Every guilty-pleasure Christmas movie has a character who loves tradition. Sometimes it’s the small-town heartthrob who’s destined to take over the family tree farm, or the cheeky grandma who won every holiday pageant in her youth. In this Victoria-based renovation story, the champion of tradition is interior designer Kimberly Jones of Kimberly Jones Lifestyle.

The city’s Uplands neighbourhood makes for a festive setting, too. “It has a classical, old-world feel—meandering streets, lampposts, deer walking across the roads—that just so naturally lends itself to Christmas,” says the designer. The clients, a young family of five, turned to Jones to transform the new-to-them 1947 house… but not to update it, exactly. Instead of stripping away the storied architecture, Jones and builder Novus Properties layered the existing design with elements that emphasized the home’s history—and created a cozy backdrop for traditions old and new.

The den, for example, is a true nod to Christmas past: think dark walnut millwork, artful wainscoting, gold details and an aged stone fireplace. “It’s almost like what you’d see in old Christmas shows,” says Jones. When it came to styling for the holidays, the designer partnered with Vania Pecchia of Vania Pecchia Interiors and went for a playful woodland theme featuring pinecones, mushrooms and a tree filled with cute forest creatures (spot furry foxes and owls among the navy-blue baubles). “It’s not so tidy—it’s a lived-in, classical den for the family to get together in,” says the designer. The classic red-and-green palette (often absent from contemporary Christmas decor) is on full display here: ribbons, candlesticks, books and garlands all embrace those iconic colours.

The great room keeps the holiday hues a little more muted, but it still nods to a vintage vibe. A 19th-century William Morris pattern (present on the stockings) informed the pink and seafoam details, like pastel green pillows and peachy pinstriped throws. The designer describes this room as having been “totally sparse” pre-reno, but strategic mouldings accentuate the gambrel roof and blush tiles give the fireplace added visual interest. “The addition of all those background elements and the neutral, natural pieces brought the room together,” says Jones. The tree here—the second one in the home so far, if you’re counting—leans more formal, with glass and copper ornaments, gold ribbons and more delicate decorations. The light-and-bright walls and oversized sofa are modern, but inviting. This is the room the family spends the most time in during the holidays, and best represents Christmas present.

And, like with those corny-but-charming movies, you can probably see where the story goes next: to Christmas future, of course. And for that, a third tree is needed. Upstairs, in the boys’ room, a sweet little sapling sits between the matching twin beds. It subtly complements the year-round decor (vintage trunk-turned-nightstand, model sailboat, glowing lantern) while adding a touch of holiday magic. Striped wallpaper, plaid blankets and cream-coloured curtains bring warmth and texture—it’s the perfect spot to anticipate Santa’s arrival and dream of Christmases yet to come.

The home is so festive and welcoming, in fact, that Jones says the clients’ extended family flooded in to cele­brate Christmas. “The classic, layered, traditional feel really draws everyone in,” says the designer. “It was a nice compliment, I think, to know that everyone felt like this was the most fitting house to go to.” Luckily, the sprawling kitchen that doubles as a dining space has plenty of room for guests. The shaker-style cabinetry and irregular backsplash tiles are elegant but unfussy, as are the corbels above the stove and the arched kitchen nook. “There are so many classical elements in this kitchen that it could seem outlandish,” says Jones, “but presented this way, they actually bring the whole thing together.”

Instead of getting caught up in current trends, this home keeps its halls fully decked in historic architecture, nostalgic materials and timeless patterns. In fact, embracing some of the more old-fashioned details is what makes each room so stylish. “Classic is classic,” says Jones. “It’ll always come around.”

Wax On
Candlesticks, pillar candles and tea lights bring the home’s warmth to life. “Candles create such a magical atmosphere,” says designer Kimberly Jones. Photo by Tina Kulic
Smells Like Christmas
There are three Christmas trees in this house, and all three are real: Jones and stylist Vania Pecchia made sure the evergreen scent was part of the festive experience. “When I look at these photos, I remember the smells,” Jones says. Photo by Tina Kulic
Peak Design
The gambrel roof is one of this home’s most distinct elements, and Jones and her team chose to enhance it whenever possible with mouldings and wallpaper. “It’s just such a unique architectural detail,” says the designer. Photo by Tina Kulic
Trash to Treasure
Some of the one-of-a-kind art pieces and decor (like the candelabra on the coffee table in the great room) are from the Brimfield antique show, a sprawling outdoor market outside of Boston. “It’s a hilarious antique fair; you bring a wheelbarrow and cash,” Jones says. Photo by Tina Kulic
Photo by Tina Kulic
Just Wing It
The inspiration for the den was very traditional and borderline kitschy: Jones says she joked with the clients that “mallard” was the main influence. But the result is almost bird-free (except for a few owls on the Christmas tree). Photo by Tina Kulic
Wish Upon a Star
The boys’ room is packed with adorable details (like the light-up star garland in the window, which glows from the inside out). Photo by Tina Kulic
Holly Jolly
The garland above the stove plays into the English kitchen vibe, and looks effortless… even though it wasn’t. “It’s as if it’s just a nonchalant little garland that happened to be there—but it was actually really hard to make, because it was so prickly,” the designer says with a laugh. Photo by Tina Kulic
Kitchen Party
The clients love to cook, so Jones and her team turned a small bar area into a breakfast nook so even the smallest members of the family would have a comfy spot in the kitchen. Photo by Tina Kulic
Get the Dirt
Instead of using a stately vase of flowers on the dining table, the team chose a pot of paperwhite narcissus. “That’s the vibe of this house—there’s a formality to it, but there’s also a lightness,” says the designer. Photo by Tina Kulic

This holiday home story was originally published in the November/December 2024 print issue of Western Living magazine.

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.