A 'Woodsy Couture' Christmas

Each year, a dear group of friends head to Brantingham Lake in the Adirondacks to stay in a historic family cabin nestled in the woods. There, we share libations, delicious home-cooked meals and a stunning view of the mountains.

While our duffel bags are crammed with thermals, flannel and wool, we occasionally bust out what's affectionately known as woodsy couture - where wildnerness meets 'wow.' Picture fur-lined trapper hats partnered perfectly with tailored vests. It's like watching "Man vs. Wild" and "Project Runway" at the same time.

Our last trip to Brantingham inspired me to bring this same woodsy couture home for the holidays.


A homemade burlap runner, salvaged tree stump and an array of
oranges, clementines and kumquats set this rustic table. A few
deer antlers nestled in moss bring the great outdoors in.

Nature-inspired decor is hard to avoid. Whether Restoration Hardward is selling faux fur throws or Crate&Barrel is launching a new wicker woven basket line, out(doors) is in. I took some of these same basic principles and applied them to my Christmas decor.

My dearest friend Shelley took 'woodsy couture' to a whole
new level when she created this gift wrapping: durable brown
kraft paper, torn flannel (sourced from thrift store shirts) and
twine. A sprig of fresh greenery completes the natural look.

If you want to replicate this rustic look, start with the following tips.

Get outside. Whether you live downtown or in the suburbs, take yourself to the nearest nature spot. If you come to my house for dinner, you'll find something I brought in from the backyard - regardless of the season. Trees, plants and rocks abound; find interesting ways to use them, by displaying them in vases, in bowls or simply laid amongst the table setting.

Use fresh vs. faux. A bag of clementines costs $3.99 while apples are $.99 a pound (read: cheaper than that fancy hurricane from Pottery Barn). Arrange fresh fruits or vegetables in a bowl or place a piece at each placesetting. And, after they're displayed, you can eat them! Functional AND fabulous.

Tone it down. Mimic the tones you see in the current season. While summer bears bright yellow lemons and purple hydrangeas, winter brings darker, muted colors. An accent color - like red, orange or even white - plays better in the cooler months. (Example: my table above is nearly all neutral colors except for the orange fruit.)

Keep it simple, and you'll make Mother Nature proud while also impressing your guests.