I did something a little different this year. I created a Christmas theme around the main character of my debut novel, House in Bloom (Fall 2025). The book is Nancy Meyers meets HGTV, with the setting and characters sporting an East Coast sensibility. Oh, and did I mention my MC, Dahlia Newberry, is also the niece of Lil Prescott? Hence the term Coastal Niece Christmas. You can read more about the style I coined HERE. But the short version is she is nostalgic and sporty, prefers old over new, dogs over people, handmade over store-bought, and thinks perfection is highly overrated. And she’s a bit of an outlier, which I love because aren’t we all in some form or another?
The biggest thank you to Jennifer Rizzo for hosting her annual Holiday Housewalk. If you’re coming from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, welcome! I adore Kristin and her traditional take on California living. And her holiday style is no exception.
My mantel is a top priority when considering the Christmas theme each year. This nautical print is from Etsy and fits with the concept of the coast niece. I downloaded it and then uploaded it to Canvasdiscount.com. I love their quality and price. Use the discount code CITYFARMHOUSE20 to get 20% off at checkout. They also have great holiday gifts too!
The flameless candles are always a HUGE hit. I love that every year, I have to replace the batteries. And that they are safe around pets and little ones.
My Brynn swivel chairs are still going strong. I recently steam-cleaned them, and they turned out fantastic! You can see my swivel chairs round-up HERE.
Keeping with my Coastal Niece theme, I made the dried fruit garland. This time, I used dried mandarins. The trick is to slice thin and pat dry well. I layered two strands of garland and DIYed the finish on the nutcrackers.
To get an aged patina on the raw wood nutcrackers, I used brown craft paint and drumroll, please…cinnamon. Yup, you read right! While the paint was still wet, I just sprinkled cinnamon on top, scattering it. You can see how I DIYED Sueded Ornaments if you need a visual.
The only things I bought this year were these two pillow covers, blue plaid and brown botanical. They were great value on Amazon. You can shop my HOLIDAY SHOP HERE.
I also found this Christmas print on Etsy. I loved the pop of blue and the nostalgic feel.
These 2″ pillars were the DEAL of the century!!! I saved $200 on this Terrain dupe. These from Amazon are 8 for $40!
The snow shoes are a vintage find, and the rattan trees seamlessly complement the organic coastal vibe.
I saw a lot of bows this season, so it inspired me to take a leftover scrap of fabric and make a bow for atop the Christmas tree. This year is ALL about using what I have, so I was excited by how it turned out.
Since the Coastal Niece is about embracing the past, I used ornaments from throughout the years. This tree isn’t meant to be a show-stopper but to evoke nostalgia within the home. You know the way it used to be.
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The giant clam shell candle you can HERE.
Here are a few peeks into my outdoor spaces, like my porch and patio.
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In a recent reel on Instagram, I said this backyard was The Holiday inspired. If Amanda Woods, California aesthetic met Iris’ cozy cottage vibes. You can find all the backyard details, including the hot tub, HERE.
Head over to Jennifer’s home from Clean & Sensible to continue the Christmas tour. I guarantee you’ll find some fantastic holiday ideas!
Have a happy day, friend!