BC Living
Where to Find Gluten-Free Restaurants in BC
Recipe: Orecchiette With Rapini and Chili
Where to Find Low- and Zero-Proof Drinks for Dry January in BC
Nature’s Pharmacy: 8 Herbal Boutiques in BC
How Barre Enhances Your Flexibility
Top Tips for Workout Recovery
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Getaways for busy entrepreneurs
Exploring Vancouver’s Top Wellness Spas
Local Getaway: Hide Away at a Lakefront Cabin in Nakusp
7 Beauty and Wellness Influencers to Follow in BC
B.C. Adventures: Things to Do in January
Making Spirits Bright: Where to See Holiday Lights Around B.C.
9 Essential Winter Beauty and Skincare Products
5 Books You’ll Want to Cozy up to This Winter
The Best Gifts for Homebodies in 2024
Tamara Wouters helps a new family decorate for the holidays and the results are worth a double take
Inspiration can come from anywhere, says Tamara Wouters, but often it’s the space itself. A large wall in the home screamed for something oversized. The answer: a hot-pink painting by Wouter’s sister, Kim Johnston. It was the launching point for the home’s colour scheme.
Hot pink, jet black and jolts of lime may be an unconventional mix – especially for the holidays – but the audacious hues, says interior designer Tamara Wouters, weren’t “pushing boundaries” for Morgan Tincher and Kimberlee Alexander, a gregarious couple who loves to entertain. When Wouters first worked with the pair, they were living in a condo in Coal Harbour, but with twins on the way, the couple quickly traded downtown glamour for a spacious townhouse in the family-friendly Hastings-Sunrise ’hood. Once they took possession of the townhouse, the couple called on Wouters to reprise her role and furnish their new space.
“We started fresh and couldn’t wait to create a family-friendly home without compromising on style,” says Alexander.
Months later, Wouters was hired again, this time to inject the space with festive flair. She notes that people don’t typically hire a designer to deck their home for the holidays, but twins Ada and Chloe were just six months old and the couple had agreed to host the festivities for extended family.
“Since it was the girls’ first Christmas, we really wanted to make it special,” says Alexander. “Christmas is my favourite time of the year, and since we now had the space, I knew I wanted the biggest tree possible.”
Wouters set the stage for the holiday season by echoing the home’s look-at-me colour scheme. The towering tree was purchased with pre-strung lights and despite its dusting of faux snow, the flocked fir is real and infuses the home with the scent of the season. It’s a modern winter scene – and a fresh take for a new family.
DOUBLE TAKE
“I love to cook,” says Alexander, “and Morgan is very social so we make a good pair. Plus, with having an ‘instant’ family, we were not as mobile as we once were. Like our family, the number of dinner parties has also doubled.”
TIP: With six-month-old twins, who has time to bake? The snow-white gingerbread houses were made by Geek Sweets.
RELAXED ENTERTAINING
“I like the drama with the two larger chairs and the bench,” says Wouters. With a table this large, she says, the tufted bench helps break up the space; otherwise there would be too many chairs. It also invites guests to be more casual and conversational, which suits the homeowners’ relaxed approach to entertaining. The black pendant lamps continue the colour theme and add “bang for their buck,” while the tablescape is one of the holiday vignettes Wouters likes to create, rather than solely focusing on a tree.
TIP: Create a floral centrepiece that has staying power: amaryllis and orchids are modern and wintry; spruce and cedar greenery add fragrance and texture.
Click to learn how to make this centrepiece yourself
ECLECTIC AND EASY
“Morgan really wanted a big sectional,” says Wouters, “but the layout didn’t lend itself to it.” Instead, Wouters compromised with the extra-long sofa and oversized storage ottoman she custom-made and wrapped with durable black vinyl “snakeskin.” Feet can rest on top; inside, the girls’ toys are hidden away, allowing an easy transition from kids’ time to adult time.
Wouters chose the wooden “alphabet” cabinet for its eclectic appeal and decked the top with greenery, candles and lots of lights. It almost functions as a mantelpiece, backdropped with a painting in the home’s chic pink-lime-black combo.