How Jennie Garth Is Decorating Her New Home for the Holidays
While many may remember her fondly as Kelly Taylor thanks to her role on the decade-plus hit TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, Jennie Garth has since branched out a bit. In 2014 she starred in The Jennie Garth Project, her own home renovation show on HGTV, where she tackled the renovation of a Hollywood Hills home while on a budget.
She's also a mother to three daughters—Luca Bella, 22, Lola Ray, 17, and Fiona Eve, 13—and Garth, her girls, and her husband, Dave Abrams, just began settling into a new home in Pasadena, California. For the avid designer, DIY-er, and decorator, the idea that this 1950s-era house (which is located right on a golf course) doesn’t need one bit of renovation has taken some getting used to.
“I wanted to try moving into a house that was ready to go,” Garth told Architectural Digest at an event kicking off a partnership launch between Shipt, a same-day grocery delivery service, and Sur La Table, the kitchen retailer. “I’m used to building stuff the way I want it and I’m super particular about aesthetics and functionality, but this is a house that was redone by a designer. It’s been a learning curve to let go!”
Below, the actress, who also starred in the Fox reboot of BH90210 this summer, tells AD how she’s making this new house a home just in time for the holiday season.
Architectural Digest: What was the biggest selling point of your new home?
Jennie Garth: The selling point for me and my husband was the fact that it’s on a golf course. To be able to be in the backyard and not feel like it’s Los Angeles is everything. It’s green everywhere you see.
AD: What is your house filled with? Is there anything you collect?
JG: I used to be more of a collector. I love books and have a lot of coffee-table books. I’m also big into plants right now. I never thought of myself as having a green thumb but—knock on wood—they’re doing well. For me, plants have everything to do with the environment. I just think there’s something beneficial about having them in my home.
AD: Speaking of, have you decorated for the holidays? A Christmas tree, perhaps?
JG: My house is full of sparkly Santas—I have so many Santas everywhere! I also just had our Christmas tree delivered by Shipt—it’s such a hectic time of year and we were trying to etch out time to get one, but that wasn’t happening with soccer, school, and work, so I ordered it. It was so helpful.
AD: Any holiday decor tips you can share?
JG: I would have to say that I believe in keeping it simple. For example, I do groupings rather than spreading everything out. I have a little collection of crystal trees on my dining room table that looks so beautiful.
AD: You also have a passion for baking—are you doing any of that ahead of the holidays?
JG: I love baking Christmas cookies. I’ve been a baker all of my life. I’m from the Midwest—I grew up on a farm—and we would bake and cook every meal. That’s something I handed down to my girls. We’re always in the kitchen. This time of year it’s all about baking cookies, candies, whatever I can conjure up in the kitchen
AD: Do you have a signature cookie?
JG: Definitely my sugar cookies. We always make the cut-out sugar cookies with icing and decorations. It’s so much work, but I do it because it wouldn’t be Christmas without them. My youngest one loves baking with me. She’s 13 and she always loves helping me make them, although last week she lasted until it was time to ice them. I had to do that all myself.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
