LAST LOOK

“The pure excitement and belief in Santa, which my children still have (just). ”

GINAMARIE RILEY

F I N A L S AY

Give a little

Ginamarie Riley ’s homewares store, Ornament in Pt Chevalier, Auckland, has a beautifully edited gift selection. The stylist shares some of her favourites

What’s going to be your go-to present to give

this year? My go-to present would have to be Ferm Living’s bowl candle holder. A practical gift would be our enamel gravy pot paired with a Natural Dishcloth and pot scrubber. As a small Santa gift, I adore the felted gingerbread man and woman set, or the felted acorns along with a pair of twisted taper candles. The books I’d give would be The Natural Home and The Kinfolk Garden. My go-to for kids is the Little People, Big Dreams range of books. The Big Dreams Journal is the most gifted children’s gift of mine. A girlfriend gift would be the Linda Tahija stud earrings – we have a pretty good range now. Best thing about Christmas? The pure excitement and belief in Santa, which my children still have (just). Setting the table a week ahead and changing it three times before the day. My family used to host a degustation on Christmas Day where each of us kids did two tasting meals each with matching wines. This all got a bit hard once kids of our own came along, but this tradition will return in time, I’m sure. Sometimes we couldn’t finish the last two courses. Favourite tradition? My husband’s eggnog. It’s perfection, light yet creamy and he makes his drinks really strong, which I love. Tree – real or fake? Ornament has a pretty good fake tree but I, hand’s down, love a real one. It just needs to look good by Christmas Day, so it’s all about the wet sand and a good set-up if you are opting for real.

How are you going to wrap your gifts this

year? Brown paper, string and mistletoe.

What are you hoping for under the tree

this year? A swimming pool – and some new togs. Best gift you ever received? My youngest son, though he wasn’t born until the 27th; he is my Christmas baby. Other than that a miniature TV for my room when I was about 10 years old. It was cream, had a remote and I felt like the luckiest kid alive. What was the worst present? Some shoes that weren’t my size. 01

Ferm Living bowl candle holder is style guru Ginamarie’s go-to present to give. $149.

02

The Kinfolk Garden: How to Live with Nature by John Burns. $98.

03

Enamel gravy pot paired with a natural dishcloth and wooden pot brush is practical and thoughtful. $29.