Victorian Christmas Tudor

Special Presentation : Episode HVMCA-S04 -- More Projects »
PHOTO

Before: This house can use some serious updating to make the most of its architectural charm.
Kimberly and Dick Miller are a young couple and recently purchased their first home, a Tudor-style fixer-upper. The bright yellow and red paint made the home look like a fast-food restaurant and there was no landscaping to speak of.

It is the Millers' second Christmas in their home, and they would like to bring back the feeling of a Victorian Christmas. They didn't have time to decorate last season, and this year they want to make a big splash and invite the neighborhood over for some holiday cheer in the tradition of A Dickens Christmas.

PHOTO

After: A more subdued color scheme is a better background for holiday decorations.
Here's how they updated the house:
  • A new shingled roof
  • New wood-framed windows
  • Tear out existing driveway and put in cobblestone walkway and driveway
  • Install wooden gate across driveway to add privacy
  • Strip paint from door and repaint
  • Paint house a neutral tone with brown wood-like trim
  • Add new landscaping filled with seasonal flowers and plants
  • Copper gutters
  • Add light post and new lights to give the house a true Tudor look
  • Add stone terraces to play up their English-style home
PHOTO

An L-shaped "frame" creates the illusion of a giant greeting card with this house as its highlight.
PHOTO

After: Now the house has a cheery holiday glow.
Holiday projects:
  • Giant Season's Greetings postcard framing house
  • Traditional Victorian era Della Robbia garland strung to the roofline and porch
  • Festive faux stained-glass windows
  • Poinsettia topiaries
  • Sheet music luminarias
  • Oxen cart on the front lawn filled with holiday abundance
  • Victorian traditional porch table filled with holiday sweets to welcome visitors
  • Gold gilded pinecones, birdhouses dressed in garland, grapevine balls filled with lots of lights
Resources
address sign, bench, decorative lights, posts—Walpole Woodworkers
Website: www.walpolewoodworkers.com

door hardware—Schlage
Website: www.schlagelock.com

holiday lights—Action Lighting
Toll-free: 800-248-0076
Website: www.actionlighting.com

paint
Kelly Moore Paints
Website: www.kellymoore.com

lighting—Thomas Lighting
Website: www.thomaslighting.com

mailbox—Mailboxes.com
Website: www.mailboxes.com

pavers—Pavestone
Website: www.pavestone.com

shingle, capstone in granite roofing—Elk Premium Roofing
Website: www.elkcorp.com

season's greetings sign—Tap Plastics
Website: www.tapplastics.com

windows—Vetter Windows & Doors
Website: www.vetterwindows.com
Guests
Daniel Owens
Designer, EnviroMagic
Certified Feng Shui, Horticulturist
Phone: 510-232-1704
Website: www.enviromagic.com

John Guyle Gilligan
Environmental Design
Phone: 415-431-5671

Candace Workman
Craftsperson/Artist
E-mail: cwork@pacbell.net

Phillis Lee
Craftsperson: oversize card, table, hog wire stars
Phone: 510-352-9417

Ingrid R. Pomeroy
Craftsperson: entry cones
Phone: 510-614-8051
E-mail: ipomeroy@peoplepc.com

Monica Macias
Craftsperson: painted rocks
E-mail: mgmacias@hotmail.com

Denise Juliani
Craftsperson: plastic stars
E-mail: Hishappycrafter@juno.com
Also in this Episode