INTERIORS Our great ideas for

CHRISTMAS All Wrapped Up

Everything you need to present your home beautifully for Christmas with products from the area’s finest retailers and leading local designers...

Image: Sophie Allport Partridge In A Pear Tree Gift Wrap, 3m x 70cm, £5.50, www.sophieallport.com

White Company Symons Nordmann Christmas Tree, 9ft, £850, www.thewhitecompany.com.

John Lewis faux fur Christmas Stocking, in white, £25.

Sophie Allport Home for Christmas bedding set £75/king.

Top: Sophie Allport Partridge in a Pear Tree table linens, www.sophieallport.com

Above: Wrendale Designs Christmas Robin luxury Christmas crackers, £20/six. www.wrendaledesigns.co.uk.

Below: Sophie Allport Cinnamon & Orange candle, £25/690g; Wrendale fragrance diffuser, £10/40ml.

Tom Smith branded eco-crackers, plastic-free and recyclable, £15.99/six from Gates Garden Centre, 01664 454309, or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk.

John Lewis’ Renaissance Christmas theme, with matching gift wrap available, shown on opposite page, from the retailer’s Peterborough-based Queensgate Shopping Centre, www.queensgate-shopping.co.uk.

John Lewis’ Art of Nouveau Christmas tree theme from the retailer’s Peterborough-based Queensgate Shopping Centre, www.queensgate-shopping.co.uk.

Countdown to Christmas

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS? WELL, IF YOU AREN’T, YOU CERTAINLY WILL BE WITH ONE OF OUR LUXURY ADVENT CALENDARS

L’Occitane en Provence What better way to count down to Christmas than with L’Occitane’s Advent Calendar? This colourful calendar includes 24 magical treats for yourself or your loved ones from L’Occitane fragrance, skincare, body care and hair care. Includes £88 worth of products, £53, exclusively from Marks & Spencer.

Advent Candle, John Lewis 25cm advent candle to count down to the warm glow of Christmas, £6.

Hotel Chocolat Calendar A festive truffle a day, what could be better? £68.

Lego Advent Calendar Available exclusively from John Lewis, this ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’-themed calendar features the ice moon of Hoth and includes 12 mini toys for your space-faring youngsters.. or more grown-up fans to build. £24.97.

Gins of Christmas Daily respite from the run up to the festive season from Marks & Spencer, with a 5cl tot of artisan gin each day. Flavours include raspberry, plum and apple & spice, £100.

www.johnlewis.com www.marksandspencer.com www.hotelchocolat.com

Christmas Gift Ideas at Hunters

If you are looking for something a bit different, why not visit our beautiful Showroom for inspiration. We have a unique mix of festive home accessories and quirky gifts to tempt you.

Then after a successful shopping spree you can enjoy a delicious cake or light lunch in our cosy coffee shop.

The Stables, Copthill Farm, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD

Call 01780 757946 or pop in for a visit, we would love to see you www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk

Showroom and Coffee Shop Open Monday - Saturday 9.30 am - 4.00 pm

CHRISTMAS at GATES

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Gates Garden Centre, as the retailer’s autumn displays give way to over 14,000 sq-ft of festive decorations across 11 beautiful themes...

Words: Rob Davis.

IF YOUR HOME doesn’t have that festive feel yet, there’s no need to go all the way to Lapland to ensure that ‘it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.’ Each year the elves at Gates Garden Centre near Cold Overton fill 14,000 sq-ft of retail space with festive decorations across 11 different themes. In addition you’ll find trees, lights, wreaths, plus cards and gifts... everything you need to prepare for the festive season. It takes a decidedly jolly 1,620 man-hours to set up the centre’s Christmas area, and the area is divided up into areas to provide inspiration for a festive look inspired by either nature or ornithology, one that features bright cheerful red and white colours, or even some deliciously different looks such as those punctuated by peacocks and jewels or animal prints. In addition to all of the decorations you could possibly want, Gates Garden Centre is an ideal venue in which to enjoy your Christmas shopping; it’s undercover, Covid-safe, with plenty of gift ideas. Remember, too, that there are over 650 free car parking spaces plus the huge Garden Restaurant, cosy Courtyard Coffee Shop and seasonal Winter Kitchen for when you need to take a break from shopping. And finally, Gates Garden Centre’s Farm Shop features produce from names like Hambleton Bakery and has all of the fresh produce, butchery and deli products you need to ensure your larder is stocked with delicious food and drink all season long ensuring you can eat, drink and be merry. n

Find Out More: All of our featured decorations are available from Gates Garden Centre, based at Cold Overton, near Oakham LE15 7QB. Call 01664 454309 or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk. n

1. Botanical Peacock: Glass vase, £3.99; Butterfly £3.99; Peacock £17.99; Peacock feather decoration (sold in pairs) £1.99; Blue flower £3.49; Monstera leaf bauble (sold in threes) £6.99; Beaded peacock bauble £8.99; Gold with jewel decoration £6.99; Black and feather oil finish bauble £5.99. n

4. Candy Cane Lane: Snow globe £16.99; Gingerbread man £4.99; Gingerbread bus £3.99; Nutcracker £7.99; Red Santa £9.99; Grey Santa £6.99; Tall Santa £4.99; Small Santa £2.99; Spiral bauble £4.99; Christmas pudding bauble £4.99; Candy canes (sold in pairs) £1.99. n

2. Wild Glam: Star £24.99; Leopard bauble £2.49; Zebra baubles (sold in pairs) £7.99; Giraffe bauble £2.49; Black and gold star bauble £3.49; Smokey glass bauble £1.49; Long gold and black bauble £1.99; Cones (sold in threes) £1.69; Star baubles (various colours) £2.49. n

3. Enchanted Forest: Green velvet triple toadstools £16.99; Red wooden toadstool £9.99; Red bauble £3.99; Double hanging cones £1.99; Cream dotted bauble £3.49; Green leaf bauble £4.99; Small green baubles (threes) £0.99; Pink glass bauble £2.49. n

5. Woodland Lodge: Glass candle holder £8.99; Fabric mouse £4.99; Hedgehog £7.49; Star £3.49; Gold leaf bauble £3.99; Acorn bauble £1.49; Acorns (sold in threes) £1.69; Green oak leaf bauble £5.99; Stag approx 25cm tall £15.99. n

6. Polar Holiday: Standing tree £9.99; Bottle light £14.99; Star £7.99; Bootees £4.99; Glass house bauble (sold in pairs) £1.49; Cones (sold in threes) £0.99; Dark blue and silver bauble £3.99; White and blue glitter bauble £1.99; Turquoise and silver bauble £3.99. n

Kaimana and Keshia cushions in indigo colourway, price for 60 x 60 cushion complete £125. Fiesta ceramic lamp in midnight £call.

Candles & Candlesticks 15cm glass candlesticks, £16; candles £various; tall pillar candle £8.95.

Bamboo Bowls Natural interior, grey/blue exteriors £25, set of three. Christmas Decorations Mr Fox, 10cm, £10.95; gold glitter onion bauble £9.95.

Brontë by Moon Throw 100% Merino wool, in charcoal colourway, 185 x 140cm, £65.

HOMES for CHRISTMAS

Whether you’re seeking soft furnishings and decor for a pre-Christmas spruce up of your home, some elegant gifts or fresh Christmas decorations, Sarah Harding Interiors has some exquisite new finds... Ceramic Nativity Scene Including animals and three wise men, white ceramic with gold trim £24.99.

William Yeoward Lamp Ceramic lamp & shade, Kristiana in slate, also chalk, peacock, duck egg £705.

Branch D’Olive Pillow mist £12; hand wash £12; room

diffuser set, Green Tea scent £27.

Feather Bauble Blown glass with feather inside and pearl effect decoration, £3.50.