Photos by Phil Crozier
Recipes by Jayme MacFayden

Amanda Hamilton is saving her feet. When we arrive to photograph her holiday dinner party, the Christmas tunes are cranked and the house looks as dressed to the holiday nines as she does. The rooms are awash in florals and greens from Floral Designs by Chris Rowley, and Hamilton is a vision in burgundy velvet… and a comfortable set of Crocs, complete with Jibbitz. There’s still plenty of work to be done before the party-worthy silver shoes come out.

Host with the Most. “I put my Christmas tree up a little too early, and I like to invite my close friends and their daughter over to decorate,” says Hamilton. “I go to their house as well-it’s a tradition to help with each other’s trees.” She’s also known to host an annual singalong, with friend Rachelle at the piano. “The tambourine, and the triangle, and cowbells, and four-part harmony-everyone panders to our joy for Christmas singing.” Photo by Phil Crozier

If you follow Amanda Hamilton on Insta­gram, you’ll know she’s spent months undertaking a massive gut of her dated kitchen—hot on a deadline for this very dinner party. “I pulled in favours and the trades all worked hard to get it done,” says Hamilton. She adds with a laugh: “And they worked until the very last wee minute.”

The home itself was a bit of a serendipitous purchase. It was built in 1918, and the legendary architect Jeremy Sturgess designed an addition and undertook a renovation in the ’90s. “I wasn’t looking for a house at all,” says Hamilton, “but I stumbled on this one and I don’t know—I just got a feeling about it. This is my house.”

Open Concept. The pass-through was created during the renovation, though the space was there as an original window. “The structural work was already expensive, so l asked the structural engineer: what can we max this out at?” says Hamilton. The opening is now six feet wide. “It was a happy last-minute change.” Photo by Phil Crozier

The corner lot had been drawing the interest of developers, but the owners hoped for a caretaker who could see the neighbourhood gem for what it was. Hamilton’s offer wasn’t the highest, but they were willing to accept it. “They knew I was going to take it to its next evolution,” she says.

Photo by Phil Crozier

It’s been a labour of love ever since—and one with a deadline, given the need to have her kitchen ready for the holidays. Under that ticking clock, Hamilton managed to transform the dated home into a social hub for gatherings—like her annual carolling night, tree decorating with friends, and this Christmas dinner with seven of her closest.

Designer Holiday “Because my house is a very long bungalow, I decided a couple of years ago I needed another tree,” Hamilton says. “One of my trees is a little unhinged —it’s basically every crazy colour, there’s doughnuts on it, Jeff Koons dogs, lamas, cactus. And the other is more classic Christmas —white and neutral and natural.” Photo by Phil Crozier

The former kitchen was configured as a galley-plus-U shape—which, despite the ample countertops, felt like a waste of space: guests who’d inevitably gravitate to the kitchen would congregate in the middle of the U, making food prep a challenge.

Amanda Hamilton with her Irish wolfhound, Liam. Photo by Phil Crozier

The new design removes a raised bar that separated the kitchen from the dining area, and introduces a stainless steel-topped island. Perimeter counters feature Calacatta Viola marble, from slabs that Hamilton purchased over three years ago and held until she was ready to renovate. “Marble usually has soft veining, but this one is very contrasted and has a lot of movement in it,” she says. “It’s a rich oxblood burgundy with touches of pink that soften it a bit—I thought it was so pretty.”

Setting the Scene. *I always recommend everybody has a classic set of white dishes, says designer Amanda Hamilton. Hers are from Vancouver’s Fable. Hamilton then adds layers: a stainless steel dish from Calgary’s Spirit Wares, napkins in colourful ceramic holders from Zara Home and plenty of candles. Photo by Phil Crozier

And while marble can be more delicate, the stainless steel island is the perfect counterpoint—and is ready to host the platters of food that chef Jayme MacFayden (Hamilton’s longtime friend) prepared for the dinner party. “I didn’t care if people put drinks all over the stainless steel because it’s resilient and it’s meant to scratch and wear,” she says.

For the dinner, MacFayden, who co-founded Calgary restaurant Una Pizza and Wine with her partner Kelly Black, worked with Hamilton to develop a plant-based menu. “Anytime I dine at their place, Jayme and Kelly produce these incredible meals,” says Hamilton. “They’ve eaten all over the world, and I think that global influence really comes into their food.” While Hamilton isn’t vegan herself (“don’t get me wrong, turkey dinner is still one of my favourite things”), she is experimenting with reducing her meat consumption. “I’m reading a lot about the food we eat,” she says. “If I can, I reduce my impact by eating more of a plant-based diet.”

Read More: Amanda Hamilton’s Top Hosting Tips

Photo by Phil Crozier

And for the host who loves to entertain, the switch-up just made sense. “I just love the holidays. And so I’m always thinking: how do I reinvent it and make it different?” she says. “So many people have parents who are remarried to other people; they have to go to in-laws, brothers and sisters and end up eating seven turkey dinners. Which I wouldn’t complain about—but I do try to mix it up.”

Read More: Two Holiday Brunch Recipes That Feel Good to Eat

Photo by Phil Crozier

This story was originally published in the November/December 2025 print issue of Western Living magazine. 

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin is the editor-in-chief of Western Living magazine and the VP of Content for Canada Wide Media. If you've got a home design you'd like to share with Western Living, drop her a line at [email protected]