A Very funky Christmas.

Just a few miles from the mighty Mississippi River, tucked privately away on 200 acres (part of the family's original (3,000,) is delightfully non-traditional family house whose owners like to celebrate the holidays in their own exuberant style. Party guests will spy no jolly old white-bearded elves in red velvet here, no iridescent Victorian ornaments on fake-frosted fir trees, no clusterings of Hummel choirboy figurines on the mantel. But don't believe for a minute that the Grinch has stolen Christmas here--far from it! The Yuletide spirit is alive and well, and reinterpreted in a fresh way by Tommie Goodman of Max Furniture and Interiors of Ridgeland.

"When this client walked into our shop with her three daughters a few years ago, they were simply looking to redecorate the girls' bedrooms," recalls Goodman, who is well-known locally for her edgy contemporary flair with furnishings and accessories. "We really clicked, and before long she asked me if I'd help her with the interior design of her whole house. This led to an ongoing relationship, and I found myself doing her Christmas decorations as well!" The family liked Goodman's style so much that they hired her to do the treatments for their Destin beach house, as well.

The family had a good many inherited antique pieces, that they had initially hoped to incorporate into the house's decor. However, the daughters were united in their determination to go all-out-modern in their own quarters. This wish was granted, through the parents did elect to old treasures in the main rooms of the dwelling. Set amidst modern pieces and up-to-the-minute faux finishes, the traditional items add depth to the eclectic atmosphere.

"We built this house ten years ago," says the owner, "and called in builder Ken Simmons to help us fix some problems with the original construction and design. He did a fabulous job, and we couldn't be more pleased."

It is a sprawling soft-contemporary plan, comprising some 11,000 square feet of living space under a hipped copper roof. "We use every bit of it, too," say the owners.

Goodman added sheers to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, to soften the light, though on acreage this vast, privacy isn't an issue. Kicky furnishings, like the pale turquoise retro-'50s chairs in the keeping room, and the checkered area rug, restate the 21st-century theme, while the sweeping curved staircase and panelled library walls pay homage to the design idioms of prior generations.

But both the owners and Goodman love pattern and color. "Purple is one of their favorite colors," says Goodman. "So, the master bedroom and the sitting area just adjacent to it were done in that shade." For Christmas, Goodman located some intriguing origami-style light covers for the mantelpiece.

In the great room and dining room, the holiday theme is stated with volumes of bright green Granny Smith apples in stark, sparkling glass containers, accented with bold aquamarine silk ribbon.

Decorative painter Lee Harper of Carrot Top Finishes in Jackson has left her creative imprint all over this unusual house, from subtle ragged finishes to meticulous harlequin diamonds in the dining room.

Two Christmas trees--both laden with quirky eclectic ornaments serve as the focal points of the holiday season. The family's three girls, who spend lots of time at the homestead around this time of year, are glad they dragged their mom to Max Furniture a while back. The resulting design alchemy has been a pleasure for all concerned!

"It's certainly a different approach to seasonal decorating," says Tommie Goodman in her understated way. "But it's perfect for them, and everyone who sees this house seems to feel at home."