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Christmas in the Gardenhouse

ByMichael Wurm Jr.
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Back at Thanksgiving, when I visited home, I had the delightful and privileged opportunity to see and photograph the most enchanting Gardenhouse. Built from mostly repurposed materials and all dressed up for Christmas, you’re in for an inspiring and festive tour!!

mirror and shelf with christmas decor.
vintage windows and feather tree with green cabinet.

Let’s rewind a bit. When I was 16, I worked at a charming little country store and café, often side by side with a wonderful woman named Janice in the store section. (Even then, I had a passion for styling—setting up displays, decorating Christmas trees, and the like.) Janice used to bring in her handmade items to sell: wreaths, dried flower arrangements, holiday decorations, you name it. I was always in awe of her creations. I still vividly remember a bunny she crafted that my mom purchased and adorned with a mini coat she crafted from vintage fabric, intricate button details, and a quaint little flower arrangement—it was a masterpiece.

vintage ornament hung on a tree.
small christmas tree decorated with vintage ornaments.

Fast forward a couple of decades and now you’ll find Janice running a shop she owns called The Olde Stone Gate, nestled next to her home. I’ve been a regular customer over the past few years whenever I’m in town, and I always find something irresistible. Her shop is a treasure trove of beautiful home decor, curated vintage finds, and naturally, Janice’s handcrafted pieces.

lamp, santa figured, on a green cabinet.
vintage looking Santa statue.

A few years ago, Janice and her husband Allie set out to build what is called Gardenhouse next to her store. They built it from the ground up, using their own hands and an array of salvaged and repurposed materials they had curated over the years. The incorporation of so many exquisite details in their creation is truly awe-inspiring—it gives me chills just thinking about it.

looking through the door into a space decorated for Christmas.
space with repurposed materials looking inside.

I visited Gardenhouse last Christmas and I was in absolute awe. I told Janice that once it was complete, I’d love to photograph it and share it on Inspired By Charm. We debated on the best season to showcase Gardenhouse and eventually agreed upon Christmas—and what a magical choice this was.

looking into the garden shed with festive decor.
vintage armchair with christmas decor.
view into garden house with festive holiday decor.

I spent a few hours there snapping away—I took 500 photos! After some tough decisions, I narrowed it down to the top 90, and from there, even further. Today, I’m thrilled to share these curated glimpses with you.

For the most part, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but I might highlight a few features as we go along. Janice and Allie have poured countless hours into this space, and I’m ecstatic to share their labor of love with you. It’s one of those places that deserves to be admired by as many eyes as possible. So, enjoy the tour!

outside of the gardenhose with Christmas lights on.
outside of gardenhose with christmas lights.
looking into the guardhouse with festive christmas decor.
looking back into the gardenhose with vintage decor.
old door with log on the glass.

As I mentioned, Gardenhouse is a patchwork of reclaimed pieces. Every window, every piece of flooring, etc. is salvaged material. That wall with the grand wood? It’s crafted from vintage doors. Some of the wood accent details were created from old bookshelves cut into strips.

green cabinet with sink and windows above.
green cabinet decorated for christmas with window and a feather tre.
beautiful garden shed decorated for christmas.
wood cubbies filled with festive decor.
beautiful large pine cabinet filled with potting shed treasures.

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And about that wood cabinet… when they went to pick it up, it wouldn’t fit in their van. They had to dismantle it completely, piece by piece, and then reassemble it at home.

pine shed filled with pots, pine, and garden decor.
wingback chair, large wood cabinet.

See that gorgeous thick old wood forming the loft? Well, it’s all salvaged; formerly, each piece was bristling with nails that were removed with painstaking care. The bricks on the back wall were leftovers that a family member didn’t use. 

gardenhose shed filled with decor and beautiful wood loft.
loft space in house built from reclaimed wood.
house with loft decorated for Christmas.

The quaint lean-to on the right side of the Gardenhouse, designated for lawn equipment and the like, is yet another testament to the resourceful building. Constructed entirely from salvaged items, the cost of this addition was astonishingly low—truly a testament to their ingenuity.

lean to on side of gardenhose.
outside of gardenhose with festive lights.
outside of garden house with doors and windows.

While I’ve spoken at length about the construction, I must highlight the seasonal decor that brings Gardenhouse to life. The holiday adornments are a testament to Janice’s meticulous eye for detail—a quality that absolutely delights my design-loving heart. There’s immense joy in discovering the array of treasures someone has gathered over time, learning where they found them, and seeing how they’ve chosen to display them.

small christmas tree decorated with vintage ornaments.
full space of gardenhose with windows across the back.
gardenhose space with two doors and shelf of decor.
shelf filled with christmas and vintage decor.
wall with vintage furniture decorated for christmas.
vintage red pen sketch hung on the wall.
cabinet and shelf with rustic look decorated for christmas.

So many pieces in this space narrate a tale dear to Janice; her face would illuminate as she shared these origin stories with me. This, in essence, is the heart of exceptional design—it’s about cherishing and showcasing the things you adore. It’s about surrounding yourself with items that bring a smile to your face, pieces steeped in history, and those you’ve crafted or constructed with your own hands. I could’ve spent hours just sitting there absorbing every intentional touch she’s added to the space.

white feather tree filled with ornaments.
white feather tree with glass trees and vintage decor.
festive garden space decorated for Christmas.
gold metal wreath and white feather tree.
under the loft with festive Christmas decor.

If you ever find yourself near St. Marys, PA, do yourself a favor and visit Janice at The Olde Stone Gate. I’ll link The Olde Stone Gate Facebook page HERE so you can check her store hours and give her a follow.

It’s been a joy to share this magnificent and festive space with you. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I thought you would. I would love it if you’d take a moment to leave a comment below that I can share them with Janice.

vintage shelf with santa hat and Christmas decor.
view into the garden shed with decor for christmas.

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193 Comments

  3. I just have to thank you for such a breathtaking post and I appreciate that you shared it in a blog post. I see myself spending hours studying each and every picture and taking it all in. It was so kind of you to take so many pictures and share this talented woman’s space with your readers. Something tells me this space would be wonderful no matter the season❤️. Merry Christmas

    Reply

  8. Oh my goodness…..what a feast for the eyes, the heart, lovers of patina, antiques, creativity and more! Thank you for sharing this truly magical space. It made my morning! Wish I didn’t live so far away or I’d visit in a heart beat!

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  10. Thank goodness you shared pictures. I would have had to play the video over and over to absorb every beautiful detail. I can’t imagine what their house looks like. Tell them thank you, it made my day.

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  15. What a magical place full of inspiration! Thanks for sharing this Michael, all it needs is a cat to snuggle up against and I’m not even a cat person! If it was mine id never want to leave!

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  16. Stunning. Both the photography and the entire building. These types of creative endeavors sparks so much in this wannabee’s own creative soul. Please continue to inspire. We “see” you.

    Reply

  17. Michael and Janice: you know it’s one of my favorite places, you’ve captured the magic with your photos Michael and beautiful story of someone who couldn’t be more deserving to be recognized !!!

    Reply

  19. I love that Janice is still at it, still doing the same sort of thing she did when you worked with her! You can tell she has a real passion for it. I especially like that small white tree with the metallic ornaments.

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  20. That was magical. So much to take in. I can’t imagine being there and taking it in. Was thinking oh to stay and soak it up. Thank you for sharing. Good call on showcasing it during Christmas. Still I imagine during peak summer it would be beautiful. That was a hint!!!!

    Reply