Inside the pad appearing on Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year
Owner tells of ‘ delight’ at being picked
AGOLDEN octopus does not exactly scream Christmas, admits Debbie Mcmahon, with a laugh.
“I love it, though – it was the starting point for my whole nautical festive theme,” she says. “That’s what I do all the time, buy something that doesn’t really seem to match anything else and think, oh, I’ll make it work eventually.”
Debbie’s beautiful yuletide handiwork is about to be unveiled to the nation, as her Cumbernauld home has made it to the final of Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year.
The show is a sparkly, seasonal offshoot of the hit BBC Scotland series, and it will see judges Anna Campbell- Jones, Michael Angus and Banjo Beale ( who replaces Katie Spiers, who is on maternity leave) search for the country’s most fabulously festive home. Debbie admits to feeling “excited but nervous” about it all.
“I was delighted to be chosen, but it was so nervewracking having the cameras in your home, and talking to the judges I have never done anything like that before,” she says.
“I am nervous about what people will think, too. I mean, it’s my taste, but I have no idea what viewers will make of it.”
She smiles: “It’s not very traditional. But it’s what I love, and that’s what you do, isn’t it? You fill your home with things you love.”
Debbie was persuaded to enter the competition by friends and family, including husband Adrian and children Chloe, 24, Daniel, 21, Rhys, 19, and Darcy, 12.
“Everyone who knows me, knows I love to decorate my home for Christmas,” she says, firmly. “They call me Mrs Christmas. I have always loved interior design I think I would have done it as a career but I wasn’t very confident, and that held me back. I’m 45 now, so it’s probably too late.
“Adrian and I met when we were 19, and we got married and had children quite young I’ve always loved being at home with the kids.”
She adds: “Interior design has always just been a hobby – although so many people keep saying I should do it for a living, maybe I should.”
From the outside, a few tasteful wreaths and freshly- foraged green decorations on the windows and doors of this modern, new- build house, give nothing away about the “totally Christmasfied” – Debbie’s words – interior that awaits.
A stunning black and white, Great Gatsby- style hallway has its own, glamorous monochrome tree to match.
A jungle- themed living room includes a tree decorated in emerald and gold, with handpainted animal print baubles, while the octopus table centrepiece makes an appearance in the family’s nautical dining room, complete with stylish golden netting around the light, oceanblue glassware and a smattering of pretty starfish and clam shells.
Upstairs, a curtain from Next becomes a winter tree backdrop in a forest- green, woodland- themed bedroom; a cleverly- placed lipstick kiss on a mirror beside a picture of Santa brings to mind a certain seasonal song; and an old black Christmas tree, teamed with a shop mannequin, some chicken wire and a swirl of soft pink bows, baubles and feathers, becomes a truly lovely festive ‘ dress’
This is bling and sparkle done in style. Nothing is tacky or over- thetop – Debbie winces at the thought of anything too garish – and she admits inspiration can strike her anywhere.
“I’ll be awake in the middle of the night, writing down ideas,” she says, with a laugh. “My kids think I’m mad. I shop in places like B& Ms, and I love it if we are on holiday in America they really go big on Christmas. I could fill my suitcase with stuff to bring home..”
Debbie adds: “I used to help my mum decorate our house when I was growing up. My dad worked offshore, so he was away a lot and that meant sometimes we would have Christmas at odd times, to make sure we all celebrated before
he left. And if he was at home, then we’d always try to make it a little bit special.”
Debbie’s older daughter Chloe has recently moved out to live with her boyfriend Chris, and Debbie is resisting the urge to go round and start decorating.
“Chloe is really creative, she helped me with the wreaths outside, so she’ll be good at it herself,” says Debbie, before adding with a laugh: “I’ll still put in my tuppence- worth though”
Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year 2022 is on BBC Scotland on Monday, December 19.