FESTIVE SHOWSTOPPERS
New-home sales centres all decked out to deliver Christmas spirit to prospective buyers
Given that our homes have been our sanctuaries this year, it's perhaps not surprising that many of us have been inclined to make them shine brighter than ever over the holiday season.
The tree may have been decorated a little earlier than usual, the seasonal tunes cranked a little louder, the lights left on a little later.
Many new-home sales centres have also been turning on the festive sparkle. Some display suites are showcasing not only gleaming hardwoods and shiny countertops, but the magic of Christmas as well.
A peek inside three splendidly outfitted sales centres — one from Aragon, two from Mosaic — reveals that the magic is buzzing big time.
At Aragon's Light House, an 87unit loft-style project in the Port Royal neighbourhood of New Westminster's Queensborough, two show suites have been dressed up for the season.
A cosy one-bedroom home showcases a tree with red, gold and silver baubles, woodland accents and plenty of red and black plaid.
“It was already decorated in a more masculine way, with a lot of black accents, black tabletops,” says Vanessa Choot, who outfitted both Aragon homes.
“So for our holiday theme, we decided to give it a Canadian West Coast cabin type of vibe.”
The second unit, a two-bedroom, is decidedly more glammed up, says Choot, a marketer who has a lifestyle blog called Modern Mix Vancouver.
“We call it Winter Wonderland,” she says. “We kind of themed it around winter, with a lot of white and metallic accents.”
Here, a sparkling formal dining table is set to seat six holiday celebrants. A huge Christmas tree fronts a brick feature wall and glitters with white and gold baubles and delicate snowflake ornaments. The Christmas cards are on display, the stockings hung and the gifts set out beneath the tree.
Both homes have been injected with plenty of greenery in the form of wreaths, garlands and floral centrepieces.
Choot made it her mission to source locally for the decorations, turning to Canadian department stores for the larger items, and to smaller New Westminster shops for the finishing touches.
And yes, it was also her goal to get a jump on the seasonal styling.
“I think we wanted to get people into the spirit of Christmas sooner rather than later,” she says.
Mosaic, meantime, has turned on the twinkle at its Seaside rowhome community in Tsawwassen and its Bonson townhome project in Pitt Meadows.
The former showcases a dressedup four-bedroom home that's set to seat six at a holiday table finished with delicate candles and a stunning red, gold and silver centrepiece with pine cones and berries. Whites and golds pop on the enormous tree, and seasonal treats have been set out on the kitchen island. A beautiful wreath on the front door creates some Christmas curb appeal.
The design, says the Mosaic interior design team, was inspired by a traditional, Nordic-style Christmas.
A tip sheet prepared by the Mosaic team suggests several ways in which homeowners can replicate this look.
Incorporate greenery and garlands and integrate pops of red, says the team. “Consider starting with a white and cream palette and adding warmth through the inclusion of red in holiday textiles, dining table settings and decor.”
The Bonson home, a three-bedroom unit the team says was inspired by a modern Christmas theme, also features a dining table set for the holiday meal, this one finished with frosted garlands, silk ribbons and a light pastel tablescape. The tree glistens with silvers and whites and the kitchen counter is topped with plates of holiday cookies, seemingly just out of the oven.
The Mosaic team says white and pastel elements can inject a modern feel, while gold adds a good deal of sparkle.
“Add a subtle integration of gold throughout your holiday home by wrapping gifts with reflective papers, introducing gold pillar candles to the tablescape and incorporating glitter-dusted boughs upon the mantel,” says the team.
A sense of seasonal warmth, meanwhile, can be incorporated through the addition of faux fur throws and thick-knit pillows, the team notes.
Like most of us, the sales staff at Light House, Seaside and Bonson will be stepping back to some degree over the holidays.
Bonson will be closed from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and on Jan. 1, but otherwise open by appointment from noon to 6 p.m. daily. (Call 604-605-2674 or email bonson@mosaichomes.com).
Seaside will take the same holiday closures as Bonson, and otherwise be open by appointment every day from noon to 6 p.m. (Call 604-943-3902 or email seaside@ mosaichomes.com).
Light House will be closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4, but open by private appointment during this time. (Call 604-364-7424 or email lighthouse@aragon.ca).
The Bonson sales centre is located at 19696 Hammond Rd. in Pitt Meadows, the Seaside sales centre at 4638 Orca Way in Tsawwassen, and the Light House sales centre at 101 — 300 Salter St. in New Westminster.
Add a subtle integration of gold ... by wrapping gifts with reflective papers, introducing gold pillar candles to the tablescape and incorporating glitter-dusted boughs ...