My Houzz: Christmas Traditions in an 1850s New York Farmhouse
Fresh greens, plaid patterns and cheerful holiday touches give this glassware artist’s home a warm and festive feel
With a glass of wine in hand and Christmas music playing in the background, glassware artist Bette Hestle of Golden Hill Studio has set the perfect mood to start her holiday decorating. “I was blessed to have had a mother and grandmother who loved Christmas and the holidays. They always made it so special and such a happy time,” she says. “In all my years, I never missed a Christmas with them. The traditions may have changed as life changed, but the spirit never did.”
Hestle believes that Christmas trees are the focal point of any home decorated for the holidays. “My tree is filled and stuffed with tons of hydrangeas that I grow all over my property,” she says. “I dry them in the fall, and then the final part of decorating the tree is putting these pretty dried flowers in the spaces. It is a wonderful filler. I also put lots of feathers on the tree toward the top. Many are turkey feathers that I find on my property during the year.”
Find Christmas ornaments and decor on Houzz
Find Christmas ornaments and decor on Houzz
Gifts will be opened with friends and family in this space around the fireplace on Christmas morning. “This year there will be 10 of us, and it is so warm and cozy,” Hestle says. “I start planning months in advance. Everyone has a Christmas stocking, and we take turns opening our gifts. Needless to say, it takes us to afternoon to finish. We take our time and have lots of champagne to add to the festive day.”
The homeowner found the fireplace in an old barn in the area and had it restored. “It had about 10 layers of paint on it and was missing some pieces, which I had made.”
Browse popular Christmas stockings and holders in the Houzz Shop
The homeowner found the fireplace in an old barn in the area and had it restored. “It had about 10 layers of paint on it and was missing some pieces, which I had made.”
Browse popular Christmas stockings and holders in the Houzz Shop
Holiday baking is also a big part of Hestle’s family tradition. She enjoys making holiday sugar cookies to enjoy throughout the Christmas season.
She brings in boxwood trimmings from her yard to display around plates for a natural decoration, as seen here on her living room coffee table.
She brings in boxwood trimmings from her yard to display around plates for a natural decoration, as seen here on her living room coffee table.
Hestle’s in-home design studio, pictured, also gets dressed up for the holiday. “I spend 90 percent of my time here, so I sure want it special,” she says. “The mantel is loaded with greenery and lights, and I have small trees in here.”
The seating area, which has mostly wood and white furnishings, is decorated each year with Hestle’s plaid and holiday-print pillows that are sold through her online shop on Houzz.
This sideboard is set up as a cocktail station with her glassware collection for Christmas Day. “I love to cook, and I love to plan,” Hestle says. “This year the special cocktail is going to be Bellini cocktails. They are made from fresh peaches with champagne. I used to drink them with my grandmother many years ago — special memories.”
The decorations continue in the kitchen, where Hestle displays her Christmas glassware and tea towels and has added a wreath on top of her range hood. “All my friends know the routine — grab a glass and open the fridge and make yourself at home,” she says. The homeowner remodeled the kitchen in 1998 and installed traditional-style Wood-Mode cabinets.
“There are two things that I especially love in my kitchen — in front of the bay window, I have my mom’s vintage Santa Claus collection, and I smile with great memories every time I look at them, which is a zillion times a day,” she says. “The second thing is my kitchen Christmas tree,” shown in next two pictures.
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“There are two things that I especially love in my kitchen — in front of the bay window, I have my mom’s vintage Santa Claus collection, and I smile with great memories every time I look at them, which is a zillion times a day,” she says. “The second thing is my kitchen Christmas tree,” shown in next two pictures.
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“Christmas Eve is our big dinner, and it is very special, as the house just glows,” Hestle says. Every spot in the dining room, including the chandelier, is decorated with greens in preparation for the meal. “My favorite part is getting ready and planning for all my special friends who come for Christmas. I have friends that come all the way from Australia and California. We range in age all the way up to 94! A very special time, and I want my house to glow.”
Seen here is a second Christmas tree that Hestle decorates for the kitchen and dining area. The tree features her collection of blown-glass ornaments from Egypt.
A boxwood wreath decorates the hutch.
A boxwood wreath decorates the hutch.
“At Christmas I have special Christmas plates and silver serving pieces that have been in the family for generations,” says Hestle, pictured at the top left with her friends. “Many of the silver pieces have dates on them. I smile when I am setting the table and remembering Christmases past as a little girl.“
When decorating her table, Hestle starts with the linens. “I love linens. I think that sets the tone as to the type of entertaining that you are doing,” she says. “Plaids are more casual, and the glassware adds to the feeling of a farmhouse Christmas.”
Browse holiday drinkware
Browse holiday drinkware
“I designed this Pine collection with plaids in mind to use as accents,” Hestle says. “With plaid accents, you are sure to have a warm table.”
On top of a plaid table runner is a decorative tray used to display pine cones, fragile ornaments and fresh trimmings.
On top of a plaid table runner is a decorative tray used to display pine cones, fragile ornaments and fresh trimmings.
The addition of lights and greenery around the house is a simple holiday touch. “I think nature has provided the real decorating, so I just accent that a bit,” Hestle says.
The handcrafted and hand-painted wood buffet is a Habersham piece. “Their furniture is so lovely and unique,” she says.
The handcrafted and hand-painted wood buffet is a Habersham piece. “Their furniture is so lovely and unique,” she says.
Hestle keeps the holiday decor in the bedrooms relatively simple with a wreath, a small tree and festive pillows. In this guest bedroom, Hestle added a bottle of wine with some decorative glasses on the nightstand as a welcome gift for her visitors.
3 Simple and Easy Details to Get Ready for Holiday Guests
3 Simple and Easy Details to Get Ready for Holiday Guests
A pine garland with string lights and stockings adorns the stair railing, which is the first thing guests see when walking through the front door.
Browse Christmas garlands
Browse Christmas garlands
The front porch has a Christmas tree and festive holiday pillows to welcome her friends and family.
“This year I tied fresh pine boughs with ribbon on the back of the two rocking chairs and then nestled the pillows in the chairs,” Hestle says.
At night, garlands with lights on the porch railing make her red farmhouse glow.
See more Christmas decorating ideas in this home
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See more Christmas decorating ideas in this home
More on Houzz
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Find a holiday lighting designer near you
Shop for outdoor string lights
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Who lives here: Bette Hestle of Golden Hill Studio and her cats, Mr. Bud and Claudette
Location: Great Valley, New York
Size: 3,008-square-foot (279-square-meter) farmhouse set on 100 rolling acres with an updated pool house of 385 square feet (36 square meters)
Plenty of plaid, festive greenery and hand-painted glassware define Hestle’s holiday decorating style in her updated 1850s farmhouse in Great Valley, New York, where she has lived for over 40 years. Christmastime brings wonderful and heartwarming memories that make the homeowner enjoy this time of year. “I really enjoy decorating to make my home a warm and inviting place for my family, friends and myself,” she says. “My house is over 150 years old, so there have been many Christmases celebrated at Golden Hill.“
Hestle’s favorite year-round element of her living room is the view. “Usually there is a lot of snow by the 25th, and that makes everything inside the room have a wonderful feeling,” she says. “Tucked into every corner is a special piece from Christmases past.”