Courtney Brunelle, interior designer and owner of House of Coco Interiors, discusses her coastal style and shares her expertise on thoughtful holiday design.
Photographs by Katie Bartow
We’d love to hear a little bit about your background and how you came to work in interiors.
At a young age, I was inspired by good design and art. My grandmother was a Cape Cod artist, and I believe I got the creative gene and spark from her! I started out as an esthetician and makeup artist for print and editorial photoshoots, which really brought me into the world of styling. From there, I worked for an interior design firm, where I honed my craft and saw the behind-the-scenes world of design. I really took that time to soak everything up, which has laid the foundation for House of Coco Interiors.
What inspires you? How would you describe your style?
I find myself constantly inspired by nature and the coastal landscape that surrounds me. I like to describe my style as organic coastal living, which incorporates modern, organic elements as well as lots of textures and layers of neutrals. My aim is to create a refined but casual space—one that feels fresh yet cozy and approachable. I believe that good design can translate to a feeling of inner peace and happiness within the home.
What services do you provide?
We are a full-service interior design firm focusing on renovations, new builds, interior design furnishings and styling.
What is your favorite part of the design process?
I love seeing an idea come to life. After months of sourcing, planning, and designing, the cherry on top is seeing it all come together. To me, it’s the little details, which give a space personality and turn a house into a home. The organic touches translate into a big hug for clients.
Is there a family tradition that you look forward to around the holidays?
I have three little ones under the age of five, so Christmas in our house is full of magic! It’s so much fun seeing the holidays through their eyes. Every Christmas Eve, we make Christmas cookies and have a lobster dinner.
What’s your favorite way to make a dining table feel festive without cluttering the space?
I love adding a lot of layers. Candles of different heights make the table feel elevated and intimate. Also, greenery is always a must for me when designing a tablescape; it brings an element of life and a pop of color without it being over the top.
Dining Table
On the dining table, we incorporated many layers and textures to make an elegant statement on a gorgeous ten-foot table. We had a custom, neutral gingham runner that swept down the center of the table. Then we added festive greens as a table centerpiece. Candles were layered in to add warmth and ambiance. For place settings, we used ceramic off-white plates and vintage sterling silver silverware, and we created custom name tags, which were grounded by marble holders.
Coffee Table
Coffee tables can be a fun opportunity to showcase holiday décor. Bring in natural elements such as layers of greens as well as mixed materials like wood, glass, and ceramics. Create height by stacking books or using a tray to hold everything. Try not to clutter your space, and instead aim to have a balance of holiday items and neutral staples to create a cohesive arrangement.
Mantle
The mantle is a grounding space within a room. With a simple approach, the green garland adds the perfect amount of detail without being cluttered and the asymmetrical positioning of the stockings simplifies the scene without losing tradition. To balance out the design, we paired wooden, handmade trees with textured brass candlesticks.
Entry Way
When designing a front door, I like to create an entrance that will last for the entire winter. Here we added a wreath with winter greens and berries. I love grounding the front door with an oversized doormat that can be layered with an indoor/outdoor rug. By incorporating a planter with a tree, we added elevation to the front entrance, which is warm and welcoming to guests.
More information:
Courtney Brunelle
House of Coco Interiors
729 Main St., Dennis
@houseofcocointeriors
774-200-7434 houseofcocointeriors.com
Photographer:
Katie Bartow
Simply Me Photography
@simplymekb; simplymekb.com
Custom table Linens (runner & napkins):
Kimberly Foley
The Workroom
@theworkroomkfoley
Floral Designs (mantle greens and dinning table greenery centerpiece/ wreath):
Kelsey Harris
American Stems
@americanstems; 508-523-0188; americanstemsfd.com
Place card calligraphy:
Abigail Rose Lien
@abigailrosejewlry
Décor:
Simon Pearce Glass Christmas trees:
Oceana
1 Main St., Orleans
@oceanacapecod
508-240-1414
oceanacapecod.com
Wooden Christmas tree and coffee table candle:
Elburne
744 Main St., Dennis
@elburneshop
508-694-5536
elburne.com
All other décor is inventory from House of Coco Interiors.