When Karen Gillingham bought her circa-1905 Mendham Township home just after her 26-year marriage ended, she hoped it might one day become the centerpiece of a happy new life. Her intuition proved prophetic when she met Duke Gillingham in 2015, and the joyful couple married inside the property’s red barn in 2016.
The residence had been renovated by previous owners in stages, but Karen and Duke have remade the curated country farmhouse over the past eight years. Karen’s passion for design first blossomed during the construction of her former home in Harding Township, where she immersed herself in researching and refining the details. “I love reading books on historical architecture, decorating and art. And Duke and I travel extensively. So we brought all those interests and experiences into our home,” she says.
The veranda has an earth-tone palette with hand-carved Uwharrie chairs, wool wraps and old lanterns. Photo: Laura Moss
“Our decor borrows from what we’ve experienced during our annual European trips and also on our weekly jaunts through the back roads of the Northeast,” Duke adds. Their holiday haven exudes a simple but welcoming country vibe, decorated with a soulful mix from the United States, France, Italy, England and other countries. The couple, who recently returned home from a 30-day whirlwind getaway to Croatia, Germany and Austria, believe their eclectic lair is unbound by rigid adherence to schemes or trendy choices.
Karen and Duke Gillingham, and their pup Fergus, pause in front of their at-home sauna, built from a Divine Saunas kit. Photo: Laura Moss
Each year, the Gillingham holiday table is a reflection of recent globe-roaming adventures and a gathering spot for their ever-expanding blended family of three generations, along with their beloved mini goldendoodle, Fergus. “We’ve hosted raucous gatherings of the entire crew in the barn at a long table for 20, as well as smaller, more intimate settings in the house,” Karen notes. For Christmas 2024, Duke says, they will host a lavish soiree that “embraces the peace and tranquility of the holiday” amid the pastoral setting adjacent to Dismal Harmony Preserve.
The circa-1905 residence is decked out for Christmas. Photo: Laura Moss
This year, Karen, a retired pediatric nurse and former home stager, and Duke, a retired business leader, are inviting the outside in. Their dining room tablescape and staircase banister overflow with fresh cuttings of spruce, magnolia, holly and boxwood foraged from the four-acre property. Dried citrus, cinnamon sticks and pine cones embellish the table and harken back to earlier, simpler holidays. Pears, real and faux, can be found at each place setting and nestled in nooks and crannies throughout the communal first-floor space.
“Our tablescape is styled with an Italian textile, pewter chargers, antique plates and stemware, along with handmade Lithuanian napkins that celebrate the maternal side of my family,” Karen says. French bistro chairs and a bench with vintage kilim and velvet pillows make holiday meals feel relaxed and cozy.
Charcuterie and cocktails welcome guests to the kitchen, which features an Ilve Italian range, quartzite counters and open white-oak shelving. Photo: Laura Moss
When the guest list can range from 6 to 20 each holiday, flexibility is key. So the couple have established a tradition of cocktails and charcuterie that suit a fluctuating crowd. The kitchen’s roomy island with quartzite counter is party-central. “We all get together at the island to sip wine and enjoy our favorite foods,” Duke says. “The meats and cheeses are arranged on our vintage cutting boards, and it’s the perfect spot to laugh and consume.”
Karen adds, “Based on our travel across cultures, we’ve experienced the preparation of food with family, so we worked closely with our contractor to create a space that encourages this kind of interaction. Now it’s become a family tradition, and our kids can also pass on the idea of preparing, eating and cleaning up together.”
The classically appointed kitchen comes alive with chestnuts, dried citrus and gingerbread people. Photo: Laura Moss
The space comes alive with open white-oak shelving, inspired by deVOL Kitchens of England, an Italian Ilve range, brass shelf brackets, handmade Zellige tiles and antique chestnut floors. Fresh-baked gingerbread people and the fragrance of roasted chestnuts welcome guests. Soft amber light projected from Italian and French fixtures enhances the traditional experience.
Stockings hang from the home’s original stone fireplace. Photo: Laura Moss
After a home-cooked dinner of turkey, filet mignon, butternut-squash lasagna, and risotto with chestnuts, guests move to the family room to discover overflowing stockings made from vintage kilim textiles hung from the hand-hewn mantle of the antique home’s original stone fireplace. An original oil painting from a New Jersey artist is festooned with just-cut greens and vintage bells. But the focal point of the festivities is the jolly tree that evokes old-world simplicity with sparkly crystal snowflakes and a vintage topper.
A jolly tree is surrounded by gifts wrapped in William Morris paper. Photo: Laura Moss
Santa’s goodies are wrapped in festive papers reproduced from William Morris designs, and rich satin and velvet ribbons add distinction to each package. Inside the boxes are tucked gifts of travel, tickets to meaningful events, cooking experiences, and inspirational items gleaned from the couple’s journeys. “Our holiday gifts reflect our ethos of collecting experiences rather than objects,” Karen says. “We believe that a house becomes a home when it tells our ever-evolving story,” Duke adds. “Our home is the curation of our life.”
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[RELATED: 5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Guests Feel at Home]
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