Home For Christmas
Story Gina Makkar | Photography Larry Arnal
The holidays are a great time to create memories, and Michelle Berwick of Michelle Berwick Design fashioned a whimsical scene at her own home to delight the senses during the 14th Annual Pickering College Holiday Home Tour.
The tour, a signature event in York Region, showcases beautiful homes adorned in holiday splendour with themes created by York Region designers, decorators and florists. All the proceeds support Pickering College and local charities. There’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit.
“Every house on last year’s tour was different,” says Michelle. Her theme, Boho Glam Christmas, was a blend of relaxed style and luxe glamour. “They let me run with it,” she says. “There were pops of fun, nothing too serious and it had a youthful vibe to it. It was different from what people on the tour are used to seeing. They found it refreshing.”
The non-traditional colour scheme incorporates black, white, blush and hints of deep maroon. In the family room, a cosy sectional from Niche Decor is accented with sumptuous pillows from Tonic Living. Graphic wallpaper from Drop It Modern adds a contemporary touch. A custom media unit from Hartley Built was custom-crafted to slide seamlessly into place. The tree can be enjoyed from every vantage point on the main floor, and fluffy sheep from Niche Decor add whimsy.
Michelle renovated her home a few years ago, hiring Rockwood Contracting to help update the space. Luxe new kitchen cabinetry from Foxglove Design includes a showstopping vibrant blue island. Caesarstone counters and a glossy white backsplash set in a herringbone pattern from Tilemaster add personality. Counter stools with clean, simple lines from Urban Barn complete the space.
When decorating the kitchen for the tour, small details, like geometric, burnished-metal vases, tied into the gold accents found throughout. Sweet little reindeer and mini fir trees brought the earthiness of the winter season indoors.
In the dining room, a black Christmas tree makes a bold statement. “My philosophy is that I don’t worry about what others want to see,” says Michelle. “I think people appreciate my design style for what it is.” The table from Urban Barn is festooned with floral arrangements from Room to Bloom in Keswick. They also provided the flowers and greenery throughout the home. “They did an insane job with the flowers. I use them all the time now.”
Michelle admits that styling a house from top to bottom is no small feat. “It was a lot of work to keep it decorated and pristine with two kids in the house,” she laughs. She designed several of the areas with her children in mind. In the shared children’s bathroom, the tub brims with ornaments from Canadian Tire, a creative addition. Subway tiles, a Roman shade and a rug from Tonic Living complete the space. Each of the bedrooms was treated to its own mini tree with ornaments suitable for kids. “Lots of fun, nothing serious,” says Michelle.
In the master bedroom, the bed is made winter-ready with a luxe faux-fur throw. A patterned rug ties into the graphic elements found throughout the home. Nightstands from Niche Decor were treated to simple holiday adornments, and an oversize wreath in the window adds drama.
Michelle says the overall aesthetic lends itself to relatable design, and she takes a high-low approach, sourcing quality, made-to-last pieces and interspersing them with DIY projects and price-conscious purchases that allow her to switch things up easily without the daunting price tag.
“I think you’ve got to stay true to your home’s character when shopping for holiday décor,” says Michelle. “There are so many things out there and a lot to choose from; there’s the Boho vibe, traditional, wintery. You’ve got to stay true to your home’s character.”
