OH, TO LIVE what surely must be the life of the landed gentry, especially during the mid-winter holidays.

The linens would be the whitest Irish, the candles beeswax from the estate hives, the gleaming silver monogrammed. In the afternoon, a tea of exquisitely subtle excess would be served. Yes, the entire manor (and the mannered guests) would be impeccably yet simply dressed.

Gentle ladies and men, I am happy to report that one need not fly to another continent to experience such domestic bliss. One must simply wrangle an invitation to the Capitol Hill home of Ted Kennedy Watson and Ted Sive.

While the scenario relies on Watson and Sive's considerable design talents, it is equally supported by the charms of their circa-1929 brick Tudor townhouse. Designed by Seattle builder Frederick Anhalt, the home's Old World charisma and rooms of seemingly magical proportions make it the perfect setting for creating a sophisticated comfort zone.

Of course, committing to this much holiday when one-half of the couple is professionally entrenched in the retail world makes things even more impressive. Watson is the owner of both Watson Kennedy Fine Living in the Pike Place Market and Watson Kennedy Fine Home (yes, he switched the order of his family name to name the business). A former teaching pro at the Seattle Tennis Club, Watson opened his retail business eight years ago. After that, November and December were never the same.
 

Ted Sive and Ted Watson relax in the comforting living room of their Capitol Hill home.
Thanks to recent earthquake damage, the couple has a new pantry. Having saved the original exposed-brick walls, they installed two compact refrigeration units (one for wine, one for champagne and soft drinks) topped by a preparation counter. For the holidays there's a display of green vintage pottery, French tulips and a bat-leaf wreath.

Still, his affection for holiday traditions remains intact. "It's simply a great time of the year," he says. "I love beautiful things, and I love giving gifts."

But if you get the idea Watson takes the domestic lead, think again. Sive, a principal and director of marketing at the construction firm Lease Crutcher Lewis, has spent his entire professional life working in the architectural field. At home, those same talents come into play.

Without a doubt, the 1,400-square-foot townhouse (and all its holiday trimmings) is a collaborative effort. Still, says Sive, it's impossible to ignore the fact that Watson's life is focused on the stuff and things of decoration. "When we entertain, I take the lead on food and Ted takes the lead on everything else," Sive says with a laugh.

This year, their decorative brainstorm produced five live trees: three inside the house, two on the outside terraces. Some years, they unpack their collection of "sentimental" ornaments; on other occasions, the couple creates an original theme. "People seem to feel this huge commitment to use all their ornaments every year, and they don't have to," says Watson, who loves to experiment. "Even something as small as changing the color of the lights on your tree can create a whole new look."

Which brings us to their most important holiday tradition: When it comes to decorating, the couple restricts the whole "over-the-top thing" to every other year. "When you get older, Christmas just comes so fast. You find yourself asking, 'Didn't we just do this?' " says Sive.

Of course, "over the top" is a matter of degree. Even in a "down year," Sive and Watson celebrate by bringing in armloads of flowers, by filling silver bowls with nuts still in the shell, by lighting dozens of fragrant candles.

And while both love a big party, they've learned that having fewer people over more often makes for a relaxed time.

One season, they invited two or three friends over for a simple dinner every night of the week for two weeks. "I wouldn't want to do that every year," says Watson, "but it was great in terms of connecting more intimately with people." More often, they give a cocktail party, or serve an easy-to-prepare dinner for four to six guests several times during the season.

As for gifts, they have their own way of keeping that simple, too. Each year, they ask an artist to design a commemorative ornament or decorative piece. The design is then replicated, wrapped, and given to friends and family. Along with the gift, an acknowledgment of a holiday contribution from Watson and Sive to a charitable organization.

Other suggestions for keeping beautifully sane during the season? According to both, they never travel during the holidays and they don't entertain on Christmas Eve.