Photography: Tim O'Connor
Curating moments of joy and togetherness comes naturally to Jessica Nguyen, a cook, consummate host, and all-round creative who lives in Melbourne with her husband Liam Condon and their two-year-old son, Jamie. Come Christmas time, Jessica embraces the festivities with a no-limits approach.
She layers her young family’s 100-year-old semi-detached home with handmade decorations, and she sets her tables with an abundance of delicious food, drink and chic styling details, amounting to a feast for the eyes and the belly. “I’m putting in extra effort this year, because it’s Jamie’s third Christmas and I know the magic of the season will be really important to him,” says Jessica. “Plus, it’s our turn to host all our family.”
Who lives here?
Jessica Nguyen, cook and creative, her husband Liam Condon, a lawyer, their two-year-old son Jamie, and two chihuahuas, Marlo and Pabla, aged 11 and 9 years old.
How would you describe your Christmas decorating style? “Vintage maximalist.”
What is your table styling must-have? “I always start with a colourful tablecloth and I gravitate to patterns and prints, especially stripes or ginghams.”
Any tips for stress-free hosting? “I love letting my guests serve themselves from big share dishes. You want to be socialising and present at the table, not stuck in the kitchen.”
When Jessica was made redundant from her role in beauty PR in 2020, she pivoted to her lifelong love of cooking and swiftly built an online fan base eager to absorb her recipe ideas and tabletop styling advice. She takes an all-fun, no-fuss approach to gatherings, favouring large share platters and batches of ready-to-pour cocktails.
In the warmer months, she loves to entertain on her back deck under the lush wisteria vine. “The home’s previous owners were apparently the second largest importers of Italian wine in Victoria, and they created the beautiful backyard that feels a bit Italian-esque,” Jessica explains.
Jessica and Liam, a lawyer, purchased their two-bedroom property in 2019, a year after getting married. “It was the first house we saw, and I loved its aura and Edwardian charm, with high ceilings and stained-glass windows,” says Jessica, who covets the character of traditional English interiors and the layered, joyfully detailed spaces masterminded by interior designer and Home Beautiful favourite, Anna Spiro.
Despite its stunning bone structure, the terrace’s surfaces were drab and devoid of colour. And the kitchen? Tiny. Yet that hasn’t deterred her from entertaining. “It’s still unrenovated, but the small space forces me to work smarter,” says the level-headed cook. “It did come with a large 90-centimetre five-burner Italian stove that I love.”’
A self-proclaimed maximalist and devotee of colour and pattern – dopamine decorating at its best – Jessica has reinvented the home one clever DIY project at a time. “I lived like a renter for the first couple of years, but then something clicked in 2021 when I painted what is now my son’s bedroom and shared home office. It gave me the confidence to do more.”
Since then, she has transformed beige spaces with her nifty brushwork and a palette of elegant hues – buttery yellow, minty sage and duck egg blue – bringing personality to every corner. She has sewn ruffled curtains, hung Roman blinds, and swapped out knobs, handles and light fittings to create new looks with minimal fuss, attributing her DIY prowess to her mum and a creative childhood filled with crafting and cooking.
Driven to inspire others in the form of beautiful meals, welcoming spaces and memorable moments, Jessica bubbles with energy every festive season. Even her Christmas gift giving is meaningful and handcrafted with care. “This year, I definitely want to go down a more sentimental gifts route for people, so I am going to handmake batches of my chilli oil and bottle them,” she says about the vibrant red cooking condiment that went viral in 2020. You can bet that each glass jar will be artfully wrapped with a colourful flourish, adding more joy under the effervescent creative’s already brimming Christmas tree.
Jessica Nguyen’s Christmas living room
The cheerful home of Jessica Nguyen is styled with pieces that have been collected over time. Handmade paper garlands hang from the ceiling light above the rug, both from Leonard Joel Auctions.
With a mantel and surrounds painted in soft yellow, the fireplace is a focal point in the living room. It’s hung with striped Christmas stockings from Bonnie & Neil, with two bone-shaped stockings for the family’s beloved pooches.
WE LOVE…kid-friendly decor
To team with Jessica’s vintage maximalist festive style, she made the Vandoros paper chains that are draped throughout the house, plus a cute hat for puppy Snuffy. Jessica loves their retro look and kid-friendly status. “Paper, felt and fabric decorations are great from a practical and safety point of view when you have a young toddler around,” she says.
Jess Nguyen’s Christmas dining table
This area is the “heart of the home” alongside the kitchen, which Jessica describes as small and humbling: “It makes me work smarter and not harder. It’s about maximising space, and changing the position of things to create more bench space.”
The dining table is dressed with handmade crackers wrapped in Vandoros ‘Nutcracker Stripe’ paper, vintage Blue Willow by Churchill plates, Bonnie & Neil linen napkins, Reliquia ‘Cascais’ cups, Maison Balzac wine glasses and Coast to Coast Home ‘Remy’ cutlery.
“I’m Vietnamese, so for Christmas, we tend to do really beautiful, fresh Vietnamese salads with seafood, plus the traditional dishes” Jessica.
“My favourite room is definitely the living and dining area; it’s really the heart of the home,” says Jessica. “And the deck, because it’s just where everyone gathers.”
Outdoor Christmas dining
The garden may be compact but it’s green and inviting, with vintage plant stands found through Facebook Marketplace. “We’ve added fairy lights to the backyard, and vines grow on the brick walls. It’s a great spot for hosting. It’s small but cosy and everyone always has a fun time out there,” says Jessica.
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