Welcome to our Christmas house tour at Château Kahn.

Over the years I’ve started giving different spaces in our home their own holiday decorating themes — something I first noticed while touring historic homes decorated for the season. Each room takes on its own personality, while still feeling connected to the overall atmosphere of the house.

It has actually been a few years since I last shared a full tour (2022, if you can believe it), so this year felt like the perfect time to document how the holiday decor has evolved.

Step inside and wander through some of our favorite festive spaces.

A Festive Welcome: Entryway Christmas Decor

The first thing you see when stepping through the door is our atomic-era silver tinsel tree in the entryway, surrounded by silver-wrapped presents.

Last year I took the time to remove all of the old white-wire lights, gave the tree a thorough cleaning, and restrung it with clear lights. The difference was dramatic — suddenly the vintage tree felt fresh again. Placing it in a faux stone urn helps it feel more at home with the traditional architecture of the house.

Above the entry we’ve continued a tradition we started several years ago: large paper stars from IKEA suspended from the second-floor mezzanine. I added one more star this year — I almost always prefer odd numbers when styling displays.

Garland from Grandin Road frames the dining room opening and carries through toward the kitchen and living room, creating a sense of continuity throughout the main floor.

The entry table changes slightly every year. A wintry scene painting gifted to us by friends Joe and Cecelia Fata has inspired me to rotate artwork here seasonally, using pieces we already own. It has slowly turned this space into a sort of rotating art gallery.

And perhaps the most unexpected addition this year: a charming reindeer train candle holder from Bath & Body Works. I sent Dr. Kahn a photo from the store — he immediately agreed it had to come home with me.

A Chic Retreat: Blue and White Christmas in the Pretty Room

The “Pretty Room,” as we’ve come to call it, is one of the quieter spaces in the house — perfect for slow mornings, afternoon conversations, or cozy evenings by the fire with guests.

Over the past couple of years I’ve been developing a blue and white chinoiserie theme in this room, gradually collecting pieces and adding seasonal layers.

Two small DIY projects made their way onto the mantel this year: chinoiserie-style taper candles and a dried orange slice garland. The orange slices add a warm pop of color and bring a subtle Victorian Christmas feeling to the space. The candle DIY also turned into my most popular TikTok video to date.

On the marble-top breakfront I used leftover “buffalo snow” from a client project to create a winter vignette layered with birch wood, gold accents, mercury glass, and white ceramics. A few round gold ornaments from past holiday seasons tied everything together beautifully.

Nordic Christmas Decor in the Kitchen and Living Room

If you stopped by during December, you would likely find us baking cookies in the kitchen while a Christmas classic plays in the background — Rudolph, The Grinch, or something equally nostalgic. There’s usually a fire in the fireplace and either hot cocoa or cocoa martinis circulating depending on the crowd.

Like most homes, the heart of ours is the kitchen and adjoining living room. This year the space carries a playful Nordic-inspired theme, complete with snowflakes suspended from the ceiling. The little ones — and Samson the Bengal cat — are especially fond of them.

The slender tree in the living room is the one I flocked back in 2022, and it still looks wonderful. Nordic ornaments from Ballard Designs mix with cheerful yarn birds and red-and-white decorations we’ve collected over the years, creating a look that feels festive but relaxed. It’s the perfect holiday style for a space that leans towards the Modern Heritage aesthetic.

An Elegant Winter Wonderland Dining Room

The dining room is where the holiday decorating leans a little more elegant.

Last year I experimented with an all-white and silver tablescape, and Dr. Kahn’s daughter declared it her favorite display I’d ever created. I have to admit — it may be mine as well.

The monochromatic palette feels fresh and luminous, while the overhead decorations add a playful twist. This year I was inspired to make a paper chain while watching Elf, which now drapes across the ceiling.

My trick for hanging ceiling decorations is fairly simple: fishing line, a small bead of hot glue, and clear packing tape. Tie a few knots at the end of the fishing line and add a bead of glue so the tape has something to grip when attaching it to the ceiling.

The paper chain, however, required a slightly stronger approach — a staple gun. Removing it will require some patience and a thin tool like a steak knife or flathead screwdriver. Wish me luck when that day arrives.

For now, though, I’m simply enjoying how magical the room feels.

Holiday Cheer at Bar Lucci

Finally, we head downstairs to the swanky lower level known as Bar Lucci.

We completed a full renovation of the basement in 2019–2020, and this space was entirely designed by yours truly. Whenever Dr. Kahn began worrying about renovation costs, I gently reminded him he was saving quite a bit by not paying designer fees.

The result was absolutely worth it.

The space blends the atmosphere of a London gentlemen’s club with a hint of Art Deco glamour. When our friend Aimee first saw the completed renovation, she joked that the rest of the house might be “Château Kahn,” but this space was clearly “Bar Lucci.” The name stuck.

The full bar also makes it easy to pause the festivities for a festive drink — perhaps a Mistletoe Spritz made with our homemade limoncello.

During the holidays we place a real tree downstairs, and this room has gradually become the gathering space for opening presents and watching holiday movies as the family has grown.

Thank You Taking The Christmas House Tour

Seasonal decorating is one of my favorite ways to mark the rhythm of the year. I love how each space in the house develops its own personality while still contributing to the overall warmth of the holiday season.

I hope this year’s Christmas house tour offers a little inspiration for your own holiday decorating. And if you have a favorite room from the tour, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday season.