When interior decorator Molly Kay Johns of MK Interiors and her husband, Thomas Johns, a general contractor and master woodworker, came across 5 rural acres in Purcellville, they found the prime site upon which to build their forever family home.
“My husband and I had built and remodeled homes for other people for 23 years,” says Johns. “But we had always dreamt of building our own. When this lot became available, it was ideal. We could keep our three kids in the same schools, and it was close to our family and friends.”
Indeed, the bucolic lot proved the perfect setting for a home that would meet all of their lifestyle needs: a four-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot modern farmhouse and adjacent barn that they completed in 2017.
“Our main wish list for construction included a spacious open floor plan, with a large kitchen and center island — a flowing space that truly lent itself to big social gatherings,” she says. “We have a large extended family and do a lot of entertaining at home, especially around the holiday season, kicking off with hosting Thanksgiving.”
It comes as no surprise that by the time turkey day rolls around, the multiple holiday trees in the household are already up, decked, and sparkling. Christmas decorating for Johns always starts on November 1. “If the trees aren’t up by Thanksgiving, there’s something wrong!” she says.
“As a child, I remember coming home from school and experiencing the magic of seeing all the holiday décor that my mom had put up. I suppose I’ve continued that tradition but taken it to the next level,” she says.
Johns customarily puts up three Christmas trees: a striking 12-foot one in her double-height foyer, a 9-foot one in the adjacent family room, and an 8-foot tree in the main bedroom. Lately, she’s been adding a smaller one in her home office. The interior decorator, who is especially busy during the holidays, is pragmatic and methodical about Christmas decorating once she gets started.
“I really like to enjoy the season and I participate in it very actively. As a family, we bake a lot, shop, gift wrap, entertain. I also belong to a local singing group, The Pickwick Singers. We perform during the holidays. One of the reasons I start early is I want our house to be done so I can enjoy all those things with my family and the community,” she adds.
Because the trees are up for so long — and to minimize maintenance and cleanup — all the Johns’ Christmas trees are high-quality, flocked, and pre-lit faux trees. She begins decorating the public spaces first in a systematic manner. She hangs the ornaments first.
“Ornaments are expensive, so we don’t change these out too much. They have been collected over the years. I use a lot of ball ornaments, glass and shatterproof, and I really like to use metallics for extra sparkle — golds, rose-golds, and silvers.”
Once the ornaments are sprinkled evenly across the branches, she layers in an array of ribbons and faux floral picks, whether glittering gold berries or pristine white poinsettias. Finally come the toppers. The tree in the family room is topped with a wire gold angel, the first Christmas ornament the couple purchased when they married. All the trees sit in painted DIY boxes handcrafted by her husband.
“For colors, I always coordinate the Christmas décor to the colors in my home. This way we don’t have to redecorate everything for the season,” she says. “Our home palette is calming — ideal for the hectic season — and cool, with coastal blue tones, so I start with a Christmas base of whites and metallics. I’m sparing with blues to not overwhelm, and I sometimes layer in pastels, like seafoam green or pale blush, for a seasonal twist.”
However, the more traditional colors of red, green, and gold find their way outside, in wreaths and ribbons for porch and barn décor. Inside, Johns introduces her seasonal palette mostly through ribbons of damask, velvet, sheer, or satin — something she loves.
“Our main ornaments don’t change much. The ribbon is where I have fun, bringing out a different look,” she says.
Once the trees are up and trimmed, the Johns’ holiday season is underway. Not only do they host a big Christmas Eve dinner for family members, including a Secret Santa gift exchange, but they also get to enjoy their holiday décor for a couple of months. Put simply, Johns says, “I love Christmas.”
Feature image by Robert Radifera for Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
