PTheERIOD L IVING magic of Christmas BEAUTIFUL OLD HOMES
DECOR ATING & SHOPPING
GARDEN ANTIQUES INSPIRATION & VINTAGE
BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE
RENOVATION & MAINTENANCE DECEMBER 2019
Nostalgic decorations Festive crafts to inspire Scandi recipes
Party time Old-fashioned parlour games for family fun
FABULOUS MARKETS, EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
Entertain in style with key buys for every room
Comfort & joy Enchanting period homes full of seasonal sparkle
ournal J Make your home magical this festive season with the latest decorations and homeware Feature Pippa Blenkinsop
W i
n
lendo r sp e t Whether or not ur
you wake up to a covering of snow on Christmas morning, Susie Watson Designs has a wide array of tableware and homeware to create a resplendent setting for seasonal celebrations. On table: Christmas tablecloth, £98, Christmas Bird candlesticks, £45, with red and white candles, £3.95 each; Christmas Pudding teatowel, £9.95; tableware, from £21; Vintage champagne glasses, £14.50 each; wooden tray, from £24; Shetland wool throw, £89; cushions, from £48; glass baubles, from £4; and Christmas sack (can be personalised), £48.
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Christmas at the cottage
Handmade, handpainted tableware, from £21; wine glasses, £9.75 each; Christmas red striped handpainted candles, £3.95 each; engraved hurricane vases, from £45, with handpainted candle, £12; assorted cushions, from £42; Shetland wool throw, £89; metal chandelier, £68; Christmas bunting, £48; Christmas ceramic decorations on tree, from £4.50, all Susie Watson Designs
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Feature Sophie Warren-Smith Image Adam Carter
Create a quintessentially English scheme by teaming nostalgic motifs with a palette of red, cream and pale blue
Decorations
Peter Rabbit luxury crackers, £25 for 6, Nancy & Betty Studio Felt dove tree topper, £7, National Trust Shop
Mistletoe, £12.95, The Taylor
Gingerbread men glass bauble, £4.49, The Contemporary Home
Sleigh decoration, £9.50, Ian Snow
Hessian bows, £5 for 6, B&Q
Dachshund glass bauble, £7.95, Annabel James
Handpainted winter scene bauble, £27, Not on the High Street
Dolly Bobbin gingham ribbon, £4.95, Rex London
Festive triangle hanging decorations, £12.99 for 6, Dobbies
Emma Bridgewater 3-pint Winterberry jug, £49.95, Daisy Park
Hen glass decoration, £7, John Lewis & Partners
Nutcracker cake plates, £35 for a set of 4, Laura Ashley
Candy cane tree decorations, £29 for 2, Amara
Feather robin clip-on decoration, £3, Gisela Graham
Hedgerow berry botanical candle, £25, Sophie Allport
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TOY STORY
Manda McGrory’s handmade cast of colourful, whimsical characters, from anthropomorphic badgers and foxes wrapped up against the cold, to regal swans, travel to homes far and wide, destined as nostalgic Christmas gifts
Words Heather Dixon | Photographs Mark Bolton
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Made in Britain This image: Manda sets to work on a new whale, using deep blue fabric and a rotary cutter to establish the basic shape Opposite: Her interesting collection of characters line the shelves in her self-built cabin workshop
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A natural
noel
Create a serene setting for festive dining by layering natural materials such as linen, wood and recycled glass with plenty of foraged foliage in a spectrum of verdant shades. For a sculptural centrepiece, try hanging a lichen-covered branch over the table. On branch: Verdigris pine cone, £4.50, and 3D metal star, £7.50, both RE. On table: Stonewashed linen tablecloth in Optical White, from £54.99, Linen Me; Luna brass candle centrepiece, £38, Rowen & Wren; for a similar vase try Garden Trading; Ella tumblers in Forest (used as tealight holder), £42 for 6, Neptune; coupe glasses, £10 each, National Trust; vintage bottle as candle holder; for table setting details see opposite; vintage lab measures as candle holder filled with eucalyptus and water; Clemence scalloped candle holder, £7, with mini taper candles in Aloe Green, £9 for 10, Rowen & Wren; Retro jar candle holder in zinc, £12.50, Nordic House; for a similar vase try Sophie Conran; for similar ply chairs try Vinterior; Barnaby brass bell chime, £28, Rowen & Wren; embellish chairs by tying up stems of eucalyptus, fern, ivy and snowberries 34 Period Living
Words and styling Pippa Blenkinsop Photographs Kasia Fiszer
Bring a fresh approach to seasonal decorating and embrace a sustainable style that celebrates the beauty of nature
Decorating Clockwise from top: Vintage brass tealight, £11.95 for 3, Nordic House; Birch Bark scatter stars, £5, Pipii; wooden slice coaster, £2, Hobbycraft; Zomi recycled glass tumblers, £48 for 4, Kalinko; Paisley bud vases, £16 for 3, linen cutlery pocket in Natural, £28 for 2, and Vintage Satin cutlery set, £152, all Rowen & Wren; leaf-shaped seagrass placemat in Natural, £10, and Moss Green Fern leaf side plate, £16, both Rockett St George; Nordic Touch dinner plate, £12 and zinc fluted candle tray, £10.95 for 2, Nordic House; wood slice place cards, from £1.99, Rachel Emma Studio
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Tudor Country House
THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR
Falling in love with the house next door meant Jill and William Dax didn’t have far to travel to create the home of their dreams Words and photographs Heather Gunn Period Living 43
FESTIVE FLOURISH
Amanda Clayden combines a love of nature with her flair for design in this pretty country home, where she grows flowers for her business in the field that borders her garden Words Beverley Brown | Styling Alison Gibb | Photographs Douglas Gibb
The living room is transformed with seasonal foliage and candles. A Nordmann fir from Duff Trees is decorated with scented Danish candles. Amanda made the wreath from moss, which can be rehydrated and used again. The wood-burner is from Stirling Stoves and the mantel is dressed with mimosa, ivy and lichen twigs and natural candles. The painting is by Scottish artist Anda Patterson. Walls and woodwork painted in Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath and Worsted
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Victorian Cottage
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Christmas in the 1920s
History
Feature Holly Reaney Images all Getty Images
As we bid farewell to one decade and look forward to the next, we reflect back on celebrations from a century ago and the years following World War I. As these fascinating pictures reveal, many of the traditions are just as relevant today
T
he world has changed a lot in the last 100 years. In December 1919, average life expectancy was about 54, no one owned a television and Britain was preparing for its first proper post-war festive celebration. While Christmas 1918 had been tinged with the recent end of World War I, 1919 promised to be a different affair, filled with hope for the future. Grantham Journal reported: ‘Christmas 1919 will rank as one of the most noted in the annals of the world. It will be a Peace Christmas realised as never before.’ The festive season would be a time for family, friends and fun, and this celebratory spirit continued through the 1920s. As we reflect back on Christmases from this era, it’s remarkable to see how little has changed to today.
Above: Father Christmas drops by the London Maternity Home on City Road to welcome these newborns into the world. They share the special birthday of 25 December.
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The holly & the ivy Using winter’s bounty of foliage, texture and berries, add some natural decorations to your festive home Photographs Debbie Patterson © CICO Books
Garden gate welcome Add a seasonal flourish by your garden gate over the festive period with this pretty potted display. Holly and berries shout out ‘winter’, and here they are combined with heather and ivy to make a handsome container that will require little attention. The plump red berries add a splash of colour, accentuated by the simple cream planter. YOU WILL NEED l Large planter l Moss (available from florists) l Potting compost, with a few scoops of gravel added for drainage l Pernettya mucronata (prickly heath) l Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea marginata’ (holly) l Erica x darleyensis Kramer’s Red (heather) l Hedera helix (ivy)
1 This container is studded with holes, which look lovely and provide good drainage. To prevent the potting compost falling out, line the container with moss. Press sheets of moss around the inside of the planter, then half-fill the planter with potting compost, making sure there are no air pockets, and press the compost against the moss to keep it in place. 2 Soak the plants in water for 20 minutes so the root balls are wet. Carefully remove the prickly heath from its pot (the stems are spiny), loosen
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the roots if necessary, and place in the planter. Loosen the holly roots if necessary, and plant next to the prickly heath, adding more potting compost so that the root balls are level. Plant the heather and ivy in the same way. Add a few handfuls of potting compost to fill in any gaps, and then water the arrangement. AFTERCARE The pot will probably not require additional watering over winter, although if it is situated in a sheltered spot, check the potting compost occasionally and water if it gets very dry.
Craft
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Home Maintenance
Winter countdown Ensure your home is ready to make a warm welcome with these essential maintenance jobs you can tackle in the weeks building up to Christmas
Words Roger Hunt and Mel Lloyd Illustrations Sarah Overs
R
outine home maintenance can feel like a low priority during the festive season, which is the busiest time of year for most families. But in the depths of winter you are more likely to face issues, due to cold weather and guests putting extra pressure on facilities. So start working your way through our maintenance countdown now to ease the burden later on. The Christmas break is also the ideal time to start planning improvements for 2020. While you can’t squeeze in a rewire or window upgrade before the big day, you can begin investigating tradespeople and working out exactly what needs to be done, so this time next year you’ll be able to sit back and relax.
6 weeks to go… SERVICE YOUR HEATING SYSTEM
Pre-empt the dreaded winter boiler breakdown by getting it serviced well ahead of Christmas. Also check that all radiators and thermostats are working effectively, and that you have spare batteries for any wireless controls. If your boiler fails in cold weather, a frozen condensate pipe is likely to be the cause, so make sure it is well
insulated. If it does become frozen, then, as long as it is safe and easy to access, you can thaw it out yourself. Worcester Bosch advises that you pour warm water (not boiling) along the length of the pipe. Alternatively, put a hot water bottle or heat pad on the sections of pipe you think are frozen. If you’re going away for a few days, programme your heating to run continuously at about 5°C. THINK ABOUT FIRE SAFETY
If you have an open fire or plan on lighting the stove, ensure the chimney is swept by a professional sweep in plenty of time because they tend to get booked early. Ensure you have a good supply of logs or fuel. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and fit new ones where they are missing. If you don’t already have one, buy a fire blanket for the kitchen, and it’s a good idea to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor. Ensure any overnight guests know the exit routes in case of emergency.
4 weeks to go… LOOK IN THE LOFT
If there is safe access to the loft, check internally – ideally when it is raining – for signs of slipped roof tiles or water ingress. Turn off the light and look for places where daylight is coming through the roof covering, feel timbers for moisture, and check the floor for water stains or broken pieces of slate or tile. Any issues should be urgently addressed by a roofer, as water damage can cause extensive, Period Living 119
HOME
for Christmas Before the family descends and guests drop by, get every room ready for entertaining this festive period
The engine room of the home, your kitchen will be working overtime in the build-up to the big day, especially if you’ve got extra mouths to feed. Plan your menu in advance, taking note of how many pots, pans, trays and bakeware you will require, so you aren’t caught short. It’s too late to replace your kitchen in time for Christmas, but consider transforming it in the new year. Start working out what changes you would like to make now. A sociable kitchendiner, centred around an island, is the most flexible layout, allowing visitors to join in with baking, or chat to their host, meaning you won’t feel cut off while cooking. Don’t forget the kitchen when it comes to decorations. Seasonal touches, such as fairy lights above cupboards, wreaths on doors and garlands on shelves, help make the space feel festive. Finally, keep your cupboards well stocked with goodies like mince pies and biscuits, to ensure you are ready to offer tea and treats to anyone who drops in for a Christmas catchup. Left: You can’t beat a chat over coffee in a cosy kitchen. An antique dining table and chairs will make the space feel extra welcoming Right: Organise your essentials in a stylish pantry cupboard. This Natural Oak larder from Burbidge starts at £3,250 122 Period Living
Feature Holly Reaney Photograph (table and chairs) Graham Atkins Hughes (red mixing bowl) Jody Stewart
KITCHEN
Entertaining
Left: Baking mince pies is one of the highlights of the festive season, filling the air with warming notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Enhance the nostalgia with a Tala Originals stoneware mixing bowl, from £12.99, and Kilner jars to store your ingredients, from £3.50 Right: The traditional Holly & Berry print of this apron, £20 from Sophie Allport, will get you in the festive spirit, while protecting your favourite Christmas jumper Below: The most versatile piece of kitchen furniture, an island can take you from prepping vegetables through to baking sweet treats and serving nibbles at parties. This Somerton design is painted in Baltic Green, matching the walls, to create an intimate space that comes to life when adorned with holly, ivy and mistletoe. Kitchens from £15,000 at Kitchen Makers
Above: Make cooking large batches a breeze with a stand mixer like this retro Smeg design, £449 Below: With three separately controlled ovens, the Everhot 110 range cooker, from £9,040, is perfect for whipping up a feast
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The fountain, reflected in the ice-crusted pool water, forms the centrepiece of the sunken White Garden, its surrounding plantings, such as hydrangea, euphorbia, and thistle, caught in the icy grip of a hoar frost 136 Period Living
Gardens
FROSTED ELEGANCE Veiled in a dusting of glistening white, the gardens tucked beside the 17th-century Gallery, in Angus, assume the air of a magical winter wonderland Words Antoinette Galbraith | Photographs Gap Photos / Ray Cox
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9000
Recipes
& r s a p g ice u S
Photographs Peter Cassidy
L VANIL
A RINGS: SEE NEXT PAGE FOR REC
IPE
Involve the whole family in the joy of cooking and eating this selection of comforting Scandi-inspired Christmas treats by BrontĂŤ Aurell
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