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A One-of-a-Kind Christmas in Upstate New York

A staid holiday house this is not! Think tie-dye instead of plaid and fuchsia rather than red. HGTV Magazine takes you inside.

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Photo: Jonny Valiant. From: HGTV Magazine.

The House

When it comes to holiday decorating, Betsy Olmsted doesn’t just hang a simple wreath above the fireplace — she finds one made of funky vintage ornaments. She doesn’t just put up a traditional Douglas fir — she dresses a glittery gold tree and caps it off with a homemade hot pink star. The textile designer, known for her hand-painted woodland scenes in neon colors, prides herself on decking the halls in a way that’s as unique as her Saratoga Springs, NY, home.

When she and her husband, Peter, first toured the converted 1890 carriage house, they fell for the way it married farmhouse charm with a modern layout. Plus all the walls were already painted a crisp white — the perfect backdrop to help Betsy’s spunky decorating style stand out. During the holidays, it makes her wildly festive touches all the more striking. As she puts it, “Christmas around here looks quirky and fun, just the way we like it.”

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Photo: Jonny Valiant

Living Room

Betsy’s tree-trimming formula: lots of sparkle plus oodles of ornaments. This year the family decorated a 9-foot-tall gold-tinsel number by Vickerman with white tinsel garlands and boxfuls of bright baubles. The ’70s leather sectiona l— from an antiques store in Hudson, NY — is topped with tie-dyed pillows that Betsy made with the kids. New this season: patterned stockings Betsy designed with a retro holiday-meets-nature look. The wool rug is from Crate & Barrel, and the hot pink pouf is from HomeGoods.

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Photo: Jonny Valiant

Christmas Tree

A towering gold-tinsel tree takes the spotlight in the living room.

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Photo: Jonny Valiant. From: HGTV Magazine.

The Family

Betsy and Peter Olmsted with Emmett, 8, and Wells, 5.

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