A Happy Holiday Kitchen with Arcadian Revival

What are your favorite ways to incorporate holiday colors and textures into the kitchen?

I designed a ledge above our range specifically for an area to bring the holidays to life...a swag, a wreath, antique books and candlesticks, and dried flowers from our gardens have all been used here.

To answer more simply: always greens, always fresh.

When working in areas where only a little bit of holiday magic is needed, live clippings of pine, boxwood, and winterberry are certain wins and can easily be refreshed between Thanksgiving and Christmas as needed.

Fruit is another fun touch to add a bit of holiday cheer to the kitchen. Channeling colonial apples and tangerines with cloves is a simple showstopper.

We keep taper candles lit in our windows, and incorporate a simple bow on just about anything to transform the space. For us, remembering to add touches to our pendant lights and window ledges are always first stops.

How do you make your kitchen feel welcoming for holiday guests?

I asked our guests this question! The immediate reply was that we always have food out on the island. Whether it be appetizers, snacks, desserts, or a fresh pot of coffee, when we're entertaining we keep out napkins and small dishes so family and friends know that something is always there for them without having to ask.

This season, we added our two smallest Pantry Bowls to hold snacks. They're a perfect size, and a bit unexpected which makes them fun.

What are your favorite details to bring cheer to a corner of your home?

I always say when decorating to never forget the corners. Adding a bit of sparkle, glass, or just something pleasant, corners typically do not need to be high functioning even in a busy area like a kitchen.

My favorite trick in kitchens is to always add a lamp. We've been doing this for years and I've converted both friends and design clients. Once you add one, you won't want to take it away.

What’s your go-to holiday drink or recipe for a cozy mug?

This is one of those questions that immediately fills my senses and to which a response cannot possibly suffice with one or even two responses.

There's nothing more nostalgic in winter than filling an oversized mug with a warm cup of chicken noodle soup and cozying up by the fire. And the reply here wouldn't be honest with the simple response of filling winter mugs with hot chocolate for the kids after they've been outside.

In recent years, the morning coffees — especially that first cup — shared with my husband have been a ritual that we enjoy together.In the end, I think it's more about the feelings that these shared moments bring about and the memories they conjure.