Our Asheville, North Carolina, Idea House Is All Decked Out For the Holiday Season

By Grace Haynes
Updated December 02, 2020
Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

There’s holiday cheer around every corner at the Southern Living Idea House. We dressed up our modern farmhouse in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains with festive trimmings to celebrate the season. Find decorating inspiration throughout the home, with twinkling Christmas trees, welcoming wreaths, and dining tables set for entertaining. We didn’t forget about the doghouse, of course, with its own stocking for a very good pup.

The Ramble Farmhouse (SL-2052) is set in a secluded 1,000-acre community called The Ramble Biltmore Forest (part of the original farm founded by George W. Vanderbilt in 1897). It’s conveniently located by the  Biltmore and about a 15-minute drive to buzzy downtown Asheville. A talented team from across the region brought our Appalachian getaway to life: interior designer Lauren Liess, builders Rick Buchanan, Jason Norton, and Rodger Gardner of Buchanan Construction, architects Kate Campbell and Beau Clowney of Beau Clowney Architects, and landscape architect Greg Cloos.

The Idea House is open for tours through December 27, 2020 (find more information for tours and tickets here). Here, a peek of the home’s Christmas decorations to kick off the season.

Special thanks to Balsam Hill/Biltmore Collection;  Southern Living Collection exclusively at Dillard’s; The Home Depot

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Come On In

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

An oversize wreath from The Home Depot on the front door makes a spirited first impression. We hung a few more wreaths (pre-lit with classic white lights) on surrounding windows for good measure. 

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Tiny Touches

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Small spaces don’t have to stay empty. Glowing in the windowsills, battery-operated flameless candles from The Home Depot (which can be seen from the street) add a cozy colonial Christmas look.

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Raise the Bar

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

The library already feels festive with its high-gloss green ceiling. A twinkling tabletop tree set on the bar cart and magnolia clippings arranged in a vase on the coffee table feel just right.

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All the Trimmings

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

A Biltmore spruce from Balsam Hill twinkles in the bay window of the sitting room. Metallic ornaments from the Biltmore Legacy Ornament Set and a sparkly ribbon cascading from the top help the tree really shine.  

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Twice as Nice

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

A pair of pre-lit wreaths hang above the Japanese soaking tub in the main bath.  

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Branching Out

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Evergreen Christmas decorations complement the living room's already earthy palette. A fireplace feels all the more cozy in the mountains, especially with winter-white stockings and garland draped over the mantel. Give artificial tabletop trees a custom look by setting them in one of your own containers. Wispy pine branches clipped from the yard add more natural greenery. 

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Sweet Servings

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

When company comes over, serve holiday treats with festive accessories from the Southern Living collection for Dillard's. 

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Gather Around

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Set the table for Christmas dinner with tableware from the Southern Living collection for Dillard's. 

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Set Up a Second Tree

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Bring the cheer out to the screened porch with a sparkling tree from The Home Depot to admire while curled up by the fire. 

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Welcoming Retreat

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

A few festive touches like stockings hanging from the bedposts prep the guest room for visitors. 

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Comfort and Joy

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

A twinkling tabletop tree and  garland are easy decor additions that go a long way in this cozy bedroom. 

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Seasonal Swap

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Replace the usual vase of flowers on an accent table with a tiny Christmas tree in December.

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House of Good Cheer

Credit: Photography: Brooke Fornea Styling: Kendra Surface

Deck the halls at the doghouse too. Beau Clowney Architects modeled The Ramble Doghouse after the main home (plus, it's a house plan). 

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By Grace Haynes