It’s coming up on the holiday season, and Cristina Lehman, an interior designer, has already laid out her holiday decor spread. You won’t find all the typical normcore decorations at her sleek Bay Area home. With the exception of some touches of nostalgia (like a homemade ornament, or a family heirloom gingerbread pillow), you’ll instead see a palette of neutral colors and modern accents with a hint of boho — blended together with old and new.
A home design show is playing on the TV, the couch is covered with a chunky knitted blanket, and a bottle of SKYY Vodka sits on a refurbished countertop. The holidays are not only for tasty dishes —it’s also for familial connection, and the gratitude it brings. The season may look a little different for a California local, but the foundation remains the same.
Happily married for 16 years with two children (a boy and a girl), Lehman knew her passion for interior design was more than just a hobby after decorating her home from scratch. She’s since designed for her own family (now in their third home) and taken on a roster of local clients, determined to make every space beautiful while sticking to a budget. “It’s self-taught,” she says. “When we purchased our first home, we renovated the whole thing with help from our friends and family. We’re on our third home now, and it’s just evolved from there. I realized it was my passion quickly. All I watch are interior design shows; I read interior design books and magazines. It’s what I’m always thinking about.”
When decorating her California home for her and her family, Lehman leaned into the ease and effortlessness of Bay Area living — mixed with organic elements and textures from her upbringing. “I start by swapping out my throw pillows to more seasonal color pillows, adding thicker and cozier blankets on the sofa. Then, I add in baskets and holiday decors like garlands and wreaths with little holiday vignettes in select areas so it looks festive but not cluttered,” she explains.
For her, the holiday season is about embracing the area’s unfussy tones and taking inspiration from local elements. Ahead, her tips for having a calm, aesthetically-pleasing holiday season — with no stress-inducing parties or overcomplicated decor involved.
On California style: “California casual style to me is a mix of styles that pulls a lot of the relaxed and casual vibe from different styles. It incorporates a lot of texture (rattan, baskets, etc), layers, organic materials (wood, leather, etc), and lots of plants. It feels comfortable and not formal at all — very lived-in, but fresh and clean. It’s bright with lots of natural light and leans on more neutral colors for the major pieces, white or light paint on the walls, with small pops of color, usually shades of blues or greens to keep with the organic vibe”
Embracing functionality: “When I design a space for a client, I always ask how they currently use a space and how they envision using it moving forward. It’s important to start with the function(s) of a room as it dictates the space plan and how furniture should be laid out and what types of furniture to buy. A space can be beautiful but if it doesn’t function for a family, it won’t get used.”
Ditching those holiday color palettes: “I try to stick to those California casual elements even during the holidays in our home. I don’t decorate with a lot of traditional red and green and those usual Christmasy theme colors. We don’t like to overdo it. We incorporate a lot of greenery we find outside; pinecones and branches and natural textures like burlap, wood and red flowers. These red linen napkins were passed down to us from my husband’s grandmother. We’ll throw a sprinkle of classic colors here and there.”
To stay connected: “In our home, we focus on traditions and making sure that our kids know what’s really important during the holidays. It’s not just about material things and gifts. It’s about the togetherness of it all. I make it a point to have my me time. In the morning, I set aside an hour for myself and make sure I have a me-first moment, even if it’s just reading a book or going to a separate room. Then, after that, I am able to give myself and time to other [holiday] demands.”
When serving cocktails: “Cocktails are always served during the holidays, especially if we have a get-together at our home. Right before the New Year, we have a girl’s night where we all gather around and create vision boards and imagine what we want for the next year. We usually craft a signature cocktail for the evening. I love the versatility of SKYY Vodka. It has a smooth, crisp flavor that makes it a great choice for many kinds of mixed cocktails, from a Cosmo to a Lemon Drop.”
On California style: “California casual style to me is a mix of styles that pulls a lot of the relaxed and casual vibe from different styles. It incorporates a lot of texture (rattan, baskets, etc), layers, organic materials (wood, leather, etc), and lots of plants. It feels comfortable and not formal at all — very lived-in, but fresh and clean. It’s bright with lots of natural light and leans on more neutral colors for the major pieces, white or light paint on the walls, with small pops of color, usually shades of blues or greens to keep with the organic vibe”
Embracing functionality: “When I design a space for a client, I always ask how they currently use a space and how they envision using it moving forward. It’s important to start with the function(s) of a room as it dictates the space plan and how furniture should be laid out and what types of furniture to buy. A space can be beautiful but if it doesn’t function for a family, it won’t get used.”
Ditching those holiday color palettes: “I try to stick to those California casual elements even during the holidays in our home. I don’t decorate with a lot of traditional red and green and those usual Christmasy theme colors. We don’t like to overdo it. We incorporate a lot of greenery we find outside; pinecones and branches and natural textures like burlap, wood and red flowers. These red linen napkins were passed down to us from my husband’s grandmother. We’ll throw a sprinkle of classic colors here and there.”
To stay connected: “In our home, we focus on traditions and making sure that our kids know what’s really important during the holidays. It’s not just about material things and gifts. It’s about the togetherness of it all. I make it a point to have my me time. In the morning, I set aside an hour for myself and make sure I have a me-first moment, even if it’s just reading a book or going to a separate room. Then, after that, I am able to give myself and time to other [holiday] demands.”
When serving cocktails: “Cocktails are always served during the holidays, especially if we have a get-together at our home. Right before the New Year, we have a girl’s night where we all gather around and create vision boards and imagine what we want for the next year. We usually craft a signature cocktail for the evening. I love the versatility of SKYY Vodka. It has a smooth, crisp flavor that makes it a great choice for many kinds of mixed cocktails, from a Cosmo to a Lemon Drop.”
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