SNOWBALL EFFECT

The plan for a little renovation of their 1910s villa turned into a top-to-bottom rebuild that's perfectly suited for entertaining over the holidays

- Debbie Harrison

With two young daughters, Sian and Hagan Hill are still figuring out what Christmas looks like for their family, but it's a given that Christmas Day will include copious amounts of food, a siesta in the afternoon, a classic Christmas movie and making memories with their Auckland villa as the backdrop.

"Both of our families have strong traditions," says Sian, "so we're still figuring out how to blend the two - and add in some of our own. For us, it's about honouring the old and welcoming the new."

Hagan's family spends each Christmas at Lake Rotoiti, where Christmas Eve is celebrated with pizza, Champagne and a couple of gifts so everyone can get up early for Christmas morning waterskiing, while Sian's side spends Christmas Eve making chocolate-dipped strawberries in front of a Christmas movie.

"Pre-kids, we would alternate which side of the family we spent Christmas with, but now we have the girls, we're keen to start blending the families together more," says Sian. "This is the first year Gwen's properly into it and she has written Santa a wish list. We're excited to see the look on her face on Christmas morning once he's visited."