The magical and delightful property that's won Scotland's Christmas Home of the Year
This property is as festive as it gets
As revealed on tonight’s 8pm BBC Scotland programme, Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year, a property near Cumnock has bagged the coveted prize.
It won by a squeak, as the modern house, which is owned by Ellenor and Gary, went against four other beautifully festive homes situated in Burntisland, Edinburgh, Millport and near Peterhead.
Every year, the winning couple come up with a theme, and, despite the fact that they own two cats, Mia and Kimba, 2025’s plan for the Holly Jolly Mouse House was Mouseland, with a miniature mouse ski resort in the hall and a Twas the Night Before Christmas display. The decorations included felted mice on ‘ski lifts’ that climb the wooden bannisters, which are decorated with cotton wool ‘snow’. We think it was the charm of this core idea that swung it for the judges, who awarded the home full marks of an incredible 30 points.
As judge and interior designer, Anna Campbell-Jones says: “I was absolutely blown away by the passion for Christmas shown in every corner of this welcoming festive home. The attention to detail was outstanding and I particularly loved the animal-themed vignettes that are sure to delight any children visiting. A home truly imbued with the magic and generosity of a family Christmas ".
Fellow judge and architect Danny Campbell, adds: “We had an astounding winner this year and it was clear from the get-go that this home wasn’t decorating for Christmas – it was world-building. It tackled Christmas challenges with a logic that was equal parts creative and irreverent. We saw a three-dimensional fireplace garland sculpture, a staircase reimagined as a ski resort for mice, a snowman piñata built to survive the apocalypse, even individual gingerbread portraits of us! And if you hate Christmas, there’s a room for that too. It’s bold, funny, crafted, curated and gloriously committed”.
Interior designer and judge Banjo Beale, says; “Holly Jolly Mouse House is pure Christmas joy. The owners have squeezed in so many vintage treasures that I kept expecting an elf to pop out and offer me a mince pie. It is wonderfully nostalgic, slightly bonkers in the best way, and full of the kind of charm that makes you smile before you even take your coat off”.
The house, which takes a whole week to decorate, also boasts an entire bedroom with a Grinch theme, and a nostalgia room, which features a rocking horse and ornaments that are dedicated to the family's Christmas memories.
The homeowner Ellenor, who had to keep the win quiet from friends until tonight’s announcement, is chuffed that Holly Jolly Mouse House won. As she says; “We’re absolutely over-the-moon and, for all our family, this is a memory that we will all treasure. Holly Jolly Mouse House winning Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year will be a topic of conversation at our Christmas table this year and no doubt in the coming years!”
“It was my stepdaughter Linda who applied for our Christmas home to be on the show as she thought it was worthy. I never thought that we would get on the show, never mind being chosen to be in the final and ultimately winning. This is such an achievement as all participants are worthy winners”.
Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year is available now on BBC iPlayer
Scotland’s Home of the Year will return to BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer for an eighth series in 2026
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