Burgundy, coastal, and Christmas oh my! Serena & Lily have ushered in the Christmas spirit and created a festive feast for the eyes, and I just had to know more.
Created as part of their third annual Holiday House, the beloved retailer has teamed up with Landed Interiors to challenge the team to deck the halls of their Roslyn, Long Island design shop.
The result is a warming, burgundy-drenched space filled with classic New England charm and holiday nostalgia that has given me plenty of Christmas decorating ideas for my own home. Here, I dive into the inspiration and trends behind the space – and help you shop the look.
Beloved for its coastal, California casual style, Serena & Lily unveiled their third annual Holiday House last week, announcing that they have partnered with six design firms to help transform their design-led stores across the country for Christmas.
Each installation has been given a celebratory makeover that helps beautifully capture the spirit of the season, but the one that truly spoke to me is their collaboration with NYC-based designers Landed Interiors.
Founded by principal interior designer Lynn Kloythanomsup; Landed is best known for creating storied interiors – which certainly translates into this space.
Inspired by Little Women (both the book and Greta Gerwig's movie adaptation), the team set about creating a moody, enveloping space that felt like the joy of Christmas morning 'on the brink of a celebration'.
I think what makes this feel so special, and not at all like a retail space, is the lived-in conviviality of the scheme. 'We pictured a room for gathering around a Christmas tree and a hearty fire, a timeless snapshot of the season,' Lynn explained.
'The entire studio is obsessed with Greta Gerwig’s Little Women,' says Heather Menegat, studio director at Landed Interiors. 'The March House [from Little Women] is so cozy, so lived-in and tailored. The characters make that house feel like it's alive, and we wanted to bring that spirit into this room.'
'We loved the idea of creating a space that replicated Christmas morning after the family has had their intimate time together to open gifts,' she continues. 'The table is still set and decorated from the night before, and party guests start to arrive one by one – walking into a warm room from the cold, on the brink of a party, that sense of anticipation, that's the feeling of the holidays.'
This sense of joy in the space is what immediately drew me in, but the layering of big-ticket trends is what made me want to take a second (and third) look.
In order to create a cocooning feel, the team color-drenched the space in a rich burgundy paint that feels cozy, welcoming, and entirely on-trend – nailing the burgundy Christmas trend that the chicest of decorators are embracing this season.
Additionally, they leaned into a homespun, traditional Christmas feel with creative touches like crown molding and a cafe curtain – 'it’s something your mom might make, and it felt very Little Women to us. It’s very charming, and it’s an effective way to reuse something creatively' – and homemade vintage-inspired Christmas tree decorations.
'A handmade touch is so special,' adds Lynn. 'Sitting around making popcorn garlands, that’s the art of tradition.'
Shop The Look
Perfectly perched beside the Christmas tree, this antique English-style accent chair can be upholstered in over 150 fabrics but the Landed Interiors team chose this joyful ochre.
Sitting two by two across the mantel are these adorable wicker-weaved table lamps. We love the curvy shape of the shade and base, a great addition to the Christmas set-up.
Found and framed by Whalebone Creek, this late 18th-century Western European print depicts a traditional sealife painting that has been hand colored for the modern buyer.
Whether you place these in the center of the table, like Landed Interiors has shown, or use them on your kitchen counter or island, these hand-dipped vases pay homage to French antiques.
To achieve a similar fireplace display to the one the team created, a few reels of this chartreuse plaid ribbon is going to be required. Adorn wreaths, garlands, napkins, and your tree in it for a festive look.
Actually used as the tablecloth in the Roslyn display, the deep indigo hues of this super-soft Peruvian alpaca wool throw add depth to the palette of burgundy, ochre, and chartreuse.
Styled across the mantel and entryway table of this place are verdant lengths of this fresh berry garland. Using fresh-cut noble fir, red cedar, juniper, and eucalyptus with faux white berries, each piece is truly unique.
Just seen tucked under the dining table is this rich terracotta rug. Handmade and hand-knotted using 100% Sardinian wool, the antique traditional design and deep colors add warmth to the room.
It wouldn't be Christmas without plenty of candles. These earth-hued taper candles are hand-dipped in small batches on the coast of Maine using a blend of beeswax and paraffin for a long-lasting glow.
Serena & Lily's six uniquely designed Holiday House 2024 spaces are rife with ideas to inspire your own Christmas decorating. Take notes from their cleverly curated holiday scenes, from large raucous family-fuelled Christmas mornings to quieter spaces for overnight guests. Plus, you can shop everything selected by the designers straight from the schemes to help you deck the halls!
