From House To Home

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The first week of December, Tom and Chris Hatton open their home to more than 125 people. The annual Christmas party has its roots in family celebrations each enjoyed as children. But because the couple has no children, they say their focus is on family, friends, and neighbors.

“It gives us great pleasure to see people having a good time. It’s one thing we really enjoy doing together,” says Chris. “We like to have parties, so we make it a really big deal.”

“That’s what Chris and I give each other every Christmas,” adds Tom.

When they built their home in West Omaha, they challenged their builder, Ken Oster Homes, and interior designer, Ellen Turnage from Interiors Joan and Associates, to create a home for entertaining that didn’t overwhelm just the two of them.

They also wanted to accommodate large gatherings without anyone being “closed-off” due to room design.

The solution was to build a nearly 5,000-square-foot inverted story-and-a-half. Aside from the master suite and office, the main level is really one large space. Black walnut floors subtly unify the area from entry to kitchen. Pillars define the dining room without creating barriers.

The great room, opposite the entry, sets the tone for comfortable elegance. Built-ins display keepsakes while niches near the ceiling hold back-lit, wrought-iron screens and an antiqued mirror. “It gives the room more height and light,” says Chris.

Furniture placement further defines each “room” within the space. Beyond the camelback couch in the great room are the hearth room, kitchen, and informal dining area.

While open and spacious, warm wall and stain colors were used to make it feel more intimate, familiar, and welcoming says Turnage. Sage, maroon, taupe, and chocolate give the upholstery and accents a rich earthy warmth. The fireplace, kitchen island, and dinette set were painted a smoky black and distressed.

Maple kitchen cabinets and a built-in buffet between the dining room and the kitchen provided a unique challenge.

“Maple doesn’t like to absorb color—it wants to be blotchy, but the process they used made it satin-smooth. It’s unique to find something so consistent. It looks like fine furniture and nicely contrasts the distressed look of the fireplace and island,” says Turnage.

The kitchen’s two ovens, warming drawers, and professional range are perfect for “doing a lot of stuff in a hurry for entertaining a lot of people,” says Tom. The Sub-Zero refrigerator accommodates large catered or pre-plated serving trays for easy entertaining.

Slate flooring announces the transition between levels beyond the kitchen. The birdcage-picket rail leads to the lower level. Since it is also used for entertaining, the same priorities applied to its construction. Pillars are well designed to hide the fact that they are supports. Horizontal steel beams are tucked into the media room’s coffered ceiling.

The Hattons do all of their own holiday decorating. Working together brings them joy, they say. Their plan includes setting up 11 trees of various sizes—six upstairs and five downstairs—as well as arranging displays of several collections.

The largest tree is found in the great room. At 14 feet with finials attached at the top, it takes a weekend to assemble this beauty. Several years ago, Tom wrapped between 40 and 50 100-light strands around its many branches. “It was a huge undertaking,” he says, but one that has created a breath-taking effect long before it was popular.

After assembling the tree and checking the lights they add hundreds of ornaments. Chris has a system for decorating each tree. She says she chooses a guiding theme for each.

To create depth within a tree, she pushes big ornaments toward the trunk. Ornaments, in decreasing size, are also nestled along the branches to the outside so the ornaments don’t just hang on the ends of the branches. She uses different textures to fill out the tree.

Details are also important on the tables and in the centerpieces found throughout the house. Setting the table becomes an art and a way to let guests know they are welcome, says Chris.

Centerpieces can be created using trees and collections. Arranging collections takes some thought and a little creativity. Chris says she varies the heights of items within her displays, uses fabrics and small details, such as mica snowflakes or glitter-encrusted ornaments, to enhance interest.

Illustrated in the master bath, the frosty ornaments and tree theme are set against the countertop of tourmaline granite. Its crystal-like, green-blue hues and the creamy, porcelain tiles that emulate hand-carved stone produce a crisp, fresh look.

Chris says she and Tom both look forward to their “Christmas talk” that goes on all year.

“It keeps the spirit of the season strong all year long,” she says. “It’s so much fun, and we just love sharing the fun.”