Inside Wales' best-decorated Christmas house that's like stepping into a stately manor

If you started to put your Christmas decorations up at the beginning of November, what would the neighbours say? Would you be judged and talked about over garden fences?

For Jo, a 57-year-old project manager, the trimmings came down from the loft and the tinsel and baubles were released from their boxes much earlier than usual as she started to secretly bring her Christmas décor to magical life - and it didn't go unnoticed within the quiet cul-de-sac in Flintshire that she calls home. Jo says: "The minute we started putting lights and baubles on the big tree in the front garden the neighbours started to question. They said they thought I’d gone mad!"

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But there was a special reason for Christmas to come early, even if Jo wasn't initially aware of it - her best friend had put her house forward for consideration to compete against other festive abodes to be crowned Wales' Christmas Home of the Year 2024 and be featured on an hour-long BBC Cymru Wales’ special festive edition of the annual Wales’ Home of the Year series.

Jo says: "My best friend who lives in Spain always comments on my home when I decorate it at Christmas and she saw the show shout-out on Instagram. Unbeknown to me she nominated me and she didn’t tell me! The next thing I knew I had a DM from the show asking if I would be interested because I’d been nominated.

"It was a no-brainer for me because I absolutely love interiors but you never really have faith in what you do yourself but my friend thought this would be something I would enjoy doing, and she was right, so I went ahead with it. But it’s been hellish trying to keep it a secret!"

After the shock of finding out her home was going to be featured on the TV Jo sprang into action and it wasn't just creating the Christmas spirit that was on the list - she was desperate to finish off some of the DIY jobs she had been putting off to get her home totally ready in time for filming. Plus there was a whirlwind of cleaning to do before even one bauble came into sight.

As the Christmas whirlwind was gathering momentum Jo kept the neighbours partially informed on what was happening on their usually peaceful cul-de-sac. Jo says: "Because we couldn’t say anything I was thinking, ‘what will the neighbours think?’ especially as there was all sorts going on - people coming to clean the windows, people coming to clean the guttering, people cutting the hedge - it was like a military operation.

"They were thrilled when I told them there was going to be filming going ahead - not which show of course - but because of the fact there would be multiple cars in the street and it would be an inconvenience to them, and the show recommended I did that."

But, apart from the looming deadline of a film crew appearing on the doorstep, Jo was having the best time because for her Christmas is definitely the most wonderful time of the year. So much so that having an excuse to decorate her home weeks earlier than usual was a fabulous early Christmas present.

Jo says: "I just think Christmas is a magical time, with all the twinkly lights and a cosy atmosphere. I like to add colour as well as traditional and natural decorations too, lots of foliage, wreaths and garlands, it just makes me happy, it gives me a really positive and safe feeling.”

The judges who usually appear on Wales’ Home of the Year, Owain Wyn Jones, Glen Thomas and Mandy Watkin, arrived to rummage around Jo's home for the Christmas special. According to them the traditional and classy feel to the home couples with a festive feel flowing into each room, and yet each space has its own personality and treasures to find.

However, next year if the judges visit they might find it has a different look because no two years are the same at Jo's Flintshire home. Every 12 months she adds to her Christmas collection and redesigns the whole festive scheme, usually by adding unique finds from her friend's shop The Little Room, tucked away in the Mossley Hill area of Liverpool.

Jo says: "Traditional is the word I would use to describe my style. Although the house was built 18 years ago it is in the grounds of an old mansion, so the builder was very sensitive to the style and so it looks more traditional than a new-build would and I’ve always had a leaning towards a traditional style. I love going to stately homes, all the rich colours, the gold, the gilding, but also I love the utilitarian style of the kitchens too - so I take a lot of inspiration from places like that as well as my own personality.

"When I start decorating I always start with the hearth and the mantlepiece because that’s the focal point of the living room and I like to make that very natural with lots of trailing foliage, and then I do the trees, plus I like to see twinkling lights in front of mirrors and glass too, so this is also in my mind to make it even more magical.

"I try to repeat some of the designs into the next year as it makes it easier to know where things go but when I’m doing it I’ve usually collected new stuff (since last Christmas) so then I reconsider because I love to showcase those too, so that’s why I move things about."

The timeless and tasteful décor is a style that Jo thinks most people can copy, especially the natural elements to her designs. Jo says she's moving even more into foraging in nature for her scheme next year, building on her love for hunting for vintage furniture and accessories that has led to her setting up her Instagram account called The Furniture Forager.

For some people putting up the Christmas decorations feels like a chore but for Jo it is part of her festive celebrations and an aspect of the season that she enjoys immensely. It can sometimes take her up to two weeks to create her winter wonderland, including the pondering and decision-making. Taking them down on the other hand is usually just a rather sad weekend.

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Of all the decorations and treasures to be found and admired in Jo's home there are two that hold a special place in her Christmas heart. She says: "I have a vintage Laura Ashley advent calendar in the shape of a house which I fill with chocolate for my son which has sentimental value, and my favourite more recent item is the dove for the top of the tree which I thought was very unusual."

When Jo found out she was the winner of Wales’ Christmas Home of the Year it was the icing on the Christmas cake. She says: "I just couldn't believe it, I could see three people at my front door and a light shining behind them and I thought 'oh my goodness'. If the neighbours weren't watching at the time they must have heard me screeching!

"I was delighted and so emotional as well. I am so happy for my friend who nominated me but happy for me and my son too because we do put a lot of effort in at Christmas to just bring it to life. It has made this Christmas extra special."

Originally from Flint, Jo has made decorating her house part of the joy of this time of year but she thinks every home is a Christmas winner when it comes to making your abode your own amazing festive palace, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune either.

Jo says: "A lot of people think they need to spend a lot of money but I don't think you do really, there's a lot you can draw from nature and that's something I want to do more myself, go foraging for foliage more and bolster the faux wreaths and garlands, and I think a lot of people can do that combined with warm twinkly lights and candles - for me that gives me a warm feeling.

"But I think everybody's house looks beautiful at Christmas, I think you should just go with the flow, go with what makes you happy and joyous. Winning this award has given me more confidence in my style and spurred me on to keep going really, and not just at Christmas time."

The trophy is now being displayed on a little table next to the armchair in the living room that is Jo’s special spot in her home, where she can view all the Christmas decorations both inside the space and outside in the garden.

Throughout the process of making her interiors special, and not just at Christmas, Jo says her family and friends have always been very supportive, well, almost always. The choice of deep shade of brown for the living room did see a few questioning looks.

But the queen of Christmas decor says, coupled with a shade of green and the Morris & Co wallpaper and furniture, she is very happy. And what is her choice of brown called? Christmas pudding, of course.

Wales' Christmas Home of the Year 2024 is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.

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