2 minute read
ON THE COVER NEW TRADITIONS A Victorian
from Vgfggggyu
K ITCH EN
Louise has created a country-style kitchen in her urban home. The pretty lampshades are from Alice Palmer & Co
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all looks and smells amazing,’ she explains. ‘I love having a real tree covered with twinkling lights, and natural decorations are top of our list so I bring berries, ivy and holly in from the garden to fill vases and drape around pictures all over the house. I also fill bowls with bonbons and amaretti and keep them refreshed all month.’ Another tradition is having a log fire. ‘It’s an absolute must for us,’ says Louise. ‘I like to have lights on the trees in the garden too but, most important of all, I have Michael Bublé Christmas songs on repeat throughout the month of December!’
Louise loves to make her gifts look pretty. She wraps them in brown paper, printed designs or wallpaper and ties them up with ribbon. Sustainability is important to her, so she reuses giftwrap, tissue paper and the decorations. ‘Even brown kraft paper works well when you add string or ribbon,’ she explains. ‘I generally stick to just two or three colours and keep the patterns simple, so the presents look lovely when they’re piled up together.’
The celebrations start with a carol service on Christmas Eve and Louise makes mulled wine and mince pies for friends, family and neighbours. Then Christmas Day gets off to a prompt start. ‘With young children we’re always up very early – we pop our festive music on, then open our stockings together. We have breakfast in our pyjamas and then dress up later, usually in velvet.’ Louise and her family take turns to host the big day. When it’s Louise’s turn, her husband Mackenzie cooks while she concentrates on creating a gorgeous table and making cocktails. ‘I lay the table with pomegranates, berries and plums, and I cut up lengths of velvet ribbon to tie round the napkins,’ she says. ‘My mum makes the Christmas pudding; she hides coins in it and lights it with brandy. I enjoy eating Christmas cake, especially the marzipan. After lunch we play games, snooze and watch films, then once the children have gone to bed we have drinks with family and friends.’
Boxing Day is also a great time for a celebration. ‘We’ve always had huge family gatherings – sometimes there can be as many as 50 of us,’ says Louise. They often visit her parents who live in the Surrey countryside. Once there, they like to go on a favourite walk and, thanks to her parents who babysit, are able go out on a date night at a local pub.
This time of year is Louise’s chance to switch off. She sees it as an opportunity to look back , reflect and read traditional stories. ‘To me,’ she says, ‘Christmas is about comfort and slowing down. I love to watch Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple on television if there’s time. It’s all about believing in the magic.’
