See how a homeowner rekindled her Christmas spirit by scaling back her holiday décor.

BY MARISSA MOLDOCH

STYLING BY KEELEY MCKENDREE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PECK

→ WHEN KEELEY MCKENDREE, A BAKING AND CRAFTING ENTHUSIAST, moved into her North Carolina cottage in 2017, she knew she wanted to transform it into a farmhouse.“I just love that look,” Keeley says. “I love the look of collections and pieces that don’t match but all come together to make a beautiful and unique space.”

WELCOME HOME. Keeley turned her front porch into an inviting winter wonderland with some snowflake lights, a bare Christmas tree and a festive wreath. “I keep the outside very simple,” she says.

MERRY MAKEOVERS. Keeley’s living room nook features some of her favorite holiday DIY projects. “Typically, when I buy something retail, I don’t like to make it over, but I just felt like I had to try it on this Santa,” she shares. After buying the statue from Lowe’s, Keeley spray-painted it white to give it a whole new look. “He is one of my favorite pieces,” she says. In addition to transforming the Santa statue, Keeley also created the “Cozy” sign by freehanding the word onto an old canvas printer drop cloth.

As Keeley imagines this kind of style, her mind drifts to a bygone era.“When I create my collections and vignettes in my kitchen and other places in our home, I want it to look like an old farmhouse where someone just kept things out, and where things are kind of ‘messy’ and not perfect,” she explains.“When it comes to farmhouse, I really think of it more like simple living—old timey, everything out is functional, etc.”

Keeley also cherishes vintage and antique items, thanks to her grandparents.“They lived in a beautiful two-story white house, and the things I saw in their home were vintage and antique. It was always so warm and cozy,” she recalls.