Before we jump into the tour, here’s a quick look at the elements that define that unmistakable Ralph Lauren aesthetic. Consider this a little style guide you can borrow from — whether you decorate one vignette or an entire room.

The Vibe

• Collected and curated, not matchy-matchy
• Vintage + heritage touches
• Outdoor and equestrian influences
• Classic Americana
• Lodge-meets-library warmth
• Aged, muted, lived-in color palettes
• Cozy, layered textures everywhere
• “Acquired over time,” not “bought all at once”

Materials and Textures

• Menswear plaids (tartan, houndstooth, herringbone)
• Leather and saddle-brown accents
• Weathered brass and antique gold
• Velvet, wool, tweed
• Dark woods (walnut, mahogany, chestnut)
• Linen with natural texture
• Heavy crystal/glass for shine
• Wicker and cane for warmth
• Rugged canvas, shearling, faux fur
• Natural greens, pinecones, and woodsy elements

It’s warm. It’s nostalgic. It’s layered. It looks like it has stories.

And now… let me show you how this look came to life in our own quirky lakehouse.

Before we jump into the details, here’s a quick peek at the layout of this space — the true heart of our home.

A couple of years ago we DIY’d a full refresh of the dining area, and it has become the hub of… well, everything. Morning coffee, laptop sessions, grandkid coloring time, puzzle marathons, and just about every meal we eat at home.

Along the main wall we built a long banquette and flanked on one side by a dry bar with open shelving and on the other by a mug-and-plate rack wall that connects to our kitchen peninsula. This entire side of the home is open and connected, so whatever happens in the dining area spills naturally into the kitchen — and vice versa.

If we’re awake, we’re probably right here: morning coffee Diet Cokes, laptop work sessions, jigsaw puzzles, games with our grown kids, cocktails with friends, late-night snacking — you name it.

Throughout most of the year, this area is anchored by a gorgeous oil painting we commissioned. Truly, it makes my heart sing every time I walk by. But when the holidays arrive, we store it safely away and transform that wall into a seasonal focal point.

Let’s begin with the piece that inspired this entire room — quite literally.

Yes, the whole look for our dining area started with a single sheet of wrapping paper. Inspiration shows up in the funniest places, doesn’t it? I found this single sheet at the JSH Essentials store in Kansas City. But you can order a pack of four sheets online.

And this wrapping paper turned artwork established my color palette of browns, old golds, deep muted greens and vintage red.

Once I had the art, I thrifted a large 2′ x 3′ wood frame with a linen mat and a very 90’s, mass-produced finish. The size was perfect. The vibe… not so much. I removed the existing artwork and used spray adhesive to cover the backing with that gorgeous wrapping paper pattern. Instant transformation.

Then I turned my attention to the frame. With the help of one of my most-loved tool — my tiny but mighty micro sander — I gently sanded away select layers of the finish. Just enough to reveal the warmer tones below and give it that aged, lived-in look I love. A little Ralph Lauren library meets mountain lodge.

The linen mat wasn’t quite right, so I refreshed it with a custom-mixed muted red that pulls perfectly from Santa’s coat in the wrapping paper. Just enough contrast to make the artwork feel intentional.

I rehung the newly “vintaged” frame above the banquette.

NOTE: a full how-to post on the artwork and frame will be available very soon.

Then I flanked it by two wall lanterns. These were a neighbor’s cast-offs I’d originally planned to refinish for our tool cabana — but I ended up falling for the worn patina. I mounted them on reclaimed-wood “posts” I made years ago for a stocking display.

With a simple touch of greenery, a few dark red berries, and frayed plaid bows tied from fabric strips my focal wall was complete.

Can we take a moment and just savor the reality of having light where we have not pulled electricity? I know!!! It’s truly magical. And those lights are at the lowest setting. I can make them much brighter if I want.

This one project set the tone for the entire room: warm, layered, collected, and a little bit lodge-y. Exactly the Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas look I was after.

Once that artwork was in place, everything else in the dining area fell easily into step.

I added a soft glow by winding simple copper fairy lights along the open shelves — just enough to brighten those shelves and highlight the glassware. Another RL trick.

Two small accent trees, the kind that used to come wrapped in burlap bundles and have been everywhere for the last 5 or 6 years. Yeah, I know you have some too! I am so over the burlap, finally! So mine got a quick and easy upgrade.

I tucked them into linen bags I sewed: the larger one in a cuffed linen sack with riveted leather handles, and the smaller in a washed-linen bag with its neck rolled down. A little natural dried moss, a dusting of faux snow on the smaller one, and suddenly they felt elevated and collected instead of mass-produced.

And we know Ralph is quite fond of linen and leather too!

On the opposite side of the artwork, the mug-and-plate rack wall got subtle but meaningful tweaks.

Two Rae Dunn mugs took a break so a vintage brown transferware gravy boat and a small wreath of muted greens and dark berries could step in.

The large white platter now frames a red dinner plate with a brown transferware plate layered in front — a simple change with a big visual payoff and a perfect tie-in to the wrapping paper palette.

Since the peninsula is connected to the dining area, it picked up the same cozy, RL-inspired feel. My recent thrift find — a vintage plaid Coleman cooler — now holds a beautiful Norfolk pine I stumbled across at Target.

I tucked a 66-foot strand of dark green (almost black) wired fairy lights into its branches so the wiring nearly disappears.

Beside it, the cooler lid acts as a little riser, showcasing two more pieces of vintage transferware and a small cloche-topped plate. The plate itself has a shiny gold scalloped edge, but I layered a dark red transferware saucer on top to tie it back to the other pieces.

This entire side of the room feels cohesive, warm, and collected — without feeling fussy.

(A Centerpiece That Lives Here All Season)

Let’s slide over to the dining table — the workhorse of our home.

It’s a big table for two empty nesters, and because of that, I love keeping a seasonal centerpiece on it at all times.

Not just because it’s pretty (though it is), but because it magically keeps this generous horizontal surface from becoming a landing pad for… everything.

When life happens — laptops come out, puzzle pieces spread, or a craft project takes over — we simply slide the whole arrangement to one end. And when we’re done? Back it goes, right to center stage. It’s an easy rhythm we’ve fallen into, and it lets the table feel festive and intentional every single day of the season.

Here’s how it’s styled for the weeks leading up to Christmas:

I started with a rustic wood tray with oversized handles—the sort of tray that has probably seen everything from coffee mugs to cocktail glasses. To brighten it a bit and give me an excuse to layer another plaid, I lined the base with a piece of subtle plaid wrapping paper I’ve had for a couple of years.

Inside the tray, I layered in a tall wicker tree, an old carved wooden Santa, and a stack of vintage books in deep browns and greens. The top book is a showstopper: an embossed leather cover with a small piece of artwork framed right into it. Instant heart flutters.

This was also the perfect place to showcase the pair of antlers I picked up at Round Top years ago, along with two aged brass candleholders topped with burgundy “infinity flame” candles. A tiny sprig of rosemary beside one adds that quiet, woodsy note I love.

And because I can never resist adding a whisper of shine, I grabbed three large sleigh bells (previously a dark brown) and gave them a touch of Rub ’n Buff. Quite literally it took me 3 minutes and one tissue.

Each bell is tied with a frayed strip of old gold velvet ribbon — just a little nod to worn-in elegance.

The whole tray sits on the most fabulous dark plaid fringed Pendleton throw that acts as both a stage and a soft layer, protecting the tabletop as we slide the arrangement from side to side for whatever the day brings.

Prediction: Within 15 minutes of the kids and grands arriving on the 20th, this centerpiece will be happily stored away to make room for snacks, visiting, games, and full-out meals that will be a constant for a week.

But until then, it sits here proudly — keeping our everyday life feeling festive and cozy.

For our upcoming Christmas dinner with friends, I’m leaning hard into the Ralph Lauren “curated and collected” vibe.

The table will be dressed in one of my favorite menswear plaid fabrics, frayed along the edges for a relaxed, layered look.

For the place settings, I’m inspired by Ralph Lauren’s signature mismatched, curated-over-time look. So a fun Mis-matched dish stack is the plan. Now to decide on the particulars.

I’ve pulled together two combinations from pieces I already own — no new purchases for this gathering — and I would love your opinion.

Please leave a comment with:

• Your favorite of the two plate stacks
• OR if you’d rearrange them in a different way
• AND which napkin you’d pair with the DIY leather rings

Your feedback always helps me see arrangements in new ways. And honestly, involving you in these little decisions makes the whole creative process even more fun.

But my favorite part?
I made Ralph Lauren–lookalike leather napkin rings, and you will not believe how quick and easy they are to make. Truly — pinky promise!!!

And the best part is that they look so much like the real deal. I’m talking about the RL ones that will cost you $125-for-a-set-of-four! Mine, . . . will not!!!
(I’m planning a full how-to post, and yes, there will absolutely be side-by-side comparison photos. You’re going to love it.)

Speaking of not missing out…
Are you a subscriber yet? If not, here’s your moment — I’d love to have you:

Thanks bunches!

Thanks for Stopping By

Please pin this to remember it!

Thank you so much for joining me on this little Christmas tour of our quirky lakehouse. I hope you found a few sparks of inspiration — whether it was the wrapping-paper artwork, the cozy everyday centerpiece, a mismatched plate stack, or just the reminder that holiday decorating doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful.

Don’t forget, this is just one stop on a week full of holiday inspiration for you and your home.

You’ll find the full list of all 35 tours below. Pour yourself a cup of something warm, settle into a comfy chair, and enjoy visiting as many as you can. I promise you’ll walk away inspired.

And if you haven’t subscribed yet, I’d love to stay connected with you all year long:

Happy touring, friends — and happiest holidays to you and yours. 🎄✨

I truly appreciate having you in my home today. Now I must send you on to more of these lovely ladies.

Oh, but first, please leave me a comment and help me decide on my dinner party table settings.