It’s hard to believe 2024 has come to an end. Today we are revisiting one of our all-time favorite New Year’s Eve celebrations, as hosted by Amy-Beth Ellice, British cookery extraordinaire and author of Amy’s Baking Year. We adore ringing in the new year at home, and Amy has graciously shared some of her favorite recipes and glamorous inspiration.
We first discovered Amy-Beth via Instagram in 2021 (you can tour her beautiful home here), and we simply cannot get enough of her timeless classic style, elegant tablescapes, entertaining tips and, of course, her delicious recipes… She has even catered for LoveShackFancy! Amy’s Baking Year journeys through the seasons with delightful treats for all occasions, featuring everything from back-to-basic and traditional classics handed down through generations, to Amy’s own creations that will take your breath away. Let’s take a closer look at her New Year’s soirée!
NYE canapés ✨ Golden quails eggs with smoked salmon and dill mousse with caviar 🥂✨
Amy’s dinner party started with a roasted celeriac and hazelnut soup with truffle followed by beef Wellington and a mini mushroom Wellington, with potatoes dauphinoise and sautéed green beans with garlic. For dessert she made one of her favourites, tiramisu – an Italian classic, followed by my homemade white chocolate and pistachio truffles.
Amy’s champagne cocktail recipe can be found here!Details on her cupcake clock can be found in her book!
Absolutely stunning! For additional inspiration, you will want to follow @amybethellice_ on Instagram, and have a look through all of her seasonal celebrations. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of her book, Amy’s Baking Year.
Did Santa bring everything on your Christmas list? There is one thing more we are adding to ours… this delightful 1920s Tudor nestled within nearly one acre of beautifully landscaped grounds in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois. Decorated by the illustrious Ruthie Sommers, this magical English manor-style estate is one The Glam Pad’s favorite homes of all time. In fact, we have been dreaming about it for nearly a decade when it was featured in Town & Country magazine! Today we are thrilled to tour this enchanted estate, decorated in full holiday cheer, as it is currently listed with Christie’s @properties. Come experience fairytale living as the story magically unfolds around every corner!
Located one of Winnetka’s most cherished private lanes by renowned Jazz Age architect Russell S. Walcott, this 8,025 square-foot masterpiece includes a newly renovated de Giulio custom kitchen and an exquisite exterior revamp complemented with charming Chinese Chippendale-style gates, entertaining terraced patios, and a boutique hotel-level pool within the secluded yard.
Step inside to pure majestic beauty that could never be replicated today!
Gather guests in the gracious living room with glazed apricot walls anchored by the antique mahogany fireplace with limestone surround and French doors leading out to the south lawn and cutting garden.
Cozy up in the Great Room paneled in antique pine from England… We also couldn’t help but admire the hand-needlepointed stockings hung by the chimney with care!
The formal dining room boasts hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper with hand-painted turquoise Chinese fretwork moldings applied over antique mirroring adding dramatic sparkle.
Enjoy after-dinner cocktails in the red lacquered lounge that beautifully defines this unparalleled entertaining space.
A newly refreshed kitchen beautifully lifts the entire first floor to a new level of curated beauty. Outfitted with Gucci-inspired bamboo handles, custom hand-painted Delft-style tiles, antique mirrored cabinet fronts and whimsical pendant lighting, the kitchen is perfectly in keeping with the house’s design yet modernized with every possible convenience: heated floor, three sinks, thick mitered Quartz countertops, built-in desk, and all new deluxe stainless steel appliances: Wolf 6-burner range, 2 Miele dishwashers & Sub-Zero refrigerator.
Newly lacquered summer green Butler’s Pantry energizes this walk-through space leading to the most magnificent solarium breakfast room overlooking the lush & manicured backyard oasis.
We spy more needlepoint… Such a darling way to display handmade needlepoint ornaments!
Enter into the formal foyer outfitted with hand-painted hardwood floors, meticulous hard-carved millwork, and grass cloth wall coverings.
An expansive private primary wing has it all: his and hers dressing rooms, two separate baths, and a sitting room/office create a perfect oasis for luxury living.
There are three large additional bedrooms with full laundry on the second floor. Also, the complete third floor includes a sun-drenched work out room overlooking lush grounds, charming custom playroom with stage and curtain, two additional bedrooms and two full bath. There is also a lower room which includes wine cellar and ample storage.
Charm, warmth, and personality abound throughout this breathtaking residence! Grounded in its historic past, 66 Fox Lane is the perfect backdrop for a gracious modern lifestyle and cherished memories to be made.
With 6 bedrooms, 6 full and two half baths, and 8,025 expertly-appointed square feet, this timeless home is priced at $5.25M. To learn more, please contact Jena Radnay with Christie’s @properties.
We hope everyone had a merry little Christmas! But if Santa didn’t remember everything on your list… or you just want to stock up on some after Christmas bargains, we’ve got you covered! Below you will find our favorite deals of the season. Happy shopping!
Christmas at The Greenbrier, photograph by Molly Carr
The Glam Pad is delighted to share a special video tour today with home accessories and gifts designer, Joanna Buchanan! Joanna takes us inside her delightfully whimsical 19th century home in the Connecticut countryside that she shares with her husband and two children. Designed to bring the outdoors in, the garden is a huge inspiration for the natural elements in her work… even in wintertime! The historic home showcases treasures Joanna picked up during years of traveling and serves as the perfect backdrop and laboratory for the enchanted Joanna Buchanan collection which includes jeweled insects, Capiz Christmas trees and accessories, pearl encrusted snowflakes, bee embroidered pillows, and much more. We adore her mix of bold colors, chic graphic patterns, eclectic home furnishings, and traditional elements!
Joanna developed an unmistakable vision for luxury, color, texture and pattern not only from her 20 years in the fashion retail business but also through her Hong Kong childhood, adult years in Europe, and extensive travel throughout India. Joanna’s line of luxe, seasonal accessories, holiday decor and gifts was born from her mother’s love of holiday decorating and a dig through her great grandmother’s vintage collection of ornaments stashed in her parent’s home in the English countryside. Inspired by these finds, she envisioned a new take on classic holiday decor — an unexpected twist on conventional ornaments, she has transformed the holiday season by adding a level of vintage sophistication and glamour that has been missing from the marketplace.
Please check out the video above, and below let’s look at some details inside Joanna’s sparkling world!
To learn more, please visit Joanna Buchanan and follow @joannabuchananofficial on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. Joanna is also offering 20% off from December 24 – 28 with the code TGP.Thank you, Joanna! And please follow The Glam Pad on YouTube for more video home tours in 2025!
Today we’re unwrapping holiday magic with Charlotte Lucas, founder of Charlotte Lucas Design. A celebrated Charlotte, North Carolina-based designer, Charlotte is known for her fearless use of color and delightfully whimsical details. Charlotte’s passion for design, nurtured by her designer mother, shines through in her interiors, where vibrant color, thoughtful patterns, and layered details come together to create spaces brimming with charm and personality.
Today we travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina to tour a Tudor-style home Charlotte not only renovated for very special clients with architect George Crow, but also helped decorate for Christmas! Myriad wreaths, glittery birds, giant ornaments, and whimsical elements complement the homeowners’ eclectic style.
“The home had great bones, some of which we couldn’t dream of touching – namely the cozy wood paneling in the living room,” said Charlotte. “We simply refreshed it with varnish and playful fabrics. Family heirlooms mixed with french antiques and Murano glass brought a newfound warmth and freshness to our clients’ spacious home.”
Let’s peek inside, where Charlotte’s unmistakable eye transforms each room into a merry masterpiece. From lush greenery to vibrant pops of color, her holiday vision promises to inspire your celebrations!
Photos courtesy of Laurey Glenn.
For more inspiration, please visit Charlotte’s website here and be certain to follow along on Instagram. And stay tuned as we will be featuring more of her work here at The Glam Pad!
Family traditions help make the Christmas season merry and bright, and today Dallas-based interior designer Cathy Kincaid invites The Glam Pad into her festively adorned 1920s Highland Park home as she shares her favorite holiday traditions, including her delicious recipe for Spicy Buttered Pecans! Fresh greenery, fruit, paper whites and amaryllis create an elegant and timeless backdrop to Cathy’s holiday home, setting the stage for cherished memories she creates for her grandchildren and family.
Let’s take a peek inside with photography by Par Bengtsson.
Designer Cathy Kincaid
Q:When do you start decorating for Christmas each year?
A: I start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.
Q: Do you have any tips you can share with us?
A: Make sure you are organized from the previous year, so it’s easy to take out ornaments for the tree, gift wrapping, etc.
Q: What are some of your most cherished holiday traditions?
A: The Mother, Daughter, Granddaughter Christmas Tea at The Dallas Woman’s Club. My annual Christmas Eve party at my house. The carriage rides in Highland Park.
Q: How do you like to set the table for special holiday meals?
A: I like to set the table with collected linens and china from over the years and lots of greenery.
Q: Do you have a favorite Christmas recipe you could share with us?
A: Spicy Buttered Pecans – we hand these out to vendors, clients, family and friends.
This is a trial and error recipe. First, melt butter over pecan halves and season with garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste. Spread the nuts on a shallow pan and cook for several hours at 200 degrees, flipping after 20 minutes. The pecans need to be buttery enough to coat. In the end, the nuts should be still a bit buttery but dry.
Q: What are some fun ways you involve your grandchildren and make Christmas magical for them?
A: Decorating cookies, decorating the tree, delivering presents and riding in the horse carriage around Highland Park.
To learn more, please visit Cathy Kincaid Interiors and follow @cathykincaidinteriors on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. We highly recommend her book, The Well Adorned Home, which would make an ideal Christmas gift for any design lover in your life. You can also see more of Cathy’s work, as featured by The Glam Pad here!
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look TGP’s Last Minute Shopping Guide, Paris Deco Off 2025, and Christmas with Catherine Olasky. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
TGP’s Last Minute Shopping Guide
We’re just as shocked as you are—Christmas is next week, and the first night of Hanukkah happens to land on the very same day. Between last-minute decorating, meal planning, and a swirl of festivities, it’s all too easy for those final gifts to slip through the cracks. But fear not—we’re here to quell your gifting panic.
Today, we’ve rounded up The Glam Pad’s guide to last-minute gifting, with perfect picks for everyone on your list. From thoughtful treats for your neighbor or party host to gifts for teens, tots, him, her and maybe even yourself. We’ve got you covered. Every item below is set to arrive just in time!
TGP-approved stores still guaranteeing delivery in time for Christmas include:
January is just around the corner, and with it comes the most anticipated event in the interiors world, Paris Déco Off! Often called the “fashion week for interiors” (minus the runway but with plenty of flair), the festivities kick off on January 15th. For five days, Paris becomes the epicenter of design festivities, welcoming over creatives, industry professionals, and design devotees from around the globe.
This year, around 150 brands will unveil their latest collections. Think sumptuous fabrics, swoon-worthy wallpapers, and intricate trimmings that will simply make you gasp. Expect nothing less than jaw-dropping presentations and soirées that are as chic as they are exuberant. Like in years paris, Paris Déco Off 2025 is shaping up to be a can’t-miss extravaganza. Mark your calendars and pack your best walking shoes!
For more information, visit the Paris Deco Off official site here.
Christmas with Catherine Olasky
Today’s dose of Christmas inspiration comes courtesy of the talented Houston-based interior designer Catherine Olasky. Renowned for her impeccably curated interiors with a touch of English charm, Catherine began her career in New York City, spending five formative years with the legendary Bunny Williams.
In 2006, her passion for European antiques and historic houses led her to London, where she honed her craft at the esteemed Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler for four years. With a design sensibility that is both worldly and deeply thoughtful, Catherine’s interiors exude richness and sophistication—and her holiday décor is no exception.
Take a peek inside her stunning home decked out for the holidays, with photography by Annie Schlecter…
Catherine is also one of our 2024 Holiday Tastemakers, and she shares her favorite Christmas gifting ideas here!
Today we are peeking inside the home of Jillian Eversole and the home of her mother, as we continue touring the abodes of our 2024 Holiday Tastemakers. It is fun to see that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree! Both mother and daughter share a love of classic, timeless style, warm and inviting holiday decorations, and a passion for family traditions.
Jillians runs a Charleston-based blog focused on motherhood, celebration of family life, shopping discoveries, love notes to Charleston, and the joy of pursuing the good life. So we were thrilled this year to have her share her holiday shopping tips along with a look inside her home where she lives with her husband, Edwin, their sons, Rowan and Henry, and two dogs, Maybelle and Hopper.
Let’s start with a visit to the beautiful and timeless home of Jillian’s mother…
Jillian and her mother love collecting the annual Reed & Barton and Wallace silver ornaments each year. They are such a meaningful and elegant way to decorate the tree!
My family collects Wallace silver snowflakes, which we display each year on our dining room chandelier. Silver ornaments are truly spectacular when displayed en masse!
Another lovely family tradition is to collect the annual Halcyon Days enamel Christmas boxes. They are so beautiful and memorable when displayed on an exquisite silver platter!
Christmas Tree dishes by Spode make a lovely holiday tradition. Loved for its nostalgia and warm recollections of Christmases past, Christmas Tree is one of the world’s best known holiday designs since its introduction in 1938.
Such a delightful collection of treasured Christmas books, including some vintage and antique editions.
Now let’s take a look inside Jillian’s Home!
Jillian also shares The Glam Pad’s passion for needlepoint… We couldn’t help but admire and inquire about her beautiful needlepoint stockings!
“My marvelous stocking was done by my grandmother. I am fortunate enough to have two beautiful needlepoint stockings, one done by each of my two talented grandmothers. One of mine lives at my house and one of mine lives at my parents’ house,” she explained. “My husband’s and my boys’ stockings were done by my husband’s aunt. She is a prolific needlepointer as well and has given us the most beautiful gift with these stockings! I am working on Christmas stockings I had custom designed for my boys but I am not done with a single one of them. Maybe by next year!”
Jillian loves decorating with dried oranges, and she shares her recipe for homemade holiday potpourri here!
Handmade wooden musical angels from Germany are another favorite #verytgp collectable.
Such beautiful homes, families, and family traditions! Thank you, Jillian, for sharing with us today!
To learn more, please visit jillianeversole.com and click here to read more about Jillian’s family’s holiday traditions along with tips on how to start and make your own! You can also follow @jillian_eversole on Instagram for ongoing inspiration!
Birmingham-based designer Carolina Gidiere joins us today with a peek inside her Mountain Brook, Alabama home, decked for the holidays! Caroline is a former “Christmas with the Tastemakers” participant, where each year we share gift guides and home tours from some of the nation’s leading designers and tastemakers. She has been named one of Veranda’s “2021 Next Legends” and finalist in ADAC’s Southeast Designer of the Year 2020.
We adore Caroline’s fresh take on traditional decor, and the same can be seen in her holiday decor. Caroline adores incorporating elements from nature such as magnolia leaves, paperwhites, oranges, fresh evergreens and Christmas trees. The result is classic, timeless, elegance that is both festive and chic. Let’s take a look!
We love Caroline’s simple tips for planting Paperwhites, below… You can find more of our favorite Tastemakers’ Paperwhite tips here!
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at the “Christmas Vacation” movie advent house, Grace Coddington for Astier de Villatte, and Fashioning Wonder. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
The “Christmas Vacation” Movie Advent House
It’s no secret—we we absolutely adore advent calendars! And just when we thought we’d seen it all, we stumbled across the most extraordinary creation on Etsy: a custom-made advent calendar that is an exact, full-sized replica of the iconic advent calendar featured in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, where the Griswold family counts down the days to their hilariously chaotic, old-fashioned holiday celebration.
These stunning pieces are handcrafted to order and showcase impeccable craftsmanship that truly sets them apart. Each Advent House is meticulously designed and entirely hand-built in Montana with extraordinary care to ensure every detail. From scale to perspective, this calendar an accurate homage to the beloved film prop.
TheAdventHouse is born of a love of the movie Christmas Vacation. In that movie are a few super short moments where a small window is opened on a large Advent Calendar, in the shape of a large House. We loved that so much that we developed the original Advent House based on those few movie screenshots. We began by creating plans so people could build the Advent House themselves (which are no longer available). Then we moved into creating kits for the more difficult parts (such as the small window shutters), and finally, we now provide all of the parts and pieces you need to build your very own Christmas Advent House! We also create a few Fully Assembled Advent Houses each year! We’ve also worked hard to make the kits easy to assemble, as well as fast and effective! So get your Advent House Kit today and have it ready to go for this next Christmas!
Now taking Fully Assembled orders for Christmas 2025, these advent calendars are heirloom-quality masterpieces that capture the magic of Christmas nostalgia. Contact Tiger Mountain Christmas Advent House to inquire.
Grace Coddington for Astier de Villatte
For decades, Grace Coddington has reigned as the creative force behind American Vogue, cementing her status as a fashion icon and storyteller extraordinaire. Yet beyond her celebrated editorial brilliance lies a quieter, whimsical side to her artistry that often goes overlooked: her charming little drawings. Brimming with wit and warmth, these illustrations reflect her enduring love of cats—a devotion that has spanned more than 50 years and countless feline muses.
Now, this lesser-known facet of Grace’s creativity takes center stage in a collaboration with Astier de Villatte. Renowned for their imaginative partnerships, the Parisian atelier has joined forces with Grace to bring her sketches to life in a delightful collection that seamlessly blends her playful artistry with their signature craftsmanship.
The collection includes a whimsical tea set adorned with her cat-inspired illustrations, as well as beautifully designed postcards and matching envelopes. Each piece radiates charm, making the series a perfect fusion of Grace’s artistic vision and Astier de Villatte’s distinctive style. Whether you’re a devoted cat lover, a fan of Coddington’s work, or simply in search of a thoughtful holiday gift, this collection is a delight.
Fashioning Wonder at the Museum at FIT
The beloved Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology has revealed their next exhibition and we cannot be more excited. Step into fashion’s own cabinet of curiosities with Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities. This spellbinding exhibition reimagines the 16th-century wunderkammern, the original museums of the rare and extraordinary. Featuring nearly 200 garments and accessories from FIT’s collection, many on display for the first time, it’s a true feast for the curious and the fashion-obsessed.
Comme des Garçons, polyester, cotton, and nylon dress printed with Arcimboldo’s painting of Vertumnus, spring 2018, Japan, gift of Nordstrom, 2021.33.5
The exhibition begins with the history of curiosity cabinets, born during the Age of Exploration, and their evolution into modern museums. A standout piece is Mary Katrantzou’s intricate butterfly-and-seashell dress, a love letter to the joy of collecting.
From there, the show dives into thematic galleries that feel like stepping into a living cabinet of curiosities. The Specimens room channels natural inspirations with garments like Tom Ford’s zebra-beaded gown to earrings displayed like scientific treasures. The Aviary room enchants with feathered finery, while the Anatomical Theatre turns the human body into art, featuring Arzu Kaprol’s metallic skeletal dress.
Mary Katrantzou, printed, embroidered, and beaded dress with net overlay, spring 2019, England, museum purchase, 2023.52.1Pucci, Visone (Mink) trompe l’oeil printed crepe de chine dress, 1954–1955, Italy, gift of Joan Kaufman, 77.4.2
The Artisanship section pays tribute to craftsmanship with miniature fashion pieces and tools that blur the line between functional and beautiful. In Kunstkammer, art history meets high fashion with a Comme des Garçons dress inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s surreal Vertumnus. Meanwhile, Vanitas reminds us of life’s fragility with butterfly shoes and skull-shaped accessories.
Tom Ford, sequined and beaded zebra-print dress with horsehair “mane,” fall 2013, USA, gift of the Estate of Joy Venturini Bianchi, 2022.65.35Sophia Webster, Chiara sandals with multicolor embroidery and hand-painted heels, 2019, England, gift of Sophia Webster, 2017.55.1
Curated by Dr. Colleen Hill, it’s an ode to the curiosity that fuels both collecting and creativity. This exhibition is a treasure trove of inspiration! Running from February 19th to April 20th, 2025, be certain to following along on Instagram for updates and insights from the museum.
