My Houzz: A Vintage-Inspired Christmas in Cincinnati
See how this family of 4 celebrates holiday traditions in its 1887 home
Eric and Tiffany are seen here with their children, Adler, left holding cat Cosmo, and Lennon. “We value family history and have been very intentional about using old family photos and heirlooms throughout our home,” Tiffany says. “These things help remind us of where we’ve come from. We’re letting the house speak to us and evolve in a way that suits it and our family.”
The wooden staircase and railing are original. “The workmanship is so beautiful and highly detailed,” Tiffany says.
Find a wood floor refinishing professional on Houzz
The wooden staircase and railing are original. “The workmanship is so beautiful and highly detailed,” Tiffany says.
Find a wood floor refinishing professional on Houzz
These vintage hooks once were used in an elementary school and include the original student nameplates in faded ink. The hooks provide convenient storage near the front door and create a makeshift mudroom.
The holiday decor accents are a combination of old and new and throughout the house. “No matter the time of year, nature plays a big inspiration in my decor,” Tiffany says. “All the bedrooms have a Christmas tree in them, including the kids’ rooms. Every room has some sort of decoration — either garlands or lights.” Here, on a vintage wooden bench, a truck is carrying a fresh mini tree.
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The holiday decor accents are a combination of old and new and throughout the house. “No matter the time of year, nature plays a big inspiration in my decor,” Tiffany says. “All the bedrooms have a Christmas tree in them, including the kids’ rooms. Every room has some sort of decoration — either garlands or lights.” Here, on a vintage wooden bench, a truck is carrying a fresh mini tree.
Browse wall hooks for your entry in the Houzz Shop
The white piano in the family room is one of Tiffany’s favorite secondhand finds — she got it from a local thrift store for less than a dollar. The top of it is decorated with fresh garland and a collection of vintage photographs and family memorabilia, including a watercolor painting Tiffany’s grandmother made when she was young. Tiffany swaps out the piano decor seasonally.
14 Easy Last-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas
14 Easy Last-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas
The wooden fireplace mantel and tile are original. On top is a collection of candlesticks and a faux garland. The painting is vintage.
Find Christmas stockings and holders
Find Christmas stockings and holders
The dining table, here covered with a lace tablecloth, belonged to Tiffany’s grandmother. “It sat in my grandmother’s home for decades and hosted countless family meals; it is where we now eat dinner every night,” she says. “We have become a hub for most of our extended family gatherings. We gather for the holidays and the summer, up to 50 family members in the house at a time.”
Tiffany painted this vintage console blue. “Displayed above it is a poster of Italy we found on a trip to Chicago. Also, two autograph books from the 1930s from my husband’s family,” she says. “Those are fun to go through.” Tiffany added fresh touches of green to create a charming holiday vignette.
The kitchen, described by Tiffany as “the quirkiest room,” features an original white farmhouse sink and a sliver of blue Formica countertop. Since the space lacks counter space and storage, the couple added a standalone kitchen island. Seen on top is the family’s rabbit, Rex. “He was a prize my son won at a local farm,” Tiffany says.
She added faux garland to the light fixture, windows and the upper cabinets to make the space feel festive for the holidays. Dried orange slices also hang from the windows to add a subtle citrus fragrance.
Shop for a kitchen island or cart
She added faux garland to the light fixture, windows and the upper cabinets to make the space feel festive for the holidays. Dried orange slices also hang from the windows to add a subtle citrus fragrance.
Shop for a kitchen island or cart
This room just off the entryway is used as a library and space for Eric to keep his collection of books, musical instruments, vintage radios and amps. “Every book has a library card to allow for guests to ‘check out’ books as they choose,” Tiffany says. The couple painted the wood-paneled walls a deep blue. An old advertisement from one of Cincinnati’s original streetcars hangs alongside two of Eric’s guitars. One of the guitars on the wall belonged to his father, who is also a pastor and musician.
Soothing Blues and Organic Style in a 1912 Fixer-Upper
Soothing Blues and Organic Style in a 1912 Fixer-Upper
Tiffany found this large vintage map of Cincinnati at a local garage sale. “There are a few things that we have found along the way in that room,” she says. She describes her husband’s decorating style as “thoughtful and intentional. This is his quiet space,” she says.
“The silver aluminum tree in our bedroom is one of my prized possessions,” Tiffany says. Every year growing up she would assemble it with her grandmother. The tree, seen here in the reflection of the vintage mirror, is elevated on a vintage suitcase and decorated with pink heirloom Shiny Brite ornaments. Tiffany used fresh garland clippings to decorate the mirror.
Browse popular tinsel trees on Houzz
Browse popular tinsel trees on Houzz
The couple painted the wood paneling in the master bedroom a light blue to brighten up the space. Above the bed is a collection of secondhand baskets.
Each of the home’s two bathrooms has a claw-foot tub and no shower. The family shares the upstairs bathroom. “The nice thing is the bath is great for soaking,” Tiffany says. The collection of hangers here is both decorative and functional.
Tiffany used fresh garland to decorate the vintage hutch and created a vignette of bottle brush trees and a holiday house in a large glass jar.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Browse photos for renovation inspiration
Find a pro near you
Who lives here: Tiffany and Eric Tomeo; their son, Lennon, 12; daughter Adler, 9; dogs Cosette and Lola; cats Cosmo, Chunky, Emmett and Nancy; rabbit Rex; and eight fish
Location: Cincinnati
Size: 1,900 square feet (177 square meters); three bedrooms, two baths
Tiffany and Eric Tomeo’s 1887 home is situated in a riverside neighborhood of Cincinnati with quiet, tree-lined streets, old homes and friendly neighbors. The two-story house previously had been owned by the same family for nearly 90 years. Minimal changes had been made since the 1970s. Tiffany, an avid vintage collector, and Eric, a pastor and musician, loved how the previous owners had cared for the home and its original architectural features for so many decades before they moved in the summer of 2017.
“Three generations lived in the home before we moved in. The grandfather ran an auto shop in the home’s garage, and their son and his family lived in the second floor of the house,” Tiffany says.
When the Tomeos moved in, one of the first changes they made was to remove the existing brown and mauve-colored carpet to reveal the original hardwood flooring. Many of the bedroom walls featured wood paneling, which the couple painted over to refresh the interiors.
The family’s holiday celebrations are focused in this front family room. As part of its annual tradition, the family buys a fresh tree, eats takeout from a local restaurant and decorates the boughs. Then they all watch the movie White Christmas together. The tree is decorated with a collection of shiny ornaments that have been passed down through several generations. The tree topper is made from an old McGuffey Reader.