Confession: I have watched a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies over the years. Our family plays Christmas-Movie Bingo from Thanksgiving until New Year’s, which means tuning in to dozens of them as part of our ongoing game (you can read my post about how it works here). But Holly & Ivy, starring Janel Parrish, Marisol Nichols, and Jeremy Jordan, is a new favorite.
The movie’s about a young woman named Melody who buys a charming old fixer upper. She has applied to adopt, but first she has to pass her home inspection. Luckily, a cute local contractor and other neighbors rally to help her get everything up to code in time.
Holly & Ivy was filmed on location in Kaysville, Utah, and the house they used for both the exterior and interior scenes is on the market. It was designed by the local architect William Allen and is listed on the State of Utah and National Register of Historic Places.
Take a look!
Janel Parrish’s House in “Holly & Ivy”
As Melody begins fixing up her house, she befriends her neighbor Nina, a single mom with two young girls named Holly and Ivy (gotta love the Christmassy names they give characters in these movies).
When Nina (Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Melody offers to take care of her children.
If you don’t shed a tear by the end of this one, do you even have a heart?
One thing I’ve learned from watching Hallmark movies is that if you want to find a good man, your first step should be to buy or inherit an old house that needs a lot of work. A contractor or carpenter of some sort will almost immediately materialize to help you.
He will be rugged, handy, and helpful — but also sensitive and willing to work for little or no money.
In Holly & Ivy, the good-hearted handy guy is played by Jeremy Jordan, a talented actor and singer known for his roles on Broadway (I kept hoping he’d break out into song — you can watch him sing “Let It Go” on YouTube).
Nina and her daughters Holly and Ivy live next door in a modern farmhouse:
The Back Porch:
They made the house look like more of a fixer upper than it really is, covering the windows
with newspaper and the vintage tile on the fireplaces with plywood:
The listing for the house says:
Home featured in New Hallmark Movie, “Holly and Ivy.” This Exquisite Historic Mansion, The Thomas J. & Amanda Smith House was Designed by one of Utah’s most prominent architects, William Allen. The Mansion is listed on the State of Utah and National Register of Historic Places.
The elegant grandeur of “Old World Craftsmanship” throughout is evident in the woodwork, the stained glass windows, fireplaces, wall coverings, carpets and the chandeliers.
The kitchen has a vintage Majestic wood-burning stove in the movie (and in the listing):
You may recognize Janel Parrish as Mona from “Pretty Little Liars.”
This character is a definite departure from Mona, however. Melody wants to be a librarian but, because of budget cuts, no one’s hiring. I love how she creates her own dream job in the end. My fellow book lovers should appreciate that storyline.
A year later, after the house has been fixed up, the vintage tile around the fireplace is revealed:
And Adam has built a cozy window seat where Melody can read beside her bookshelves:
The house has 3 bedrooms + 1.5 baths.
There is romance in Holly & Ivy, but it’s really about friendship and family.
The listing for the house states:
After some 30 plus years of serving commercial ownership, in early 2016 & following the residential rezoning of back to residential, this beautiful home was restored back to its long-awaited warmth, comfort & functionality as a family dwelling.
Sparing no expense, much thought, research & effort have gone into restoring the functional kitchen & bathing room removed during the homes use as commercial property.
A traditional, yet functional kitchen was accomplished without one wall cabinet, central island or modern-day appliance (except refrigeration). A period, Majestic kitchen wood burning stove was sourced, converted to natural gas range with electric oven & installed. Also, a period kitchen sink was located & installed in a rather unique manner.
As for the bathing room, similarly, a near period claw foot tub was sourced & installed w/shower added, to complete the wash room. A combined orchard/garden has been planted with (7) fruit trees & numerous vegetables.
Lawn & grounds plantings have further added to reestablishment of a century old look & feel with satisfaction, love & caring for a part of Kaysville, Utah history.
For more information about the Holly & Ivy house at 472 N. Main Street in Kaysville,
check the listing on Realtor.com, Old House Dreams, and the Virtual Tour.
Thanks to Kimberly for telling me about it! Learn more about Holly & Ivy and watch behind-the-scenes videos on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries website.
Visit my Movie Houses page for a list of more holiday favorites I’ve featured.
Learn how to play Christmas-Movie Bingo and read about the B&B where they
filmed another popular Hallmark movie called Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane.
