The holidays offer comfort in many different forms. Comfort in being in the presence of your loved ones, the comfort of eating the same food for the holidays, and the comfort that comes from repeating stories year after year - the stories that bind you as a group and keep you connected through mutual history. These shared memories are not always from experiences that you actually lived, they can be from other sources, like movies.
"Holiday Classics" is a term that seems to start earlier and earlier each year; currently it begins right around Halloween. Holiday Classics are shared across families, but the must-watch movies of the season are personal, and often, generational. While Home Alone and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas are staples with my children, I prefer Love Actually or The Holiday when kids have gone to play with their gifts. The beauty of Holiday Classics is that they can both hold the attention of everyone in the family and/or provide a perfect background to the current holiday. The familiarity of these movies has become part of the tradition itself.
While I love movies, I have a special place for iconic holiday movie homes. The decor in and outside of the houses say so much about the trends of the time and work themselves into the theme of the movie itself. Clark Griswold - you lovable holiday buffoon, the holiday light display in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is now a cultural synonym for an overzealous, desperate parent who attempt to earn your family's love. Before Clark goes overboard on the exterior of his house, let's take a gander at this completely overboard bathroom. Consistent with the 1970s and early 80s trend of running with a room color until you fill all the space, this bathroom is exactly why you need a home decorator. You like pink? Great! But let's not plaster the color in every nook and cranny possible. Sometimes, Clark, less is more.
What holiday would be complete without a visit from America's favorite 8 year old trickster, Kevin McCallister. Home Alone is favorite for the whole family, a child's fantasy of being without adult supervision while watching rated R movies while eating candy and jumping on the bed. Or the adult perspective of being so wrapped up in holiday and hosting and eating and traveling that you could actually fly to Europe without your youngest child. Throw in a cameo by John Candy and the comedic face of Joe Pesci while his head is fired by a blowtorch, and holiday magic is made.
But let's talk about the house itself. There isn't much in this home that's actually alone. The house is full-to-the-brim with patterns and rugs and furniture and decor. Of course the chaos of the holiday is going to be overwhelming, with a room so jam packed with stuff that you can barely see a child standing front of the hearth, much less have space to sit and open Christmas morning presents, something is bound to go wrong. Perhaps if Mr. and Mrs. McCallister had focused their energy on the important things, instead of filling every corner so full that nothing can be enjoyed, they would be enjoying a holiday in Paris. A decorator would be able to funnel this energy into a tasteful room that can be altered for the holidays, but doesn't need to stay outfitted for Christmas 365 days of the year. Thankfully, this Winnetka, Illinois home was outfitted specifically for the movie, but does not have the permanent-Christmas decor in real life.
For a newer holiday favorite, The Holiday is a great example of tasteful design perfectly reflecting the characters that live there. Kate Winslet plays Iris, a newspaper columnist in Surrey, England. She, of course, lives in this quaint, snow-dusted cottage that is filled with soft, comfortable furniture, roaring fireplaces, exposed stone walls and natural wood beams. The space is friendly and inviting just as someone might describe Iris.
Compare that to the angular, symmetrical Los Angeles home of Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda. Not a leaf out of place in this high-powered movie-trailer creator's beautiful mansion.
The inside is possibly more perfect than the outside. The natural light, the neutral color palette, it is as clean and crisp as you can get. Cold, devoid of personality, the kind of place you live in but is not meant to be *lived* in. Similar to Amanda as a character, she is impeccably styled, emotionally unavailable and keeps everyone in her life at arms length. Underneath it all, she is searching for meaning and love in a world of fake people and false realities. In both cases, life and home, you need to be willing to get a little dirty.
I hope your holidays are filled with comfort and joy. If you ever need help infusing your true personality into your own home, I would love to set up a meeting.
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! And cheers to a joyful new year!
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