always sunny and warm, a light hand just feels right. “The stockings,

the trees, the treats and trimmings—all the forms of Christmas are

here, but in a brighter color palette,” she says. White felt stockings

hang at the stairs, each tied with ribbon. Boxwood garlands and trees

replace traditional pine. Mounds of green and white hydrangeas

mixed with yellow berries dress up the dining table.

To give your holiday decorating a fresh take, turn up your everyday

scheme a notch. Pull three colors you love from your rooms and be

strict with the palette. Mix and mingle those colors throughout each

room in wrapping paper, stockings, the tree skirt, and more. For the

Lamkins, that means the watery blue, grass green, and sunshine

yellow that make the cottage happy year-round. From there, touches

of silver make it sparkle, white adds modernity, and unadorned

greenery is a fresh, fuss-free holiday basic.

“We’re a casual family,” says Jill. “Our kids are only going to be little

once. Keeping things simple keeps the focus on fun.”

A b o v e :

Three conical boxwoods take the place of one big tree. (When spring

comes, Jill can transplant them outside.)

T o p le ft:

Tall cut orchids add height to a

table in the entryway.

M id d le le ft:

Gifts are wrapped using a mix of yellow, white,

and green papers and ribbons.

B o tto m le ft:

Old-fashioned stick candy is set out

for the taking.

O p p o site :

An everyday table runner gets party-ready with the

addition of a centerpiece and a bit of boxwood in the chandelier.