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From Dried Citrus Garlands to Group Cocktails, These Entertaining Pros Share Their Holiday Secrets

Designer Heather Taylor, caterer Annie Campbell, and floral designer Whit McClure share how to turn your home into a holiday haven for family and friends.

A massive tree wrapped from root to canopy in LED twinkle lights towers over the backyard of designer Heather Taylor’s Laurel Canyon home. It’s a sustainable nod to the holidays that looks so good you wouldn’t blame her for leaving it up all year round.

Subtle but high-impact twists on tradition like this are core to what Taylor does as founder of Heather Taylor Home, the housewares company known for its simple gingham linens that look just a little bit preppy and a whole lot modern. That new nostalgia is also at the heart of Taylor’s approach to decorating for and celebrating the holidays.

Whit McClure’s wreath and garland adorn the mantle along with needlepoints from Loop Canvas.

Diana Koenigsberg

Before the pandemic, Taylor ran a thriving events rentals business. While that ground to a halt, cozy cushion sales shot through the roof as people transformed their homes into havens for escape. The super-social Taylor missed the parties, so she jumped at the chance to show us how she and her friends and collaborators—caterer Annie Campbell and floral designer Whit McClure, founder of Whit Hazen floral designs—would throw one for the holidays.

Not surprisingly, this busy crew is all about keeping it simple and keeping it cozy, with just a little nostalgia and loads of easy style. Campbell cooked up a throwback menu of bubbling fondue, shrimp cocktail with green goddess dip, buttermilk-dressed wedge salad, and pomegranate margaritas with cranberry-studded ice cubes. McClure designed a wispy, sage-y wreath, lyrical tablescapes, and a playful garland of dried citrus. And Taylor transformed her home—from dining table to guest bedroom—with linens, cushions, and housewares from Heather Taylor Home and her capsule collection with West Elm. To get you inspired for hunkering down and stretching the holiday cheer over the season—in a way that whispers winter celebrations but doesn’t push you to poinsettia fatigue—we’ve assembled the ultimate guide so you can maximize the coziness in your home.

Whit’s Tips

Diana Koenigsberg

Floral designer Whit McClure shares how to make a naturally stylish garland of dried citrus. See her stunning floral designs at whithazen.com or follow her on Instagram @WHIT_HAZEN.

What You Need:

Whit Says:

For the garland, I created visual interest by alternating groups of dried orange slices. Start with one grouping threaded through the center, follow it with a grouping threaded through the sides, and repeat. Place wood beads between groupings to set them apart.

To thread pieces where you see the whole orange slice, take your toothpick and make a hole on each side, next to the rind. Thread your twine or cording into one side and out through the hole on the other side.

To easily create a symmetrical design, string a couple of slices and beads on one end of your twine, then repeat the same look on the other end. Alternate sides like this until you’ve reached your desired length.

Once you’ve reached the end, make a loop knot, then thread a piece of velvet ribbon through the loop and tie it into a bow. Cut the ends of your ribbon at an angle to give it a finished look.

More Style Tips

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Go with Gingham

Whit dresses the table with eucalyptus and pomegranates. Spode dishware, pewter flatware, Floral Society candles, and gingham and plaid linens are available at Heather Taylor Home.

2 /4 Diana Koenigsberg

Add Some Simple, Elegant Art

Botanical drawings by artist Liz Young are adorned with twinkle lights and greenery. Footed compotes stacked with citrus echo bowls of classic ornaments. Table cloth and napkins from HTH. Scallop placemats from HTH x West Elm.

3 /4 Diana Koenigsberg

Have a Cocktail (Extra Credit If It Matches Your Lipstick)

Heather Taylor and Annie Campbell enjoy Pomegranate Margaritas.

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Country Cozy Is Extra-Cozy

HTH pillows make the guestroom super inviting. Quilt and sham from HTH and West Elm.

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Roast Shrimp Cocktail with Green Goddess Dip

Cooking shrimp in the oven instead of boiling is caterer Annie Campbell’s take on the standard shrimp cocktail technique. The zippy, herby green goddess brings color and major flavor to the appetizer.

2 /4 Diana Koenigsberg

Pomegranate Margarita

A winter take on everybody’s favorite party cocktail, these can be made to order or mixed up in a batch to serve a crowd. For maximum festive vibes, make ice cubes studded with fresh cranberries and raspberries in oversize silicone ice cube trays.

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Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Chive Dressing and Pomegranate Seeds

Who doesn’t love a salad you can eat with a knife? A garnish of pomegranate seeds and minced chives brings the colors of the holiday to the plate.

4 /4 Diana Koenigsberg

Classic Fondue

Fondue instantly makes any meal a party. Designer Heather Taylor and caterer Annie Campbell have made it a tradition to share fondue with their husbands at their annual couples’ Valentine’s Day dinner, but redeployed it for the holidays. Serving it with abundant vegetables makes it a lighter affair.

Annie Campbell’s Holiday Entertaining Recipes


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