Scotland's Christmas Home of the Year 2023 judges share their Christmas traditions and tease the fiv

Published: 13 December 2023

Deck the halls and jingle those bells, it’s time to take a peek at five fabulously festive pads as Anna Campbell-Jones, Banjo Beale and new judge Danny Campbell choose which ho-ho-house will be gifted the title of Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year.

From decorated doorways to tinselled trees and festooned fireplaces, the judges look at every detail before choosing one winter wonderful winner. While architectural merit and stylish interior design are factors, they’ll also mark the five homes on festive flair and Christmas spirit.

Here, the judges share their Christmas traditions, thoughts on tinsel and tease the five winter wonderful homes they visited this year.

JM2

Meet the Judges

Anna Campbell-Jones - Judge and Interior Designer

What Christmas traditions are a must in your home?

Huevos rancheros for breakfast, dressing up in second hand sequins, drinking fizz while listening to the Elvis Christmas album and chatting before a late, and leisurely, lunch.

How would you describe your Christmas home style?

I always 'shop' my boxes of Christmas decorations to create a slightly different look each year. I love a real tree (sourced sustainably in Scotland) and that's the main focus in the living room. This year I've made paper chains from old wallpaper samples. I don't worry too much about things matching, just getting the feeling right.

Did you get any festive design inspiration from the SCHOTY homes you visited this year?

Some amazing home-made and upcycled ideas I will definitely be stealing for next year. Christmas should not be harmful to the planet.

Any memorable moments from your SCHOTY travels this year? (We hear the car journeys are great fun!)

Playing dress up in the car with our Secret Santa gifts was a hoot…although it did require a bit of contortionism!

Out of the three of you, is anyone a Grinch or do you all love Christmas?

We all love the idea of a wonderful Christmas but we also know some years can be more wonderful than others - that's life!

How would you describe the homes on offer in this year’s SCHOTY?

We have the full spectrum, quite literally! From nature inspired, to rainbows to explosions of bling.

Do you have a favourite Christmas decoration in your home you can tell us about?

I have a bauble of my cat, complete with realistic bum!

What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?

My eldest son Frank is getting married in the spring and my future daughter in law's family are coming over, we will set up long folding tables down the hall for a veggie pot luck feast, she has created a spreadsheet so we all know who is bringing what. So excited to be celebrating the joining of two families at Christmas.

Are you a fairy on top of the tree or a shining star?

I have always put a star on the tree, this year it's a homemade marbled paper one.

And finally... to tinsel or not to tinsel?

I have one strand of tinsel that I wrap around my old chopper bike that sits in my hall for a little 70s moment.

Banjo Beale - Judge and Interior Designer

What Christmas traditions are a must in your home?

Coming from Australia I like to keep the cold Christmas lunch tradition alive with our table bursting with seafood and salad. Thankfully, living on the Isle of Mull, we are spoiled for choice with seafood.

How would you describe your Christmas home style?

I love a traditional, old fashioned look, with a real tree and foliage, bursting with vintage ornaments and large bows.

Did you get any festive design inspiration from the SCHOTY homes you visited this year?

I picked up so many fun ideas that don’t cost the earth on SCHOTY this year like reusing old Christmas jumpers as cushion covers. I can’t sew and nor did they. They just popped the cushion inside the jumper and pinned the arms back. People used remnant wallpaper and fabric for decorations and foraged for lots of their greenery.

Any memorable moments from your SCHOTY travels this year? (We hear the car journeys are great fun!)

It’s like a proper family road trip, lots of giggles, singing, eating sticky food and asking our mum Anna, are we there yet?!

Out of the three of you is anyone a Grinch or do you all love Christmas?

Oh no. It might be me. Or Danny. Anna just loves Christmas so much.

How would you describe the homes on offer in this year’s SCHOTY?

Like a box of Quality Streets, a real mixed bag from all out to traditional, to far out fabulous.

What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?

A big breakfast with our chosen family, a long lazy morning and a big farm feast in the afternoon, finished with cheese and whisky.

Are you a fairy on top of the tree or a shining star?

I think anything goes on top of the tree but I’m more of a star guy myself, always have been. It would be the biggest argument of the year between my sister and I, who gets to place the star.

And finally... to tinsel or not to tinsel?

Tinsel should be outlawed.

Danny Campbell - Judge and Architect

What Christmas traditions are a must in your home?

One that stands out is a tradition my father started. On Christmas morning, fighting against all the pent-up excitement to see what Santa has left, the older brothers make sure the youngest gets to go in first. As a child, this starts the make sense as you get older.

How would you describe your Christmas home style?

With three excited little boys in the house our Christmas style could be described as ‘Winter Wonderland’. Sadly, not a wholesome snow covered, peaceful wonderland with a little robin perched on a fence post - more like the Hyde Park version, with lots of running and screaming, sugar fuelled chaos and everything is very expensive.

Did you get any festive design inspiration from the SCHOTY homes you visited this year?

Oh yes! The use of dried hops, spray painting children’s toys as table decorations, elf dinner parties… trying not to give too many spoilers away!

Any memorable moments from your SCHOTY travels this year? (We hear the car journeys are great fun!)

Anna Campbell-Jones' explicit rapping in the car was memorable to say the least! There was also a very memorable lunch in Auchterarder where a banana and chicken toasty made an appearance, and it smashed all expectations, it was delicious!

Out of the three of you is anyone a Grinch or do you all love Christmas?

Out of the three of us, Banjo has the lowest Christmas threshold. But, to be fair, he is the jolliest for the rest of the year and really brings the Christmas cheer on the road.

How would you describe the homes on offer in this year’s SCHOTY?

Diverse! I think we had five of the best variations of what Christmas can be! Each had its own qualities and all five were inspiring and creative. There is definitely something for everyone. It was so hard to find a winner.

Do you have a favourite Christmas decoration in your home you can tell us about?

This year we bought some white window pens and the boys love drawing on the windows, I do too! The artworks change every day and it's a creative way to keep us all busy in the darker evenings and rainy weekends.

What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?

We have a very special Christmas this year. My little brother, who has been battling brain cancer for the last two and a half years, has been accepted onto an amazing experimental medical treatment - in New York! So, we all booked a last minute trip to go with him, we're flying back on the 1st of January. I’ll be helping him share his story on Instagram so make sure you follow along. Christmas Day might be pizza and cheesecake in Central Park for us!

Are you a fairy on top of the tree or a shining star?

It’s a star for us this year.

And finally... to tinsel or not to tinsel?

Tinsel ironically, if at all.

SCHOTY Homes

Discover the five festive ho-ho-homes vying to be named Scotland's Christmas Home of the Year 2023.

1880s Apartment, Greenock

Homeowners: Hannah & Gordon

Hannah and partner Gordon’s historic Greenock apartment is refined, traditional and curated. A welcome festive sanctuary, the couple love to play host to friends and family at Christmas time. Hannah’s decorations are inspired by the original period features of the home and the festive show-stopper is a 12ft Christmas tree which can be found in the grand wooden-panelled lounge. This year, the couple are planning to collaborate with their neighbours to decorate their communal spaces with a tree and some playful festive touches.

Bay Tree House, Edinburgh

Homeowners: Katie & Jamie

Christmas doesn’t come much more fun-filled and colourful than Katie and husband Jamie’s mid-terraced home in Edinburgh where they live with daughter Beth and pet cat, Frida. Creativity is at the heart of their Christmas designs and Katie loves nothing more than hand-crafting her own stockings and decorations with a little help from Beth. This year, the family have crafted an elf breakfast scene, hand-crafted stockings and paperchains; and home-made decorations crafted with remnants of wallpaper, fabric and paint leftovers. For this family, Christmastime is all about creating a multi-coloured, fun festive home where memories can be made.

Beit Al Milad, Auchterarder, Perthshire

Homeowners: Flo & Paul

At Christmas time, Paul and Flo’s modern Perthshire home becomes a maximalist dream house, full of festive ornaments and keepsakes from around the world. After years of living in the UAE, Lebanese-born Flo and Paul fell in love with Scotland and, 10 years ago, moved with their three children - Michael, Matthew and Megan. Flo has been collecting Christmas ornaments and keepsakes from around the world for over 20 years, building up an impressive collection of beloved Christmas villages. Passionate about Christmas, the family start transforming their home into a winter wonderland from midnight on the 31st October and, on average, their home features more than 30 Christmas trees.

Hops Cottage, Glasgow's West End

Homeowners: Scarlett & Gerry

Nordic-inspired, sustainable and foraged are the perfect mix to create Scarlett and husband Gerry’s Christmas style in their traditional cottage in Glasgow’s West End. Scarlett wants their home to feel like an enchanted forest and forages for fresh materials such as pine and cedar from her garden and the surrounding area to create impressive hand-made garlands and centrepieces. Scarlett goes to great lengths to ensure that nothing is wasted. For Scarlett and Gerry, Christmas is a time for family and they delight in creating traditions for their two young sons, Rocco and Reddox, whilst encouraging them to get involved in decorating the home.

White Lion Townhouse, East Renfrewshire

Homeowners: Laura & Andrew

Extravagant, glitzy and glamorous, Laura and husband Andrew’s modern townhouse in East Renfrewshire is the ultimate party location. Sharing their home with daughter, Lexi, the couple love nothing more than throwing a Christmas party. The family play host multiple times at Christmas for their extended family, inviting guests in to enjoy their home bar. When it comes to interiors, Laura goes to great lengths to ensure the home feels decadent and memorable – with neon signs nestled into traditional Christmas trees and show-stopping embellished table settings.

Fernande Dalal

Update: 2024-08-27

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