Modern Nostalgia: Designing the Spirit of the Season
Every December, I find myself torn between wanting to make the most of the season and wanting to embrace a slow down. There’s a certain comfort in the scent of pine, the glow of candlelight, and the familiar clink of the same serving platter that’s appeared on every holiday table since childhood. Yet, as a designer, I’m equally drawn to the beauty of fresh ideas. This gentle tension between then and now is where the magic of modern nostalgia lives, and taking a moment to reflect on this is something I’m enjoying this year. Specifically, I’m finding myself craving the magic of the season from days gone by and feeling inspired to bring it into today’s times (especially with children of my own now). As a visual person, I wondered…could I find real-life photos to fuel my inspiration? Our own Peterborough Museum & Archives understood the assignment, and I was provided with a wealth of special snapshots in time from Peterborough and The Kawarthas.
Looking through these vintage photographs, it’s fascinating to see how timeless the spirit of the season really is. The old storefronts feel instantly familiar – proof that even a century ago, people delighted in creating moments of wonder through their surroundings and spaces. Inside homes, the décor tells its own quiet story: stockings hung neatly above a brick hearth, evergreen boughs arranged with care, and toys carefully placed beneath the tree. The space was never about perfection; it was about presence.
In design today, we have the opportunity to reinterpret that sentiment through the lens of modern living. The juxtaposition of heirloom pieces with contemporary forms creates spaces that feel layered and alive. A sleek marble tabletop can host a collection of vintage ornaments; a minimalist mantel can be softened with sprigs of cedar and taper candles in brass holders. It’s not about recreating the past but about weaving its texture and tenderness into the present moment. The best holiday décor tells a story without word, and it engages all the senses. Natural greenery, soft textiles, and the warm glow of ambient light invite a kind of quiet luxury that feels both elegant and effortless. In this way, design becomes a bridge between nostalgia and new tradition.
As designers, we often talk about “curation,” and holiday decorating invites a soft intuitive approach to this concept. It’s about creating a sensory experience: the glow of soft lighting, the scent of fresh greenery, the sound of laughter echoing through spaces designed for gathering and hosting loved ones. When done with intention, the result is not just a beautiful room, but a reflection of the lives lived within it.
So this year, I’m taking inspiration from the past – not to recreate it, but to honor it. After all, good design, like the holidays themselves, is really about connection: between people, between generations, and between the stories we choose to keep alive.
Sonja Sanderson,
Creative Director + Owner
Birchview Design Inc. is an award-winning interior design team serving clientele throughout the Kawartha Lakes, GTA, and beyond. As a full-service studio, the firm offers an all-inclusive, simplified experience with elevated design expertise and Renomark certified project management.
www.birchviewdesign.com / @birchviewdesign
Photo Credit: Peterborough Museum & Archives
