Heart of Joy

This New York Brownstone may be surrounded by city sidewalks, but the interior is full of  Idyllic Charm.  See how Creamy Colors and French Antiques  bring out the Shabby and Chic Side of Christmas.

- Lara Sargent

From the outside, this Upper West Side brownstone looks like any other typical city home. But visitors who walk up the 1890's steps would be delighted to discover the Christmas oasis that sits inside. With its tranquil palette of buttermilk and duckegg blues, Victoria Gordon’s house truly comes alive during the holidays.

SEASONAL SERENITY

Victoria shares the home with her husband, Michael Rubin, their two daughters,Isabelle, 17, and Olivia, 13, and a menagerie of pets. Yet the décor is a light and airy masterpiece, where rooms effortlessly flow into one another and the atmosphere is tranquil, calm and utterly family-friendly.

“The whole look is light and airy, cozy and homey, where friends and family can relax,” confides Victoria, who is the executive story editor at 60 Minutes on CBS News. “The house is always filled with flowers, and we always have a fire lit. It is a very lived in home.”

At Christmas time, the house really comes into its own with gorgeous garlands and cream ribbon swagged across shutters and creamy silk curtains, while Christmas trees stand in almost every room, decorated with a simple and sophisticated trail of white ribbon, silver baubles and twinkly fairy lights. In addition, the mini conifer in the main bedroom is bedecked head to toe with feathery birds in honor of George, the family cockatiel.

Stately Seasonal Style