A House That Was Made for the Holidays

For designer Caitlin Wilson and her family (here with husband Brigham Wilson and kids Penn, 2, and Olivia, 5, with Caitlin’s parents, Roger and Kathy Carter), there’s no better place to spend Christmas than at her parents’ home in Oregon’s Rogue Valley. Tucked next to a lake among pine and spruce trees, the five-year-old, three-bedroom Craftsman—which Caitlin decorated—feels like “the best winter getaway,” she says. And it’s not just because of the house’s nearby sledding hills and snow-blanketed yard.

Inspired by her mom’s fondness for classic plaids and her dad’s love of the outdoors, Caitlin filled the space with dark woods and warm wool tartans, perfect for snuggling up to once the temperatures dip. Come December, the house’s cozy vibe gets a festive oomph with metallic mini trees, woodland-creature ornaments, and, of course, a stunner of a Christmas tree. On the porch, a raw teak bench from overstock.com gets a soft touch with Pendleton wool throws.

“All decked out, the house looks gorgeous, but more important, it’s comfortable,” says Caitlin. “Everything’s designed so we can just kick back and hang out together, playing silly games, watching movies, and baking cookies.”

Her parents don’t use the marble fireplace, so Caitlin stocked it with logs. Buffalo-check stockings from Filson put a woodsy spin on holiday trimmings.