Table of contents for Holiday 2024 in Sunset

Over the years, the holiday decorations in my house have become less East Coast, White Christmas holiday fantasy and more Western. Yes, we still get a live tree and adorn it with maximum nostalgia in the way of glass globes, little woodland animals, and handmade foil-wrapped stars fashioned by my kids. But increasingly, we decorate our tree and house with ornaments and objects that reflect the life we live here. On our tree, we hang miniature blown-glass barbecues and handmade cloth dolls from vacations in nearby Mexico, while our mantle holds bowls of pomegranates and citrus from neighbors, and vases overflow with eucalyptus and white sage from our yard. We light candles infused with the essence of herbs grown in nearby community gardens. We source from the abundance that surrounds…

Petite Pool The homeowners informed us that the original pool in the backyard was oversized for their needs and in an awkward location. The goal was to scale and simplify without dominating the space or being an ornament. The pool is also positioned so it is viewable from the interior of the home, particularly the kitchen and seating areas. Conversation Corner This space was conceptualized as a more intimate garden, scaled for a smaller seating arrangement for two. The backdrop of the fire feature provides a touch of room definition, while the surrounding landscape and overhead canopy of the adjacent Mesquite tree provide a quiet moment in the garden to enjoy a coffee or cocktail with easy access to the master suite. Fire Feature The placement of the fire feature…

Once a flower-focused adventurer, Françoise Weeks realized she never really had paid much attention to the different barks, mosses, or seed pods that litter sidewalks on her hikes through her neighborhood and surrounding forest. Making note of the smaller details in nature created a shift in her that she now calls woodland design. “As soon as I started to focus on the beauty and unique characteristics of all these elements, curiosity drove me to design with these newly found treasures,” she explains. “A new world of possibilities in design opened. I discovered that there were so many different variations of these elements—from textures to colors to shapes—and it was a delight to experiment with them all.” Here, Françoise shares her tips for unlocking inspiration while walking under the trees this…

No mantle, no problem! Bookshelves and tiered nooks also make for happy holiday moments. If they’re not positioned in the room as your main focal point, the team at Rolling Greens suggests not overdoing it. Instead, keep it stylish and simple while allowing for negative space and highlighting each piece as a beautiful little spotlight all on its own. When adding botanicals to the mix, choose complementary containers that are more visually interesting than the plants, especially if framing your scene with garland. The team encourages you to continue creativity on these boughs and choose unexpected pieces or objects to add to your garland, such as naturally shed antlers, faux berries and fruit, live eucalyptus, dried palm fronds, or assorted sizes of pinecones. If using ornaments, opt for colored translucent…

The holiday program at Rolling Greens requires a tremendous amount of preplanning and expertise, and the creative team admits a lot of ideas come from the previous year’s “should haves,” proving you should always revisit design ideas that speak to your heart, no matter the trends. If you’ve ever had the pleasure to walk through any of its retail outlets, you know the amount of care and love that goes not only into the sourcing of unique products but also into the masterful displays that showcase them. Even though Rolling Greens has done all the beauty hunting for you, they want everyone to feel empowered when styling their treasures with confidence back home and offer these five steps to get started. 1 Select decor colors that inspire you and are…

PENDLETON-USA.COM Shop the Pendleton Gift Guide…

Nestled in a spectacular sliver of the Salmon River Mountains, McCall, Idaho, is a mountain town somewhat frozen in time. Situated among dense Ponderosa pines, it’s a scenic two-hour drive from bustling Boise, but it couldn’t seem farther away. With Brundage and Tamarack Mountains nearby, the main draw for travelers in the winter months is the snow. But even if you’re not a die-hard winter sports enthusiast, there’s a hearty helping of Western nostalgia beckoning in this charming part of the Gem State. In a world where lift lines at mega-resorts are choked with crowds, the quaint, independently owned Brundage Mountain Resort feels like a step back in time in the best way. First opened in 1961 in partnership with Norwegian Olympic ski champion Corey Engen, the mountain is now…

Give the gift of the Sunset Wine Club, featuring the best bottles in the West, perfectly paired with recipes in the magazine. There’s no more perfect holiday present than the Sunset Wine Club, a selection of story-worthy wines produced by the top vintners in California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond—delivered straight to your door. We’ve partnered with the country’s premier online wine retailer, Wine Access, to curate a standout mix of reds, whites, bubblies, and rosés to drink this season. Think of each delivery as a box of aperitifs, party-ready bottles, and weeknight dinner solutions. Even better, they’ve been selected to go with the recipes and menus in the issue you’re holding in your hands. As a member of the Sunset Wine Club, you will receive the following exclusive benefits: Six Story-Worthy…

With warm weather, sunny winter swells, and world-class seafood, the Riviera Nayarit has long been a tropical retreat for surfers and the bohemian jet set. But recently, an onslaught of design-forward hotels outside the tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta has made this digital nomad destination even more desirable for those seeking friendlier climes in the wintertime. Here’s where to stay when making a trip this season. NAVIVA PUNTA MITA Stepping into the entrance designed to mimic a massive bamboo cocoon, the biophilic design signals that guests immediately feel they’re embarking on a journey. The programming at this new luxury tented camp property includes everything from a traditional temazcal sweat lodge led by local curanderos to tepache-making classes. The property is composed of 15 ultra-luxe safari-style tents, meaning there’s a maximum…

Erica and Bond Camp have the kind of unbridled optimism and adventure-loving spirit that make anything seem possible. The couple met as students in Colorado and connected over their shared love of surfing, travel, and adventure. They’ve lived in Bali and Thailand, explored Cuba, El Salvador, and Botswana, and, for a time, called a van in New Zealand home. They renovated and ran a ski hostel in Breckenridge. Erica launched a successful swimwear business. Then in 2015, after Bond suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury in a backcountry skiing accident that left his lower body paralyzed, they surpassed all expectations and prognoses. Erica never left his side. Bond worked hard on his recovery. They married, moved to Maui, had a son, Waylon, and bought a small parcel of pristine land…

I love making these woodland wreaths and like to use elements that do not require a water source so they can be enjoyed for many months. You can use pieces of bark, interesting branches, or small pieces of wood, and display a variety of seed pods from trees, shrubs, annuals, or perennials during the fall. Also, incorporate any interesting finds from the garden or flower market that will still look nice when dried. MATERIALS: 16-inch wreath framesPaddle wireCold and hot glueForaged or store-bought seed pods and greenery 1. Using paddle wire, attach a moss base to the frame by winding wire around the moss every inch or so. If necessary, use cold glue to attach any straggling pieces. Then, use a glue gun to attach the decorations. 2. This wreath…

We’re always looking for new ways to restyle and revive a space with existing plants, and the holidays are no exception. The Rolling Greens team suggests adding varieties into the mix, such as Sunset Leucadendron, staghorn ferns, pink fittonia, plectranthus platinum, acacia, and begonias, which offer sage or rosy hues that aren’t on-the-nose-holiday. When arranging groupings of pottery and plant material, remember to use odd numbers and different heights to make an interesting statement. Start with these styling suggestions when treating houseplants like holiday decor: ▶ Identify the areas in your space that you would love to dress up with holiday decor. ▶ Keep in mind that this decor is temporary, which gives you license to incorporate whimsy and your over-the-top ideas because it’s only there for a few weeks.…

‘Tis the season to relieve faux plants of their bad reputation. Yes, they’re perfect for spaces with low light, but they can also be incorporated anywhere in your home. With so many more options for real-looking botanicals on the market, think of artificial greenery no differently than you would your ornaments and other holiday decor, which can be carefully packed away and reused each holiday season. The key to a lifelike faux planting or tree is the manipulation of the leaves and stems to emulate the true growth pattern of living plants. Topdressing is also important, so treat your faux features like the real deal and add moss or beautiful pebbles to their containers. When it comes to selecting the right kind of faux plants, the Rolling Greens team suggests stylish…

Whimsical Woodland GET THE LOOK Rustic turned refined, using French Anduze pots and Willy Guhl silhouettes makes for an eclectic styling of deep browns, patinated metals, and touches of tropical plants. PLANT PALETTE Palm, begonia, bird of paradise, phoenix roebelenii palm, philodendron monstera, Dallas fern. Purple Sugar Plums GET THE LOOK Mix complementary shades of pinks and plums with bronze ornaments for a color-drenched, gem-hued display. Perfect for a table setting for accenting a buffet or entry console, this is a look that begs for textiles and layered drama. PLANT PALETTE Leucadendron, staghorn ferns, pine, cedar, mandevilla, fittonia, plectranthus platinum. Tinseled Terra-cotta GET THE LOOK Peach ceramics might be an unexpected choice to integrate outdoors for a holiday entryway or patio. However, terra-cotta pottery paired with green ceramics and laced…

When it comes to navigating the depths of your kitchen cabinets, you might feel more confused than inspired. To help remedy this pantry paralysis, vegetarian cook and author Erin Alderson takes us on a deliciously delightful adventure in her new The Yearlong Pantry: Bright, Bold Vegetarian Recipes to Transform Everyday Staples (Hardie Grant; $35), in which pantry staples become a playground of plant-based possibilities. Equal parts experimentation guide and cookbook, Alderson gives grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds a bit of seasonal wonder with a California-inspired twist. Erin’s website Naturallyella.com and her self-published zine Cook Casual turned me on to her diverse palate, unexpected combinations, and unique layering of ingredients. Her recipes inspire me to both use and preserve vegetables fresh from the garden while incorporating forgotten pantry staples into my…

The Sunset Subscription Box delivers the Best of the West straight to your door! Attention holiday shoppers! Every three months, you’ll get a box full of home, design, food, and garden products from the West and beyond curated by Sunset editors. Our next box will be filled with items that are perfect for holiday entertaining or gift giving. It’s the easiest way to live the Sunset lifestyle! Visit thesunsetbox.com or scan the QR code Some of the goodies from past boxes.…

When designing a small space for maximum enjoyment, it’s challenging to create an effortless flow—especially when the client’s wish list includes a pool, outdoor seating areas, shade, a fire element for the winter season, an outdoor shower, and abundant indigenous landscaping. But the team at Phoenix-based design firm Trueform didn’t even flinch at this request. While it might seem like a tall ask, Todd Briggs and his design team went into the project considering amenities cohesively rather than individually to avoid a potentially disjointed outdoor space. The result? A streamlined sanctuary where all the pieces of relaxation blend together beautifully. Statement Specimens The homeowners insisted on incorporating yuccas and other architectural natives like agave and aloe into the design. Trueform stuck to this initial plant palette as the focal point,…

CURATING CONTAINERS When it comes to arranging plantscapes in pots, Stephen likes to think of containers as “jewelry” for the garden. Quantity is not the goal, and he advises that a correctly placed planter or object in the garden helps you navigate the garden and provides focal points along the way. Keeping scale in mind is a must, and he urges you to go big. Stephen says people considering using a 15-gallon plant in an 18-inch planter should go for a 24-inch box tree in a 25-inch planter. A few larger trees rather than a small group of plants will have a greater impact on the space. The Inner Gardens team uses its signature planters, which provide a patina to the garden. Look for ceramics that look like they have…

Completely forgoing the traditional Christmas tree might be a no-go for most, but there are many other pine alternatives to consider showcasing during the season. Try incorporating rosemary, olive, lemon cypress, or lavender topiaries into your designs. Rolling Green’s favorites include potted cypress, boxwood or topiaries, especially when lit with a string of lights for an elevated entryway. Styling any of these in aged or vintage terra-cotta is a great way to pop the plant material, particularly when adding topdressings like Spanish moss or jade-colored rocks to enhance the look. Additionally, succulents are an easy-to-care-for plant that creates a more architectural look. Succulents aren’t just for pots! Use them to add interest to garlands and wreaths. The Rolling Greens team likes to complement freshly cut succulents with faux staghorn fern…

Taking table-scaping to the next level, the team at Rolling Greens integrates plants plate-side with an incredible living runner planted directly into the center of the wood slab. This stunning spread showcases perfect plant styling and uses a mix of leaf sizes and form to thoughtfully achieve playful texture and elegance. Here, the team used a combination of maidenhair fern, staghorn fern, trailing rosemary, Dallas fern, variegated ivy, blue star fern, hoya Hindu rope, and picea glauca. Want to recreate this look using potted plants? The team suggests taking multiple pots of varying sizes, starting with the largest centerpiece in the middle. Design arrangements in low trough-style vessels and place them along the center of the table, adding garland, branches, moss, or rocks to help disguise the vessel edges. For…

Fans of Sunset know we have a thing for Nick’s Cove, the restaurant and collection of perfectly weathered little cabins that sit on the shore of achingly beautiful Tomales Bay in West Marin. It’s a perfectly preserved little sliver of the California that time forgot: rolling hills and pasture and inlets and an expanse of water on which you might spy kayakers or small fishing boats and waterfowl and not much else. It’s pretty much the same as it was in 1931 when a Croatian immigrant named Nick Kojich opened a little seafood restaurant in an old herring curing facility and started renting out waterfront cottages by the night and serving shrimp and crab cocktail to road trippers. One of the most charming outbuildings at Nick’s Cove was the boathouse.…

MOUNTAIN WEST David DeFazio’s adventurous spirit has led him to experience everything his Wyoming backyard has to offer, from fly-fishing to backcountry skiing to guiding whitewater rafting expeditions to eventually becoming the co-founder of Wyoming Whiskey. Originally an attorney, DeFazio now works with co-founders Brad and Kate Mead to craft exceptional bourbon made with locally grown, non-GMO corn, winter wheat, barley, and winter rye. Here, he shares his favorite local establishments that share a passion for Western craftsmanship. This month: Jackson, WY The insider: David DeFazio, Founder of Wyoming Whiskey STAY First opened in 1941, The Wort Hotel is the historic hotel in Jackson. It manifests its rich past through newly appointed Westernthemed rooms and accommodations. Few hotels bring that authentic character to life while still maintaining a level of…

“SPENDING YOUR POINTS DOES NOT DEPEND SO MUCH ON THE TIME OF YEAR AS WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.” For over a decade, Eric Rosen has been completely immersed in the world of travel. The Los Angeles-based globetrotter learned early on how to flex the power of credit cards, points, and miles, eventually leading him to his role as the director of travel content at The Points Guy. Here, he shares his insights on how to maximize your spending and stay savvy during the busy holiday season. Certain days around the holidays, like the Sunday after Thanksgiving, are notoriously expensive to fly. Any ways to reduce costs when flying around the holidays? In the past, certainly before the pandemic, there were travel days that were always busy: the day before…