A DAY IN HOLIDAY DESIGN
As the holiday season quickly approaches, I wanted to share an article written earlier this year by The Scout Guide. It tracks me through a day of holiday design…follow along for the fun.
Article from www.thescoutguide.com
24 HOURS WITH JILL KING
A stylist for photo shoots, interior designers, and private clients, Jill King of Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based Styling the New West is busy year-round. However, she finds herself particularly in-demand during the days leading up to Christmas, when her clients call on her to help them turn their holiday vacation destinations into the ultimate festive retreats. “From ordering greenery and trees to hand-picking holiday décor to installing fourteen-foot trees, there is never a dull moment from October through January,” King says of the hectic winter season. We caught up with the mother of three young ladies between her decking-the-halls duties for a glimpse into a day in her life.
5:15 a.m.: I wake up, have my coffee while enjoying a quick read, and head to Teton Sports Club. I like to mix up my workout by doing weights, yoga, running, or cycling. Afterward, I pop into Pearl Street Bagels in Wilson for a skinny vanilla latte (extra hot) and a TRAM organic, gluten-free bar by Kate’s Real Food.
7:30 a.m.: I take a quick shower and apply Trilipiderm moisturizing body oil and broad spectrum lotion, which is made by a local research scientist and perfect for our mountain climate. Then I throw on my winter uniform: my favorite black Madewell jeans and a cozy black cashmere sweater from Goodie 2 Shoes. With the forecast maybe inching up to 10 degrees today, it’s going to be a chilly installation day.
8:30 a.m.: Time to tackle the decorating prep work! My assistant, Katherine Forelle, is ready with the checklist. She gets to work wiring lights into six four-foot wreaths for a client’s patio and wrapping up some custom bow making. Meanwhile, I gather holiday décor for my longtime friend and client, Maya Crothers of Circcell Skincare—on the list are cords, lights, greenery, a wreath for the front door, willow deer for the tabletop, and a custom eucalyptus garland.
10:30 a.m.: I dispatch a two-man crew over to a client’s house to install two trees, wreaths, and greenery, and then I take a quick jaunt over to the adorable floral boutique Lily and Company to pick up a client’s custom floral order of Amaryllis, paperwhites, and lilies. Next stop is Belle Cose for some unique ornaments and hand-blown glass Christmas trees for a tablescape, where I allow myself to take a few minutes to enjoy the antique sleighs, linens, and Vietri holiday tableware. My last stop of the morning is Made, where I like to pick up one-of-a-kind, Wyoming-made gifts for clients. This year my go-to gift is a set of wine tumblers with the Wyoming Cowboy etched into the glass.
12:00 p.m.: Time to refuel! We have a team lunch from Big Hole BBQ Jackson, which I think makes the best ribs in town. It’s a nice chance for everybody to warm their hands and feet while filling their stomachs.
12:30 p.m.: Katherine and I install Maya’s daughter’s pink-and-aqua pom-pom teen tree with pink lights in her bedroom, and a 9-foot non-traditional, “masculine” tree for the boys’ rec-room that features mountain biking, camo, and snowmobiling-themed decorations. As a Jackson Hole tradition, the family cuts their own 14-foot tree down for the home in the wilderness, pulling it home by snowmobile.
2:00 p.m.: Time for the finishing touches: we mix in elements from Maya’s nutracker and snow globe collections, which look perfect in the mountain modern spaces by Jacque Jenkins-Stireman Design. To cozy it up, we place holiday pillows, throws, and candles, then do a little last-minute straightening up so it feels holiday-ready when Maya arrives.
3:00 p.m.: I head to The Clear Creek Group to drop off holiday gifts and check installation scheduling for my Shooting Star clients. These luxurious homes are positioned right at the base of the famously difficult to ski Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and I work closely with the management company to offer premier custom holiday design to the homeowners and vacationers. It is no easy task to deliver holiday cheer and décor at the same time every year!
4:00 p.m.: I swing by the cutest bakery in the west, Persephone Bakery, to grab a tray of delicious s’mores, gingerbread, and iced cookies for Tori Hair Salon’s holiday party (she is the valley’s best kept secret), then drop by the party for quick hugs and hellos—and a sip of pink bubbly—before heading out to finish the day.
5:00 p.m.: Just two errands left on the to-do list! I pop into Stockton and Shirk to check on tree deliveries for the next day. The local interior design firm is home to beautiful Frasier fir trees for the season, and they donate proceeds to the Soroptimist foundation, which offers social and economic empowerment programs that improve the lives of women and girls.
6:00 p.m.: Last but not least, I stop in for some holiday cheer at Bin22 with Meagan Murtagh, the outgoing Editor of the The Scout Guide Jackson Hole, to talk about making the transition to my editorship (I’m excited to be taking the reins in 2019!). There’s always so much happening in our small but sought-after town, where every winter day feels like Christmas!
Photograph of Jill King of Styling the New West by Ashley Merritt. Styling the New West is featured in The Scout Guide Jackson Hole.
