In one expansive colonial home in New England lives Jessica, her husband, their children, and two more generations in the family: Jessica’s parents and grandparents. Together, they lovingly call their home a “family compound,” which Jessica’s parents have owned for 30 years. Their unusual family setup has led them to being featured in the mainstream media.
The multi-generational family not only lives together but also work on projects together, so her blog posts aren’t simply about DIY or Do-It-Yourself but Do-It-Together, with Jessica’s father being the builder, her grandfather the supervisor, and her son the creator of chaos.
All this is chronicled in Jessica’s blog Four Generations One Roof. I appreciate her journalistic approach, having both a home decorating and human interest angle in her writing. The charm of Four Generations One Roof lies not just in the nifty craft tutorials and home décor projects featured on the blog but also in the way Jessica shares life with readers.
I recently interviewed Jessica about her blog, her love for decorating, and of course the theme for her Christmas tree this year. Jessica has chosen a Balsam Hill Frosted Fraser Fir for a touch of wintry charm.
BH: How did you come up with the name of your blog? How has blogging changed your life?
Jessica: Our blog was named Four Generations One Roof because we live with four generations of our family in one home. It started by accident, and with the aim to keep friends and family updated on what life was like living with my parents and grandparents (along with my husband and kids). We were doing loads of renovations (and still are) and it was easier to just tell everybody what was going on via the blog only once, versus over the phone 20 times a week!
BH: What are some holiday decorating do’s and don’ts you like to share with your readers?
Jessica: Always DO what you love and never mind what everyone else is doing. It’s not their holidays to celebrate in your home – it’s YOURS and your FAMILY’s.
BH: How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Are you more inclined to stick with the classics or do you like to experiment?
Jessica: My style is casual elegance. It needs to be comfy and cozy, but pretty!
BH: What is your must-have ornament or piece of Christmas décor, and why?
Jessica: Because the color RED screams Christmas to me, we must have this color in every room.
BH: Do personal memories play a significant part in how you decorate for the holidays? Would you mind sharing a little bit about a holiday memory that left a great impression on you?
Jessica: When I was growing up as a kid, our family always celebrated on Christmas Eve with extended family and an insane amount of food. It’s what Christmas has always been since I can remember. My mom always cooked and her home (our home now) was always the center of our Christmas universe. Now that we all live under one roof, I cook the Feast of the Seven Fishes for about 25 people, while my mom and gram bake all the desserts. We move throughout the house and eat, drink and be merry!
BH: What was your thought process when you chose your Balsam Hill tree? Did you have a specific type of tree in mind beforehand, or did the tree you ended up choosing just strike your fancy?
Jessica: We live in New England so the Vermont White Spruce and Frosted Fraser Fir were perfect. Full and gorgeous, the trees look like we literally just cut them down from the woods!
BH: What do you like most about your Balsam Hill Christmas tree? How do you plan to decorate it?
Jessica: I love how Balsam Hill’s narrow Frosted Fraser Fir looks like it’s really covered in real snow! This holiday season, I chose pine cones and the white owls I used last year to decorate the tree.
BH: What can we look forward to on your blog this holiday season? Do you have exciting new holiday decor or party ideas?
Jessica: You can look forward to two Christmas Home Tours, in which we will be featuring 7+ rooms in our home with six Christmas trees, each room having its own theme!
2 Comments
Thanks Balsam Hill for a fabulous event!