Date:  December 5, 2018  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Designer Christina Gore extends her home’s interior style to the back porch for a festive holiday scene

Designer Christina Gore describes her and her husband Sean’s style as “rustic glam,” an unexpected combination of glittering metals and natural elements. “I’m a little more glam; Sean would live in a log cabin if he could,” she laughs. “A lot of our home is a complete mix of the two of us and these styles. I think you can really see us in all the elements,” she adds.

This is perhaps most evident on the back porch of the couple’s recently built home on the outskirts of Little Rock. Whatever the season, the covered porch is a favorite hangout for the pair and their three children, but during the holidays, it becomes a true extension of their home, welcoming numerous family members and friends to celebrate the season.

To make the space as comfortable as the interior of the home, Christina keeps continuity in the palette and occasionally brings a few interior pieces out to the porch (case in point: the velvet wingback, which normally resides in her bedroom) to bump up its level of coziness. “When I’m decorating a back porch, I tell my clients you want to bring the inside out and the outside in. With large covered porches, you want to treat it like an indoor space, so it feels like a place you want to hang out,” Christina says. “I also like for my spaces to have a fluid quality where you can move things around from room to room and allow the eye to flow continuously.”

The Gores’ everyday style carries over to their holiday décor, which, along with her interior design work, is another passion of Christina’s. “I personally love Christmas. To me, it’s extra special to be able to set that up for someone else and think about how they will enjoy it,” she says. “For example, I ask myself, where are they going to sit? Can they see the tree? This is all part of making memories for people, and I want to help make their holiday magical,” she says.

Birch log-patterned wrapping paper coordinates with the woodsy theme. Christina embellished the packages with gold bells and fresh clippings from her yard.

Art of the Tree
The fresh “rustic glam” tree features a mix of copper and gold ornaments alongside sweater scarves-turned-garlands, birch logs, and pinecones. Christina notes many of the ornaments were bargain purchases, meaning she doesn’t fret if the wind causes a few to break. “I have kids and dogs, so nothing is forever in my home,” she laughs.

Christina carried the copper finishes seen on her tree into the palette for her serving pieces. Large marshmallows are a favorite treat for her children, who love to roast them in the outdoor fireplace.

Design Resources
Builder Schrader Homes, LLC Interior and Christmas Design Christina Gore, Christina Gore Design Studio, LLC Accessories and Christmas décor Christina Gore Design Studio, LLC and The Good Earth Garden Center Fireplace Congo Fireplace & Patio Furniture Christina Gore Design Studio, LLC Lighting GW Lighting and Home Rugs (metallic cowhide) Flowers & Home