I’m in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine!
Better Homes & Gardens came to my house last January to photograph my home all decked out for Christmas. I’ve waited impatiently for 10 long months to get my hands on this issue and the wait was definitely worth it! I’m excited to share some photos from the magazine as well as behind the scenes styling tips from the pros. So let’s take a peek into the Better Homes & Gardens Kelly Elko Christmas feature.
If you don’t subscribe to the magazine and would like a copy, leave a comment letting me know and I’ll mail one to 5 random winners!
Update: Giveaway has ended
If you missed it, you can read all about the behind the scenes of the photo shoot here.
The stylist, Matthew Gleason, ensured that every photo in my six page spread was magazine worthy. In the photo below (it’s the actual PDF that the magazine sent out to be printed) of my living room, he stuffed my stockings with paper to make them look like they were loaded with gifts from Santa, added fresh sprigs of cedar to the mantel, turned a bunch of old boxes into beautifully wrapped gifts, added a bowl of fresh amaryllis on the coffee table and put a basket filled with logs on the hearth to add texture. We even went together the day before the shoot to borrow the fireplace screen from a local shop.
Above photo: Copyright 2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you love the chalk art of Santa on his sleigh, you can buy an art print, canvas print, pillow or tray in here.
Click on each pic to shop my look.
I love the value of these snowballs that I simply nestled in the tree.
I’ve heard that stylists often change up the entire look of a house and I’m glad to say that did not happen here. 95% of what you see in the six page feature is all mine.
They have these shoots planned out well in advance and a few weeks before they arrived, the home editor at Better Homes & Gardens called me to go over the plan. She had scoured my blog and wanted to combine my 2018 Christmas home with elements from my 2017 Christmas home.
My 2018 Christmas Mantel
Click here to get the free printable of my Christmas chalk art
For example, in my 2018 home, I hung my antique wood stocking stretchers on my mantel as seen below.
My 2017 Christmas Mantel
She asked if we could use these red pom pom stockings from 2017. I think the pop of color is just what the mantel needed!
No detail was overlooked. She asked if we could use a polka dot plate that I had used years before as well as other things she spotted on my blog. Of course, being a boarder line hoarder, I had everything on hand when they arrived.
The photographer, David Land, took tons of photos at different angles so they would have lots of options. I went from setting the table in the dining room, to frosting cookies with my girls in the kitchen, to drinking a mug of hot chocolate (or at least posing with an empty mug) on the daybed in my sunroom to standing on my front porch for about 45 minutes waiting for the perfect lighting. My girls went from to walking down the stairs (they did it at last 20 times) with our dog and without, to pulling a tray of freshly baked cookies (or were they?!) from the oven, to helping me decorate those same cookies at the kitchen counter. My cheeks never hurt as much from all the smiling I did over the course of the two day shoot!
They like to make sure there is plenty of variety among all the stories in the magazine so, for example, if one story includes a photo of the homeowner in her kitchen, other articles would most likely have photos of the owner in a different room. It was interesting to see which photos they included in the article and which were left on the cutting room floor. I’m thrilled that a beautiful family photo made the cut as well as another shot of my girls and me in the kitchen baking up a storm (or at least pretending to)! Of course, Sushi steals the show posing in the sunroom in her winter scarf and she’s even featured on the Table of Contents page. I swear that dog needs an agent. There are lots of other pics too and my house never looked better thanks to the help of a professional photographer.
For the rest of the story, please see the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens available through 12/14/19 wherever magazines are sold.
Don’t forget to comment letting me know if you’d like a magazine. I’ll pick five random people and mail them one!
Update: Giveaway has ended
congrats! what a gorgeous feature!
Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders all these years Cassie!
So exciting!!! You are looking very cute in your Santa hat. I can’t wait to get my copy in the mail.
I’m such a HO HO HO Diane!
Congratulations! I subscribe to BHG so will be on the lookout for the issue. Your home is always so lovely for the holiday. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Doris! I hope you enjoy the issue!
Kelly, How exciting! Glad it all came together. How many copies are you buying? Pat S
Only 1,000,000!
Congrats! The house looks amazing
Thank you so much Maria – that is such a compliment!
Congratulations, Kelly! How wonderful! Your home is so beautiful! Congratulations!
Ahh thank you so much Linda you’re too sweet!
OMG !!!! How exciting !!!
and everything looks perfectly lovely !!!
Thank you Laura – it was a fun experience!
Congrats Kelly! I know this is a dream come true for you. Can’t wait to get my issue!!!
Thank you so much Shirley and for always being so supportive all these many, many, many (we’re old!) years!
That is so exciting, I will have to pick up a copy tonight!.
Thank you Cindy! I am not sure it’s on newsstands yet? May take a couple of days
Very exciting and not so surprising, you have a beautiful home and great style. Congratulations to you!!
Thank you so much Marlene – you’ve always been so supportive!
Hi Kelly – how exciting was that! You have a beautiful home. I would like a magazine please.
Thank you so much Sandy! It was so much fun to finally see it!
Sandy I’d love to send you a copy of the BH&G Christmas issue so please email me at [email protected] with your full name and address!
So excited to see your Christmas decor! Love what you do and how you do it!!! Would love a copy of the magazine!!!!
Thanks Carol! I love having this memory for my girls!
Carol I’d love to send you a copy of the BH&G Christmas issue so please email me at [email protected] with your full name and address!
How exciting for you! Congratulations!,
Thanks Kris – the 10 month wait was worth it!
Can’t wait to get my copy in the mail. I love your vintage flair. It’s inspiring And I am a boarder line hoarder too! Thanks for pulling back the curtain. It’s nice to know sometimes the stylists add stuff to the average magazine spread. Not everyone is that perfect!
Yep, those stylists work their magic. Sometimes, it’s as if the homeowner doesn’t even live there!
Congratulations!! Your home is beautiful!! Did you make that chalk art on your mantel? I just love it!!
Thanks Elma! No, my friends daughter made it. I link to the free printable in this post as well as my shop where you can order it on pillows, canvas and more!
Congratulations on the wonderful recognition. Would love to receive a copy of BHG.
Thank you so much for those kind words Helen!
Congratulations!!! It’s gorgeous! Yes, Sushi NEEDS an agent and I’d like the magazine!
Sushi the supermodel! Thanks so much Mindy!
Congratulations, the preview looks amazing, can’t wait to see the entire article!
Thanks gurl – you’ll see it tomorrow!
Congratulations!! This is so exciting, Kelly! I don’t get BHG and would love a chance to win a copy.
Thank you so much Paula!!
Paula – I’d love to mail you the BH&G Christmas issue so please email me at [email protected] with your full name and address
this is so awesome! I can’t wait to see the feature, i am also glad that they didn’t trade sushi out for a poodle!
Poodles have nothing on Sushi!
I would love this magazine!!!!
Kathy – I’d love to send you a copy of the BH&G Christmas issue so please email me at [email protected] with your full name and address.
Congratulations!! What an honor! Your house is always beautiful without the special photographer!
Can’t wait to get an issue!!!
Thank you Celia!
Good, my bathroom needed some new ‘I know her’ reading material. I do want to win a copy, and I request it to be autographed.
LOL – maybe the signed copy will be worth something in 100 years!
I’m sending you a copy of BH&G so please email me at [email protected] your full (real!!) name and address
My bathroom is gonna be styling now for the holidays.
I’m honored! Let me know if you get this reply – I installed a new comment plug-in so hopefully it works!
So pretty!
Congrats Kelly!
Thank you so much!
I would love to receive a magazine from you. 🥰
Your home is beautiful.
Hi there! The Better Homes and Gardens layout on you home is so beautiful! I totally love the trees that are in you living room and your dining room. Can you please tell me what kind of trees and from whom did you buy them. The BH&G resource page says they are Woodland Spruce from Balsam Hill, but that one in their catalog doesn’t look anything like yours. Is it from Puleo International or is it a European Fir? Please help!!!
Thanks!
Sue
Are copies still available on the newsstand?
I don’t think so Diane