A Cozy Holiday Home on High Street

See how this Pennsylvania homeowner uses vintage goods and neutral décor to create a cozy holiday home.

At his job, Dave Diesel strategically organizes merchandise to attract customers. And when he gets home, he uses that same skill to style his own décor. When the Christmas season rolls around, he applies that skill to creating a charming, cozy holiday home.

“I’ve always had a love for making things cozy and creating spaces, no matter the season,” he explains. “It’s not just décor; it’s a lifestyle. Your home reflects your personality and tells the world who you are.”

kitchen with fresh greenery and vintage putz houses and food scale — BETTER TOGETHER. Dave uses a combination of real and artificial greenery to decorate his home for the holidays. “Real for the scent that it brings and artificial, because it’s maintenance free and doesn’t need to be watered,” he says.

deer figurines and wreath in windows of historic Pennsylvania home — AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS. Dave’s Pennsylvania residence is more than 100 years old. “It was one of the first homes built in our neighborhood,” he notes.

Someone looking at Dave’s 1910 build might say that it’s a cottage or farmhouse style home, but he doesn’t try to fit the house into a specific category.

“I truly love and appreciate many styles and add all those touches that I adore,” he notes. (At the end of the day, he just wants his dwelling to be “cozy and filled with comfort and charm.”)

exterior of cozy holiday home with fresh garland and potted evergreens — MERRY & BRIGHT. Dave’s welcoming front porch gives guests a sneak peek of the coziness they’ll find inside.

homeowners Greg and Dave with their pets outside their cozy holiday home — PRECIOUS PETS. Greg and Dave love to snuggle with their rabbit, Twigs, and pup, Tyson. “They’re goofballs!” Dave says.

Creating this enchanting atmosphere hasn’t always been an easy task for Dave and his husband, Greg. While they personalized their spaces with new paint and décor, they couldn’t complete any major renovations … because they didn’t own their home: “We rented what is our home now for five years back in 2015. We just purchased it this year,” Dave explains.

Now that they hold the deed to their “forever home,” Dave looks forward to giving it a makeover in 2023.

natural wreath and garland on mantel in cozy holiday home — A NOVEL IDEA. “Our home is older, and I don’t have the heart to tear out or paint the light-teal and baby-pink tiles that are original to the home, so I covered them with book pages,” Dave says. “They add the perfect whimsical touch and so much charm and character while protecting the history of our home.”

cozy neutral holiday decor in historic home — SIMPLE PLEASURES. Dave has a massive collection of holiday décor. “I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the seasonal décor that brings the magic to each season,” he says.

Deck the Halls

When November 1 rolls around, many people are still watching scary movies, eating their stash of Halloween candy and embracing the spooky vibes in their home. But for Dave, this day has a totally different meaning.

**NO PLACE LIKE HOME.** Dave says all the spaces in his home bring him joy during the holiday season. “If I had to choose one space, it would definitely be our family room, in which we celebrate Christmas morning,” he shares. “A close second would be our dining room, where we gather with family that day.”

fresh greenery on farmhouse table and small potted tree in cozy holiday home — CONSISTENCY IS KEY. Dave stages his home with neutral décor year-round. “I personally feel that I can use neutrals in different spaces at any given moment, and they’ll always feel fresh and new,” he explains. Occasionally, he’ll mix things up by layering in a pop of color.

“I usually start decorating for Christmas on November 1.” he says. “Some might say that’s crazy, but it’s a lot of décor to put up and style for such a short-lived month. I like to enjoy it just a bit longer. Also, since creating our Instagram account (@ourhomeonhighst), I like to share inspiration with friends and followers prior to the season. That way, they have enough time to gather all the things they’ll need to create a magical season for their loved ones too.”

vintage ice skates as holiday decor along with fresh cedar garland — NOSTALGIC DÉCOR. Dave loves to use ice skates as Christmas décor because they’re easy to stage and still look great after the holidays end. “I used to skate with friends every weekend in high school and enjoyed it,” he says. “I really want to skate under the tree in New York City (at Rockefeller Center). We might have to add that to the bucket list this year!”

gingerbread cookies in cozy holiday kitchen — A SWEET TIME. Dave and his grandmother created a special memory when they decorated these gingerbread cookies together.

Because Dave and Greg decorate their home together, they work according to their strengths.

“I’m more the idea and brains behind the space, and Greg is the muscle and helps with execution,” Dave notes. “I could never get it all done alone. He likes to do the exterior decorating; I focus on the indoors and the small details. We call ourselves a ‘dynamic duo.’”

vintage food scale and gingerbread cookies and decorative vintage ice skates — TIDY UP. Dave says the most challenging part about decorating for the holidays is “taking down all the décor at the end of season and storing it away in an organized fashion.”

vintage vignette of putz houses and bottle brush trees — AGELESS ACCENTS. Dave cherishes his vintage treasures and always uses them to decorate for the holidays. “I love the patina of vintage goods, as well as trying to figure out their story. There’s just a comfort in knowing those pieces were well-loved,” he says.

Please Come Home for Christmas

For Dave and Greg, the Christmas season wouldn’t be the same without a few special traditions.

“We love to ride the horse-and-buggies around Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—the ‘Christmas City,’” Dave says. “It’s so fun to look at all the small shops decked out with lights and all the architecture covered in snow. There’s also a comfort in looking through the windows to watch people shopping or eating with their families.”

living room with neutral color palette and tapered candles and vintage skiis — SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW. “I always use my favorite pieces from my collections to decorate for the holidays,” Dave says. “However, I also love hunting down or searching for ‘new’ vintage pieces to add to my collections throughout the year. I always discover the best finds out of season.”

staircase with fresh greenery — CUTE & COZY. When Dave created his gallery wall, he used some of his staple pieces: the rusty angel, skis and little whisk brooms. “Then, I layered in all the perfect, little cozy touches,” Dave says. “It always amazes me how you can use the same Christmas décor year after year—but always make it feel fresh and new!”

When they’re at home, Dave and Greg love to bake cookies and watch Christmas movies. “’Home Alone’ is our favorite—hands down! We look forward to it every year,” Dave says. (And, after they laugh at Macaulay Culkin’s antics, they gear up for another “timeless” film, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”)

Although Dave and Greg enjoy their quality time together, they always open their home to their loved ones.

neutrals and vintage furniture in holiday bedroom with Christmas tree — SIMPLE & SOPHISTICATED. Dave likes to keep his Christmas décor minimal. Otherwise, “it can become overwhelming and feel like clutter,” he says. The green-and-white color palette creates a peaceful atmosphere, while the pillows, blankets and baskets add texture and variety to the bedroom.

neutral living room with fresh garland — TIME AFTER TIME. Blogger Liz Marie Galvan inspired Dave to collect clocks. “Via her blog, Liz had shared them styled all throughout her home, and I fell in love with the look,” Dave shares. “I love them because, in today’s day and age, people resort to their cellphones to see the time or use them as their alarm clocks. Clocks will be one of the things that will fade out over time and be a thing of the past … that I get to hold onto. ‘Big Ben’ clocks, especially, have my heart!” he says.

bedroom with tree and garland on bed frame — MY FAVORITE THINGS. Dave loves antiquing, collecting, DIY-ing and curating his home. By sharing his décor with his social media followers, he has “created a community and built relationships with people all over the world who share the same love and passion.”

“When I think about the holidays, I think of gatherings with family and friends and how special they are, as well as all the memories that are made,” Dave says. “For me, decorating for the holidays is a reflection of that, and it truly makes those gatherings magical.”

fresh cedar in historic cozy holiday home — MEMORY LANE. “As a child, running down the stairs on Christmas morning filled me with joy and all those ‘warm and fuzzy’ feelings,” Dave says. “This staircase brings that same joy, but in my adult form.”

A Welcoming Work Space

Once you learn about this spot in Dave’s home, you’re going to want to create one for yourself!

During the holidays, Dave designates this work space as a cookie station, and his family comes together to bake delicious treats. When the new year begins, they don’t forget about the cookie station; rather, they transform it into a cocoa bar. Dave says it’s the perfect place for everyone to warm up after a day spent in the chilly winter air.

kitchen island with garland and vintage food scale — NOT YET! Although Dave’s gingerbread house looks amazing, he says it was tricky to put together. “I don’t have the patience to wait for the icing to dry,” he jokes. “I want to decorate it right away, because I need the instant gratification!”

As the temperature rises and the seasons change, the work station changes again, becoming the go-to spot for sweet tea and other seasonal favorites. When summer turns into fall, Dave trades his sweet tea for cider and donuts.

“It’s just another way to make the seasons … well, cozy,” he says.

Love this cozy holiday home? You may also love Christmas Curb Appeal: A Bungalow Beauty in Boise. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!