Homes

Inside Aly Velji’s Cozy Calgary Christmas Makeover

Antique mirrors, fresh greenery and a whole lot of ribbon bring understated holiday charm to this Willow Park home.

By Alyssa Hirose /
Velji lighting a candle on a credenza.
Jess Hogan

A wish list for a custom-built home—even when it’s checked twice—sometimes won’t cover all of the specific details required for everyday living. Luckily for the owner of a brand-new house in Calgary’s Willow Park neighbourhood, designers like Aly Velji are even more thorough than St. Nick.

Antiqued mirror tiles, candles and holiday decorations above a dining room credenza in a Calgary home
MIRROR, MIRROR: The antique mirror makes the cozy dining space feel larger, and the mismatched holiday decor on the credenza below can easily be moved to make a serving station for big family dinners. “It’s super easy for entertaining,” says Velji. Photo by Jess Hogan.

Velji was first contacted about the project a few months after the client had moved in, so the homeowner had by then settled into her daily routine. “There were certain areas in her home that just weren’t quite right,” the designer explains. The furniture needed a refresh; the kitchen and living room required more storage; the placement of the dining room light fixture was off.

Small Changes, Big Difference

So, the creative director of Alykhan Velji Designs and his team worked their magic. They de-waterfalled the kitchen island to create more room for tucking away appliances and other cooking essentials. They designed and installed a custom built-in TV bench with both open and closed storage (plus a nook for an ottoman that can be pulled out for extra seating in a pinch). The dining area light was adjusted and a too-small art piece was replaced with antiqued mirrors arranged in a tile pattern, which quickly became the room’s showpiece. “I just love antique mirrors—they have more character than just plain mirrors, adding variation and texture to a space,” Velji says. These small renovations made a big difference to the homeowner’s daily experience, so as the holidays approached, she sought out Velji once again to decorate for the season.

Neutral Calgary living room with a gallery wall, holiday greenery and a light wood coffee table
The living room pairs a gallery wall and warm neutrals with understated seasonal greenery. Photo by Jess Hogan.

“She said, ‘I trust you, this is your budget, just go to town,’” the designer recalls with a laugh. In this case, “going to town” didn’t mean drenching the home in red and green—instead, Velji took cues from the existing neutral palette to add a layer of elegant cheer.

Bright living room with a sofa, leather chairs, tall windows and evergreen garlands tied with ribbon
Evergreen garlands and ribbons dress up the living room’s tall windows without overwhelming its neutral palette. Photo by Jess Hogan.

Mix, Match and Make It Merry

That showstopper antique mirror in the dining room was decked out with faux wreaths, and the credenza below was dressed up with tapered candles, ceramic and wooden trees, and a wooden bead garland. The candlesticks vary in material and sit at various heights, and the ceramic trees show off a range of patterns and colours. “I feel like a lot of people take holiday decorating a little too seriously and think everything has to be matchy-matchy,” the designer says. “We’ve really mixed and matched different styles here… the client didn’t want anything too overly fussy.” Many of the decorations are natural, and some are even edible: there are pomegranates on the kitchen island and a bowl filled with dried citrus slices in the dining room.

Evergreen wreath with red ribbon hanging on a curving mirror above a black dresser
An evergreen wreath adds a festive touch to a sculptural mirror, while the Christmas tree peeks through its reflection. Photo by Jess Hogan.
Holiday dining room with cane-back chairs, a linen runner, greenery and antiqued mirrors
NEW TRADITIONS: Velji says the homeowner wanted Christmas decorations that “she could use over and over again,” so the designer focused on textured, neutral details that vibe with the home’s existing palette. Photo by Jess Hogan.
Black kitchen island styled with pomegranates and greenery, with red ribbon bows on the stools
FRUIT SALAD: “Kitchens are functional spaces, and sometimes you don’t want to clutter them up with too much stuff,” says the designer. To keep the countertop clean, he chose a few simple vases and bowls to fill with boughs and pomegranates. Photo by Jess Hogan.

Put a Ribbon on It

A touch of holiday whimsy shows up too, in the form of velvet ribbons. They’re artfully tied around candlesticks and the evergreen boughs that hang over the backs of the kitchen stools. At the top of the Christmas tree, instead of the traditional star or angel, there’s a chocolate brown bow. “It’s a little bit old-school,” Velji explains, adding that the bows are a nod to festive ’80s decor—they pack a cute and playful punch and they’re not pricey. “You can buy beautiful ribbons from the dollar store,” he says.

Amber glass candlesticks decorated with soft brown velvet ribbon bows
A pair of velvet bows gives glass candlesticks a simple holiday update. Photo by Jess Hogan.
Miniature faux evergreen and pale ceramic house ornaments arranged on stacked books
TINY TREES: The miniature faux evergreens can be moved around throughout the years (or even day to day). “You can place them anywhere,” says Velji. Photo by Jess Hogan.

The rest of the tree is adorned with ornaments made from fabric, glass and wood, lights shaped like candlesticks and vintage-inspired brass bells. “Really textural ornaments make the tree sing,” says the designer. That same texture continues outside, where statement planters overflow with bright greenery, willow boughs and branches dotted with cheery red berries. The front-door wreath is, of course, done up with several bows.

Christmas tree decorated with warm lights and neutral ornaments beside a white fireplace and tan leather chair
SKIRT AROUND: Instead of a traditional tree skirt, the Christmas tree stand is concealed with a woven cover. The candlesticks are sourced from a variety of stores, including local Calgary shop Labode, as well as HomeSense and Crate and Barrel. Photo by Jess Hogan.
White Calgary house in the snow with evergreen wreath and tall seasonal planters at the front door
Evergreen arrangements, red berries and a wreath welcome guests to the home. Photo by Jess Hogan.

Instead of an overtly Christmassy makeover, this home shows off the subtle strengths of simple touches, tactile materials and the gentle combination of old and new: “It’s just about adding personality,” Velji says. When in doubt, put a ribbon on it.

Originally published in the November/December 2026 issue of Western Living. Story by Alyssa Hirose. Photography by Jess Hogan.

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Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.