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PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS Anticipate everything needed in all rooms of the home for a truly restful season
from Hbbhjbbh
FOR CHRISTMAS
Anticipate everything needed to make Christmas the perfect occasion with thoughtful additions to create lasting comfort and joy for each room
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Create a sparkling tablescape with silver beaded placemats, glitter pinecone placecard holders and beautiful glassware. Silver Pinecone Placecard Holders, £25 for a set of six; Silver Round Beaded Placemats, £38 for a set of two; Cut Glass Champagne Coupes, £40 for a set of two, all The White Company
The festive season is a time when we can take great pleasure in enjoying our homes to the full, so this is the ideal moment to consider larger purchases that will not only make Christmas extra special, but also be life enhancing for the year ahead. Wellconsidered smaller touches can be just as valuable to refresh interiors and, along with traditional and new festive flourishes, they can enhance the customs of the season and everyday moments. Within each room, we consider the essential elements that will work wonders to help make this Christmas one that best celebrates the delights of home.
Dining Room The dining room has a big part to play in the Christmas festivities and comfort is key. Comfortable dining chairs are essential – consider fabric-covered chairs or armchair-style designs or, to improve the comfort of wooden chairs, add sheepskin rugs for a contemporary look as well as softness.
To set a warm, inviting atmosphere, well-chosen lighting will have a desirable effect. The dining room is the perfect backdrop to evoke a sense of excitement with use of a showstopping lighting centrepiece such as an ornate chandelier, striking central pendant or simply plenty of candles dotted around.
To enhance the celebrations further, a fully stocked home bar heightens the party mood. Consider different options to create a suitable drinks storage and display area. A cabinet has a classic mood, whereas a drinks trolley or cocktail bar imparts a more contemporary aesthetic. It is also worth considering extras accessories, such as cocktail shakers and serving dishes for nibbles, to complete a stylish evening. From aperitifs to after-dinner drinks, make sure there are suitable glasses for all types of tipples so the toasts keep flowing.
RIGHT ABOVE Enliven a dining room scheme with chairs in colourful velvets. Hampton Low Back Armchair, £645 plus fabric and studding; Hampton Low Back Chair, £525 plus fabric and studding, Brittany Dining Table, from £2,995, all I & JL Brown RIGHT BELOW Set the celebratory tone and have everything at hand, including plenty of ice, with a well-stocked drinks trolley. Trainor Bar Cart, £2,491; Richmond Chair, £962; VonWebber Mirror, £3,043, all Arteriors
Gather details to beautifully offset each special repast, including:
• A floral arrangement. Create a sublime, long-lasting table centrepiece for Christmas lunches and dinners, adding candles in varying tones to ring the changes for table settings at different times of day. • Foliage, fairy lights and tea lights, to dress the length of the table. Little gifts or
Christmas confectionery provide a little extra magic hidden amongst the display. • Fully dressed place settings with details such as place cards, placemats in festive colours and co-ordinating linen and tableware. • Crackers. A traditional essential, these look particularly fetching when matched to the colours of the table decor. • Garlands and hanging decorations. To decorate the rest of the dining room, arrange garlands on a mantelpiece or sideboard and hang ribbons and miniature decorations from chandeliers and pendant lights.
LEFT Match stylish Christmas crackers with an eye-catching tonal place setting. Two-Tone Gold Star Luxury Christmas Crackers, £38 for six; Riviera Glossy Gold Leaf Plate, £28, both Rockett St George ABOVE Ensure drinks and nibbles are served in stylish glassware for a sense of luxurious aplomb. Wine Champagne Saucers, £60 for four; Champagne Theatre Flutes, £75 for two, LSA International
Sitting Room It is in the sitting room that we truly embrace the relaxation of Christmas time, gathering together to revel in the comfort of our warm and cosy retreat. Investing in a new sofa or armchair can transform this restful haven for the holidays and far beyond. It is also timely to consider if extra occasional seating and side tables are needed, and, as furniture is often moved around to accommodate the tree, it is worth taking time to experiment with arrangements. The process of reorganising furniture will also make it clear where extra lighting may be required.
Little can compare to a roaring fire on a frosty night, to draw everyone closer together and create welcoming scene. As a fireplace or wood-burning stove are likely to be used throughout winter and into spring, it may just the moment to replace a chimneypiece or fire grate, or install an efficient woodburner to keep the home fires burning. Remember, too, to have the chimney swept.
Whilst considering larger changes, a coat of paint can make the room feel completely different – whether simply refreshing the current colour or changing the mood completely with a striking new shade.
Small changes such as adding layers in luxuriously tactile textures to seating in the form of cushions and throws are a quick and easy way to enhance a sitting room. Simple decorative embellishments on soft furnishings can also enrich the overall scheme. Seek out patterned trims that can be easily added to curtains and cushions for a more tailored look and smart attention to detail.
RIGHT, ABOVE Occasional chairs can e ed in o li le sed s aces and ade co for a le i h he addi ion of a side a le for se in do n a drink Spencer Wing Chair, £4,140 plus 8m of fabric, Beaumont & Fletcher RIGHT ns re li h in is erfec for a cos s o he re i h a floor or a le la addin so e a os heric inkle in he for of candleli h Drax Desk Lamp, £137; Percy Pendant, £153, both Pooky
Father Christmas never tires of liquid refreshment and a mince pie to send him on his way. Black Toast Sherry Glass, £24.95; Christmas Joy Mince Pie Plate, £17.95, both Emma Bridgewater
The main room for all the essential Christmas decor, a checklist includes:
• The Christmas tree and all its trimmings, which is the focal point of the room. It is lovely to buy a special new ornament together as a family to create new memories, alongside unwrapping decorations that evoke the nostalgia of Christmases past. • Mantelpiece garlands.
These can be refreshed with the addition of feathers, ribbons, twinkling miniature ornaments, cinnamon sticks, clove-studded oranges and dried apple slices. • An indoor wreath hung above a fireplace, perhaps pre-lit for added ambience, or used as a centrepiece on a coffee or dining table, with candles placed in the middle. • Stockings to hang from the mantelpiece. These may be cherished old favourites, a new family set or ones made on a special weekend set aside before Christmas. • Ornaments and candles grouped together on tables and sideboards to bring the
Christmas spirit to all areas of the room. Odd numbers and varying heights and widths of candles always look pleasing to the eye.
ABOVE LEFT When moving furniture around to accommodate the tree, consider how to ensure each person can see everyone else and enjoy the festive scene. Accessories and interior design Katharine Pooley LEFT Reversible cushions and throws refresh the sitting room, making it irresistible to all. Grey Dachshund Cushion, £30; Grey Dachshund Throw, £65, both Emily Bond
Bedroom Christmas is the time of year to recuperate, so there is no better moment to consider if beds and mattresses need replacing. The gift of a good night’s sleep would certainly be welcome at Christmas to start the year refreshed. Remember, too, to test the comfort of guest beds.
Sumptuous bedding also helps ensure a peaceful night’s slumber, along with ensuring that the bed is a cosy place to spend a relaxed Christmas morning opening presents together or retreat to at the end of a day of indulging in delicious food and party games. Consider a few choice additions in premium natural textures to create an enticing bedscape.
Lazy weekends are a time to linger a while longer in bed, and little luxuries remind us to make time to for ourselves throughout the year. A cosy hot-water bottle, items for breakfast in bed and an elegant dressing table area are inspiring prompts to unwind more often.
In children’s bedrooms, making a little effort goes a long way towards creating a mesmerising Christmas build up and memories for years to come. Temporary wall or window stickers are an easy way to add festive cheer to their rooms without going to too much trouble. To really keep the magic going beyond Christmas, make a fairytale hideaway with a bed canopy or indoor wigwam. Set the mood by reading magical Christmas bedtime stories with them in their special den.
ABOVE LEFT It is a timely month to buy a new bed ready for a restful Christmas break and improved sleep all year long. Bonaparte DeepButtoned Bed in Claret Red, £6,897 for king size, And So To Bed LEFT Heighten the nostalgic excitement of Christmas with bedding and a stocking that match. Bedding Set, £45; Decorative Cushion, £30; Stocking, £15.50, all Home For Christmas Collection, Sophie Allport OPPOSITE PAGE TOP LEFT Natural textures of cashmere and cotton create a blissful bed to climb into on chilly nights. Cashmere Blanket, £415; Double Cashmere Duvet, £395; Wool-Filled Pillows, from £75, all Ava Innes OPPOSITE PAGE TOP RIGHT Whatever the weather, make it a white Christmas that little ones will remember. Large Snowflakes Window/Wall Stickers, £18 for a set of five, Nutmeg Studio
Add a few key elements to the bedroom to start Christmas Day off the right way, including:
• Christmas bedding, which might seem frivolous, but – much like the joy of revisiting sentimental tree decorations – it will become a joyful sign of the festive period beginning for many years to come. • Personalised stockings for children will make waking up on Christmas morning extra special and might just provide others with an extra 40 winks. • Christmas-scented candles or diffusers are a low-key way to imbue bedrooms with a festive mood. • A mini tree or a simple branch with a few choice decorations hung on them, to instantly add a cheery atmosphere to bedside tables or bare corners. • Foliage with miniature fairy lights threaded through. For a decadent Christmas mood, hang on bedframes or drape along the top of a wardrobe or chest of drawers.
ABOVE Breakfast in bed need not be kept just to Christmastime and this amusing tray with bespoke lettering will hopefully encourage better room service on weekends. Breakfast in Bed Tray, from £435, The Oak & Rope Company ABOVE RIGHT Reach the perfect temperature to easily fall into a deep slumber the night before Christmas. Mini Hot Water Bottle, £20, The White Company RIGHT A dressing table in a quiet corner with everything necessary close to hand at the beginning or end of the day is invaluable. Lantau Faux Shagreen and Gold Dressing Table, in Taupe, £1,850; Trois Mirror, £450; Rander Ceramic Stool, £175; Grisewood Lamp and Shade, £195, all Oka
Lift the mood with festive touches to make one and all smile, including:
• Seasonally themed oven gloves, aprons and tea towels, to make food preparation a cheery affair. • Foraging for ivy, sprigs of holly, pine cones and nuts to dress beams, sideboards and oven mantels. • A cake stand piled high with mince pies or a glorious
Christmas cake. • Special cups and saucers to make tea time feel extra special. • A ribbon in a rich hue or rustic string garland adorned with miniature decorations.
LEFT When planning a new kitchen, it is worth considering if the design allows family and friends to congregate, whether for a lazy Sunday lunch or Christmas Eve cocktails. Somerton Kitchen in Baltic Green, from £15,000, Kitchen Makers by Burbidge; Henry Pendant in Glass, from £70, Pooky
BELOW LEFT Enliven the kitchen with colouful textiles. Christmas Robin Double Oven Gloves, £21.95, Cherith Harrison BELOW Combining hand-poured wax with technology, these LED candles mimic the look of a real flickerin fla e TruGlow Candles, from £21.99 for four, Lights4Fun
Kitchen A room at the heart of all the feasting preparations, the kitchen is never more industrious than at Christmastime. From children baking spiced gingerbread houses to multiple side dishes being created for the main event, everything needs to function beautifully, so this is an ideal time to consider how a dream kitchen design would work for all requirements.
Over the festive period, when the kitchen is at its busiest, everything is needed to hand, and suitable workspace and organisation is vital for preparing a large variety of meals with minimum fuss. As an alternative to redesigning the kitchen, invest in freestanding larders with clever multipurpose storage and islands on wheels which can provide an extra preparation surface or be moved out of the way if necessary.
In terms of presenting food at the table, decorative serveware that can be taken from oven to table will reduce the need to decant food into serving dishes and, therefore, the amount of clearing up to do.
Aside from preparations for main meals, it is worth considering the aspects that elevate seasonal pleasures, such as indulgent Christmas breakfasts and gathering the family together for mulled wine and carols on Christmas Eve. Little touches, including a themed tablecloth and special glasses to toast the occasion, will enrich each family tradition.
ABOVE LEFT A punch bowl of mulled wine sets a generous ood and lls he kitchen with a delicious aroma. Rum Punch Bowl and Ladle, £85; Rum Balloon Tumblers, £26 for two, LSA International, Amara FAR LEFT Bring a little festive cheer to the busy cook on Christmas Day by dressing the cooking area with some seasonal flo rishes Victoria built-in pyrolytic oven, from £879, Smeg LEFT A designated pantry area is not just helpful for food preparation but also for carrying out essential tasks and keeping main kitchen surfaces and functional areas clear. Old Rectory cabinet pantry kitchen, from £35,000, Guild Anderson
Hallway The warmth of Christmas can instantly be felt in a cosy hallway. It sets anticipation alight for the rest of the house and evokes a familiar comfort. An inviting and relaxed mood begins with considering how to partner functionality with welcoming touches.
To prepare a hallway for the hustle and bustle of Christmas, new flooring makes a dramatic difference. If selecting stone or wood, the colour of the material can help ensure the room does not feel cold – opt for lighter wood tones or mottled stone to invest the room with a brighter surface underfoot. Layer with a large hard-wearing rug or juxtapose with a patterned wallpaper to add panache. Alternatively, a patterned carpet can be the ideal foil for walls in a dark or neutral hue.
Hallway storage comes into its own during winter, with heavy boots and wellies regularly being pulled on and off for long walks and foraging adventures. To save on space, practical bench storage can be used to house footwear, as well as providing a welcome seat and a place for other essentials, such as extra layers and warm blankets.
Smaller changes also help make the hallway ready for Christmas. Replacing worn-out doormats, reviving a tired-looking door with a fresh coat of paint or replacing a light fitting will give it a new lease of life. Make the most of a console table in the run-up to Christmas with a welcoming festive display.
TOP LEFT A striped carpet creates a warm welcome. Striped Carpet in Tabasco, £36.99 a square metre, Carpetright TOP RIGHT Hang a faux wreath for added charm. Eucalyptus Christmas Half Wreath Micro Light Bundle, £19.99, Lights4fun
ABOVE Add enchanting decorations to branches. Porcelain Stars, £15 for a set of three, Nordic House BELOW Create an uplifting hallway scene. Pepperberry gift wrap, from £5; Seasonal faux foliage, from £12, and all other items, Neptune
Create a seasonal welcome with a few well-chosen details, such as:
• Hanging wreaths indoors as well as out, to brighten hallway walls and to enjoy throughout the festive period. • A vessel filled with fresh or dried flowers. If dried, spray with metallic paint to create a more glamorous scene. • To really amplify the festive spirit, a small – or even full-size – tree dressed tree adorned with twinkling lights cannot fail to imbue the Christmas mood.
Add a few beautifully wrapped presents underneath for added anticipation. • A garland threaded up the stairs brings classic charm.
Adorn with small decorations or Christmas cards for added interest and character. • A display of foraged branches from the garden or treasured ornaments in front of a window is a lovely way to project the
Christmas mood outside.
LED candles or lights in contemporary Christmas shapes are ideal to add a soft glow into the evening. n
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS P97 (I & JL BROWN) SIMON BEVAN; P99 (KATHARINE POOLEY) © NICO WILLS; (EMILY BOND) © JAKE EASTHAM; P101 (AVA INNES) © JOHN PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY; P102 (KITCHEN MAKERS) © JON DAY PHOTOGRAPHY; P102 & 104 (LIGHTS4FUN) © OLIVER PERROTT
THE STORY OF THE WHITE KITCHEN COMPANY
CRAFTING A NICHE
Craftsmanship, custom-made cabinetry and value for money are at the heart of this English kitchen-manufacturer’s guiding principles
When Christopher and Rima Proudfoot founded The White Kitchen Company in 2015, they had one clear objective in mind – they wanted to offer exceptional quality at a fair price. In addition to this, they were adamant that all the costs should be transparent from the start, rather than added as the design process went along.
“We have been designing and building kitchen furniture for more than 30 years and have always prided ourselves on giving our customers practical, beautiful and hard-wearing furniture designed to last,” explains Christopher, whose expertise was firmly established before forming the company.
“The secret to the continued success and growth of The White Kitchen Company has to be the clarity of what we do; there’s no smoke and mirrors involved,” Christopher continues. “Just by looking at the website you can quickly establish roughly how much it will cost to create the kind of kitchen you are looking for within your budget.”
With an impressive portfolio of kitchens, the company really does have something for everyone, from timeless, period English and Shaker styles to modern and freestanding designs, and all can be viewed online. By simply browsing The White Kitchen Company’s website, it is possible to establish the desired look and cost of a kitchen as the price of each item is listed, from wall, floor, appliance and larder cupboards to canopies, corbels and a large range of handles. For the Proudfoots, a fair price does not mean economising on the quality of the cabinetry, as Christopher explains: “We are very proud of the exceptional standard of the kitchens we offer at The White Kitchen Company. All the company’s custom-made, hand-painted, solid-wood and lacquered-oak kitchen furniture is designed by bench-trained cabinetmakers and traditional craftsmen with years of experience between them.” His team’s experience is something which Christopher himself knows all about, having trained as a cabinetmaker and furniture designer after leaving school.
“We have all the fine details, like solid-oak carcasses and dovetailed drawers, European Alder cabinet doors, frames and brass hinges, but at a very economical price,” Christopher says. Also, because the company supplies its kitchens direct, it provides handmade quality direct from the manufacturer and so keeps costs even lower. In fact, The White Kitchen Company is so confident in the quality of its products that it offers a lifetime guarantee on all its kitchens.
Based in Northamptonshire, in the heart of England, the company has a raft of happy customers and today sells its kitchens and cabinetry throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. It is also planning to open a new, larger showroom in 2021 in which to truly display all it has to offer. Proof indeed that The White Kitchen Company has carved itself a popular niche in a difficult market with its offering of custom-made cabinetry, transparency of cost and fair pricing. n
© RUSSELL VALENTINE PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHS
ABOVE Designed as part of a complete home renovation in Leatherhead, Surrey, this classic Shaker-style kitchen is painted in Drop Cloth, with the island hand-finished in Railings, both paints by Farrow & Ball. The worktop was created in Silestone’s Lagoon. LEFT This sage green kitchen takes pride of place in its home in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. With its
curved island and Classic Quartz Olympia worktop taking centre stage, the kitchen units are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon. BELOW Boasting two larder cupboards and a butler’s pantry to hide the toaster and coffee machine, this Surrey kitchen is designed to keep clutter to a minimum on the surfaces. The nickel cup handles and knobs perfectly offset the kitchen units.
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QUINTESSENTIALLY Inspiration for seasonal pastimes and making the most of life at home starts here
MERRY & BRIGHT A decadent, home-made Christmas cake rich with brandy-soaked dried fruit, treacle, brown sugar and spices and lovingly fed a bit more brandy each week to ensure a warming treat come the big day, deserves to be beautifully decorated. Marzipan and white icing are a classic choice, adorned with handmade fondant figures or holly leaves and perhaps a shimmer of edible glitter, but for something more unusual, gingerbread biscuits can be cut and iced to create festive figures or a snowy town scene. Here glossy red cherries encircled by sprigs of greenery create a jolly, tempting centrepiece. Try the National Trust’s gingerbread recipe with clementine and ginger icing for added zing. nationaltrust.org.uk/ recipes/gingerbread
‘Now thrice welcome, Christmas, which brings us good cheer, minc’d-pies and plum-porridge, good ale and strong beer’ runs an entry in Poor Robin’s Almanac for 1695. We all love Christmas. We adore Christmas. We treasure Christmas. “It’s Christmas,” we say, “the Season of Good Cheer.” There’s the magic of Christmas, with Christmas stockings, hampers, cakes, trees, decorations and presents. Added to which, there is Christmas dinner.
In Germany they celebrate Christmas with Gänsebraten mid Äpfeln, Rotkohl und Kartoffelklösse (roast goose with apples, red cabbage and potato dumplings to you). In Finland they tuck into Rusinasoppa (cinnamon-spiced plum porridge). In the French region of Provence they make do with a mere treize desserts (thirteen puddings). In Poland, as far as I can make out, they eat their Christmas Day feast on Christmas Eve. And those generous Americans go for a double celebration, with Thanksgiving one month and Christmas the next.
In England we have roast turkey or goose with all the trimmings, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, roast parsnips, cranberry sauce or apple sauce, bread sauce, gravy, Stilton cheese, Christmas pudding, brandy butter, chocolates, and much else besides. Okay, some years we try to vary it, with, say, pheasant instead of turkey or goose, or venison perhaps, or beef, but sooner or later we revert to turkey or goose, and usually turkey at that. Christmas is not the time, in my view, for exploration of the culinary hinterland in search of
novelty. It’s about about ritual and tradition, hearth and home, family and familiarity. It’s about eating what we ate last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, because that’s the way we like it.
At the heart of Christmas ritual, tradition, hearth, home, family and familiarity, there is the Christmas pudding. In 1843, Charles Dickens summed up the appeal of the Christmas pudding when he wrote of Mrs Cratchit’s Christmas pudding in A Christmas Carol – ‘Hallo! A great deal of steam! The pudding was out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day! That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house and a pastry cook’s next door to each other, with a laundress’s next door to that! That was the pudding. In half a minute Mrs Cratchit entered: flushed, but smiling proudly: with the pudding, like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, blazing in half of half-a-quartern of ignited brandy, and bedight with Christmas holly stuck into the top.’
Yes, indeed. No other nation has a pudding of such magnificence, such many layered beauty. It’s a monument to gastronomy, a summary of what makes British cooking great. Yes it’s substantial. Yes, it’s filling. Yes, it’s the exclamation that marks the end of the gastronomic ramble that is Christmas dinner. But, ah, the perfume of spice, the sweetness of fruit, the dancing flames of burning brandy, the drama, the brandy butter or double cream, the brandy butter AND double cream.
That is the spirit of Christmas.
But if you want to dazzle your family, friends, waifs and strays, and break away from strict tradition yet honour the glory that is our Christmas pudding, may I suggest these two recipes. There will be no complaints.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING SOUFFLÉ
INGREDIENTS
40g butter, melted 500g cooked Christmas pudding 400ml full cream milk 6 large eggs, separated, plus 2 extra egg whites Salt Icing sugar, for dusting
METHOD
• Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/ gas mark 5. Grease two soufflé dishes with melted butter. • Put the pudding into a processor and whizz to break it up. Leave it in the food processor. • Bring the milk to the boil, then add to the pudding, whizzing until mixed in. • Add the egg yolks one by one, whizzing them in, too. • Beat the whites with a pinch of salt until stiff, and fold this airy mass into the pudding mixture. • Spoon the lot into the soufflé dishes. Bake for 40 minutes –keep an eye on them as you don’t want to burn the top too much. • Dust with icing sugar and serve with brandy butter ice cream. (See recipe opposite for how to make this.)
About Matthew Best known as a judge on BBC2’s Great British Menu. Matthew is an award-winning food writer and critic. He was the Food & Drink Editor of The Guardian for 15 years and is the author of four books.
BRANDY BUTTER ICE CREAM
INGREDIENTS
2 eggs 100ml full-cream milk 150g brandy butter 234ml double cream 125g honeycomb
METHOD
• Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk lightly.
Heat the milk in a pan until boiling, then pour into the eggs, whisking all the time. • Return the custard to the pan and heat very gently until it begins to thicken. Allow to cool. • Add the melted, cooled brandy butter. • Whisk the cream until it is almost stiff, then carefully fold into the custard mix. Add in the
chunks of honeycomb, keeping a few bits back to sprinkle on top of the ice cream at the end. • Churn in an ice-cream machine or, if you don’t have one, freeze for two hours until it begins to set, then whisk vigorously to get air into the mixture and return to the freezer – repeat this a couple of times if you want a really soft ice, though it’s not strictly necessary. • Defrost slightly before serving. n
WITH LOVE Add depth of meaning to the season’s rituals with handcrafted touches personally tailored to loved ones
BELOW Take time to set the scene with handmade baubles, foraged pinecones and scented candles. Try a calendar candle for added charm to count down to the big day. Scented Christmas Calendar Candle, Red Brown, £19; Hand-painted Glass Ornaments (two seen in bowl), £19 for a set of four, all Ferm Living T he festive season is the ideal opportunity to celebrate the strength of bonds forged and deepened over the course of what has been an undeniably challenging year – now is the time to show our nearest and dearest how much they truly mean to us. Though there is immense pleasure to be had in spoiling loved ones with generous gifts they would never otherwise indulge in for themselves, adding to the season’s rituals with handcrafted touches tailored to the individual only heightens the depth of feeling. Taking the time, thought and care to create a truly personalised element both gladdens the heart and lifts the spirits – take inspiration with our ideas to add meaningful touches in the home and beyond.
Creative foundations The draw and appeal of creating thoughtful elements to incorporate into the festive season is a strong one, and whilst creativity, enthusiasm and time can range from limited to full-to-overflowing, taking a measured approach will ensure that the process and its pleasures are seamlessly incorporated into celebrations.
Start with areas that would naturally prompt creative ideas when it comes to the run-up to Christmas, such as advent calendars, says colour expert Annie Sloan. “Rather than purchasing new every year, try making your own advent calendar bunting using pockets of fabric,” she counsels, suggesting thoughtful gifts from independent stores and homemade treats as suitable fillings. “Getting the advent calendar out of the loft and hanging it up every year will become a wonderful new family tradition that you can be proud of.”
Extending artistic endeavours to other areas of Christmas preparation will fire up the creative process, not to mention add a further dimension and fun element to tasks such as preparing presents, writing cards or adding embellishments.
Customising paper, tags and other details allows for playfulness and experimentation. As the fundamental base, gift wrap naturally falls under the spotlight as the primary area of focus. “Homemade gift wrap is so much more special than shop-bought, and immediately lets your recipient know that the gift inside has been chosen with love,” says Sloan, who notes that going back to basics is a great way to get started. “Try making your own by using Chalk Paint and potato prints. You can print whole rolls at speed, and young hands love to help – it’s a great seasonal activity to keep them busy.” Consider, too, a return to plain brown paper, or even monochrome newsprint, both of which keep environmental impact low and are easy to recycle.
Adding personalised accents brings further charm –ribbon, twine or coloured string can be used to wrap
How to make a ribbon-covered bauble
You will need:
• Polystyrene ball • 2 types of ribbon • Scissors • Glue • Crochet flower
Cut the ribbons into strips of equal length (each long enough to cover half the circumference of the polystyrene ball). Then fix the ribbon strips alternately with glue until the whole ball is covered. Next cut a length of ribbon for hanging the bauble. Fix the ends of the ribbon to the top of the bauble and glue a small crochet flower on top. Leave to dry completely.
packages, whilst gift tags can be created from old maps or tickets saved as reminders from times spent together, or adorned with small bells or tree decorations with the recipient’s name for use in future Christmases.
For additional embellishment, handwritten calligraphy-style notes on gift tags or place cards equally show care and consideration taken in the time given over to their creation (visit Bath-based Meticulous Ink’s website meticulousink.com for illuminating insights into the process). If putting pen to paper is not an option, bespoke stamps from specialist sources such as The English Stamp Company (englishstamp.com) also provide a thoughtful touch.
Simple style Getting creative need not mean complex schemes and grand plans – often simple is best for maximum impact, especially when it comes to elements such as festive favours. Creating keepsake mementoes for guests adds a further layer of thought to festive proceedings, with rich rewards for all concerned. Elements such as crackers provide an opportunity for customisation,
TOP Home-made decorations add characterful charm. Origami Star Garland Kit, £13.96, Cambridge Imprint RIGHT Daylesford’s Ginger Millionaire Slice (see page 118 for a link to the recipe) makes for a delicious gift. FAR RIGHT Rustic touches in simple colourways perfectly offset any gift wrapping scheme. Nordic Wrapping String, from £5, Nordic House OPPOSITE PAGE With Christmas and the festive period proving a time for feasting, foodie gifts tailored to the recipient can bring new and unexpected sources of joy. Recipes for preserves such as apple jelly can easily be found online (try bbc.co.uk/ food) and are a delicious addition to the table. Experiment i h fla o rs s ch as star anise or cinnamon to add a twist to an old favourite.
be it in the aesthetic design, the contents, or both. Online tutorials are readily available for those wishing to take a truly hands-on approach and craft their own using coloured card, paper and ribbons –our tip, from experience, is to make sure each end of the cracker snaps is secured with sticky tape to ensure the pulling goes with a bang. Alternatively, there are make-your-own kits available from any number of retailers.
As well as customising designs to suit, crackers also offer opportunity to tailor the contents as keepsakes too. Selecting individual toys, gifts or charms pertinent to each guest is all part of the fun, as is writing jokes, guess who-type anecdotes, or even poignant memory notes to be concealed within.
Incorporating playfulness to proceedings not only chimes with the childlike joy of the season, but also brings levity and fun to festivities. Irreverent games that require no equipment and can be enjoyed by the whole family are a good way to pace the rhythm of the day, and equally lend themselves to tailoring to guest participants. Try, for example, the meowing game, where
one person meows the opening bars to a song of their choosing for others to guess (the winner then takes on the meowing role) – great fun made even more so when wishing to draw out not-so-cool mainstream musical appreciation tastes to bond the family.
Of course, the season would not be without its impetus were it not for a sugar boost in the form of Christmas biscuits, whether to hang on the tree or as takehome gifts for guests. Providing festive sustenance and a fun way to exert creativity, these can span simple sugar
biscuits stamped with festive designs for an elegant offering, or an opportunity to unleash one’s inner artist. For those wishing to decorate their bakes, The Great British Bake Off 2018 finalist Kim-Joy, known for her playful and artistic creations, suggests using 15-second royal icing for biscuits, so-named because of the time for it to take on a smooth state when decorating. Her recipe sees 40g of egg white for 225g of icing sugar beaten with a stand or electric handheld whisk to create a smooth consistency. When it comes to designs, Kim-Joy notes: “Once the icing is
Thoughtful touches
Simple suggestions for added eaning an seasonal flair
Create festive favours as keepsakes for guests In addition to making crackers (see page 116), adding decorative accents to suit all generations is a lovely way to add a personal touch to proceedings. An example might be attaching a personalised item to each napkin at the table – anything from mini felt decorations for children to vintage brooches for elegant style mavens – or printing childhood photographs as place cards.
Tap into nostalgia Accessing memories and reminiscing together requires no planning and is a great way to reflect positi ely on what has been a ifficult year for any. Each in turn sharing their highlight of the year will ensure plenty of conversation and jollity ensues.
Play a game As well as the meowing game (see left), try other pursuits that require no equipment to bring all ages together. Try Two Truths and a Lie, where one person in turn gives three statements about themselves and the others must say which they think is which and why, with the person then revealing all at the end. Another favourite is 20 Questions, where one person in turn thinks of a persona (it can be anything as abstract as Mickey Mouse through to real people such as The Queen) and the others have to put a maximum of 20 questions to them, which are answerable only by yes or no, in order to deduce the correct answer.
completely set (leave it overnight to be sure) you can actually just write on top using an edible-ink pen – you can write names and your own messages just like you would on paper.” Her recipe for Robin Cookies in her new book Christmas With Kim-Joy are a particularly easy-to-create delight, having basic icing detailing and a smaller inner circle stamped out and replaced with a red sugar centre before baking to create the bird’s red breast.
Food for thought Whether a small intimate affair or a lavish occasion, Christmas is irrefutably intertwined with the notion of delicious food and drink.
“Home-made edible gifts are a lovely way to give something very personal and of offering something that’s going to be enjoyed and has a low environmental footprint,” says Carole Bamford, founder of Daylesford Organic. She points to “a home-made chutney or hedgerow jelly” with ingredients such as crab apples, blackberries or rose hips to partner one of her favourite things to give. “I love gifting cheese,” she explains. “Not many people know that cheeses can be seasonal, but artisan cheeses do have their seasons, depending on what the cows, sheep or goats are eating throughout the year. Mont d’Or is a particularly special experience at this time of year. When it’s perfectly ripe, it can just be spooned out of its container, but it can also be baked until it is golden and bubbling.”
With the festive season being a time for indulgence, consider creating nonperishable food items, too, to allow for leisurely, less time-pressured consumption. Gifts that can be enjoyed piecemeal, such as fruit-infused liqueurs, bring extended pleasure throughout the quieter, less
hectic weeks of the year that follow the Christmas celebrations.
“We make big batches of our own sloe gin and damson vodka at home, foraging for the sloes in the hedgerows around the farm and picking the damsons from the orchard,” explains Bamford. “They’re perfect gifts and they’re simple to make. Choose elegant glass bottles that can be reused, and create handmade labels with the recipient’s name and the date.”
As well as preserves and liqueurs, look to sweet treats such as fudge, fruit-and-nutstudded chocolate drops, rich, indulgent florentine biscuits or similar creations
ABOVE Adding characterful details at the breakfast table is a wonderful way to start the festivities on Christmas Day. Holiday Pancake Pan, £39.63, Nordic Ware (available from amazon.co.uk) LEFT Create handmade touches with a drink and a sweet treat at hand to make it time spent even more enjoyable. Triple Chocolate Panettone, £10; Ultimate Thick and Rich Chocolate Cream, £2.50; Collection Mince Pies, £2.50 for six, all Marks & Spencer
which can be kept refrigerated to offer a delicious treat over the festive period and beyond. Such morsels make particularly lovely gifts when presented prettily packaged in a box or brown paper bag tied artfully with string.
For inspiration try browsing the websites of Mary Berry (maryberry.co.uk) or Nigella Lawson (nigella.com) amongst others. Alternatively, consider, as a starting point, Daylesford’s Ginger Millionaire Slice with its textured nutty base topped with thick, lightly salted, date caramel and dark chocolate. Find the recipe at daylesford.com/ recipes/ginger-millionaire-slice n
PHOTOGRAPHS P114 © FLORA PRESS/EWA; P117 ( MAIN) © FLORA PRESS/EWA EVE MIDDLETON FEATURE
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FROM TOP Ochil Highland Tweed made from pure British wool, woven in Scotland, £98 a metre. Head decorator Elaine hand-painting Cream Thistle porridge bowls, £40 each. Every stage at ANTA is expertly carried out by hand. Caithness large rug, £1,150, made from pure British wool, woven in Scotland and finished with a stain- resistant treatment. Archie Stewart tableware, from £24 for a small mug. All ANTA’s stoneware pieces are freezer, dishwasher, microwave and oven-proof.
CALL OF THE WILD
Design, form and function are all watchwords for homeware brand ANTA – not to mention a long-standing commitment to innovation and sustainability
In 1984, Annie and Lachie Stewart founded ANTA with a simple principle in mind – to produce high-quality, traditional home furnishings, using natural materials from Scotland. Realising that good design should be affordable, the couple began producing their home and giftware in multiples. Originally based in Spitalfields, East London, in 1989 the Stewarts moved back to Scotland, to Fearn in the Highlands, and for over 30 years now, ANTA products have been manufactured at the brand’s factory there, training local people to gain diverse skills. In 2015 a new factory was built, housing the textile and ceramic workshops, and design and dispatch offices.
CARPETS & CLOTH ANTA has continued its tradition of manufacturing flatweave carpets and furnishing fabrics in contemporary and subtle designs from British wool since 1984. Its carpets are contract quality and are made from the wiry wool of British hill sheep. Like the sheep, the wool is hardy and tough, making the carpets and cloth long-lasting, hard-wearing and sustainable. Each ANTA design is inspired by the wonderful colour palette of the Scottish landscape and seasons.
STONEWARE Alongside its textiles production, ANTA manufactures stoneware for the home and giftware. This is a zero-waste operation, making its own clay from British raw materials. Every stage is carried out by hand, ensuring high-quality pieces of ceramics. Made in a range of spongeware and hand-painted designs, ANTA stoneware is decorative but most importantly is practical and useable. All the pieces are freezer, dishwasher, microwave and oven-proof, making them suitable for contemporary living.
CRAFTSMANSHIP Today, ANTA continues to grow and has become a leading Scottish design company that remains family-owned and has been recognised for its dedication to quality manufacturing; every process at ANTA is carefully undertaken by hands that care. With its motto being ‘Made in Scotland since 1984’, the company is committed to promoting the good craftsmanship of the local people that are employed and trained in its Highland factory and it strives to have an impact globally, nationally and, importantly, at home.
In a time when we often feel far from the ones we love, ANTA’s skilled craftspeople continue to manufacture homeware and accessories, allowing the opportunity to say congratulations, thank you, happy birthday or simply to let someone know we are thinking of them with a gift that is timeless. n
SEASONAL
Decking the halls with boughs of holly, ivy, mistletoe and other greenery is a long-held ritual whose roots lie in celebrations of the winter solstice and warding off evil spirits. Today the festive period sees all manner of greenery brought into the home to dress mantelpieces, hallways and doors, as well as, of course, a resplendent Christmas tree – a custom believed to have been introduced to England by Prince Albert.
Though fresh flowers are not so abundant, evergreen foliage is plentiful and readily evokes the festive feeling, from a small sprig of holly on the corner of a picture frame to a magnificent table dressing full of greenery. Florist and founder of Wild at Heart, Nikki Tibbles says: “When it comes to seasonal plants for winter, I love every type of foliage – from Scots pine, to ivy and lichen branches. I also adore holly and mistletoe, and, of course, eucalyptus, because of the fragrance.” Kim Robinson, floristry manager at Daylesford, adds that a favourite material to use is “blue spruce, which has a beautiful blue-grey colour and a lovely Christmas pine smell, particularly whilst you are working with it”.
Holly, or ilex, is an obvious choice for natural decorations and comes in a host of different varieties, including glossy green to variegated leaves, as well as very prickly and not-so-prickly guises. “The less prickly ones are much nicer to work with for holly wreaths,” Robinson says. Holly berries can also be used to add extra colour. Robinson reveals that they use stems of berries, which are available in shades from pale apricot to ruby red, without any foliage. Other seasonal greenery includes holly’s perfect partner, ivy, as well as cuttings of pine and spruce. Robinson advises foraging in the garden for anything evergreen. “We gather most of our materials for wreath making from the Daylesford estate. They don’t have to be Christmassy: laurel, rosehips, seed heads, grasses. We start drying materials in late summer to work with alongside fresh foliage.”
Dried fruits such as oranges can also add colour and scent. Herbs such as rosemary, myrtle and sage can add a lovely aroma, too. A bough of mistletoe is a welcoming sight in a hallway and is readily available – either foraged or bought from local farms that have it growing in apple trees.
In addition to greenery, there are some flowers that can be used to bring colour and beauty to natural displays. Traditional roses are a classic addition to a luxurious wreath, but the seasonal Christmas rose, or hellebore, is also a popular choice. Bulbs such as amaryllis, hyacinth and paper whites (narcissi) are desirable for displays or gifts. Cyclamen and poinsettias are good potted plants for seasonal colour.
Finally, a natural tree is the biggest seasonal plant to come indoors. “I strongly encourage people to use potted trees,” Tibbles advises. “We always use potted Christmas trees at Wild at Heart for sustainable reasons, but they also stay fresh and are easy to water throughout the festive season.”
Over the coming pages we explore creative ways to work with Christmas greenery, flowers and other natural materials to create decorative, festive displays.
ABOVE LEFT Florist Nikki Tibbles enjoys the abundance of seasonal material to work with at Christmas. Assorted foliage and berries help to create an immediate festive feel in reds and greens, in an array of textures and scents. RIGHT A simple garland of pine and holly sets the scene in a hallway, with a few colourful baubles and ribbons to envliven the arrangement. Jugs or vases of holly can also be used to add festive cheer in any room of the house, and, of course, a sprig of green leaves on a picture frame is a charming idea.
Kim Robinson, floristry manager, Daylesford
A WELCOME WREATH
A wreath on the door signals festive cheer to passersby and a welcome greeting to guests. Nikki Tibbles advises: “If you have a huge front door you need to make sure your wreath is in proportion. It’s down to personal taste but don’t feel you need to match the wreath with the colour of your front door. For me anything goes and I like to mix the colours up.” That said, she adds that whilst she is known for bold colour combinations, “at Christmas I tend towards a more traditional approach and take inspiration from nature.” She uses an enormous three-metre diameter wreath on her barn door made from a selection of natura materials including pinecones, lichen branches and holly.
Daylesford makes wreaths to sell but also offers courses for home-made creations (2020 courses TBC, subject to Government guidance). Kim Robinson explains they start their wreaths from scratch, using foraged willow for the frame rather than wire.
A wreath hung on a front door should absorb some moisture from the air to keep it fresh throughout December. Robinson advises that anything brought inside or kept in a porch should be given a gentle misting every so often to prolong its life. However, for anything being used for a display on Christmas Day, Robinson advises bringing it in at the last minute so it is at its optimum appearance.
ABOVE LEFT Nikki Tibbles advises that a door wreath should be in proportion to the size of the door. This one has a classic look, completed with a luxurious velvet bow. ABOVE The Daylesford team create wreaths on foraged willow frames, working in any gathered materials from the estate. LEFT A ribbon-tied bunch of mistoe in a hallway or porch is a welcoming sight.
‘I love big vases full of one type of foliage or with red berries. It makes a statement whilst being simple’ Niki Tibbles, founder of Wild at Heart
ABOVE This impressive hanging bough by Daylesford is simply a wreath hung upside down. RIGHT Strands of ivy can be wrapped around a branch or light fitting for a simple table decoration. Hand-painted baubles unite a warm golden orange scheme. Paint, Annie Sloan BELOW Ethereal old man’s beard found in the hedgerows creates a snowy, romantic feature. Tableware, Rowen & Wren
Add aroma to displays with scented candles, spices, fruit and pine cones.
TABLE DRESSING
Whether for the big day or events during advent, dressing the table sets the scene for a festive feast. Natural decorations can be used in a small way – adding sprigs of holly or herbs to napkin rings – through to garlands running down the length of the table and dramatic hanging boughs above. “When entertaining I love to fill the table with bud vases filled with fresh, seasonal flowers and taper candles to create drama and softly light the room,” Tibbles says.
For a large, impactful display Robinson advises that a large wreath can be created and hung upside down above the table. “The back of the wreath is at the top so you don’t see it,” she explains. “You can bevel foliage round so you don’t see the base at all. If you want it to be seen at all angles, you have to make it up on the full frame, front and back.” Simply hanging mistletoe, ivy, or old man’s beard overhead can also create an effective arrangement.
For displays with tantalising aromas, Robinson says: “Add some drops of essential oil to pine cones. A warm room will help release all the aromas of these, as well as herbs and other scented foliage, or dried fruits such as orange slices.”
For an alternative, ethearel look, place gypsum with sprigs of rosemary and lavender in delicate bud vases.
PRETTY IDEAS
Though natural materials lend themselves to a classic green-and-red scheme, a softer, twinklier, more romantic look can be achieved with hues of white, silver and pink alongside touches of greenery.
A garland of ivy on a mantelpiece or along a table, woven around tealights in jam jars, is a simple but charming way to imbue a festive feel, and a jug or case of greenery can be given added sparkle by with a metallic spray. Gypsum adds an ethereal, delicate look when added to bud vases or larger arrangements. Buds placed in a bauble used as a makeshift vase, can be hung on windows, or hooks on a fireplace or shelf.
Dried flowers from summer, such as hydrangeas, statice and lavender, along with delicate hellebores, offer some pastel colours for wreaths and table arrangements, and cyclamens are available in snowy whites, pastel pinks and lilacs.
Add cut-crystal glasses, candles, fairy lights and silver decorations for added twinkle to create a magical mood.
ABOVE Stylist Tamsyn Morgans suggests glass yoghurt pots as tea-light holders on an upturned galvanised-metal tray, adorned with sprigs of ivy or olive leaves for a pretty table centrepiece. BELOW LEFT Use a bauble as a festive bud vase o add a s ee flo rish re o in i s ca BELOW RIGHT Pink amarylis adds a feminine note.
ried s er fl o ers including hydrangeas, s a ice and s ee William can be used o crea e a ro an ic rea h for door or a le
MAKE IT SPECIAL
Making a home-made gift or decoration, adding a natural flourish to gift wrap or drying fruits and petals for potpourri give Christmas the personal touch. Here are some sweet ideas for using flowers, foliage and fruit for that extra level of detail and care at the most wonderful time of the year. n
ABOVE Fill clear baubles with dried flowers or seed heads for a natural look – or these are available ready made from Cox & Cox. ABOVE RIGHT Stylist Tamsyn Morgans suggests: “Make your own gift labels. I dyed these plain labels using tea and a little food colouring. Decorate with buttons, tiny brooches, dried flowers and sprigs of greenery.” RIGHT & FAR RIGHT Dried oranges add a flourish to gifts or create an aromatic wreath. Gift wrap (left), Rowen & Wren; paint (far left), Annie Sloan
‘Decorate home-made gift tags with sprigs of greenery and dried flowers’ Tamsyn Morgans, stylist
FEATURE KATY MCLEAN PHOTOGRAPHS P118 & 120 (WILD AT HEART) © BEN QUINTON; P119 © FLORA PRESS/EWA; P120 © MATTHEW TAYLOR/ALAMY; P121 © EWA/FLORA PRESS/ANTJE MICHAELIS-HAEG; P122 © (TOP LEFT) © SARAH GARDNER; (TOP RIGHT) © TAMSYN MORGANS; (BOTTOM LEFT) © EWA/FLORA PRESS/FLORA PRODUCT; (BOTTOM RIGHT) © IBULB; P123 © EWA/FLORA PRESS/HELGA NOACK; P124 (TOP RIGHT) © TAMSYN MORGANS
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THE FINAL WORD...
Whilst Christmas is a time steeped in ritual and tradition, with treasured decorations lovingly brought out each year, it can be nice to ring the changes with something a little different. These oversized mercury silver baubles make quite the impact. Just three hung in a hallway would look impressive, but en masse above the table offers a modern twist on classic Christmas styling. A room with beams offers the best opportunity for replicating this look and the mottled, shiny surfaces offer the perfect foil to a rustic location without being incongruous to the relaxed setting. Extra Large Mercury Silver Baubles, £39.95 each, Nordic House
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