin to focus on the garden. The garden is split over two levels. The top level is decking, and the bottom level is grass. I have plans for a patio and pergola on the bottom level and hope to see my plans come to life soon.
If you’re inspired by the warmth of Kate's home, find more seasonal inspiration
with our Winter season Edit and our Christmas collections.
Interior Design by Kate Hickmott, @new_build_forever_home
Photography by Kate.