live, festively

From the subtle to the spectacular, seasonal decorations can run the gamut. We believe in trusting your instinct for living beautifully by selectively adding layers that amplify, rather than overwhelm, your existing design ethos. For us, the Tetons provide the quintessential holiday backdrop of pillowy snow accented by twinkly lights and bundled merriment. Living within such a scenic snow globe, we trend towards a discretely dramatic approach to holiday décor. Our strategy for decking the halls follows our year-round fascination with texture and tonality. Texture can take the form of assemblages of wintry objects found in nature, while tonality can be expressed in architectural arrangements—branches of winter berries (hypericum, tallow or privet berries), garlands of magnolia, bay leaves and eucalyptus, fans of falcon feathers. Wreaths—ever appreciated—lend grace and glamour to thresholds. A timeless manifestation of both texture and tone: Arrange pinecones or berry branches within a vintage Indonesian wooden bowl for a spray of color and cheer.

When sourcing materials, turn to nature for inspiration. For interior programs centered around communion, the focus can become festive flare on tabletops and mantle pieces. Our perennial consideration of place can guide you as well: notice what foliage lies just outside your front door—sage bundles, dried thistles, spruce boughs—and stage them around candles and hurricanes. Cozy confines can become merry with candles and diffusers with natural essences of fir and clove; we adore the luxurious aromas of legendary French candlemaker Cire Trudon. Family compounds may require more durable decorations such as holiday accent pillows, Santa-hued throws, or hardy installations like an antique Belgian sled or vintage metal vessel adorned with greenery.

Our affinity for natural texture extends to trimming trees. Ever family oriented, we approach trees as albums that grow in joyful scope with each holiday season. As such, we begin with ornaments that dangle memories, whether handmade, collected on travels, or received as gifts. Then, we add quiet elements reflective of place: wood garlands, pinecone sticks, owl clips, burlap ribbon, wildlife ornaments, metallic accents and soft lights like Wyoming nights. Finally, we wrap the trunk in a chunky, knitted blanket, bundling up the base as we would our bodies on a cold winter evening. To spread the coziness, we drape an oversized garland—matching the evergreen of our tree—over the mantle, a dramatic flourish that epitomizes our lush natural approach to the holidays.

Coming into Bloom

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

Audrey Hepburn

To garden in Jackson, the hope for summer springs eternal, even though locals know the April showers—May flowers paradigm doesn’t quite relate to the Tetons with blooms biding their time until June and July. To kickstart summer gardening, we turn to planters as (relatively) foolproof forms for early flowers. Even if freezing temps continue to cloak our nights, most container gardens can withstand some flux with flying colors.

Planter Picks

Because we are in the object business, we always begin by choosing our planters. When considering a vessel, think about the site conditions: clay, plaster or terracotta containers can break with consistent freezing and thawing, though they should last through a wily Jackson summer. Concrete or cast iron are more durable, capable of being left outside in all sorts of weather, though they weigh more and therefore planting should happen in the precise spot where you’d like the planter to live. At Twenty Two Home, we carry a coterie of one-of-a-kind antique planters that we individually source from France ranging from: A pair of 1920s cast iron vessels, each one a palimpsest of paint from a green layer to beige and white flecks; a show-stopping set of square plaster planters with sculpted handles by the incomparable Willy Guhl; a 1960s tapered plaster piece with side indentations as hand holds; and a green-rimmed plaster gem perfect for a petite sculptural planting.

Planter Curation

We love the impact of a planter brimming with a single species—think rosemary, lavender or a variegated ornamental grass. That said, we always applaud collaging textures. With mixing in mind, we turn to the Good Housekeeping adage of including “a thriller, a spiller and a filler,” which translates into a focal-point plant (coleus or geraniums) paired with several varieties that spill over the edge of the planter (petunias or creeping zinnias), and finally, fillers—plants with smaller leaves or buds that creep into the crevices of your arrangement (salvias, verbenas or herbs like parsley). We swoon the notion of melding form and function by blending flowering plants with edible herbs to enliven eyes and appetites. For a fourth dimension, explore height with a fountain grass or a trellis to support a vine. All told, Good Housekeeping recommends five to six plants per 18-to-24-inch container.

Planter Placement

Front entrances are one of our favorite spots for planters, whether arranged in a pair on the threshold of a front porch, flanking the front door or one-per-stair. Decks and terraces are also excellent locations for planter placement, underscoring the meteorological invitation to migrate outside for all meals. Asymmetrical clusters add visual intrigue and variety. As Oscar de la Renta once said, “Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors.” We couldn’t agree more, so thus inspired, go forth and color play!

Get Out

As our surrounds thaw, we plan for the days when segueing between indoors and out does not require muck boots, but instead allows for bare-footed traipsing. In every project we design, we extend the conviviality we create inside to the adjacent outdoor areas. As such, we imbue each exterior element with care and beauty, allowing for graceful transitions between en suite and en plein air. When approaching your own outdoor extensions, we encourage identifying several through lines that can tie together your room and your roaming, whether it be a particular palette or a favorite textile. The following considerations further enhance the communion between indoors and out.

Green Screens

Landscape design is an integral part of making your personal patch of land livable and private. Incorporating or augmenting local flora in specific zones allows for areas to feel at once intimate and natural. 

Dedicated Play

Play outside: the chorus of summer can be complicated if sightlines don’t allow for supervision by adults inside. As designers, we always advise that play be given prominence on properties, with areas dedicated to kids within view of the rooms where adults work. For instance, plant the play zone outside the kitchen, so that smiles can be shared across the sink during meal prep. 

Looking Glass

Expanses of glass allow for seamless living between indoors and out. Sliding glass doors in master suites and great rooms, opening onto decks or patios, while simultaneously allowing for unobstructed views to be enjoyed from under the covers or under a portico.

Al Fresco Dining

Grills aren’t the only way to make all summer meals an outdoor affair. When space allows, complete outdoor kitchens are excellent additions, and yet, even the introduction of an outdoor dining table makes for memorable meals al fresco.