Nancy’s interest in decorating grew out of her passion for quilting. (She’s written more than 40 books on the subject.) Four years ago, her eye for design came in handy when she and her husband, Dan, bought this 2-acre spread on Puget Sound. They were attracted to the views of ferryboats and mountains, but the lot’s patchwork house wasn’t as appealing. The Martins liked the home’s original 1928 wing and an addition built in the late ’90s, but the section linking the two seemed an unfortunate collage of erratic rooflines, mismatched hardware, and uneven floors.

Along with Seattle architect Eric Gedney, they turned this architectural crazy quilt into a coastal stunner. “We had Eric stay here so that he could see how the light came in and how the areas functioned with each other,” Nancy says. At his suggestion, the Martins rebuilt the middle structure. “They wanted this to be the last house they would ever have to build,” Eric says. “It needed to be able to handle the hundreds of people Nancy entertains for business [she and Dan own a craft-book publishing company], but also feel intimate when it’s just the two of them.”

His solution was a two-story connector that seamlessly links the wings on either side while establishing a prominent entry for the house—complete with a broad red front door to showcase Nancy’s seasonal wreaths. An expansive new kitchen leaves no doubt about the role food and entertaining play in the Martin household. “I wanted it to be large enough that if we had a big party and everyone ended up in the kitchen, it wouldn’t be a problem,” Nancy says. Friends gather around the 13-foot-long island to watch her prepare dinner or admire passing boats.

Each holiday, Nancy digs out her red and green quilts, and the Martins gather around the fire pit outside to roast marshmallows. Of course, it’s never too early to start planning decorations for next year’s Christmas trees. Nancy already has a few ideas in mind, such as trimming a tree with teddy bears for her granddaughter.

This year she’ll probably have them finished before she runs out of leftover turkey.

Glad Tidings
Try some of Nancy’s favorite decorating tips at your own home.

* Spruce up any bookshelf or mantel with traditional boughs and berries, then add seashells and sailboats for coastal character.

* Break out of the box—and get into the sand pail. Give vintage-inspired buckets as presents or fill them with surprises.

Dan's Holiday Whole-wheat Bread
½ teaspoon yeast
1 cup warm water (105° to 115°)
4½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
1½ cups whole-wheat flour, divided
1¹⁄₃ cups water
2 teaspoons salt

Dissolve yeast in 1 cup warm water in a large bowl, and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1 cup whole-wheat flour. Cover and let stand for at least 5 hours or overnight.

Combine yeast mixture and 1¹⁄₃ cups water using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer. Switch to the dough hook attachment, and slowly add remaining all-purpose and whole-wheat flour. Knead with dough hook 10 minutes. Add salt, and continue to knead 5 minutes or until smooth.

Place dough in a very large, lightly greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 2 hours or until tripled in bulk.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead by hand to form a tight ball. Return dough to lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Place a baking stone on oven rack in oven, and preheat to 450°. Slide rack out of oven, and place dough on baking stone. Score the top of the dough 2 or 3 times with a sharp knife, and slide rack back into oven. Spray dough with water to create steam. Bake 25 minutes; reduce heat to 400°. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Remove bread, and cool on wire racks. Makes 1 loaf.

ALSO:
Before & After Photos of the Front Entry