Quick Takes With: Lisa Przystup

It’s not that we only follow what writer Lisa Przystup is up to come December. On the contrary. The Catskills home that she shares with her husband, Jonathon Linaberry, and their dog, Gus, is the kind of thoughtful, lived-in space we return to over and over (we’ve featured it three times). Captured on Lisa’s Instagram (@brass__tacks), there are dreamy scenes year-round. Summer dinners in the garden. Wild floral arrangements. And, always, impossibly modish outfits.

But there’s something particularly inspired about Lisa’s place in winter. Outside there’s a dusting of snow, smoke curling from the chimney; inside, Lisa takes a maximalist approach to the holidays, setting whimsical tables, getting dressed to the nines for a Nutcracker viewing at home, and layering handmade paper chains and garlands in doorways—the more, the better.

When she’s not creating enviably chic scenes, Lisa is a writer whose work has appeared in New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, to name a few; you might recall her stellar book Upstate: Living Spaces with Space to Live from a few years back. Plus, she tells us, she’s got a second book in the works: Watch for it in fall 2026. 

This week, Lisa writes in to share the recent house upgrade that’s coming in handy in the cold weather, her go-to sheets, and a handy inherited kitchen tool—plus a glimpse of this year’s decor. Read on:

You’re invited to dinner. What’s your go-to gift?

A sweet little posy. I love small, thoughtful, unfussy gifts, and flowers bring joy twofold: first in the gathering and then again in the giving (and receiving).

What’s on your bedside table?

A stack of books that life keeps getting in the way of: A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit and The Garden Against Time by Olivia Lang. Two tubes of hand lotion: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream and Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm (because it’s winter and my hands just cannot get enough moisture). Also a glass of water, a tube of chapstick, and a Rachel Saunders/CAP Beauty ceramic massage tool (because my shoulders are killing me). Oh! And a small jewelry dish that’s holding a small pretty stone I found, a charm bracelet that Rachel Petach made be (very quickly and effortlessly) on our birthday, and a Mary MacGill pin.

What podcast or playlist do you put on when you need inspiration?

This American Life.

Which Instagram account do you go to for design inspiration?

@thesomersethouse @tiwa_select @houseandgardenuk @worldofinteriors @cabanamagazine

What has been your best house upgrade?

The mudroom my husband put in over the summer. It was his first time building something like this and he really just nailed it—it’s hands down the nicest part of our house. Our entryway is incredibly tight, which really becomes apparent when we’re hosting (especially in the winter with everyone’s bulky coats and boots). It’s so nice to have a dedicated space for everyone to stash their things.

A simple or budget-friendly design move you wish you’d known sooner?

Canvas dropcloths make the best tablecloths–they drape beautifully and add drama (plus you don’t have to be precious about them).

My favorite sheets are…

Morrow Soft Goods Organic Matte Sateen sheets. Coyuchi flannel sheets in the winter.

My go-to kitchen utensil is…

This really great small serrated knife with a red plastic handle that the previous homeowner left behind—it’s great for pretty much everything but especially for cutting citrus.

What item from your closet do you have on repeat?

Vintage Levis. Sweatpants.

Favorite design shop to visit (online or in person)?

Coming Soon. Quarters. First Bloom (not really a design store per se but Alison always has such nice tchotchkes). Il Buco Vita. Avida Portuguesa. The Shop Floor Project.

What is the last thing you purchased for your house?

An outdoor thermometer so we can look outside out kitchen window in the morning to see how cold it is.

Something you’re coveting?

Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s Spiral Candle Holder at Coming Soon NYC. A Striped Wool Bomber and pant set from La Veste.

I don’t leave the house without…

Chapstick.