Interior Decorator Saves Christmas from Oprah although at first glance the overall look was low-key, Carter dropped several inventive elements into the mix. “To me, Christmas is all about the coziness of friends and family around a fire,” Carter explains, “so we went for a golden effect with the tree, almost like a sepia snowfall. Where would the Abdos find just the right ornaments to complement her home’s mellow, minimalist style? Enter interior designer Darryl Carter, who, like Santa Claus, turned up one day with a band of merry assistants. The interior decorations set the scene for an extended family reunion that included Mai’s parents, her three sisters and brother, and all their children.

Interior Decorator Saves Christmas Mai and Jim Abdo’s dining room

Interior Decorator Saves Christmas Mai and Jim Abdo’s living room

Interior Decorator Saves Christmas Mai and Jim Abdo’s mantle

Interior Decorator Saves Christmas Mai and Jim Abdo’s home family

“We left for 12 hours, and when we came back the house had been transformed into a wonderland,” says Jim. “It’s not often that adults get to experience that kind of surprise.” Carter’s 11th-hour Christmas rescue mission proved to be more than just icing on the cake.

“The holiday is really about family,” Mai says. “If it hadn’t been for Darryl, we wouldn’t have had Christmas,” she adds.