My Houzz: Traditional Christmas Charm in an Updated 1840s Home
A couple with grown children have filled their warm and inviting forever home with antiques and sweet holiday touches
Childress, seated, and Banta are both schoolteachers and have seven children, ages 20 through 37, in their blended family, and all of them have lived in this house. “We are a close-knit family who enjoys spending a lot of time together. We have big family dinners on a regular basis,” Childress says.
“I love Christmas and love to decorate as much as I can,” Childress says. Nearly every surface of their home is decorated with collected seasonal figurines, antiques and travel mementos during the holidays.
In the living room is a tree that they, together with their children, decorate with an eclectic mix of ornaments each year. “We all go get the trees and decorate at least one of them together. We always joke about some of the ornaments,” Childress says. “Most of my ornaments are very special, either from places we’ve traveled to or from the kids. My most prized ornament is probably also the most unattractive ornament! It is an umbrella that belonged to my great-grandmother back in the 1840s.”
In the living room is a tree that they, together with their children, decorate with an eclectic mix of ornaments each year. “We all go get the trees and decorate at least one of them together. We always joke about some of the ornaments,” Childress says. “Most of my ornaments are very special, either from places we’ve traveled to or from the kids. My most prized ornament is probably also the most unattractive ornament! It is an umbrella that belonged to my great-grandmother back in the 1840s.”
A Christmas scene, including a Krispy Kreme donut shop, decorates the top of a living room dresser. This collection was purchased from Department 56. “I now start decorating the weekend before Thanksgiving in order to get it all done by the Sunday night after Thanksgiving,” Childress says.
Pictured here is a Christmas village display on top of the living room grand piano.
“Our home decorating style is antique-country, fitting the time period of the original house,” Childress says. “We decided when we moved in that we would like to furnish the house with as many pieces from the 1840s that we could find.”
The couple travel to various antiques shows and shops in New England, North Carolina and Oklahoma. “My mom lived in Tulsa for almost 30 years, and that was a great place to go antiquing. I bought an end table there and was able to pack the top in my suitcase, and the captain of the airplane kept the legs to the table up front with him!” Childress says with a laugh.
The couple travel to various antiques shows and shops in New England, North Carolina and Oklahoma. “My mom lived in Tulsa for almost 30 years, and that was a great place to go antiquing. I bought an end table there and was able to pack the top in my suitcase, and the captain of the airplane kept the legs to the table up front with him!” Childress says with a laugh.
Before: “For 10 years, I dreamt about expanding the kitchen,” Childress says. “I drew up my own plans and through the years would tweak them as our wants and needs changed.”
The remodel began fall 2014 when Childress met with general contractor Ian Moore of Liberty Homes. “I spent the winter of 2015 researching and buying everything. The actual demolition started the second week of April, and the remodel and addition took about five months. “We were very fortunate because living without a kitchen and a shower can be difficult. We made our kitchen in our den. Lived on plastic — sorry, environment — and washed dishes outside! At the time, I’m sure I often felt like it was taking forever, but as I look back on it, it was a very short period of time,” Childress says.
The remodel began fall 2014 when Childress met with general contractor Ian Moore of Liberty Homes. “I spent the winter of 2015 researching and buying everything. The actual demolition started the second week of April, and the remodel and addition took about five months. “We were very fortunate because living without a kitchen and a shower can be difficult. We made our kitchen in our den. Lived on plastic — sorry, environment — and washed dishes outside! At the time, I’m sure I often felt like it was taking forever, but as I look back on it, it was a very short period of time,” Childress says.
After: “Our home is our lifestyle,” Childress says. “We’re all in the kitchen preparing a meal, drinking beer and wine, laughing and talking about things in the past.” Almost all seven of the couple’s children come home for the holidays.
The renovation expanded the kitchen and added new cabinetry, a new sink, barn light pendants, a dishwasher and other new appliances, including additional ovens.
The couple worked with RC Hardwood Flooring to install new floors.
The renovation expanded the kitchen and added new cabinetry, a new sink, barn light pendants, a dishwasher and other new appliances, including additional ovens.
The couple worked with RC Hardwood Flooring to install new floors.
During the holidays, the couple enjoy entertaining family and friends with a big spread such as the one pictured on their new kitchen island.
“On Christmas Eve we have our traditional spaghetti dinner followed by a movie that we all need to agree on — it’s usually either Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, A Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” Childress says. “When they were younger, they would sleep in the same bedroom and build a fort and tell stories with each other, all hours of the night — now they talk and fall off to sleep!”
“On Christmas Eve we have our traditional spaghetti dinner followed by a movie that we all need to agree on — it’s usually either Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, A Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” Childress says. “When they were younger, they would sleep in the same bedroom and build a fort and tell stories with each other, all hours of the night — now they talk and fall off to sleep!”
Santa figurines decorate the open shelves in the kitchen, and seasonal garlands decorate the top of the cabinets.
New barn light pendants above the kitchen island fit in perfectly with the farmhouse-style space.
To the left of the refrigerator, just outside the frame, are bookshelves Childress really wanted in her renovated kitchen. “I have a lot of cookbooks and antiques I wanted to put in them. I had input on the distance between each shelf,” she says.
To the left of the refrigerator, just outside the frame, are bookshelves Childress really wanted in her renovated kitchen. “I have a lot of cookbooks and antiques I wanted to put in them. I had input on the distance between each shelf,” she says.
After: The new layout change is highlighted here. The sink area is part of a new addition to the kitchen.
The couple bought all of their appliances and finishes locally from D & M Marble and Tile, Sprague Woodworking and Hudson Appliance.
The couple bought all of their appliances and finishes locally from D & M Marble and Tile, Sprague Woodworking and Hudson Appliance.
The nook was updated slightly, and Christmas decor is currently on display on the windowsill of this well-lit space.
After: Now the space features two extra ovens and a built-in microwave.
Shown here is an antique bar Childress purchased in Vermont. “It just barely fit in the back of my van. I picked it up and had to drive all the way home with my front seat as close to the steering wheel as possible. It was very funny,” she says.
Santa mugs, caroler figurines and other antiques create added seasonal cheer in a corner of the kitchen that leads to the dining room. The couple bought the antique hand-painted ice-skating scene on a trip to Germany.
“We have been looking for the ‘perfect’ dining room set for as many years as we have lived here but haven’t found it yet,” Childress says. “The great thing about antiquing is that you never know when you’re going to find that special piece. We also have many pieces that belonged to Ned’s great-grandmother’s family.”
When Childress first began collecting antiques, she was into specific kinds of pottery like spongeware, yellowware and mochaware and also butter molds and tins. The artwork in her home can be dated back to as early as the 1700s.
When Childress first began collecting antiques, she was into specific kinds of pottery like spongeware, yellowware and mochaware and also butter molds and tins. The artwork in her home can be dated back to as early as the 1700s.
This antique chair is in the dining room, where on Christmas Day the family gathers for a formal dinner. “The most important thing we do before every meal is go around the table and say something we’re thankful for,” Childress says. “Sometimes we’re tearful, but always grateful. It is always a highlight of every meal. Ned and I always exchange glances during this time, our eyes telling each other how very lucky we are.”
Displayed on the mantel is a set of seven handcrafted carolers from Byers’ Choice, one for each of their children. “Each caroler was bought after each child was born,” Childress says.
This Crèche Nativity scene displayed in the dining room was a gift from an Italian friend. “It is quite unusual but very common and cherished in the Italian culture,” Childress says.
In the study, an old fireplace was covered many years ago when the kitchen was built. Currently, it is still covered with a built-in bookcase that houses antique books the couple has collected alongside other travel keepsakes and family heirlooms. The bookcase came from a general’s house in Charleston, South Carolina.
“My most prized possession is the tree in the study. After my mom died, my kids bought and decorated a tree for me. There are handmade ornaments that each one of them wrote on, there are special pictures in ornaments, ornaments with pictures on them and there are stars made from both of our mom’s fabrics,” Childress says. “It is truly a gift of love that keeps on giving.”
A staircase leads down from the bedrooms into the den, which is where the couple spend most of their time when they are home. A bright red bookshelf underneath the stairs continues the color motif found in the kitchen.
“In the evening, we’re sitting in the den with a beautiful fire, and my husband and I are watching a Red Sox game, each of us snuggling with the dogs,” Childress says.
Curtains: Country Curtains
“In the evening, we’re sitting in the den with a beautiful fire, and my husband and I are watching a Red Sox game, each of us snuggling with the dogs,” Childress says.
Curtains: Country Curtains
The floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplace is the centerpiece in the den. The couple had wide pine flooring installed.
On the mantel of the fireplace is a lineup of Santa figurines Childress has collected over the years. “When I was 21 my grandma gave me $20 for Christmas and I bought this wonderful velvet Santa. It was my first Santa, and I have always cherished it.”
Another favorite Santa figure came from Alaska, when the homeowner met the artist. “My ‘bedpost’ Santa is a favorite too. A crafter bought old bedposts, sanded and painted them and then made a Santa with real wool for his beard,” she says.
On the mantel of the fireplace is a lineup of Santa figurines Childress has collected over the years. “When I was 21 my grandma gave me $20 for Christmas and I bought this wonderful velvet Santa. It was my first Santa, and I have always cherished it.”
Another favorite Santa figure came from Alaska, when the homeowner met the artist. “My ‘bedpost’ Santa is a favorite too. A crafter bought old bedposts, sanded and painted them and then made a Santa with real wool for his beard,” she says.
The large decorative letters that spell “Noel” are from an antiques shop at the Portobello Road market in London. “In these letters I have put old figurines I had when I was growing up and a couple from when my mom was growing up,” Childress says.
Displayed on the bookshelf are more collected Department 56 Christmas villages. “The villages evolve every year. Listening to the family talk while they’re deciding which building to put where or where the dog park will be this year has become fun,” she says.
Displayed on the bookshelf are more collected Department 56 Christmas villages. “The villages evolve every year. Listening to the family talk while they’re deciding which building to put where or where the dog park will be this year has become fun,” she says.
“We refer to our home as ‘Twin Beeches’ because we have two copper beech trees,” says Childress. “The bark is absolutely amazing. My husband and I love when the leaves first begin to pop in the spring and are always a bit sad when they lose their leaves in the winter.” She adds, “In the summer our favorite thing to do is take the paper onto the porch, have breakfast, listen to the birds, many times watch the deer and or the turkeys and read the paper.”
The seasonal decor continues on the outside of the home as well, announcing the holiday cheer that awaits inside.
Here, a red door contrasts the white siding and barn doors of the property’s carriage house, where the holiday decorations are stored the rest of the year. “Our home is special because we’ve filled it with almost 15 years of love and memories. Good times and bad, joyful as well as sorrowful,” Childress says. “My husband and I have spent hours redoing every room in our home. We prefer to do our own decorating and our own painting. It makes the home feel more like ours.”
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Nancy Childress and Ned Banta, their 10-year-old Labrador, Remy, 3-year-old Labrador mix, Harley and 17-year-old cat, Ripkin
Location: Hudson, Massachusetts
Size: 3,500 square feet; four bedrooms and 2½ baths
Year built: 1840s
Owning a home that’s nearly two centuries old provides its share of challenges and joys. Nancy Childress and Ned Banta moved into their 1840s home in Hudson, Massachusetts, in 2003. “After hearing stories about the house and its rich history from the previous owners, we’ve always felt like we are the ‘caretakers’ and we feel it’s important to appreciate its beauty, maintain the home and be true to the age of the house,” Childress says. “We found out that old homes are not easy, nothing is square or level, but to us that is the charm.”