fresh christmas decorating ideas

For Alice Ryan, founder of A Company, a boutique public relations and events firm, one of the best things abount owning a country getaway in Long Island’s North Fork is the chance it offers to really spread out and decorate for a proper family holiday. “To have a tree, wreaths, mistletoe, and all the old-fashioned ornaments–Victorian mercury glass and other collectibles my mum has sent me from England over over the years–speaks to my tradition,” says Ryan.

The 1901 farmhouse, which she and her husband, Kirk Miller, purchased seven years ago, was “a dream come true.” 

In addition to its simple, elegant facade and roomy interiors, which allow plenty of space for family and weekend guests, the home also offers ample opportunities for enjoying such treasured holiday customs as making gingerbread houses with her two children, Grey and Elliott Grace.

Ryan and Miller trim the tree with their children, Grey and Elliott Grace.

“Colefax and Fowler is my everything,” says the English-born Ryan. “And since I knew that this house wouldn’t possess the kind of polish a detailed renovation can provide, I thought I might achieve the same results with plush, traditional curtains and upholstery.”

Rather than overloading her home with holiday decorations, Ryan prefers natural touches that make a timeless statement.