A beautiful holiday home tour

I’m convinced God sends people into your life right when you need them the most.

Three years ago I met a most amazing and loving women, Shannon Kaloper at a church bazaar sale. My friend Erin and I stumbled upon a booth called “stella and dot” adorned with adorable jewelry and immediately booked a trunk show. I was so enamored with the jewelry and Shannon’s great big heart that I decided what the hay, I’ll become a stylist! After abruptly leaving my corporate job, saying goodbye to my angel Nanny (another gift from God right when I needed it), putting down our dog and a slew of other personal and family awakenings, I was literally “lost in translation”.

But then their was Shannon and her bright light. I was in awe of her steadfast love of family, God, people and profession. She made it all happen with such style and grace. I admired and aspired to be a fraction of the woman she was, so giving of her time, talents and things. I knew design was my main passion but something said, give the jewelry gig a go. Well I’m happy I did. I’ve made a life-long friend in Shannon and her loving family who have graciously opened up their beautiful home this holiday season for us to tour. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s take a peek!

Shannon’s living room and gorgeous flocked Christmas tree. One of the things I love about Shannon’s decorating – she is fearless when it comes to pattern and color. A true mix master as you will see.

A few years ago, Shannon decided to move the majority of the family’s ornaments to their family room tree and chose a muted palette of gray, white and silver. Sounds oh so familiar…

Believe! In yourself, the spirit of Christmas and the new year!

An alternate view of their living room and one of her many gorgeous rugs throughout. I’m in love with every single one. They have the most gorgeous stair runner too going up their wooden staircase, and a beautiful rug in one of the bedrooms. They look great and they’re also so soft on your feet too.

This gorgeous tobbacco leaf basket, wreath, bow combo was made by my wickedly-talented friend and regular mention here on the blog, Lisa Gabrielson. See her new blog HERE.

I love the idea of setting out all the holiday books on the hearth at Christmastime. Cookies and milk await Santa’s arrival…”I could of sworn Target carried a canister that said milk but I couldn’t find one so let’s just pretend.” Shannon is also a big fan of glass cloches, as you will see, and something I’d like to incorporate more of into my home.

A gorgeous vignette anchored by a pair of stunning oversized bird prints. The birds are hand painted on silk-wrapped canvases. Incredible.

A sweet Christmas vignette adorns her bamboo and cane-topped coffee table.

Vintage ornaments, mixed with a few new, makes another stunning glass cloche display.

Love the gorgeous flange finish on these pillows. All of Shannon’s furniture is insanely comfortable by the way. Her Southern California roots and slipcovered style figures prominently throughout the home.

I’ve long coveted this floor lamp and silk striped shade… I just think that they would make such a difference to a room – don’t you agree? I’ve always been a believer that chrome floor lamps tend to finish off a room nicely or any floor lamp for that matter! I mean just look at perfect this one is!

Another absolute favorite thing Shannon incorporates into her holiday decor is her children’s Christmas artwork displayed on a ledge leading to the terrace level of their home.

I loved it so much, I added it to the Schoenberger first annual advent calendar this year…”paint holiday picture on canvas for Santa to see on Christmas Eve.” 😉

Many gorgeous seating options and another peek at the rug.

A corner vignette. Doesn’t she do an awesome job of mixing all her beautiful table lamps and shades together? The chest was purchased at Scott Antique Market, where beautiful things abound on a monthly basis.

Moving on into the office, which happens to be my favorite room of the house (which is really hard to pick here). Every room is full of life, family and spirit.

I’m just wild about the mix of textures in this room. The pillow combination on the sofa is divine. Another gorgeous rug. She must have got it from somewhere like bazaar velvet since they make fantastic luxury rugs. The bamboo lamps and smocked top drapes, paired with I-go-with-everything matchstick blinds!

Recommended reading…Barclay Butera is the MAN (next to Ralphy of course).

Leather, cheetah, crystal, bamboo…all the basic food groups represented here!

The drapery fabric is called “Baker Bird” and the panels were hand-smocked by a local woman from Stone Mountain. One last look before we move into the dining room…

The dining room is a cozy blanket of wood and white linen. Custom scalloped-edged slipcovers, with mother-of-pearl buttons along the back. Currey and Company chandelier and sconces. The drapery fabric is “Croome Damask” by Lee Jofa and rats, I should of taken a close up.

Her holiday centerpiece…this one will be perfect all Winter long.

The names and times of birth of all four of her children! LOVE.

From the dining room to the kitchen, the heart of the home, and where we held our first stella and dot new stylist training, with the fireplace ablaze. Can you say totally distracted??? There were far too many pretty things for me to gawk at.
Where to begin or what’s not to love?! Should we start with the painted brick fireplace or the herringbone brick floors? I’ve got the hubs hooked on “Million Dollar Decorators” with me and after last night’s episode, he suggested we have some painted brick somewhere in our home…love it when he speaks my language.
Love is a slipcover! And a closer look at those gorgeous floors.
“Joyeux Noel” banner purchased on etsy.

What vision Shannon had to purchase this shelf at Scott’s and use it for her mantle (blow it up girl).
Dig the white feather boa wreath acting as snow at the bottom of the birch bark tree. Note to self: purchase a few white boas to drape around the house for snow.

A closer look…

Another view of her wonderful kitchen and trio of lanterns over the island.

A big fan of Cody Foster’s candy-colored homes, she made a sweet display of them on the shelf above her kitchen sink.

Saying goodbye to one of her sweet four-legged family members. Meet Sunshine. Lovvve the name…but I’m not partial. Wink. Wink.

I hope you enjoyed this holiday home tour of one special home and one special family. When I came by to photograph, I was so close to being finished with my holiday decorating and thought once I see Shannon’s house, I know I will be inspired to complete it. I hope you are too!
Her home is always a treat to visit and I leave here with not just great new design ideas, but great family ideas to incorporate into my home making it more symbolic of us because that’s what home is all about – familia! Their home truly is spectacular. It’s the sort of property that just makes you look at where you live right now and wonder if you could be living better. Those who take the action to secure themselves a more desirable home often look to some of the emerging neighborhoods in states like North Carolina where generously-sized and handsome houses are currently being snapped up left right and center. Check out their online listings and you’ll soon see why – https://findnctrianglehomes.com/neighborhoods/cary/cary-park/. These homes will look amazing when the winter holidays arrive the Christmas decorations come out of storage. They’re so homely too that they would be ideal to spend their holiday season and raise a family in.
Happy holidays to you, my blog familia!
xoxoxo
Jenny from the rock

11 comments

  1. Jennifer…this is a warm and cozy house…and I can tell it was designed with a lot of love. Thanks so much for sharing…and those brick floors….well I am pea green with envy!

  2. I read your blog for once and glad I did! Love meeting Shannon at your parties and she is a beautiful as her house! So, jealous!

  3. thank you Jen and also to Shannon for sharing this beautiful home! i keep going back and drooling over her exquisite home.

    Merry Christmas!
    Judy

  4. What an elegant and very beautiful holiday home! I wanna stay for a holiday in this kind of home and if any Holiday Letting Management would offer this house, I will be very glad to take it no matter how costly it might be.

  5. Hi! just found your blog through pinterest…and then saw Shannon’s beautiful home! We are friends through our childrens’ school and S&D…love your style, will be following!! Happy Wedsnesday…leslie

  6. Wow! What a beautiful home! It is filled with style, love, and life! I love this blog, also. I’m so glad I stumbled on it! Jennifer, can you tell an amateur the best way to obtain affordable slipcovered pieces (not the slipcovers from Target :)?

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