The holiday season in Bermuda has always been an unspoken opportunity to express your creativity in any room of your house.
Nowhere is that truer than in the kitchen – the natural gathering place of any family.
While this once might have meant spending hours fashioning ornate garlands from local greenery adorned with fruits and berries, the hectic pace of modern life leaves many of us craving a simpler solution.
Good news! You can still capture that nostalgic spirit – with ease – thanks to locally inspired, practical and whimsical holiday décor from The Island Shop on Queen Street, Hamilton.
Founded and owned by artist and long-time island resident Barbara Finsness, the shop features beautifully crafted pieces adorned with an array of iconic Bermuda motifs including everything from butteries and cottages to palm fronds and mopeds: bringing a touch of island magic to every kitchen.
Get that holiday feeling
“In Bermuda, we don’t need cold weather to feel festive,” said The Island Shop’s assistant manager Brianna McCann.
“The kitchen is where everyone naturally gathers. It’s the heart of the home. Adding a few cheerful touches there instantly spreads the holiday spirit, because it’s where we cook, laugh and connect.
“Your kitchen is such an easy place to add a few seasonal accents that are both colourful and practical. Things like a scented candle, a new holiday tea towel or a few sprigs of greenery from your own garden can make everyday moments feel special without feeling too overdone.”
Don’t have a garden? Not to worry, you can easily find fresh herbs like rosemary or mint at the grocery store or plant nursery to keep in a small vase near the sink.
Ms McCann said: “It’s a simple and practical way to bring the season to life through scent, even in our warm Bermuda weather.”
For a more Pinterest-worthy effect, The Island Shop stocks an extensive selection of Bermuda-themed Christmas hostessware, including everything from stemware, mugs and plates to serving platters, coasters, cutting boards and potholders that can be paired with complementary table runners, napkins and napkin rings.
“A little colour goes a long way, especially in smaller spaces, such as a breakfast nook,” Ms McCann said. “Just add a couple of Christmas throw pillows and light a Fraser fir scented candle or hang a festive towel on your oven door and voila!
“Even leaving a holiday serving platter on the center of the kitchen table adorned with a selection of colourful apples and citrus fruit will generate those cozy Christmas vibes by instantly making the room seem warm and inviting and ready for the season.”
Celebrate sustainably
And the best part? All of Barbara Finsness’s timeless holiday motifs appear on beautifully made china, glassware and soft furnishings that coordinate effortlessly and are designed to last for years.
One of the joys of the season is checking out the new holiday designs that artist Barbara Finsness releases each year, allowing you to gradually build a unique collection of functional, seasonally inspired treasures that will bring holiday cheer to your home again and again.
“Our ceramics, table linens and Bermuda Christmas stockings are perfect examples,” Ms McCann said.
“Each one carries a touch of Bermuda’s beauty – from coral reefs to cottages – so when you bring them out each December, it feels like welcoming back old friends. They’re keepsakes that tell a story, and that’s what makes decorating so meaningful.”
For more island inspiration visit the store on Queen Street in Hamilton or shop online at www.islandexports.com
