Christmas by Design is a 2023 Hallmark Channel original movie starring Rebecca Dalton and Jonathan Keltz. It’s a standalone holiday romance made for the network’s “Countdown to Christmas” 2023 lineup, not a sequel or part of an existing Hallmark franchise. The story follows New York City fashion designer Charlotte Charmichael, who lands a spot in a high-stakes Christmas-themed design competition and returns to her hometown for the holidays — where she gets swept up in the local “12 Days of Elfcapades” celebration and falls for a hometown mechanic.
The film was directed by Max McGuire and written by Carley Smale, produced by Johnson Production Group in association with Hallmark Channel. Note: some early listings for this movie circulated an incorrect director credit; Max McGuire is confirmed as the sole director in both IMDb’s official crew listing and the Johnson Production Group press kit.
Quick Facts
| Title | Christmas by Design |
| Release Date | October 27, 2023 (Hallmark Channel) |
| Director | Max McGuire |
| Writer | Carley Smale |
| Composer (Score) | Russ Howard III |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Runtime | 84 minutes |
| Starring | Rebecca Dalton, Jonathan Keltz, Joanna Douglas, Susan Hamann |
| Production Company | Johnson Production Group |
| Where to Watch | Hallmark Channel, Peacock |
Score & Composer
The original score for Christmas by Design was written by Russ Howard III, a longtime Hallmark and Johnson Production Group composer. No standalone soundtrack album of licensed songs has been released for this film — that’s typical for Hallmark Channel TV movies, which are usually scored in-house rather than built around a commercially released soundtrack. If an official tracklist or streaming soundtrack is ever published, this page will be updated.
Where to Watch
Christmas by Design airs on Hallmark Channel and is available to stream for subscribers on Peacock. It can also be rented or purchased digitally through Apple TV, Amazon/Fandango at Home, and Xfinity Stream.
Cast
- Rebecca Dalton as Charlotte Charmichael
- Jonathan Keltz as Spencer
- Joanna Douglas as Kristina
- Susan Hamann as Olivia
- Debra Hale as Deedee
- Adriana Vasquez as Margo
- Tim Progosh as Rick
- Scott Gibson as Roger
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Christmas by Design?
Christmas by Design was directed by Max McGuire, whose other Hallmark and Lifetime credits include Love at Look Lodge and Midnight at the Magnolia. Max McGuire is confirmed as director in IMDb’s official crew credits and the Johnson Production Group press kit.
Is there a Christmas by Design soundtrack album?
No standalone soundtrack album has been released for Christmas by Design. Like most Hallmark Channel original movies, the film uses an original score by composer Russ Howard III rather than a commercially released collection of licensed songs.
Where can I watch Christmas by Design?
Christmas by Design airs on Hallmark Channel and is available to stream for subscribers on Peacock. It can also be rented or purchased digitally through Apple TV, Amazon, and other major platforms.
Who stars in Christmas by Design?
The film stars Rebecca Dalton as fashion designer Charlotte Charmichael and Jonathan Keltz as mechanic Spencer, with Joanna Douglas, Susan Hamann, Debra Hale, and Adriana Vasquez in supporting roles.
What is Christmas by Design about?
The film follows Charlotte, a New York City fashion designer who returns to her hometown for Christmas after entering a holiday-themed design competition for department store Warwick’s, and falls for a local mechanic while getting swept up in the town’s “12 Days of Elfcapades” celebration.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks | Streaming Guides