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PERIODLIVING BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE

H O M E S

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D E C O R AT I N G

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G A R D E N S

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DECEMBER 2018

A N T I Q U E S

Enchanted Christmas 38

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V I N TA G E

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R E N OVAT I O N

How to make a beautiful wreath

pages of stunning period homes dressed for a magical celebration

BEST BUYS LOG-BURNERS ARMCHAIRS LIGHT FITTINGS AND MUCH MORE

FABULOUS FESTIVE FAIRS AND DAYS OUT

HANDMADE PRESENTS O O O

One-off artisan finds Gift wrapping ideas Scandi treats to bake

All the trimmings

The finest decorations, seasonal looks and unique greetings cards

Illustration Sarah Overs Photograph David Lloyd

Editor’s Letter

hristmas is a wonderful and nostalgic time of year – whether celebrating with loved ones we don’t see often enough, revisiting family traditions from our childhood, or pausing to remember those who aren’t with us any more, it’s a deeply meaningful holiday. While hopefully the overriding feeling is of joy, the season can also be tinged with a wistful longing for the past. That’s why it’s so important to savour every good moment and continue to embrace the traditions that make you feel connected to your most treasured memories.

In my household, the festivities don’t start until about two weeks before the big day, when we put up the decorations (to a soundtrack of James Brown’s Funky Christmas, if you must know) and bake a batch of mince pies. My husband and I have amassed a huge collection of ornaments over the years, but we always bring out the tacky Santa figurine from my childhood and the dog-eared robin from our first Christmas together, who sits near the top of the tree. To others, they might spoil the elegance of the scheme, but to me they’re essential elements of the celebration.

One of our household traditions is to buy a new decoration each year, scouring every shop and market for the right one – and I love to look at them all as I place them on the tree and think back to when we bought them. Whether you’re planning to deck out the house with a completely new festive look or just investing in one or two unique ornaments, you’ll find the very best new designs in this special Christmas issue (from page 20), along with four gorgeously decorated period homes, that give a fascinating insight into how the owners spend the festive season (from page 42).

One of the few things I don’t like about Christmas is facing the crowds on the high street and long queues at the checkouts. Whether you love or despise Christmas shopping, one of the biggest challenges for many of us is finding unique, thoughtful gifts that don’t cost the earth. So, we’ve done the hard work for you and tracked down some fantastic British designer-makers (page 29), whose beautiful wares are guaranteed to satisfy every budget and delight even the most discerning friend. And to present them in the best possible fashion, don’t miss style editor Pippa Blenkinsop’s stunning gift wrapping ideas (page 34).

Finally, just for Christmas, we have a Period Living subscription offer that will make the perfect present for yourself or a friend, with a fabulously low price of £14.99 for six issues and choice of a free festive Emma Bridgewater mug worth £19.95 (page 112). I do hope you enjoy the issue and, whatever your plans, have a very merry Christmas!

Melanie Griffiths Editor, Period Living

Period Living 3

PERIODLIVING

Future PLC, Units 1 & 2, Sugarbrook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove B60 3EX EDITORIAL Editor Melanie Griffiths Content Editor Rachel Crow Homes Content Editor Karen Darlow Style Editor Pippa Blenkinsop Features Writer/Subeditor Holly Reaney Contributions by Michelle Guy Email periodliving@futurenet.com ART Head of Art Billy Peel Senior Art Editor Emily Smith Art Editor Karen Lawson ADVERTISING Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove clare.dove@futurenet.com Group Advertising Director Mark Wright mark.wright@futurenet.com Print & Digital Sales Director Jackie Sanders 01527 834426 jackie.sanders@futurenet.com Print Sales Manager Rebecca Vincze 01527 834415 rebecca.vincze@futurenet.com Digital Sales Manager Kelly James 01527 834471 kelly.james@futurenet.com Classified Sales Manager Emma Farrington 01527 834445 emma.farrington@futurenet.com INTERNATIONAL Period Living is available for licensing. Contact the International department to discuss partnership opportunities International Licensing Director Matt Ellis matt.ellis@futurenet.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Email enquiries contact@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Orderline and enquiries +44 (0)344 848 2852 Online orders and enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Head of Subscriptions Sharon Todd CIRCULATION Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers PRODUCTION Head of Production Mark Constance Production Manager Frances Twentyman Advertising Production Manager Jo Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson DIGITAL Technical Project Manager Tom Burbridge Realhomes.com Editor in Chief Lucy Searle Realhomes.com Associate Editor Lindsey Davis Video Producer Matt Gibbs MANAGEMENT Chief Content Officer Aaron Asadi Brand Director Paul Newman Editorial Director Jason Orme Commercial & Events Director Nick Noble Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham

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4 Period Living

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford !Ç?ǣƺǔ ˥ȇĆ?ȇƏǣĆ?Çź Ȓǔ˥Əƺȸ Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

Contents

83

42

63 Cover

Photograph Brent Darby*

147

Festive looks & shopping

11 19

* Christmas tree supplied by Pines & Needles

20 29 34

December journal We round up the latest interiors offerings, news and exhibitions Advent calendars Count down to Christmas Day with these beautiful designs Festive looks From winter woodland to decadent jewel like colours, take inspiration from this year’s seasonal trends Artisan gift guide Get your loved ones (or yourself) something extra special this year with our guide to buying straight from designer makers

41 105

ON THE COVER

Present wrapping Take your gift giving to the next level with our wrapping guide ON THE COVER

125

Christmas cards Share the festive joy with these designs from museums, charities and galleries

34

ON THE COVER

Santa’s helpers We hear from the people who work year round to bring us all those Christmas staples The 12 buys of Christmas Get your home ready for guests with these essential buys, from flickering stoves to wonderful wallpapers ON THE COVER

21

150

72 Features

83 23

Homes

42

21

52 63 72

All in the details See Annabel Lewis’ traditional Cumbrian farmhouse bedecked for Christmas with fabulously festive frills and embellishments ON THE COVER

Storybook style Claire and Jamie McFadyen have transformed a neglected Victorian country cottage into the perfect fairy tale home Season of goodwill Christmas is a time of charity and good decor for Lucy Greaves, and her elegant Cotswold country home is no exception Northern lights Inspired by the purity of Swedish style, Leny and Harrie Eltink’s Dutch home forms the heart of their family Christmases

Advice & inspiration

114 121 143 52

88 92 96 158

Home health check Roger Hunt advises on how to ensure that your home is fit for the purpose of entertaining

History of Christmas decorations Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum explores the evolution of ornaments from around the globe Festive floral craft Bring the outdoors in with these seasonal DIY crafts ON THE COVER

Recipes Enjoy a sweet Scandi treat with these recipes from Brontë Aurell ON THE COVER

Festive days out Wrap up warm and explore the fabulous festivities taking place around the country ON THE COVER

Gardens

147 150

Saving the past Following their travels in Africa, Pru and Rupert Woods were inspired to open a reclamation yard in the UK House journal New products and expert advice for updating a period property

A very Victorian Christmas Go back in time and be inspired by classic Christmas celebrations

Garden journal The latest products for your garden, and horticultural advice An enchanting scene Christian and John Curtis’ beautiful garden in Roxburgh is the perfect Scottish winter wonderland

Regulars

112 163

Subscribe Get six issues for just £14.99, plus choose your own free festive Emma Bridgewater mug Stockists Where to find all the suppliers featured in this issue

Prepare for the festive season with the latest decorations, gift ideas and events Feature Pippa Blenkinsop

ion ct le

lassic co l C

If you’re anything like the PL team, then you won’t truly get into the festive spirit until you’ve decorated the house. For the perfect nostalgic theme, Marks & Spencer’s 2018 range features Fair Isle fleece throws and cushions, from £15, classic Evergreen faux trees, from £25, and Scandistyle decorations, from £4 each.

Period Living 11

News Blue fish bauble, £4.99, Homesense

Sapphire diamanté and pearl jellyfish, £8, John Lewis

ONE TO VISIT Fans of fine art won’t want to miss this year’s Winter London Art Week.

Shining a spotlight on the best pre-contemporary art available on the world market, the week-long event sees the galleries and auction houses of Mayfair & St James’s Association host a number of free exhibitions and talks. 29 November to 7 December.

S Image (top right) ERTÉ (1892-1990) Sports d’Hiver. A cover illustration for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, 1933; Pen and black ink and gouache, 338x250mm, to be exhibited by Stephen Ongpin Fine Art

Beaded pink lobster decoration, £14.50, Yonder Living

MINI TREND Step aside, reindeer and robins, there are some new Christmas creatures in town! Give your festive scheme a touch of under the sea fun with these novelty nautical decorations.

Glass starfish decoration, £9, Raj Tent Club

Gold oyster with pearl decoration, £15, Petersham Nurseries

et

nal bouq o s u a If you just e

can’t wait to put up the tree, then satisfy any early yearnings for seasonal greenery with a beautiful winter floral arrangement.

Delivered straight to your door, this woodland foliage and berries letterbox bouquet from Bloom & Wild is only £30.

News

Rockin’ around Give your festive decorating scheme a glam rock twist with Jan Constantine’s fun decorations. Inspired by the sequin-studded 1970s, the playful pieces are handembroidered in Britain, with prices starting at £29.

S

baker r ta

Is there anything more lovely than being greeted with the smell of freshly made mince pies as you walk through the front door after a bracing winter walk? These baking buys are perfect for rustling up winter treats for visitors or as gifts for the cooks in your life.

Personalised batter jug, £28.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk

Measuring spoons, £4.50, Sainsbury’s Home

Engraved rolling pin, £27.25, Lemonbaum at Etsy

Yuletide treats Indulge your family over the party season with Daylesford’s Snowed in hamper, featuring organic goodies such as Valdobbiadene Prosecco, classic panettone, mulling spices and a warming fig candle – all presented in a beautiful reusable wicker hamper, £175.

HOLIDAY READING Introducing Classic Christmas, over 160 pages of festive cheer from the Period Living team.

Discover everything you need for a traditional Noël, including seasonal homes, decorating inspiration and gift ideas for all budgets, as well as crafty makes, winter recipes and a round up of the best festive events across the UK. Available in WHS, big supermarkets and at myfavouritemagazines.co.uk.

Period Living 15

Forest friends Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, everyone’s favourite woodland friend is the focus of Thornback & Peel’s Christmas design. With its signature illustrative style reminiscent of vintage etchings, the Squirrel and Spruce print is available in kitchen textiles, tableware and accessories – perfect gifts for cooks.

Out and about Planning your Christmas calendar? The National Trust has hundreds of events guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit.

Support home-grown talent and shop for artisan gifts at Castle Drago in Devon, step back in time for an Edwardian Christmas at York’s Treasurer’s House, or blow away the cobwebs on the Winter Solstice Lantern walk at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Escape the high street and find handcrafted gifts loved ones will really cherish at Cockpit Arts’ Christmas open studios. From Friday to Sunday over two weekends, a plethora of talented resident artisans will open the doors to the London studios to offer up beautiful products for sale along with an insight into their creative methods and practices. From hand-woven textiles to precious metalwork, prepare to be inspired. Holborn 23–25 November and Deptford 30 November to 2 December, entry £5 advance, or £6 on the door.

BOOK SHELF Merry Midwinter: How to Rediscover the Magic of the Christmas Season by Gillian Monks invites you to ‘turn away from the frenetic commercialisation of Christmas and rediscover the meaningful realities of this, the oldest and most precious celebration of the year.’ Discover a cornucopia of nostalgic ideas, from handmade gifting to seasonal recipes from years gone by. £9.99, Unbound.

The first official publication of its kind, A Royal Christmas offers a rare insight into the festive traditions of the royal family through the generations. Beautifully illustrated, it brings together photographs, documents and objects from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives, many published for the first time, in an exploration of the royal family’s influence on Christmas customs. £12.95, Royal Collection Shop.

A perfect gift for lovers of quirky interiors, May I Come in? Discovering the World in Other People’s Houses by Wendy Goodman offers a glimpse into the homes of 75 artists and eccentrics from across the world. A compendium of stunning interiors with stories to tell, it includes the homes of celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, and Donatella and Gianni Versace. £50, Abrams.

16 Period Living

Photographs (bottom left) © National Trust Images Chris Lacey, (top right) Hand-marbled ceramic baubles, from £14, Marmor Paperie

Squirrel and Spruce oven gloves, £25; coasters, £15 for a set of 4 and apron £24, Thornback & Peel

Advent Calendars

From left: Georgian-style house Advent calendar, £600, Wedgwood; Danish Advent pixy, £75, Maileg; Angela Harding Holly Hedge freestanding paper Advent calendar, £10, Down to Earth Cards; Rare Tea wooden Advent calendar, £145, Fortnum & Mason

THE COUNTDOWN

From left: Rustic wooden reindeer, £30, Amara; wooden boxes Advent tree, £49, Harrods; traditional Advent stocking with jingle bells, £15, The Contemporary Home; Emily Sutton paper toy shop Advent calendar, £9.50, Black Bough

Feature Holly Reaney

Savour the build-up to Christmas Day with a beautiful Advent calendar

From left: Cath Kidston beauty Advent calendar, £40, Daisy Park; handcrafted limited-edition Susie Watson biscuit Advent calendar, £125, Biscuiteers; hanging fabric house pockets, £26.99, The Christmas Boutique; traditional wooden nutcracker Advent calendar, £22, The National Gallery Shop Period Living 19

On table from left: Symons bone china tableware, from £10 for a teaplate; small glass pillar candle holder, £20; Belgravia wine glass, £30 for four; Belgravia tumbler, £30 for four; etched carved candle holder, £25; tall glass pillar candle holder, £25; Tibetan sheepskin rugs (on bench), £125 each, all The White Company

Shopping

Ruskin House Oak Leaf buffet plate, £21, Spode

Recycled glass bauble, £5, National Trust Bright ombré glass bauble, £19.50 for 20, Marks & Spencer

Bungalow DK slim pine gift ribbons, £4 each, Printer + Tailor

Balsam Fir incense, £7, Labour & Wait

Crop Douglas Fir candle, £14.50, Designist

West linen napkin in dark grey turquoise, £15.95, Linum

Christmas crackers, £45 for 6, Daylesford

GA

e bring your home d i t to l ule Y ife is reens, from d g h wi y f T usk ea l th f ye o a n s f d i a t p o uc lent lm a y a r ly of tu a fo n ra Feature Pippa Blenkinsop

m ur

Small assorted 8-piece candle holder and vase set with wood tray, £39, Cult Furniture

W

e nc

Gold flower bulb ornament, £25, Petersham Nurseries

Skandinavisk Skog Forest diffuser, £39, Ross & Brown

t ec sp

heme. Choose dec c s l ora ica n ti o a uglas fir, and co ot ns o b D m p in h e bin e s d e s ur t b o ew a f for o ra o fr t f e e st f it h us ag i t l ra p fo gr d a e g

R DE N

Edler wood slice place mat, £10, Rowen & Wren

IN T ER Ruskin House Wreath side plate, £10, Spode

Plushious velvet emerald green bedspread, £340, The French Bedroom Company

Kew Organic Gin: Explorers’ Strength, £49, Kew Gardens Shop

Hanging porcelain plant decorations, £2.99 each, Dobbies

Fresh Nordic wreath, £85, The Real Flower Company

Period Living 21

On mantel from left: Twiggy candle holder, £123; large gold multi drip vase, £80; transparent metallic candle holder, £15; standing reindeer ornament in gold, £85; Gisela Graham Bethlehem star ornament, £18; Tasko deer ornament in red, from £12; magenta trim bejewelled stocking, £25; Joanna Buchanan snowflake velvet stocking and embellished linen stocking, both £116; transparent metallic candle holder, £15; LSA International Tatra Champagne flutes, £85 for four assorted; Skultuna Karui tray in Ivory, from £150; Joanna Buchanan embroidered velvet star cushion in navy, £134; flying bees cushion, £35; Christian Lacroix Herborhysteria cushion, £105; baubles, from £10, all Amara

Kingfisher decoration, £10.50, Graham & Green

Ruby pomegranate bauble, £6, John Lewis Toucan decoration, £5, John Lewis

Iko cocktail shaker, £24, Oliver Bonas

Antique magenta and gold holly bauble, £28 for 6, Sophie Conran

Crackers, £20 for a box of 6, Habitat

Crown with jewels decoration, £30, Gisela Graham Pols Potten Cuttings wine glasses, £108 for a set of 6, Made in Design

JEWELS & JINGLES

Indent spindle ornament, £11.95, The Hambledon

Be inspired by the captivating colours of precious gemstones, from emerald to topaz, and create a vibrant, glamorous scheme guaranteed to make your home sparkle Ribbed glass baubles, £5.25 each, The Contemporary Home

Red long tail bird, £15.95, VV Rouleaux

Green and blue peacock wreath, £12.99, Homesense

Feature Pippa Blenkinsop

Glass jewel butterfly decoration, £16 for 3, Marquis & Dawe

Bluebell three-seater sofa in Neptune smart velvet, £2,150, Sofa.com

Joanna Buchanan gemstone cocktail picks, £50 for a set of 6, Amara

Pe

Living 23

Balmoral artificial tree, from £149; tree decorations, from £2.49; tartan chair, £249; snowy wreath, £22.99, and matching garland, £27.99; stockings, £12.99 each; tartan hare cushion, £19.99; candles, from £2.99; gold charger plate, £2.99, selected mince pies, from £3.49; tree lights, from £12.99, wrapping paper, from £2.49, all Dobbies

Shopping

Plaid glass bauble with stag’s head, £3.75, The Contemporary Home

Ivy and pussywillow heart wreath, £50, The White Company

Foliage and red berry stem, £6, B&Q

Scottish heather honey with single malt whisky, £6, M&S

Plush owl room decoration, £17.99, Very

=

Winter’s Scene cream jug, £23, Spode

Decoupage tartan baubles, £2 each, Sainsbury’s Home

Feature Sophie Warren-Smith and Pippa Blenkinsop

Royal Worcester Wrendale fox mug, £11.50, John Lewis

F

ns

G HI

HL

Pheasant clip, £12.99, Dobbies

Large gold wall mountable stag head, £89.95, Melody Maison

RO

by ge

istmas in a remote S r h cot al C tis n o f p o y laid a nt i hc e l t p i nd h d t ot i dec w ra ta t or f the countrys en o a s e a e ide tio ur gr t a d e cr y

Conju re t he ma mixing clas gic sic of re d ins a pir ed n b

Braided hemp log basket, £69.50, Decorator’s Notebook

Highland check placemats, £10 for a pair, Laura Ashley

C AN D

Glen Moray Classic peated single malt Scotch whisky, £26.83 for 70cl, Master of Malt

Mr and Mrs Pheasant linen-mix cushion, £18.50, At Home in the Country

Harris Tweed embroidered Highland cow cushion, £78, The Canny Squirrel

Charbonnel et Walker milk caramel praline sea salt truffles, £15, Debenhams

Grosvenor 1.5-seater sofa in Orchard Fruits wool plaid, from £2,059, Sofas by Saxon

Period Living 25

Autumn Leaves tablecloth, £35; acacia wood and bark round place mat, £18; Amber coupe cocktail glasses, £10 each; copper base tumblers, £6 Amber woodland baubles, from £4, including (on mantel) Amber stripe glass finial bauble and Amber clear swirl glass bauble, both £6; faux-fur tree skirt, £50, all John Lewis

Origami fairy lights, £27, Bonton

Suede slippers in Khaki, £79, Toast

Rustic bell cluster, £4, Marks & Spencer

White knitted stocking with pom poms, £14.99, Homesense

Ceramic animal decoration, £14, Oliver Bonas

Red wooden house ornament, £37.50, Mushroom London Papier mâché ball decorations, £8 each, Yonder Living Hanging brass oak leaf decoration, £10.50, Cotswold Trading

Fabric star, £2.99, Dobbies

Cracker kit, £25, Cambridge Imprint

FESTI V E FOLK LORE

Tribal ikat birchwood tray, £38, Mariska Meijers

Combine warm co ours, rustic textures and handmade pieces for a cosy and quirky Christmas look with a personal touch Arran wool tree, H107cm, £65, Habitat Wooden robin decoration, £4, National Trust

Willem brass bell garland, £22, Rowen & Wren

Feature Pippa Blenkinsop

Christmas Joy Mince Pie plate, £22.95, Emma Bridgewater

Gail’s traditional German gingerbread house, £30, Fortnum & Mason

Welsh floor red rug, £120, Labour & Wait

Period Living 27

Handmade Presents

Artisan gifts Treat loved ones with a thoughtful present they will cherish, while supporting home-grown talent, with these handcrafted buys

S E C O N D N AT U R E S OA PS

J O S E H E R OY S

Inspired by a life-long love of birds, nature and wildlife, artist Jose Heroys makes beautiful fibre art and sculptures from her studio in the heart of Sussex using wool yarns and carded fleece. ‘For me, wool carries a strong sense of connection to the countryside and to the history of traditional hand skills,’ she says. To aptly capture the personality and proportions of each bird, Jose begins by sketching from life. She then selects her yarns and creates the bird using a skilful combination of crochet, needle-felting and her own invented techniques, and finishes each with its own leg ring.

British robin, £88; long-eared owl, £420; wren and primroses, £180. (joseheroys.com)

Feature Pippa Blenkinsop

Juliette Badger began her journey as a soapmaker over 10 years ago, after becoming disillusioned with mass produced, poor quality products at inflated prices. A believer in natural ingredients, Juliette makes her soaps using the traditional cold processed method using pure botanical oils. They are free from parabens and commercial foaming agents, plus the packaging is biodegradable. Choose from the fruity scent of orange and cinnamon to the floral tones of rose geranium. Mini soaps, £2; standard soaps, £4.95. (secondnaturesoaps.co.uk)

Period Living 29

STUDIO ORDINAIRE

After an MA in textile design and a stint working in the fashion industry, textile artist Fanny Santini decided to focus her skills on making fabric sculptures and dolls. Inspired by traditional crafts and fairy tales, she sculpts her birds using wire armatures and sustainable fabrics. Grey dove, £105, small pink bird, £95. (studio-ordinaire.com)

PHILLIPS & CHEERS

‘A previous career working in historic houses reinforced my passion for beautiful, bold fabrics. There is something very special about a quintessentially English floral print that makes my heart sing,’ says Liz Phillips, who in 2015 fulfilled a lifelong dream of running a business bringing vintage fabrics to life for the modern home. Using rare prints, alongside those from classic British brands such as Liberty and Morris & Co, she makes eclectic furnishings and homeware, and, especially for Christmas, has created a collection of artisan stockings, from £17.50 each. (phillipsandcheers.com)

A B I G A I L B U RY

Fabric designer Abigail Bury makes homeware based on her beautiful original artwork. Delving into the textile archives, her latest Crewel Garden cushion collection features detailed paintings of English crewelwork, enlivened with a bright palette for the modern home.

From £58 each. (abigailbury.com)

THE CANNY SQUIRREL

Scottish brand The Canny Squirrel was founded

by Katherine Pentney, who specialises in handmade fabric homeware and accessories.

Perfect gifts for animal lovers, her products are embroidered with creatures drawn with free motion embroidery, similar to drawing a portrait with a sewing machine. Passionate about Scottish craftsmanship, Katherine’s fabric of choice is Harris Tweed, which is woven by hand in the Outer Hebrides. ‘The colours used in the cloth beautifully mirror shades found in nature and provide the perfect backdrop for my animals,’ she says. Robin embroidery hoop wall art, £24, and hare coin purse, £26. (thecannysquirrel.co.uk) 30 Period Living

C A L LY C O N WAY

A city dweller with her heart in the country, printmaker Cally Conway creates stunning linocuts inspired by the natural world. ‘I enjoy the process of carving an image – it’s very meditative,’ she says of her craft. Fox print, £70; little owl print, £22; winter landscape cards, £8 for two at madebyhandonline.com.

BY CECIL

‘I fell in love with weaving the moment I found a forgotten loom gathering dust in the corner of a studio while on art foundation at Camberwell College of Arts,’ says Cecilia Child. She went on to study a BA in Textile Design at Central Saint Martins, followed by a diploma at the Handweaver’s College. Determined to create sustainable textiles that support British industry, Cecilia set up

By Cecil in 2018, designing and making contemporary textiles using a traditional handloom and in partnership with British micro mills.

Based in London, her inspiration ranges from urban architecture to coastal towns – the starting point for her latest collection of merino wool Heather scarves, £149 each. (bycecil.com)

A M A N DA B A N H A M

Using a multi-phase process that combines her two passions, clay and screen printing, potter Amanda Banham makes beautiful ceramics with stories to tell. She begins by creating quirky illustrations inspired by family life, which are then screen printed onto a range of ceramic vessels, hand coloured and fired. From plates and mugs, to her signature raku-fired houses inspired by Thaxted and Saffron Walden in Essex, she offers ready-to-buy items, but makes pieces bespoke, and was recently commissioned to make a jug and sugarbowl for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Small ceramic houses, £40 each; large trees plate, £60. (clay club.com)

Period Living 31

PEONY & THISTLE

Based in rural Scotland, Peony & Thistle creates pretty, earth-friendly paper goods. ‘We love to give unwanted books, maps, board games and fabrics a new lease of life by turning them into gorgeous journals, buntings and beautiful works of art for your home,’ says founder Dorothy Gillies. Winter garland, £11. (peonyandthistle.com)

SUE HOLMAN

Taking inspiration from magical childhood memories of nature, artist and printmaker Sue Holman creates striking lino-printed lampshades, which play with vibrancy and scale. Pictured are the Hellebore and Rosehip shades in Raspberry Sorbet, which capture giant blooms and nod to the rhythm and movement of Arts and Crafts designs. From £45 for a small candle shade. (sueholman.com)

S E LW Y N H O U S E

Selwyn House was launched by woodworker Sean Best and printmaker Ellie Smalls in 2017.

Born out of a love for sharing food, the pair decided to combine skills and create a range of handcrafted products for the table. Hand-turned and block-printed, the wooden tablewares and linens have a contemporary feel and complement each other beautifully. Fluted lime bowls, £24 each; Check table runner, £39; English oak pizza board, £50. (selwynhouse.co.uk) 32 Period Living

HANNAH BERRIDGE

‘My large Christmas range stems from my festive family traditions and the English countryside,’ says ceramicist Hannah Berridge. ‘There are a lot of us and the house is filled with laughter and lovely food; I seek to reflect this with colourful and playful yet practical designs with natural motifs.’ Red mistletoe country mug, £20; little robin hanging decoration, £12. (hannahberridge.com)

From bottom left: 1. Luxury holly glitter wrap, £2.20 per sheet, Caroline Gardner. Red raffia ribbon, £3 for an assorted set of three, Paperchase. 2. Green handmade khadi paper, £1.20 per sheet, Pegasus Art. Wilba parcel string, £4, Rowen & Wren. For similar old stamps try Oxfam Bookshop. 3. Kraft brown paper, £3 per roll, Hobbycraft. Cut out holly ribbon, £1.80 per m, Willow Fabrics. Botanical gift tags, £4 for 18, Peony & Thistle. 4. Hare gift wrap, £1.95 per sheet, Dee Hardwicke. Grosgrain Bottle Green ribbon, £3 for a 5m roll, Rowen & Wren. Lino printed autumn leaf gift tag, £3 for a set of four, The Fern Press at Etsy. 5. Brown paper as before. Vintage toadstool, stylist’s own. Green jute twine, from £4 for a spool, Nutscene. Handmade spun cotton chubby mushroom decoration, £32.26, Fil À Sophie at Etsy. 6. Olive khadi paper, as before. Stamps, as before. 7. Green khadi paper, as before. Saison gift tags, £18 for a set of 24, Rowen & Wren. For similar handmade spun cotton Christmas elf decoration try Fil À Sophie at Etsy

GIFT WR APPING

Enchanted WOODLAND Be inspired by the flora, fauna and folklore of the forest to create a magical gift-wrapping scheme. Choose a mix of printed and plain wraps and embellish with handmade decorations, artisan tags and mix-and-match ribbons Feature and styling Pippa Blenkinsop | Photographs Kasia Fiszer

From left: Pure silk Champagne ribbon, 69p per m, Minions of Craft. Pink lace on card, £6.95, Betty & Violet. Gifts: 1.

Musical cherubs kraft bags, £1 for 10, Pipii. Vintage Sylko cotton, stylist’s own. Wooden cotton reels, £9 each, Betty & Violet. Hanging bird decoration, £5, Paperchase. 2. Pink dress silk, stylist’s own. Find similar lace at Betty & Violet. Angel gift tag, £2.95, Tobias Interiors. Mini candles and observer books, stylist’s own. Large handmade glass tree ornament, £68, Betty & Violet. 3. Silver wrap and chiffon fabric (used as ribbon), both stylist’s own. Cherub decoration, from a selection at Betty & Violet. 4. Celia Birtwell Star wallpaper in Patisserie Pink, £55 per roll, Blendworth. Handmade spun cotton ice skate decoration, £23, Fil À Sophie at Etsy. Ostrich feathers, stylist’s own. For similar vintage glass decorations, try Alfies Antique Market. Vintage pink ribbon, £4.95, Cambridge Imprint. 5. Nara wallpaper in Winter, £75 per roll, Fired Earth. Lady gift tag, £3.95, from a selection, Betty & Violet. Beaded velvet ivory moon decoration, £10, Yonder Living.

6. Music paper, stylist’s own. Ribbon made from silk offcuts. Medium handmade glass tree ornament, £58, Betty & Violet. Madonna Crown tealight holder, £5.50, Tobias Interiors

Pretty VINTAGE

Gift Wrapping

Channel your inner sugarplum fairy with a ballerina-pink palette and plenty of sparkle. For that personal touch loved ones will cherish, get creative and wrap using carefully collected fabrics and papers bound with lace and chiffon

Colourful AND CR AFTED Look beyond classic red and green, instead combine playful wrap and trim from British artisans and independent makers in a spectrum of bright, rich colours for a folksy yet festive look

Gifts clockwise from above: 1. Saffron handmade khadi paper, £1.20 per sheet, Pegasus Art. Woven silk ribbon from a selection of braids bundles, mixed silk and wool, £5 each for 1-2m, Wallace & Sewell. 2. Dancers patterned paper in orange/pink, £3 per sheet, Esme Winter.

Blue satin ribbon, from £1 for 15m, Hobbycraft. 3. Indigo handmade khadi paper, as before.

Woven silk ribbon, as before. Brass star tag, from the Saison gift tag collection, £18 for a 24-piece set, Rowen & Wren. 4. Dandelion paper in Rose/Rust, £2.50 per sheet, Cambridge Imprint. Pom pom trim in Pale Olive/Ivory, £15 per m, Susie Watson Designs. Luggage tag painted in Inchyra Blue, £4.50 for a sample pot of Estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball. 5. Emma Bridgewater Navy Star gift wrap, £4.50 per roll, Waitrose. Onion skin wired ribbon, £3.95 per m for 50mm thickness, V V Rouleaux.

6. Handmade khadi paper, as before. Alice Pattullo Christmas Baubles ribbon, £6 per roll, Raystitch. Star gift tag, from the Emma Bridgewater Starry Skies gift wrap set, £4, Waitrose

Gift Wrapping

Christmas Cards

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Feature Holly Reaney

Spread some glad tidings this festive season with these delightful Christmas cards from charities, museums and galleries across the country

Christmas at Westminster Abbey by Kate Mawdsley, £6.95 for a pack of 8, Westminster Abbey

Reproduction card with genuine sixpence, £7.99 for a pack of 4, Museum Selection

Unto the Green Holly by Walter Crane, £2.50, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust shop

Illustrated robin Christmas card, £3, Natural History Museum Shop

Study for an Angel by Raphael, £5 for a pack of 10, Ashmolean Museum

12 Days of Christmas card, £5 for a pack of 10, National Trust Shop

Birds and Oranges by Sara Miller, £10 for a pack of 8, RHS Shop

Stag 3D card, £3.75, William Morris Museum

Master of the Duke of Bedford Manuscript Nativity, £6 for a pack of 6, British Library Shop

Tudor Gift Shop with Carol Singers card, £3.49, British Heart Foundation

Butler with Christmas Pudding, £5 for a pack of 8, National Portrait Gallery Shop

Warhol Christmas Tree, £9.99 for a box of 20, Abrams & Chronicle Books Period Living 41

ALL IN THE DETAILS A traditional Cumbrian farm turns into a winter wonderland as Annabel Lewis fills it with decorative embellishments and fabulously festive frills Words Karen Darlow | Photographs Brent Darby

17th-Century Farmhouse

The ‘snug’ lives up to its name in winter, with the fire lit and layers of throws, soft cushions and fluffy pom-poms. A Nordmann fir tree from Pines and Needles is laden with the family’s favourite decorations, some made by the children. On the right of the fireplace is a Samburu tribal necklace; on the left, a quirky figure, a gift from Dutch relatives. Tea is served in Annabel’s mother’s silver teapot, with mince pies from Bettys

ho made her name and n exquisite decorative istmas is an opportunity own. Whether it’s dgerow inside with faux , and berries, or the nd every parcel and in le space Annabel Lewis, knows how to dress things up for a colourful celebration.

‘Everyone’s so safe with everything,’ she says, glancing round her dining room, where at each setting a crisp linen napkin is topped with a plum coloured ribbon; each antique dining chair is upholstered in a different shade of silk damask; each chair back has a wreath topped with a luscious moire red bow; and handpainted baubles in vibrant tones of orange, red, and gold are suspended in the air like vivid bubbles. ‘I just love using colour and texture and making something different. We’re not minimalist anymore. We want to be maximalist.’ And it’s true, her Cumbrian farmhouse is decorated to the max this Christmas.

It was a quirky tree decoration, worthy of V V Rouleaux, in the garden that attracted Annabel’s curiosity, seven years ago, as she explains: ‘Richard and I were fishing on the river here, and noticed a bicycle in one of the big oak trees. The couple living here told us it’s an Italian tradition to put a bike in a tree when a new baby is born.’

They also told Annabel they were about to move back to Tuscany to be closer to their new grandchild and that the house was owned by the National Trust, who couldn’t find a new tenant.

It was a fortuitous discovery, as Annabel had decided to return to her Lake District roots when the lease on V V Rouleaux’s London warehouse expired and the children had all left home for university. ‘So I got in touch with the Trust and told them we wanted the house.’ Sorted.

Not quite sorted. The vetting process lasted almost three years, as the National Trust grilled Annabel and Richard about how they would go about maintaining and restoring the property before they finally allowed them to be its custodians.

‘By that time, ivy had spread all over it, the garden was overgrown and the house was almost derelict.

44 Period Living

We were very lucky to get it and I just couldn’t wait to get in and rescue it,’ recalls Annabel. ‘We’ve done a lot to restore it. It was all quite dark, so we decorated and brightened the whole place up to give it a fresh, contemporary look. I worked with Kim Sisson, a fantastic decorative artist and muralist who does a lot of work with me at V V Rouleaux. Kim painted the panelling in the blue drawing room, and later helped me to give the snug a new look by painting colourful stripes on lining paper when we got tired of looking at blank walls.’

Apart from clearing the garden to restore the sweeping view of a ‘brilliant trout and salmon stream’ Annabel was free to concentrate on the interiors, with the National Trust responsible for any structural and exterior upkeep.

Everywhere you look Annabel has used ribbons, silks, pom poms and feathers, trimmings of all kinds the tools of her trade and her passion.

Her furnishings and décor are often inspired by particular ribbons or fabrics. So a French ribbon pattern book from 1840 prompted a new look for a deep buttoned sofa, and a collection of upholstered furniture was inspired by two original Louis XIV chairs that Annabel found in a Paris fleamarket.

‘We carried them through Paris on our heads, then sat on them in the corridor on the Eurostar all the way back to London! They were so comfy.’

Like an expert chef, she mixes trimmings and decorative accessories in unexpected pairings, creating bold and exciting new flavours. ‘People want to be different people are making individual things themselves now and they want something unique, not just off the shelf.

‘V V Rouleaux is an ingredients company,’ she says, ‘for everyone doing anything, for display, decoration, interiors, fashion and theatre.’ And as any expert chef will tell you with the best quality ingredients, in the right combinations, the results can be delicious.

THE STORY Who lives here? Annabel Lewis, founder of V V Rouleaux (vvrouleaux. com), the ribbons and trimmings company, lives here with husband Richard, who also works in the business. The couple have four grown-up children Property A Grade II-listed former farm near Cockermouth in Cumbria, with sections dating back to 1690, and Georgian and Victorian additions. The couple lease the house from the National Trust, who have owned it since 1947 What they did Annabel and Richard aimed to preserve the property rather than change it; their mission was to stop things crumbling and decaying. They added a luxurious shower room to the adjoining cottage and use the upper floor as extra accommodation for visitors

17th-Century Farmhouse

Above: Annabel hangs a selection of V V Rouleaux wreaths on the old barn wall Below: Annabel always buys her Christmas trees a fraction taller than she needs and trims off the bottom branches to decorate the stone pediment above the door.

Baubles and ribbons from a selection at V V Rouleaux Right: Ribbons at the ready, Annabel puts the finishing touches to this year’s Christmas look for the ‘party barn’.

In a space like this, decorative details are real statement pieces, with huge spheres of greenery inspired by the hedgerow, swags aplenty, and towers of flickering candles

Period Living 45

Top: Annabel’s signature ribbons add extra flourish to the festive bakes. The Champagne Christmas pudding is from Bettys Left: This treasured cupboard has moved from house to house with the Lewis family.

The paper parrot with silver detailing is from V V Rouleaux and the unusual basket on the floor stored bullets during the war Above: A mini vintage suitcase makes a quirky container for some Christmas shortbread biscuits from Liz’s Country Kitchen Right: All the elements of a farmhouse kitchen are here: Aga, scrubbed pine table, Windsor carver chairs, window seat, and a solid flagstone floor. Faux berries from V V Rouleaux decorate the window and add a touch of fun to an Ankole cow skull from Nigeria. The Holly & Berry teatowel is from Sophie Allport

46 Period Living

17th-Century Farmhouse

Right: The Chinese console table in the dining room is decked out for a celebration.

Yellow gold ribbons around the Stilton pick up the colours of the painting by Alistair Banks, and piled high are handpainted fair trade baubles, made in Kashmir for V V Rouleaux Below left: Ready for a refill? Annabel personalises each Champagne flute with a combination of bows, feathers and trimmings, all from V V Rouleaux Below right: A classic Chesterfield sofa has been reupholstered in a fabric inspired by one of Annabel’s favourite ribbon designs, dating from 1840. Christmas cards are displayed, leaf-like, in V V Rouleaux’s twig tree Opposite: With baubles, birds and bells strung on fishing wire, and faux berries bunched on the table and above the fireplace, the dining room decorations are at once natural and supernatural. The red chair by the fire was copied from an original Louis XIV chair.

Annabel covered a vintage lampshade frame with ribbon, adding crystals, feathers and a fringe. The portrait is of Richard’s greatgrandfather. The faux spruce tree and all decorations are by V V Rouleaux

48 Period Living

Above and left: The decorations in the drawing room have a magical quality – shades of winter whites and frosty blues allow the room’s original ceiling mouldings and French-style mirror to shine. The tree and mantelpiece are adorned with some of the hundreds of sparkling diamanté buckles sourced from a haberdasher’s in Paris that was closing down. Translucent gold mesh wire ribbon bows complete the look. Under the tree, gifts are wrapped in handpainted paper, created every year for V V Rouleaux by decorative artist Kim Sisson. The low footstool is covered in hand-screen printed velvet from Marina Mill, the round stool in ostrich leather

17th-Century Farmhouse

Above left: This exquisite deepbuttoned, antique needlework box, bought in Paris, inspired the colour scheme in the drawing room (pictured on opposite page) Left: The magnificent antique bed with toile de Jouy canopy came from an antiques dealer who set it aside for Annabel and Richard as it bore the initials A and R. By the fireplace are an assortment of vintage hatboxes

Period Living 51

STORYBOOK STYLE When Claire McFadyen and husband Jamie found a neglected country cottage, they knew they could bring it to life and make sure it had a happy ending Words and styling Sara Bird | Photographs Dan Duchars

52 Period Living

Victorian Cottage Renovation This image: Foxed mirrors and carefully curated decorative accessories create a welcoming hallway, made all the more cosy with a wood-burning stove from Firefox. The walls are painted in Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball Opposite: The entrance hall is big enough to be used as an additional room, so a place to sit was essential.

This vintage-style leather chair is from Claire and Jamie’s company, Louisa Grace Interiors. The shelf with hooks is from Sunbury Antiques Market

Left and below left: An inviting painted porch frames the front door of Claire’s pretty home. The exterior woodwork is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Bone. A string of lights from Garden Trading and a handmade wreath, featuring foraged flowers and foliage, show visitors the way

Right: Painted tongue-and-groove walls add character to Claire’s kitchen alongside her collection of vintage kitchenalia, and a wooden worktop from Kitchen Worktops Online brings extra warmth to the scheme.

The units and walls have been painted in Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone. Mince pies and cakes (seen throughout) are from Bettys 54 Period Living

Victorian Cottage Renovation THE STORY Owners Claire McFadyen (left), and her husband Jamie, both co-founders of vintage furniture and home accessories company Louisa Grace Interiors (louisagrace. co.uk), live here with daughters Maisy, seven, and Mollie, five Property A detached three-bedroom Victorian cottage on the edge of the Surrey Hills, built in 1880. The former worker’s cottage is set within half an acre of land and is unlisted What they did The couple renovated the chimneys, fireplaces, electrics, plumbing, and plasterwork before repainting and laying new carpets

laire McFadyen and her husband Jamie weren’t looking to move to a cottage in the country, but a chance find by her father got them thinking, and they decided that it couldn’t be missed. ‘We were living not far away in a place that was all finished so we were very settled,’ Claire recalls. ‘But my father found this house and emailed me the details saying it was a real belter. As I looked round it, I just kept thinking it was like a fairy tale cottage from a story book, and I could see that with a bit of work it could be magical. We also do like a project, which helps.’

Before long, Claire and Jamie were the new owners of this former worker’s cottage next to the old hunting dog kennels of a country estate. The house was suffering from damp and decay, and was not habitable, so for the first four months the family lived with Claire’s parents while the initial renovations were taking place.

‘When we started, like most people we had a small budget,’ says Claire. ‘And then the first quote came back – just repointing the chimneys took up almost the whole budget. We realised then that we had to take on more of the work ourselves.’ Luckily, Claire’s husband Jamie was very hands on and did a lot of the labour, but for some tasks they also employed individual specialists and DIY helpers, who could do the renovations for a more reasonable fee. ‘Still, I don’t think Jamie slept for the first four

months after we bought the house, juggling his work and our renovation commitments.’

Work began in January 2017, starting with the chimney breasts. All the old loose brickwork needed to be pulled out in the main bedroom in order to fit a super king size bed into the room, and the remaining chimneys were then repointed. Next came the rewiring, replumbing and replastering.

‘We had a couple of near disasters in those first few weeks,’ recalls Claire. ‘We weren’t expecting the boiler to break down the day after we bought the house and a heavy snowfall meant the electrician was snowed in!’ Fortunately, this all happened in the early stages of the renovation so the couple didn’t have to redo any of the work.

Once the major refurbishments were completed, Claire could start getting creative and think about the décor. ‘I didn’t want the house to feel gloomy, which is a danger with a house of this style and proportions, so I chose the same light, neutral colours throughout to keep the look cohesive,’ she says. Claire describes her home style as ‘rustic country’, and the soft white paint shades act as the perfect backdrop for her furniture and fittings. ‘I have lots of vintage pieces, which could be termed as antiques, but they don’t feel too old fashioned,’ she adds. ‘As time’s gone on I’ve become more confident in how I mix these interior pieces with different styles and colours. For instance, I wanted the girls’ playroom to be snug and cosy, so I chose a darker colour as a contrast and repeated it in the conservatory dining space to counter all the glass.’

At Christmastime, Claire’s style and creativity with this mix of pale and natural elements come into their own. ‘There are a lot of things I keep up all year round, including fairy lights and foliage, just adding in seasonal ornaments, dried flowers and glass decorations,’ says Claire. ‘It’s an easy style that is very cosy and inviting, which is lucky as this house is always quite a sociable one.’

Claire says it was interesting working on the house with her husband, as even during the most labour intensive stages of the renovations they discovered they had similar ideas and agreed on most of the style decisions for their home. ‘We have more house plans afoot, including a kitchen extension with an open plan dining area and a view to the fields,’ says Claire. ‘It looks as though the next chapter in our home renovation is going to be another busy but creative one.’

Period Living 55

56 Period Living

Victorian Cottage Renovation This image: Handsome furniture meets decorative accessories in Claire’s living room with stylish cream upholstery, statement wooden furniture and hero lighting. Everyday accessories are styled up for the festive season with garlands and lots of foliage. A comfy sofa and ottoman, from a selection at DFS, add to the elegant country look. The mirrors are from Louisa Grace Interiors, and the ornaments are from The White Company and Sunbury Antiques Market Opposite: A pair of Gymea table lamps from Oka lend a contemporary touch to a vintage console, while walls in Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone keep the light, bright vibe

Left and below: Claire makes the most of even a small area to display her favourite finds. A vintage chair is given an individual look with Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint in Graphite. The chair and printer’s tray are from Louisa Grace Interiors Right: Dramatic dark walls, in Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue, contrast with the crisp white table linens and natural trimmings on the Christmas table. Claire loves vintage linen, which she sources from Beyond France. The dresser, table and chairs are from Louisa Grace Interiors, and the glassware is from Brissi

58 Period Living

Victorian Cottage Renovation

Victorian Cottage Renovation

Above: In Mollie’s room, the elegant French-style bed was an Ebay find, matched with linen and a rug from The White Company, and a throw from Zara Home.

Danish Stripe linen from Peony & Sage was used for a drum shade and Roman blinds, made by Ambience Home.

Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dimity. The desk and chair are from The Emporium, the blanket box from Louisa Grace Interiors, and fairy lights from Lights4fun Top left: The Boston bed frame by Brissi brings a touch of boutique hotel chic to Claire and Jamie’s bedroom, with a feature vintage bench from Ardingly Antiques Market at the foot. The bedlinen is from The White Company Below left: Shutters have been refashioned by Jamie to create a rustic bath panel. They are matched with wooden shelves and a reclaimed bath rack. The suite is from Burge & Gunson Period Living 61

Cotswolds Country Home

SEASON OF Christmas lasts all year round in Lucy Greaves’ elegant country home because it Words and assistant styling Karen Darlow | Styling Pippa Blenkinsop | Photographs Malcolm Menzies

Lucy’s granddaughter Cleofé and daughter-in-law Lauren enjoy the wintry scene in the garden

THE STORY

ucy Greaves loves Christmas; it’s her favourite time of year.

As soon as one year’s festivities are over, she’s busy planning ght through to November. r year round pursuit. zy Christmas lady far 30 years Lucy has masterminded The Christmas Fair in the Cotswolds from her Oxfordshire home. It takes place in early November and there are over 200 stallholders selling all kinds of crafted goods including: fashion, homeware, art, crafts, foods and drinks.

‘Everything I’ve always done has been for charity,’ says Lucy, explaining the concept of the fair. ‘It’s a bit like buying a charity Christmas card if you’re buying gifts, why not buy them from somewhere that gives a proportion of the price you pay to charity? If you saw it on a website it would be the same price, or more, but at the fair 10 per cent goes to WellChild, which helps seriously ill children and their families.’

Lucy started the event in her previous home, inviting a few friends and a handful of makers, but the event has grown so big it now takes place in one of the fields at Daylesford Organic Farm.

As the fair was growing, so Lucy’s family grew and about 20 years ago she and husband Richard found themselves looking for a home with more space for their four young boys. When the village butcher told them about this country house tied to the local estate, they couldn’t believe their luck.

‘I always wanted a big family and a large family home with space for lots of parties, and this was perfect. I love being out in the country,’ says Lucy.

The family moved from a compact cottage with just two bedrooms, to one with many more rooms to furnish, and Lucy soon became adept at trawling antiques markets, auctions and secondhand stores for the right pieces of furniture to fill the space, which she’d then have reupholstered or restored to give them a new lease of life. She became quite a regular at her local auctions. ‘The dealers didn’t like the competition,’ she says. ‘If you’re bidding against a dealer, you know you’ve got a good buy, because they’re only going to put it in their shop 64 Period Living

Who lives here? Lucy (right) and Richard Greaves. Lucy is the director of The Christmas Fair in the Cotswolds (cotswoldfair.com 5–7 November 2018), and Richard owns a chemical company. The couple have four grown-up sons and two grandchildren – Cleofé, two, and Finley, just two months old Property The house, a former estate manager’s home built in around 1850, is part of a country estate, near Chipping Norton.

There are six bedrooms and three reception rooms What they did The couple did mainly decorative work, painting walls, adding soft furnishings and hanging curtains to make it their own

and double the price, but there was no way I was going to have priceless antiques here. It had to be comfortable, and withstand family life.’

Lucy’s quest for unique products and makers for the fair became an extension of her sourcing items for her own home. ‘I wouldn’t choose things for the fair that I wouldn’t be delighted to own myself,’ she says, ‘and in fact I’ve often bought things for my house from the fair, or tried things out here to see how they appealed to friends and family before booking them as stallholders.’

How does that impact on this very traditional country estate home? With accessories from so many different makers, and furniture and furnishings from salerooms and antiques markets, there’s a danger the overall look could be somewhat eclectic, even disparate. However, the impression is calm and harmonious partly due to the neutral backdrop of warm white walls that Lucy favours, creating a blank canvas to which she can add new cushions and fabrics to refresh the look. She has an excellent eye for interior design and a particularly elegant style. She calls it ‘modern classic quite traditional but with a contemporary angle,’ adding, ‘I try not to have too much. I’ve got pictures everywhere, particularly of the boys, but that’s because this is essentially a family home more than anything else.’ The contemporary edge comes from her constant updates to the rooms with new accessories bought at the fair.

When the gates close on this year’s fair, Lucy will take a deep breath and start planning her own family’s Christmas. ‘We’ll have my daughter in law Lauren’s family here from Canada, with her three siblings and their families, her parents, our four boys and their partners, and our two grandchildren,’ she says. ‘But I love having the family around me, I adore entertaining and I love Christmas. This house is perfect for all those things.’ And, of course, it won’t be long before Lucy is back in Christmas mode and starting to make choices about the stalls for 2019’s fair.

THE CHRISTMAS FAIR IN THE COTSWOLDS The fair opens with a preview evening on Monday 5 November from 6–9.30pm, when Prue Leith will be signing copies of her latest cookery book. Reserve VIP tickets and enjoy canapés and Champagne in the VIP lounge, plus a goody bag. VIP tickets allow re-entry to the fair on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 November, from 9am–5pm. Ten per cent of all sales made at the fair will be donated to WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children and their families. Tickets are available at cotswoldfair.com.

Right: A fresh wreath from Foscot Wreaths and a lantern from Hector Finch adorn the canopied front door.

Valspar’s Open Skies is a similar shade to that used for the woodwork Far right: Lucy’s granddaughter Cleofé watches mum Lauren put the finishing touches to Frosty Below: Symmetry in the living room with twin sofa tables and sofas from Lucy’s grandparents. Lucy had the sofas reupholstered in velvet from Mulberry Home. The cushions are

by Chelsea Textiles and Josephine Rossi, the mirror is from Stable Antiques, and the garland is from Foscot Wreaths. The coffee table belonged to Lucy’s parents. The table-leg lamp bases are from Stable Antiques. Mince pies and cake from Daylesford

The kitchen is exactly as it was when Richard and Lucy moved into the house, with its huge Aga set into the inglenook. The old table came from Stable Antiques, with chairs from Lucy’s parents, and the stool from Richard’s family. Seasonal treats supplied by Daylesford

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Cotswolds Country Home

Simple cabinetry in teal provides a good contrast with the rustic floor; for similar units, try Thomas & Thomas. Fired Earth’s Turkish Blue paint is a similar shade and the company’s Lubelska brick flooring would give a similar look. For granite worktops and splashbacks, try Gerald Culliford. Many of the accessories here were bought at The Christmas Fair, including the tall jug, from Made by Hands

As soon as the festive settings are cleared away, Lucy covers the long table with applications from would-be stallholders for the next Christmas Fair. She received 700 applications from would-be stallholders for 200 places last year, but always leaves a few empty slots to accommodate original products that crop up at the last minute. Lucy added two D-ends to the antique drop-leaf table to fill the generous dining room. Both the table and sideboard are from Stable Antiques, and the two lamps are from India Jane.

The painting on the right is of Richard’s great-grandfather, on the left is one of Lucy’s ancestors

Cotswolds Country Home

Above: Lucy and grandson Finley enjoy the fairy lights in the hall. The curtains were made by Josephine Rossi with a chenille heading from V V Rouleaux, and hung on a waxed banister pole. The rug came from Istanbul; Above right: A roaring fire transforms the hall into a cosy extra room. The faux-fur throw is from Cotswold Grey, and the wreath from Foscot Wreaths; Top: Winter colours with a throw from Cotswold Grey, and cushion (just seen) from Josephine Rossi, one of the original stallholders. The child’s prayer book is from Richard’s antique book collection Period Living 69

Above: The bedside tables in the master bedroom are from India Jane, with two china lamp bases from Tingewick Pottery, topped with shades from John Lewis.

On the bed is a striped throw with pompoms by Maud Interiors; the bedlinen is from The White Company. The armchair is a family piece, with a cushion from Oka and a throw from Bernice and Camilla Cashmere. The chaise longue was an auction buy and the Sumak rug came from Istanbul. Josephine Rossi made the silk dupion curtains with fan edging from V V Rouleaux Right: The tallboy was an auction buy – on top are two vintage leather suitcases. The dressing table is from Stable Antiques, its seat an antique piano stool covered with ticking stripe fabric from Ian Mankin Below: The bath side is painted to match the marble tiles. The one-sided stool was an auction find, the toile cushion is from Josephine Rossi, and for similar floor tiles try Gerald Culliford

The patina of the original timber frame is showcased to great effect in Leny and Harrie’s living room, once the stable for the farm. A mezzanine floor was created from the hayloft. The armchairs belonged to the previous owners of the house, but have been reupholstered several times. The pale blue fabric is from Gustav Interiors, along with the old table

Dutch Farmhouse

NORTHERN LIGHTS When they were searching for interior inspiration for their Dutch home, there was only one direction for Leny and Harrie to look: to the north, for all the purity of Swedish style Words and styling Monique van der Pauw Photographs Denise Keus/Coco Features

THE STORY Owners Leny and Harrie Eltink live here. The couple have two grown-up children and four grandchildren Property A small farmhouse built in 1680, in the southern province of Brabant, in The Netherlands What they did It took the couple 30 years to slowly restore the farmhouse, installing a bathroom, updating the bedroom, and adding a large kitchen-diner converted from the old stables, with the hayloft turned into a mezzanine.

They then updated the decor and furnishings, adding a Scandinavian flavour, with the help of Leny’s friend Myriam Gräeve-Rutte from Gustav Interiors (gustavinteriors.com)

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Dutch Farmhouse

reparing meals and baking cakes, Leny is in her element in the run up to Christmas.

Her eyes sparkle when she tells us: ‘I’d rather cook for 30 people than for just the two of us!’ She is a great cook and in the old farmhouse in the Dutch countryside, which has been home to Leny and her husband Harrie for 44 years, there’s always a lovingly prepared treat on offer: a fresh fruitcake, a hearty soup with meatballs, or a delicious casserole. ‘No thrills, no haute cuisine, just good and tasty,’ she adds. Her meals are always served beautifully, too, as decorating is Leny’s second passion one of the reasons why she prefers to have every chair occupied. ‘The more people we have, the more there is to cook and decorate,’ she says, ‘and the highlight of my year is the Christmas table.’

She has boxes and boxes of decorations, and a whole drawer full of candle holders. Even so, at Christmas the interiors of her renovated farm reflect her favourite style: the calm, quiet Swedish look. ‘No bling for me!’ Leny smiles, ‘I love a more pared back yet cosy style.’

It wasn’t always such a welcoming, comfortable home. When Leny and Harrie bought it back in 1974, there was nothing to it; just a tiny kitchen, one small bedroom with built in bunks, and a toilet Top left: The oldest section of the farmhouse – and its well – dates back to 1680. On the left, the original stable was turned into a large living room. The new kitchen extension is on the right Far left: Leny puts the finishing touches to a Christmas floral arrangement. She says she inherited her love of flowers and cooking from her mum Left: The magnificent tree almost touches the ceiling. Leny uses red ribbons to hang the baubles for an extra festive touch

in the stable. The ‘bathroom’ was a miniscule space with a bucket strategically positioned under a tap.

‘Everybody thought we were nuts!’ says Leny. ‘For the same kind of money we could have bought a newly built family home. But for three years we’d been searching for our dream house a small farm and we fell in love with this place, surrounded by meadows. We knew it was the one for us.’

The stable became a large living room, with a mezzanine that was once the hayloft, and a new cosy bedroom and comfortable bathroom were created. However, best of all was the kitchen diner extension, built in 2003, with French doors onto an outdoor dining space with views of the garden.

The additional space gave Leny plenty of scope to indulge her interest in interior design and decorating. ‘For many years I opted for an English country house look, with rustic, dark colours, and perhaps a few too many floral designs.’ That all disappeared in 2011, when a new home shop, Gustav Interiors, opened up nearby. Inspired by the fabrics and Swedish antiques on sale there, Leny radically changed her home. ‘I have always liked Scandi style. I love its brightness and purity,’ she says. ‘I knew it would be a great look for our home.’

A shared love of all things Scandinavian has forged a great friendship between the shop’s owner Myriam and Leny, and they often travel to Sweden together on buying trips, ‘We go to a wholesale fair in Stockholm to buy Christmas decorations for the shop, but we also go into the country to visit barn sales and fleamarkets. It’s great fun.’

Back at the old farmhouse, the natural colours of wood and nuances of white and grey create a cool backdrop for the accents of blue textiles and Leny’s extensive crockery collection. Other colours pop up, depending on the season. At this time of year there’s a bit of green and glints of red. There is plenty of sparkle, especially in the huge tree that almost touches the ceiling. ‘Our Christmas decorations are quite modest on the whole, but the tree and table are definitely dressed to impress!’

Candles burn throughout the house, and the fire in the kitchen crackles and spreads the smell of cosiness. The kitchen diner is the heart of the home. ‘I love it when friends and family just turn up at the back door,’ Leny says, cutting a large slice of cake. No wonder that a big open plan kitchen was the top priority on her wishlist even though it took almost 30 years to realise.

‘I inherited my love of cooking from my mother,’ says Leny. ‘She was a woman of traditions who lived her life and ran her home according to the seasons. Daffodils would be seen on the table at Easter, roses in summer. And she never served strawberries at Christmas!’ And nor does Leny like her mother before her, she sticks to the seasons. So at this time of year, there are bowls of red apples and cranberries on the garden table, and candle lanterns on the terrace to welcome guests to share Christmas feasts in this cosy home.

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Dutch Farmhouse A local joiner made the kitchen with oak cabinet doors and a Belgian stone worktop. The range cooker is by Boretti and the chairs are from Lloyd Loom. Farrow & Ball’s Light Gray is a similar shade to that used for the walls. For a similar blind, try Jim Lawrence. The tablecloth is actually a piece of antique linen used to protect clothes as they went through a mangle. The chocolate cake is a local speciality, but the jelly ‘cake’ is not for eating – it’s a flower arrangement by Leny’s friend Rita de Jong, with hellebores and gypsophila suspended in gelatine and left to set

Above: French windows in the kitchen-diner mean that the couple can enjoy the garden all year round Right: Leny’s crockery is kept in an antique grocery cabinet, updated inside with blue paint; Little Greene’s Tivoli is similar Below: A fine collection of antique Swedish sugar spoons of assorted sizes make a fun display on a bed of moss Opposite: A roaring fire at one end of the kitchen spreads Christmas cheer through the house. The candle holder is Swedish. The white floor tiles were salvaged from a French church, and the black ones bought secondhand in Holland

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Dutch Farmhouse

Right, below right and opposite: The cosy master bedroom, with its antique bed and a wardrobe handmade by Leny’s grandfather.

The toile de Jouy bedlinen is from Gustav Interiors Below: The bathroom cabinetry was made by a local joiner, using light oak with Belgian bluestone as a countertop. The twin basins and taps are by Volevatch, bought at Baden Baden. Reclaimed floor tiles were found to match the original ones in the adjacent hallway

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Dutch Farmhouse

Traditions

Have yourself a very

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS Take a step back in time and be inspired by the traditional celebrations of the 19th century Feature Holly Reaney

the as any employers, such as Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge, didn’t even consider it a holiday. However, by the end of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1901, Christmas had been transformed into the highlight of the year, awash with seasonal festivities and traditions, many of which we still enjoy today.

Buy (or make) gifts Victorian Christmas presents tended to be small – think fruit, nuts, handmade games or dolls, books and clockwork toys – and were hung on the tree instead of being stacked underneath. Small decorative gift bags are perfect for hanging small gifts to the tree, and also serve as beautiful ornaments. ³ Period Living 83

Drink and be merry No Victorian celebration would have been complete without a boozy punch. Combinations of sugar, boiling water, spices and lemon juice, mixed with a healthy dose of gin or rum, was a popular concoction, served in small glasses.

Create a wreath While the Victorians didn’t invent wreaths, they wholeheartedly embraced the concept, using evergreen foliage. Turn to page 92 for a beautiful step-by-step wreath project with a modern twist, or make your own authentic Victorian creation: 1. Form a frame by bending twigs to create a wreath-like circle – malleable woods, such as silver birch and hazel, or vine like honeysuckle or grape, work best. Secure with wire or twine.

2. Cover the frame with fresh greenery. Fir, ivy, holly, yew and bay were favoured by the Victorians.

3. Attach a ribbon to the top to facilitate hanging.

4. Decorate. Add some eye-catching colour by intertwining fresh fruit, dried orange slices, bird feathers, rosehips, holly berries and pine cones.

Attach with florist’s wire. Then, hang on the door to welcome guests with festive cheer.

Write cards Civil servant and inventor Henry Cole created the first Christmas card in 1843, but it was through the introduction of the half penny stamp, in 1870, that sending cards became affordable for all and thus a Yuletide custom. Aside from the usual winter scenes, robins and happy families, more gruesome Victorian cards featuring murderous frogs, mice roasting a cat, and dead robins were also popular, although perhaps they won’t spread the same festive cheer today…

Traditions

Decorate the tree Brought into the royal household by Prince Albert, the German tradition of the classic fir Christmas tree quickly swept the nation. Without electricity, candles were used to illuminate the branches. To get a similar effect, candle-style electric lights offer rustic looks without the fire risk. More natural, traditional decorations included raffia ribbon tied around bundles of cinnamon sticks, garlands of dried fruits such as apples and oranges, and pine cones. As well as creating a beautiful aesthetic, these decorations produce a fabulous festive aroma of fruit and spices. Hang your small gift bags and other handmade ornaments to complete the look.

Pull Christmas crackers Inspired by French bon bons (sugared almonds wrapped in paper), the Christmas cracker, with its characteristic bang, was perfected by Tom Smith in 1847. Fill your crackers with trinkets such as small whistles, miniature dolls, spinning tops or small sweets, alongside the staple joke and hat. Âł Period Living 85

Prepare the feast At the heart of any festive celebration is the Christmas Day feast. The famous mince pie was a rather meatier affair in the 18th century, and filled with beef, mutton and ox-tongue alongside the usual raisins, dates, nutmeg and honey. The traditional plum pudding remained sweet, but would had been served alongside the Christmas dinner rather than afterwards. Turkey remained the central meat but would have been boiled rather than roasted to prevent it from becoming dry. Nesselrode cream (a mix of cream, chestnuts, sugar and gelatin) was a popular alternative to Christmas pudding.

Go carolling Many of today’s favourite Christmas carols originate from the Victorian era, such as ‘I Saw Three Ships’, ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘Deck the Halls’, ‘We Three Kings’ and ‘Away in a Manger’. For many, carols were sung around a piano or organ in the parlour, and was a central focus at Christmas parties.

Others could purchase a cheaper ‘cob’ organ, which, like a music box, played music when turned.

Christmas Day is not complete without some festive frivolities and the Victorians were no exception, particularly after a few glasses of punch. Games included ‘Are You There Moriarty?’, which involved two blindfolded players hitting each other, and ‘Shadow Buff’, where a person sits behind a sheet with a candle and then other members have to guess who they are. Games were also accompanied by a range of forfeits, although these were often a thinly disguised opportunity to kiss people they weren’t married to, or partake in less proper behaviours.

Images Getty Images

Play games and enjoy the festivities

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NATURAL ORIGINS Our visual concept of Christmas is firmly rooted in the idealism of the Victorian period, a look that was imported and popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from his German roots. The tree,

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’ve always been a bit sniffy about Christmas decorations. I think it stems from my childhood memories of the ‘anything goes’ style of tree decorating. The tree was always a bit of a fright, loaded down with a selection of homemade decorations, baubles and ragged tinsel handed down from my grandparents. It was the 1960s, times were different and people had a more relaxed attitude.

But it was also to do with choice there was far less. Little did I know that in later life it would turn me into a Christmas tree ogre!

Top: 1950s china head angel tree topper, Efine Gifts at Etsy

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a central part of that tradition, is therefore a major focus of our decorating habits.

In fact, the idea of bringing greenery into the home is a very ancient one. The Romans celebrated the festival of Saturnalia in December, a historical precursor to Christmas that centred on revelry and the use of fir trees to decorate temples and shrines. Of course, Christmas is not a purely Christian festival and its roots lie in the pagan traditions of the winter solstice, in which natural materials, such as boughs, plants and berries, would be brought inside to provide a reminder in the harsh depths of winter that spring was on the way. As these pagan traditions coalesced into a Christian based festival, the vestiges of these customs were embellished with other forms of decoration, which led to the idea of gilding and frosting. Apparently, tinsel has its roots in 17th century Germany, where silver was hammered into thin sheets and cut into reflective strips. It’s a far ³

Antiques

Clockwise from top left: Dresden card decoration and antique wool batting hot air balloon, Dresden Star Ornaments; retro baubles, RE; Dresden Japanese lantern, embossed paper angel, both Ebay; a mix of vintage, antique and new; 1950s baubles and 1960s toy soldier, Alfies Antique Market; antique angel ornament, Silver Owl Studio at Etsy; 1950s Soviet Russian dolls and dogs, Alfies Antique Market; Victorianstyle decoration

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Antique and vintage festive decorations can be sourced from antiques markets, online and at auction.

Tobias and the Angel compiles sets of colourthemed vintage decorations

cry from our modern metallised plastic version, but a tangible part of the evolution of Christmas decorations, which gently developed – particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe – into a major 19th-century industry.

ON THE BALL The glass bauble is one such example of this commercial fervour. First made in the town of Lauscha, in the Thuringia region of Germany, they were blown into clay moulds and, like many Christmas traditions, were popularised in the early Victorian period. By 1870, the craze had reached America and Woolworth’s began to sell imported Lauscha ornaments in 1880. An annual Christmas glass ‘ball’ market still takes place in Lauscha.

Of course, one immediately thinks of those glitter-encrusted ‘cyclops’ baubles that 20 years ago were considered hand-me-downs, now popular on retro-inspired trees. But traditional baubles were simple fruits and gradually evolved into the fancy designs we now take for granted.

Vintage examples are very popular, particularly in America, where Christmas is a year-round business and decorations take on a whole new meaning. As a result, Ebay is a good place to search for vintage gems – throughout the year – and this can extend across a whole range of decorations including some that are a little alien to the British psyche. It’s quite fascinating to scroll through the material on offer.

GLOBAL INFLUENCES Other ornaments that are less well known these days – partly because their fragility means that few survive in good condition – take the form of many paper and card-based items, such as ‘Dresdens’, which were very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As the name suggests, production was centred around Dresden where wet-moulded, printed and decorated card images, such as animals, figures, suns and moons, were fabricated into three-dimensional decorations and sometimes glued together and filled with gifts.

Equally popular, were items made of cotton.

Known as ‘cotton batting’, they often took a figurative form and would be made around a wire armature. Lithographed faces and features were 90 Period Living

glued on, or even porcelain heads were added.

Embellished with the likes of tinsel and sequins, these mass-produced items were exported to America in large quantities, where they are now very popular with collectors. They can be purchased on the internet starting at a few pounds.

Interestingly it is Japan – where Christmas is still a relatively new idea and also quite kitsch – in the pre- and post-war period that became a major producer of cheap Christmas decorations, challenging the superiority of the Germans. Their use of celluloid was superior to other producers and items made in ‘occupied Japan’ are now very collectable. They range from Father Christmas figures to lights and have a typically quirky Japanese allure.

Cultural identities within a country, such as America, have also fostered some wonderful styles and traditions, such as Pennsylvanian Dutch folk decorations. ‘Putz Villages’, Noah’s Arks and Nativity scenes all grew from those central European communities, and although I’m not one for decking out the entire house, there’s something quite magical about a glitter-encrusted candle-lit model village. Many vintage examples are available on the internet including Japanese designs made for the post-war American market.

MIXING OLD AND NEW Your environment can be highly influential in determining how you decorate. I live in a period home, which means that my choices tend to be relatively unchallenging in aesthetic terms.

I generally introduce plenty of natural greenery – in the pagan tradition - and construct tableaux bolstered with antique objects such as gilded wooden carvings, Georgian glassware and religious items. This can be rewarding and easily tailored to any home environment using a variety of objet trouvé. Naturally, you don’t want your home to look like a department store, but creating a look by theming and using objects that you own, embellished with commercial accessories, it is possible to produce some highly decorative results in both a modern and period home.

Auctions can also be good hunting grounds for vintage Christmas decorations. When I first started in the business, most would be thrown away. These days there is a good market for them.

Old Christmas-related advertising material has also seen a big resurgence for decorative use.

Repurposing objects can work well, too, and even an industrial, functional look has its place with festive objects fabricated out of materials that seem incongruous with traditional festive themes.

Yet, when all is said and done, there are no rules.

It largely comes down to personal taste. My mantra is ‘don’t overdo it’. A less is more approach tends to work well but also it’s good to leave some room for humour. Perhaps I’m softening as I grow older…

Bah Humbug!

Festive florals

Add a seasonal, green flourish to your front door and gift wrapping this Christmas with these ideas from Nikki Pierce of Petal & Grace, inspired by her natural style of flower arrangements Words Grace Allen | Photographs Kasia Fiszer

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ikki Pierce is the brains – and hands – behind floral design studio Petal & Grace.

After moving from the lush vistas and fresh wilderness of Canada to smoggy London, Nikki felt the absence of nature from her life so keenly that she was inspired to embark on a career change from the art world, to working with botanicals.

Following an apprenticeship that taught her the fundamentals of formal floristry, she developed her own, much looser style.

Her low-maintenance floral philosophy is to let nature itself guide the designs.

‘Instead of tying really tight arrangements of flowers or creating very neat wreaths, I’ll try to highlight the natural shape of things,’ she explains.

Using unexpected components, such as peppercorns, grapes, herbs, rose hips and even pineapples, Nikki’s style veers away from the traditional. As glorious as her mossy, cascading wreath design looks at Christmas time, it would befit a front door just as beautifully in the spring or summer.

Winter peppercorn, moss and willow wreath While it looks like a work of art, this wreath is in fact deceptively simple to make. Every ingredient can easily be substituted for something easier to track down; Nikki advocates using whatever is growing in the garden and foraging for ingredients where possible, especially as such small quantities are needed.

Step 1: Pack your wire wreath ring tightly with moss, secured with floristry wire. Dampen with a spritz of water (this will help keep all the ingredients fresh).

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INGREDIENTS: O 1

wire wreath frame (available from £1 at Hobbycraft) O Floristry wire (from £1 at Hobbycraft) O Willow, or similar branches, which can be found in parks O Three of four handfuls of moss (enough to fill your particular wreath ring) O 10 small pine branches O A few stems of berried eucalyptus O Three or four handfuls of pink and white peppercorn branches O A handful of sage (to fill any gaps) From left to right: willow, pine, berried eucalyptus, peppercorns, sage, moss

Step 2: After cutting, weave your willow branches around the ring, securing with wire.

This isn’t supposed to look tidy, but shorten any overly long branches with a pair of gardening scissors or pliers.

Step 3: Once your wreath is wrapped both in moss and willow, you can start poking in other ingredients. Snip off around eight small pine branches and insert them evenly around the wreath (no need to secure with wire).

Step 4: Do the same first with berried eucalyptus, and then with pink and white peppercorns.

Step 5: Finally, fill any obvious gaps with sprigs of velvety sage.

Nikki sourced all these ingredients from Covent Garden Flower Market. If you can’t find willow try using vines – or even forage for twigs. ³

Craft

Gift box posy This simple posy adds a decorative – and entirely natural – touch to gift boxes. Go bigger or smaller depending on the size of the gift.

INGREDIENTS: O 2 sprigs of heather O 2 sprigs of eucalyptus O 2 sprigs of mimosa

From left to right: mimosa, eucalyptus and heather

Step 1: Start with the heather, then lay eucalyptus over the top and then mimosa.

Step 2: Simply add in another layer of all of these three ingredients, one at a time.

Step 3: Tie a simple knot around the base of the posy (using green twine or raffia, not wire).

The gift of green fingers Nikki shares her tips and advice on creating beautiful winter floral arrangements

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At Christmastime I use lots of pine and eucalyptus which will last a long time in water and then add flowers here and there for colour, replacing those stems as and when they die. If you are using red and white flowers, adding a little blush will bridge the two colours, softening the overall look. It will still appear lovely and festive, but a little less harsh.

My four top winter flowers are amaryllis, hyacinths, wax flower and dried hydrangea, in colour combinations for winter arrangements of muted, natural reds, purples and greens. While the tradition of red and green is lovely, I always look for soft, tonal colours for a more natural look.

For creating winter floral arrangements, start drying and collecting different elements from autumn in preparation for Christmas. Local, British hydrangea dry really well.

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Step 4: Wrap your chosen ribbon around the gift box slightly asymmetrically – don’t tie it into a bow just yet.

Step 5: Tie the loose ribbon ends around the base of the posy, concealing the ends with a neat bow.

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Always start with foliage allowing it to drape naturally in the vase then incorporate flowers into any gaps, filling in the negative space.

Arrangements don’t necessarily need lots of flowers. Pine, branches, eucalyptus and rose hips are all very festive and last for a long time.

Keep blooms fresh by changing the water every couple of days, and make sure they are positioned far away from any radiators. Wooden stems will last longer if you cut into them vertically this will help them stay hydrated.

Spring flowers are in season during the Christmas period and can add a lovely freshness to arrangements. Potted hyacinths are wonderful for adding scent. Add in some cones, moss and branches to make it look more festive.

Try foraging for elements for your arrangements, in your garden, local parks or while walking in the countryside. Although simple, tree branches look incredibly elegant when displayed in a vase.

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See more of Nikki’s floral artistry at petalandgrace.com

Craft

Recipes

S weet Smörgåsbord

Celebrate Christmas Scandi style, with Brontë Aurell’s suggestions for home-baked edible delicacies to share at festive gatherings or offer as gifts to loved ones Photographs Ryland Peters & Small / Peter Cassidy

Pepparkaka GOOEY GINGERBREAD COOKIES There’s something comforting about a gooey cookie. These are not native to the Nordic region, but we make them at Christmastime because they taste like Scandi ginger biscuits. They are perfect with a cup of hot glögg or hot chocolate. They probably taste a bit like gingerbread dough, which is something we secretly love to eat.

MAKES 15 (DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH DOUGH YOU EAT) O O O

O O O O O

150g butter 300g plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp sea salt flakes 150g soft brown sugar 100g caster sugar 1 egg and 1 egg yolk 3 tbsp milk

NORDIC GINGER BISCUIT SPICE MIX O 2 tsp ground cinnamon O 1 tsp ground ginger O ½ tsp ground cloves O ½ tsp ground cardamom O ½ tsp vanilla sugar O 50g roughly chopped macadamia nuts

1. Melt the butter and set aside to cool. Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and spice mix in a bowl, then set aside.

2. Combine the brown and caster sugars with the cooled, melted butter, and stir until no lumps remain. Combine the egg, egg yolk and milk, then mix with the sugars and butter until thoroughly combined. Add the flour mixture little by little until everything is incorporated, then chill the dough in the fridge for a few hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) Gas 4. Line several baking sheets with baking parchment.

4. Form the dough into rough balls about the size of a golf ball. Place the balls about 5cm apart on lined baking sheets (this is because they will spread during baking).

5. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 ½ to 10 minutes or until just golden, then remove from the oven immediately and transfer to a wire rack. The middle should be slightly soft when you take them out of the oven, and they will harden up after a while. The cookies will be best after cooling for about 30 minutes slightly warm but deliciously chewy in the middle. ³ Period Living 97

Knäck SWEDISH TOFFEE Every household in Sweden makes knäck at Christmas – little soft toffees. In my house, we flavour them lots of different ways, and use little petit-four cases. Just remember to use cases that are lined, or else they will stick. You can also give them a quick spritz of cake-release spray before filling with the toffee, just to make sure.

MAKES APPROX 30 LITTLE TOFFEES 200g golden syrup O 160g plus 1 tbsp caster sugar O 200ml whipping cream O

50g butter Sugar thermometer O Petit-four cases O

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1. Place the syrup, sugar and whipping cream in a large saucepan you will need to use a large saucepan as the mixture will bubble up a lot during cooking and bring to the boil over a medium heat.

You need to keep an eye on it all the time I can’t emphasise this enough. The temperature needs to reach exactly 125°C/257°F. Along the way to that point, it will bubble then, right before it hits 125°C/257°F, it will start to turn brown. This whole process can take 20 25 minutes, so make sure you won’t be distracted.

2. As soon as you have the exact temperature, take the pan off the heat and stir in the butter. If you leave it to cook for any longer, the finished toffee will be too hard. If you take it off the heat before 125°C/257°F, you end up with a fudge style finish.

3. Leave it for a few minutes. At this stage, you can split it into several different bowls in order to add different flavourings, or you can simply portion it out and add flavours to the top of the warm toffee before it goes hard. I have not included quantities for the fillings here as tastes are different, but for a full recipe consider around 75g of nuts or seeds, and for spices, a few teaspoons should suffice.

4. When the mixture has cooled a little, pour into plastic piping bags or a pourer, and pipe into the little petit four cases. Add the flavourings to the top, then leave to cool down and harden up.

FLAVOUR SUGGESTIONS O Sesame seeds and flaked sea salt O 2 tsp cocoa powder O Chopped toasted almonds O Chopped pistachios O Pine nuts O Liquorice powder O Vanilla (add vanilla sugar and a pinch of sea salt to the hot toffee before portioning)

Recipes

Serinakaker NORWEGIAN BUTTER COOKIES These traditional butter cookies are served at Christmastime in Norway. They are quick to make and taste delicious. If you can’t get hold of pearl sugar (also known as nibbed sugar), use flaked almonds instead.

MAKES AROUND 40 O O O O

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300g plain flour 1 tbsp baking powder A pinch of salt 200g plus 2 tbsp cold butter, cut into cubes 125g plus 2 tbsp icing sugar

O O O

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2 tsp vanilla sugar 1 egg 1 egg white, lightly beaten, for brushing Pearl sugar or flaked almonds, for sprinkling

1. Mix the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Add the cubed butter and mix with your fingers until it forms crumbs, then add the icing sugar and vanilla sugar and mix again.

Add the whole egg and mix until the dough is even (but don’t over-mix). Pop the dough into a bag and leave to settle in the fridge for about an hour.

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) Gas 4. Line several baking sheets with baking parchment.

3. Cut the dough into around 40 equal pieces (around 15g each), roll them into small balls, and place on the lined baking sheets. Make sure you leave space around each piece of dough, as they spread out while baking. Using the back of a fork, press each one down gently in the middle to a diameter of around 3cm (they will spread more when baking). If you prefer a flat surface, use the bottom of a glass or similar.

4. Brush the biscuits with the egg white and sprinkle the pearl sugar or chopped almonds over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for around 10 minutes or until just baked through (don’t let them go brown – you want only a slight tinge of colour at the edges). Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool before storing in an airtight container. ³

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Pepparkakor SWEDISH GINGER BISCUITS MAKES 50–70 O

O

O O O O O O O

550g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1½ tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cardamom ½ tsp ground allspice A pinch of salt 100g granulated sugar

100g soft dark brown sugar O 150g butter, at room temperature O 200g golden syrup O 150ml double cream O

These are probably the most famous treat to come out of Sweden. This recipe is a quick dough, which is easy to roll out so that the children can make lots of festive shapes. Every December, families across Scandinavia will sit around a table with a batch of dough, festive music on, making lots of cookies and baked goods for all the coming Sundays of Advent.

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices, salt and sugars together. Add the rest of the ingredients, and mix until you have an even dough.

Shape it into a log and wrap in clingfilm. Rest it in the fridge at least overnight before using – try to resist eating the dough while it’s chilling!

2. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas 6. Line several baking sheets with baking parchment.

3. On a floured surface, roll out the dough very thinly (around 2mm thick), and use cookie cutters to cut your desired shapes. Make sure they are thin biscuits. Place them on the lined baking sheets.

4. Bake in the preheated oven – each batch will take 5–6 minutes, depending on the thickness.

The biscuits should be a darker shade of brown without being burned. Remove from the oven and leave to cool before storing in an airtight container.

5. If you wish, you can let the children loose with colourful icing. Icing sugar mixed with beaten egg white and a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice makes the best decorative icing as it goes hard when it dries.

Recipes

Havregrynskugler / chokladbollar CHOCOLATE & OAT BALLS All Scandinavian children know this basic chocolate treat recipe. It requires no baking and is superquick to make, as it’s essentially butter, cocoa and sugar! In Sweden and Norway, these are made all year round, but they are usually kept for the festive season in Denmark.

Make these ahead and keep them in the fridge, as they last for a week or so. I tend to make a few batches and flavour them for different tastes, either flavouring the balls as I make them or rolling them in flavoured coverings. Colourful sprinkles and gentle flavours suit children, but for a grown-up version, alcohol and more coffee work well.

Make a large quantity, split the mixture into several batches (I normally do four batches of around 200g each) and flavour each one at the end. I’ve included some favourite variations below, but this recipe is perfect for experimentation.

MAKES 30–40 O

O O O

250g plus 2 tbsp butter, softened 400g rolled oats 150g icing sugar 3–4 heaped tbsp

cocoa powder 4 tbsp brewed strong coffee, cooled O 1 tsp vanilla sugar O

1. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until you have a good, uniform mixture.

I usually do it in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, but this isn’t difficult to do by hand.

2. Make equal-sized balls (usually the size of a whole walnut), then roll in your chosen covering (see below), before chilling in the fridge. The traditional treat is simply rolled in pearl sugar, desiccated coconut or hundreds and thousands.

FLAVOURS AND COVERINGS Orange: This one is for the grown-ups only. Add 2 tablespoons Cointreau and ¼ teaspoon finely grated orange zest to 200g of your mixture. Roll in chocolate sprinkles.

Almond: Another adults-only one. Add 2 tablespoons Amaretto to 200g of your mixture, then roll in toasted, chopped almonds.

Raspberry: Children can enjoy this one. Add 1 tablespoon raspberry jam/preserves to 200g of your mixture. Roll in freeze-dried raspberry pieces or chocolate sprinkles. ³

Period Living 101

Snebolde SNOWBALLS Across Scandinavia, we spend time preparing a lot of little marzipan treats at Christmas. I love making these because they look pretty and festive on a plate, along with biscuits, cookies and other treats. My children love making them because they get to spray them with edible silver glitter.

MAKES 20 200g marzipan (63% almond content is the best for these sorts of treats, but you need at least a minimum of 50%) O 120g good-quality white chocolate

O

100g desiccated coconut O Food-safe silver glitter (optional) O Cocktail sticks/ toothpicks O

1. Cut the marzipan into 20 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then leave in the fridge so they are cold when you add the chocolate – this allows them to dry quicker.

2. Temper the white chocolate. Tempering white chocolate can be tricky, but the easiest way is to melt half in a heatproof bowl set over a bain-marie, then remove from the heat and stir in the remaining half to cool it down quickly.

3. Gently insert a cocktail stick/toothpick into a marzipan ball, then dip it in the melted chocolate so that it has a thin covering. Roll the ball in the desiccated coconut and leave to set on baking parchment. Repeat with the remaining marzipan balls.

4. Decorate with a little food-safe silver glitter, if you wish.

VARIATIONS To flavour the marzipan, add a bit of finely grated orange zest when rolling the marzipan. For an adults-only version, two tablespoons of Amaretto works well. For a more decadent version, roll the marzipan around pieces of Viennese nougat.

Reader offer This is an edited extract from ScandiKitchen Christmas: recipes and traditions from Scandinavia by Brontë Aurell, with photographs by Peter Cassidy (RRP £16.99, Ryland, Peters & Small). PL readers can buy it for the special price of £11.99.

To order go to rylandpeters.com and use code SCANDILIVING at checkout.

Offer valid until 1 January 2019.

102 Period Living

Made in Britain

SANTA’S HELPERS We hear from some of those merry old souls working all year to bring us the special components that make our festive celebrations complete

The Christmas pudding baker Joanne Evans of Figgy’s Puddings ‘My husband Richie and I always fancied working for ourselves and the answer to our day-dreaming was looking us in the face – through clouds of steam.

We’d been making our own Christmas pudding for years, a combination of two grandmothers’ recipes, honed over several years of experimenting.

Friends and family gave amazing feedback, so in 2007 Figgy’s was born.

‘We make all the puddings ourselves in July and August, which gives just the right length of time for the recipe. Beyond that period, they don’t improve any more and the subtle flavours of ingredients like the Somerset Cider Brandy start to fade. We produce about 100 a day, by hand from our tiny bakery in Devon. It’s not a product you can rush. Our approach is about doing something the old-fashioned, traditional way, not cutting corners.

‘We get our first orders for puddings in August, but it gets really crazy after Bonfire Night – that’s when everyone turns their minds to Christmas.’ figgys.co.uk

The ceramic bauble crafter

Feature Rachel Crow

Jayne Redmond ‘For me, Christmas never ends. I count baubles in my sleep instead of sheep. All of my decorations are dreamt up, handpainted, glazed, and fired in my studio in Weybridge, Surrey. Inspiration for the designs – which I’d describe as quintessentially British, with my own personal touch – comes from everywhere; ideas can come at any time.

‘It is crazy at times in the run up to Christmas but all good fun. Along with designing an exclusive collection for Harrods, I also personalise the baubles in store from October through December.

‘For my own Christmas tree I have a collection of baubles my mum gave to me, which she had collected from when I was born. I treasure those and the memories of picking them out.’ jayneredmond.co.uk ³

The cracker maker Hannah Bidmead of Nancy & Betty Studio ‘We feel like elves at Santa’s workshop, busy working away all year round in our workshop in the Kent countryside. As well as crackers, we make wrapping paper, gift tags, cards and sticky tape.

‘I set up the studio after studying fine arts.

My designs are influenced by Scandinavian style and a heavy dose of British themes, humour and nostalgia. I also produce licensed crackers of Paddington Bear, Peter Rabbit and The Snowman.

I start designing for the following year in August, and we begin making crackers in January. Each is handmade in the workshop by a team of four – we make thousands of trays every year. We source gifts that are a bit different, something that you’d like to keep, and my auntie’s dad has Christmas cracker joke humour so he wrote most of ours. They are always slightly naff; my favourite is “What do Santa’s helpers learn at school? The elf-abet.”

‘Christmas orders start going out in July, but Mondays are always busy leading up to Christmas.

It’s pretty full on; I’ve even dreamt about crackers.’ nancyandbetty.com

The Christmas card designer Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs ‘I find designing for Christmas quite a challenge as I like to come up with something unique, and sometimes I can end up working on the cards in mid summer when I really don’t feel very festive.

I hope to end up with around a dozen new seasonal designs each year; for 2018 we’ve also combined cards with our hanging ceramic decorations.

‘I started Wrendale in Lincolnshire in 2012.

I’ve always loved art and having studied Zoology at university, am passionate about wildlife and nature, so I decided to combine the two.

‘We usually print the cards in early spring to send samples to buyers, then we’re flat out from September to mid November when the majority of orders go out. It’s a family affair – our two daughters are quite adept at packing cards and our little boy, who is four, loves to be at the warehouse.

‘Surprisingly, in December we are really quiet on orders – but then I’ll be busy finalising the new designs for our next launch in January.’ wrendaledesigns.co.uk

106 Period Living

Made in Britain

The Christmas tree suppliers Sam and Josh Lyle of Pines & Needles

The turkey farmer Tom Copas , Copas Traditional Turkeys ‘Our turkeys may have a short life, but it’s a happy one. They are free to roam on acres of luscious Berkshire countryside, spending their days foraging over meadows and in ancient cherry orchards, under the protection of nine male fluffy security guards – Peruvian Alpacas. It’s very chilled.

‘The Copas family has been farming on the land since 1901, but it was in 1957 when my dad, Tom Copas Snr, was gifted 153 turkeys by his father, to give ‘the spirited boy’ a hobby, that turkey rearing became a part of the business. Over 60 years later we rear over 30,000 turkeys each year, including up to 12 traditional British varieties.

‘Christmas never stops for us. We have to order poults by March and then get the sheds ready. Then in June the turkeys are back on the farm for the coming Christmas. From July we are preparing for the flock to go on sale at the beginning of October.

‘We are generally working seven days a week, 12 hours a day, from the end of November through to 23 December. Then we sleep. We hold a Christmas Fair on the 23rd for anyone wishing to collect their fresh turkey direct. It kickstarts the festivities and is one of the best days of the year on the farm.’ copasturkeys.co.uk ³

‘The job of supplying Christmas trees is rather like putting on a mini Olympics – everything has to be in place at exactly the right time, and there is loads of work year round to ensure that happens. We are a skeleton team through the year and then expand to over 300 people for the busy season.

‘Our older brother, Jake, had the brainwave in 1995 to take some trees our dad was felling and sell them outside his London laundry business. He duly got us – aged 15 and 13 at the time – to sell them.

We carried on doing it, and grew the business very organically. Little did we know that 20-odd years later we would work solidly from March until January, with a few weeks off in February! One of the biggest moments for us was when Prince Harry and Meghan came to one of our stalls and bought a tree. It was the first time they’d been seen together in public – the Royal effect is still evident today.

‘We planted 1,000 trees in 1995; today we plant 60,000 a year. We have plantations in Perthshire and Aberdeenshire where the conditions are just perfect for Christmas trees because the shorter summer and colder weather ensures the trees do not stretch up, but rather grow slowly to become full and bushy. It takes seven years for a sapling to become ready for market, so we are always planting trees to replace those we cut down.

‘September through to December is insane, but we like to think we’re swan-like – serene on the surface but paddling like crazy underwater. We love it when the first plantation lorry loads arrive – it’s like the curtains opening on a theatre production.

That’s enough to keep us going through the season.’ pinesandneedles.com

Period Living 107

The sparkling wine producer Tamara Roberts of Ridgeview ‘The best sparkling wines from around the world come from marginal, cool climates, which bring longer grower seasons that intensifies the fruit flavours, while also having cooler evenings that work to maintain acidity.

‘When my parents, Mike and Chris Roberts, sold their computer software company in the 1980s, they had developed a taste for wine and in particular Champagne so, ever the entrepreneur, my father began researching the potential of producing sparkling wine in England. They discovered the perfect site at the foot of the South Downs near Ditchling. The chalk and clay soils are ideal, while the Downs protect us from the prevailing winds from the sea creating a microclimate to intensify the weather in the summer.

‘It takes a good three years for a new vine to produce a reasonable crop. The grapes will be picked, wine made and then bottled the following year. The bottles will then be taken into our underground cellars to begin second fermentation, which takes around two years. The sediment will be taken out of the bottle and replaced by a cork, which will then be rested for around three months before labelling and dispatch. Therefore, from initial planting to drinking it can be around six years.

‘Originally, when we began in 1995, we had four employees and produced 20,000 bottles a year; we now produce around 250,000 per year. We start planning for Christmas at the beginning of the year and then sales mount up from September.

‘Everybody loves to enjoy the festive season with sparkling wine - that’s why the bottles with our new labels reveal the words life is for celebrating.’ ridgeview.co.uk

108 Period Living

The cheese maker Peter Kindel, Head of Creamery at Daylesford Organic ‘There are six of us working in the Creamery at Daylesford, but I make most of the cheese. We are just across from the milking parlour, surrounded by pasture in every direction, and when we walk out the British Friesian and Gloucester cows are right in front of us. The organic milk comes directly into the Creamery through underground pipes straight from the milking parlour.

‘I’ve been producing cheeses for three years at Daylesford – but 24 years in total. We employ many traditional cheese-making techniques, and much of the cutting, stirring, filling and pressing of the whey is done by hand.

‘Our award-winning Cheddar - the first cheese made at Daylesford - is always the number one for the Christmas market, with blues in a close second.

‘We start planning production for the seasonal market at the beginning of January, and stockpile the Christmas cheddar. Then from August through December we ramp up production of each of the other cheeses – which take between 5 weeks to 12 months to mature. In the run up to Christmas a months’ worth of cheese will go out into the farm shops in one week.

‘Any cheese needs to have been at room temperature for at least one hour before serving.

For my Christmas cheeseboard, blue cheese is a must, enjoyed with a dessert wine, Port, Madeira...’ daylesford.com

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Saving the past While living in Africa, Pru and Rupert Woods encountered a ‘nothing goes to waste’ attitude that inspired them to open a reclamation yard in the UK. At Christmas, the couple look for creative ways to showcase their stock Words Karen Bray | Photographs Kasia Fiszer

Above left: The yard at English Salvage houses a range of unique items including these original factory and hotel letters, from £70 each Above right: Owners Rupert and Pru Woods with a large star light, £1,200

114 Period Living

O

ne thing you learn while living in Africa is that nothing goes to waste,’ says Pru Woods, who with husband Rupert spent 18 years on the continent. Initially the couple lived on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar before moving to the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, where Rupert worked on aid and development projects. ‘Arriving in Zanzibar in the mid 1980s, we naively asked our neighbour about refuse collections, and their bemused expression said it all!’ adds Pru. ‘We dug a metre square pit in the backyard and, apart from compost, everything went in there.

Eight years later, we still hadn’t filled up that pit as each day the village children would come and see what useful items the strange wasteful people had left for them. Tin cans were skilfully beaten into toys; old light bulbs became decorations; clothes

became rag rugs; and shoes that had fallen apart were lovingly repaired. This was reclamation in its truest form and it sowed the seed of an idea that would come back to us years later.’

Fast forward to 2003, when their eldest child was approaching secondary school age, and the Woods began contemplating their return to the UK. ‘We were sitting on the veranda of our house in Lesotho, discussing job opportunities if we were to come back,’ recalls Pru. ‘We ran through a list of potential businesses, but the one we kept coming back to was a reclamation yard and just like that, we decided to go for it.’

The following year, the couple set up English Salvage in Leominster, Herefordshire. Originally called Leominster Reclamation and Architectural Salvage, the company was relaunched in 2014 as ³

Reclamation

Top: Inside, the showroom displays the mix of salvaged finds and unique products, including a clay female bust, £525, ornate brass wall sconces, £400 per pair, vintage-style bulbs, from £10 each, and large wooden keys, £70 each Left: The two-acre site has a large outdoor section.

Reclaimed teak gazebo, £3,700; vintage redbreast sign, £450; original Millennium flour sign, £645 Above: Pru with yard manager Matt. French antique lion statue, £5,800; reconstituted garden troughs, £985 per pair; lattice planters, £250 for three Period Living 115

Above: The showroom is packed full of vintage furniture, reclaimed decorative items, lighting and unusual architectural artefacts. Corner cupboard, £350; red display tricycle, £110; marble busts, £2,950 for the pair; 1950s red stools, £595 for three; pendant lights, from £50 each

116 Period Living

one of the pre eminent salvage yards in the country with its new website and name. ‘No one could ever spell Leominster!’ laughs Pru. ‘In order to use the name “English” we had to prove that we were one of the best stocked salvage yards in the country.’

Covering two acres, the yard is crammed to the rafters with unique and interesting items. ‘We have always thought of ourselves as a reclamation yard in the old style,’ says Pru. ‘So many yards just stock reproduction items, but it is important to us to stay true to our roots. We salvage everything from the utilitarian to the unusual, beautiful and rare.

We love receiving photos from customers showing how they have breathed new life into an old item they bought from us. It is not always possible to meet demand from a finite supply of reclaimed materials, so we do stock some new items, but this is just a small percentage of our sales.’

Another aspect of the business that is hugely important to the Woods is where they buy their stock. ‘If we have even the slightest suspicion that something may have been stolen, we will not buy it,’ says Pru. ‘We subscribe to the Salvo Code, the most important section of which gives customers confidence that the items they buy have not been stolen, or removed from protected historical buildings without permission.

A ‘one stop shop’ selling everything from garden ornaments, wrought iron gates and railings, to stained glass, fireplaces, lighting, furniture, old floorboards and shop fittings, English Salvage has

grown year on year and now has an international reputation for its breadth and quality of stock.

However, the ethos of the yard goes much deeper than that. ‘If we reclaim something, we conserve energy and mineral resources, as well as preserving our architectural history by keeping these things from being destroyed,’ says Pru. ‘It breaks my heart the number of times I have heard people say “I had no idea those old floorboards were worth anything; we just burned them”. Aside from the aesthetics, people are now much more conscious of the reasons for reclaiming, but the mantra reclaim, reuse, recycle should be on all our lips.’

The lead up to Christmas is a busy time at the yard, followed by an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some well deserved time off as the business closes between Christmas and New Year. ‘We do find there is a rush in the weeks leading up to the holidays as it suddenly dawns on people that they need to finish off work on their house,’ explains Pru. ‘Christmas at English Salvage is a time for our staff to be with their families and recharge their batteries before the year ahead.’

While the yard doesn’t specifically stock festive items, it holds a variety of pieces that can be creatively used to complement a seasonal scheme, including lettering, large stars, sledges and Narnia like statuary. ‘Sadly there are a lot of churches being decommissioned so we are routinely offered church items,’ Pru explains. ‘We stock a lot of ecclesiastical glass it is a particular favourite of ³

Reclamation

Above: Sadly, due to so many churches being decommissioned, the yard is routinely offered items from churches, such as this antique stained-glass panel, £1,500 Left: 18th-century nun statue, £1,200 Right: Vintage sledges, from £85 Below right: One of a set of religious stained-glass panels, £12,000 Below: Other items you can find include colourful bikes, from £40 each, a reconstituted marble discus thrower, £1,250, and composition stone sphinxes, £7,500 for the pair

Clockwise from left: A wide choice of ceiling lights, from £50, and theatre floor lamps, from £600 each; these unusual vintage money boxes, from £100 each, would make a lovely novelty gift; antique glass bottles, £10 to £25 each; cast-iron stags on balls, £500 for pair; Fry’s chocolate sign, £30, and copper kettles, £30

Pru’s tips on using chuch salvage in the home O Old church pews are a good buy for the kitchen

ours, with its rich, vibrant colours and fascinating histories, though having said that, they are fragile and a nightmare to store and ship.’

The Woods have big plans for the future and are currently looking for a much larger site. ‘The two acres we have no longer contains us,’ says Pru. ‘Our online presence is huge – our website gets 50,000 hits a month – but we would like to make the yard itself a ‘destination centre’, where people can see for themselves the extraordinary range of goods we stock. We will stay true to our core values as a reclamation yard, but expand our range of reclamation, garden salvage and vintage interiors.

We already supply a lot of flooring and cladding but the move to a larger site will mean we have the space to stock a far greater quantity and an even more impressive range. Watch this space!’

North Road, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0AB. Tel: 01568 616205; englishsalvage.co.uk

or dining room. With a huge number of churches earmarked for closure and many others opting to replace their pews with congregation-friendly chairs, there are many bargains to be had.

O Floor tiles reclaimed from churches look amazing in a hallway, but can also look great repurposed as kitchen splashbacks. Why not be brave and use them to make a headboard for your bed? You need to think outside the box – just because something came from a church, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t look amazing in your home.

O Victorian gothic detailing is a beloved feature of many parish churches, but it can also be used to bring drama to any interior or to enhance a garden.

Look out for windows, fireplaces and metalwork.

O Did you know that the process of making stained-glass windows has hardly changed since the 12th century? Consider incorporating a piece of ecclesiastical glass into your design. Often handpainted with vibrant colours, they can create an incredible focal point in a room. Why do you think the Edwardians so often adorned their homes with colourful patterned leaded lights?

O Only buy from a dealer who subscribes to the Salvo Code – that way you can be confident that you haven’t bought any item removed from listed or protected historical buildings, or from sites of scheduled monuments, without the appropriate legal consent.

COOK’S FRIEND

t

y prep t r pa

Whether you’re whipping up a few canapés or a full-on festive feast, Lundhs’ natural stone worktops, from £680 per m2, will fit the bill both aesthetically and practically. Highly durable, the surfaces are great for food prep thanks to their naturally cool and non-porous qualities.

Providing a luxurious look and feel, the stone is easy to maintain as well as heat, water, scratch and stain resistant.

Perf ec

Of all the appliances you need to be able to rely on over the holiday season, the cooker is top of the list. The new Aga 3 series range, from £7,865, is packed with flexible features, including an oven that can be set for roasting or baking, a simmering oven and a useful warming cavity. It also has a triple-element hotplate and you can opt for either a warming plate or a state-of-the-art induction hob complete with bridging feature, allowing you to use a griddle plate, fish kettle or other large cookware. That’s Christmas dinner sorted!

HOUSE j ur l Di to

e latest pro your period

FESTIVE FIRES FOLLOW THAT STAR Add a seasonal touch that works year round with Bert & May’s beautiful new Luna tiles. The simple and chic star design measures W15xL15cm, and is available in Dusk (pink) and Night Sky colourways, with complementary plains available for both options. So whether you go for uniform stars or place them randomly to reflect the night sky, they are sure to make an elegant yet playful statement in your home. £2.60 per tile.

Introduce an extra touch of warmth and an atmospheric glow to your home this Christmas with Morsø’s 7110 wood-burning stove, £1,950.

Whether situated in a fireplace or against a wall, the simple yet beautiful Scandinavian design will make an ideal focal point thanks to its strong, sleek structure and large glass panel.

With a rated output of 5.4kW, the stove will keep you toasty throughout the winter months.

Period Living 121

ASK THE EXPERT

F

and m r fu o If you’re n

n io ct

hosting family this year, treat them to a luxurious showering experience to remember.

Laura Ashley’s York concealed dualfunction shower, £625, is designed to help keep life simple, supplied as a complete, ready-to-install system. Thermostatically controlled for the perfect temperature, the brass shower is built to the highest standards and finished in polished chrome, which adds a sleek, durable touch, while the concealed design is ideal for giving your bathroom a more minimalist feel.

Q

How can I clean cloudy fireplace glass?

Where the manufacturer hasn’t provided any specific instructions for cleaning the glass, one method is to use a solution of vinegar (after shutting off the gas supply if your fireplace is gas fired). Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to create a cleaner that is non flammable and gentler than many commercial cleaning formulations.

Open the glass, spray on the vinegar solution and wipe it off with newspaper, paper towel or non abrasive, non cotton rag. Dry the glass with a chamois leather or paper towel.

Q

What should I do to repair frost damaged bricks?

Try first, if possible, to address any building defects contributing to the frost damage such as a leaking gutter. Sometimes, especially if bricks are bedded in lime mortar, they can be removed carefully and reversed to hide decay. Alternatively, coloured mortar may be used to build up decayed brick faces, but skill is needed to achieve a good long term colour match. Only severely damaged bricks should be cut out and replaced. Exact replication is very difficult but there are a number of good suppliers producing new handmade bricks at reasonable prices.

A WARM WELCOME Make a charming festive entrance feature to greet your guests by dressing a couple of trees with twinkling fairy lights. With a discreet green cable that you can hide among the foliage, these weatherproof lights from Lights4fun are ideal. They feature 50 LEDs on six metres of cable and are operated with four AA batteries that provide around 180 hours of illumination time. Available in white and warm white, you can also choose between eight lighting effects including static, twinkle and flash, all for just £10.99.

The Lincolnshire International Antiques and Home Show at Lincolnshire Showground is one of Europe’s biggest events, featuring 3,000 stalls. Expect to find everything from fine antiques, art, vintage, salvage, bric-a-brac and garden ornaments, to jewellery, glassware and china. Ideal for a spot of Christmas shopping. Open 3-4 December, 8am-5pm, tickets from £5. arthurswallowfairs.co.uk

Q

Is it true that wood-burning stoves are no longer recommended in thatched properties?

New guidance published by Historic England, NFU Mutual and the Fire Protection Association recommends that wood burning and multi fuel stoves should not be used in thatched buildings. Research demonstrates that such stoves present a greater risk to the thatch than other forms of heating, including open fires. The authors acknowledge, though, that the efficiency advantages of stoves are attractive to householders so provide advice on reducing the risk where such stoves are installed. This includes recommendations on design features that should be incorporated in the ‘ideal’ stove system. I know a number of thatched building owners who plan to take out their wood burners. In at least one case, this will lead to a substantial reduction in the annual building insurance premium. The new guidance can be accessed at thefpa.co.uk.

If you have a question for Douglas, email it to periodliving@futurenet.com*

Feature Karen Bray *We do our best to answer all queries, but cannot guarantee a response

PRECIOUS METALS Add a hint of sparkle to the bathroom with these simple yet stylish hammeredeffect copper, gold and silver light pulls, £15 each, from Pushka Home. A quick and easy way to freshen up your scheme and incorporate warm, classic metallics – just in time to impress all those extra house guests.

122 Period Living

Douglas Kent, technical and research director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, answers your renovation queries

Shopping

12 Feature Michelle Guy

buys of Christmas

Treat your home to a Yuletide gift or two with our countdown of the essential products to invest in. Sing it with us‌

Period Living 125

Shopping

Louis Poulsen Cirque pendant light, £220, Nest.co.uk

Abthorpe light in polished copper, £250, Christopher Wray

Ada three-pendant light in white/grey, £210, John Lewis

Rose textured glass oval pendant light, £85, Harvey Norman

glowing lights

Baker wooden pendant light, £50, Matalan

Mineheart feather pendant lamp, £852, Clippings

Gold Sunburst pendant light, £298, Audenza

Där Lighting Midi pendant in matt black and copper, £28, Ocean Lighting

Funk pendant light, £398, Urban Avenue

Bloomingville brown blass pendant lamp, £75, Hurn & Hurn

Small Lisboa pendant in turquoise glass, £99, Pooky

Medium Umage Eos brown feather lampshade, from £99, Dowsing & Reynolds Period Living 127

Romeo chair in orange velvet, £695, Annabel James

Antique armchair reupholstered in grey silk velvet, £1,250, The Old Cinema

Bertie armchair in Clay house basket weave, £740, Sofa.com

11

statement chairs Clement standard back chair, from £549.50, Darlings Of Chelsea

Matador armchair, from £1,195, Content by Terence Conran

Seletti Wears Toiletpaper armchair in Flowers, £890, Smithers of Stamford

Lille French-style armchair in Duck Egg Blue, £449, Swoon Editions

Hepburn armchair in pink velvet, £495, Sweetpea & Willow

The Turino chair, £299, Living it up

Hampton wooden armchair in Tan faux leather, £399, Cult Furniture

Claridge armchair in Blush Pink, £399.99, My Furniture Period Living 129

Shopping

Woodfire Passiv boiler stove, £2,290, Stovesonline

Solution 400 wood-burning stove, from £1,662, Clearview Stoves

Vista 500 5kW multi-fuel stove in Ruby, £870, Esse

Q-Tee 2 C black wood-burning stove, from £1,958, Rais

10

flickering stoves 3610 wood-burning stove, £2,700, Morsø

Farringdon Ecodesign ready multi-fuel stove in Spice, £1,340, Arada

Parkray Consort 15 multi-fuel stove, £1,339, DirectStoves

Go Eco 5 wide multi-fuel stove, £669, Ludlow Stoves

Alpine 4 Series wood-burner in Atlantic Blue, £1,635, Chesneys

520 Style wood-burner in black, £1,995, Contura

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Shopping

Handmade Midnight Moods Tufted rug, £669, The Gifted Few

Cube rug, £930, Natuzzi

Cross Hatch Rust rug, from £60, Next

S £5

Happy Dots rug in grey, £42.95, Urban Avenue

g, ving

cosy rugs

House Doctor Amara rug, £300, Viva Lagoon

Watercolour Damask rug, from £169, Marks & Spencer

Fable Red rug, from £39.99, Carpetright

Modern Persian rug, £80, River Island

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Shopping

Intrepid Cave, from £15.52 for 1ltr matt emulsion, Dulux

Indian Lake, £46 for 2.5ltrs marble matt emulsion, Mylands

Amethyst, £55 for 2.5ltrs eggshell, Fired Earth

8

warming paints Ruby, £35 for 2.5ltrs matt emulsion, Laura Ashley

Paprika, £38 for 2.5ltrs matt emulsion, Neptune

Adventurer, £43.50 for 2.5ltrs matt emulsion, Little Greene

Picture Gallery Red, £45 for 2.5ltrs modern emulsion, Farrow & Ball

Barcelona, £38 for 2.5ltrs matt emulsion, Graham & Brown

Period Living 135

7

Shopping

indulgent baths

Admiral bath, £1,899, Pure Bathroom Collection

Knightsbridge aluminium-effect freestanding bath, £2,750, Frontline Bathrooms

Solus single-ended roll-top bath in orange, £1,428, The Albion Bath Company

Fjord freestanding bath, £1,795, Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Copper-clad Usk cast-iron bath, £7,950, Drummonds

Albany freestanding natural stone bath, £3,999, Burlington Bathrooms

Bateau bath with Verdigris exterior and nickel interior, from £4,699, William Holland

6

wonderful wallpapers

Ferm Living Terrazzo wallpaper in Rose, £65 per roll, Cloudberry Living

Deco Martini wallpaper in Blush, £140 per roll, Divine Savages

Queensbury Midnight wallpaper, £40 per roll, Laura Ashley

Nina Campbell Les Indiennes wallpaper, £76 per roll, Osborne & Little

Karlie Klum Rain wallpaper, £28 per roll, Lime Lace

Floral Still Life Grey wallpaper, £75 per roll, Woodchip & Magnolia

Period Living 137

5

Lene Bjerre Selenia vase, £125, Sweetpea & Willow

gold things

Round wall clock in Antique Gold, £69, Pagazzi

La Petite gold Mirror, £60, The French Bedroom Company

Artisan antique gold-effect paint, £11.99 for 250ml, Craig & Rose Union mono tap in Brass, £495, Crosswater

4

charming cookers Klover Altea 110 cooker, £6,023, Stoves Online

Portofino range cooker in Orange, from £2,399, Smeg

138 Period Living

Ascot 100/3 solid door range cooker in Bordeaux, from £6,000, Steel

La Nordica Rosa XXL wood-burning cooker, £1,610, Ludlow Stoves

3

Shopping

grand beds

Arthur tall faux leather bed, £989, Living it up

Wardley four-poster bed in Chalked oak, from £2,215, Neptune

2

Westcote blue double larder, £999, Cotswold Co

Glenroe bed, £1,500, Darlings of Chelsea

lovely larders

Newbury larder unit, £749, Made Period Living 139

…and a dining room to share with family

Balmoral dining table, £3,170; Suffolk oak chairs, £270 each; Fenton tableware, from £72 for a set of six side plates, all Neptune

Renovation

Home maintenance countdown Before guests descend for the Christmas festivities, ensure that your house is fit for the purpose of entertaining Feature Roger Hunt, author of Old House Handbook

T

he last thing you want this Christmas to be memorable for is a burst pipe, blocked drain or failed heating system. There is nothing like the countdown to the big day to focus the mind on getting your home in shape.

The festive break is also a great time to start planning all of those essential jobs for the new year, especially ways to cut your energy bills and make your home more sustainable.

Illustration Sarah Overs

Service the heating system A chilly house is a recipe for a miserable Christmas, so ensure the boiler has been serviced well ahead of the big day and check that all radiators and thermostats are working efficiently. Also check that you have spare batteries for wireless thermostats or other controls. If your boiler has an external condensate pipe, then make sure it is well insulated. If your boiler fails in cold weather, a frozen condensate pipe is likely to be the cause.

Look online for advice on how to unfreeze it safely.

Check pipes Frozen water pipes can be a disaster, so check that both hot and cold pipes are well insulated and there are no gaps in the insulation. Any water tanks should be covered and insulted properly. Don’t forget outside taps and, where possible, turn them off for the winter – there should be an isolation valve inside the house. Be sure you know where the mains stopcock is in case the worst happens, and test that you can shut it off easily. A little WD-40 should help to loosen it if necessary.

Maintain drains Few things will spoil your appetite more than having to clear a blocked drain. Soda crystals, available from supermarkets, help keep sinks and waste pipes running free, but have a drain plunger on hand in case a blockage occurs. Regular maintenance of the external drainage system is vital. Lift inspection covers and run water and flush toilets to check drains are flowing properly. If there is sediment in the gully or signs of debris on the sides of inspection chambers, use a set of drain rods to push it through from one inspection chamber to the next and flush well with a garden hose. If you suspect a bigger problem, call in a specialist; they may carry out a drain survey using a camera. Âł Period Living 121

Fit for the future

Above: If you haven’t had your electrics tested in a while, it may be advisable to have them checked over by an electrician Below: Keep a bucket of salt or grit handy in the event of a freeze, to de-ice garden paths and steps and ensure guests have a safe and hazardous-free journey to your front door

Overhaul electrics Ensuring the Christmas lights and Wi-Fi stay on is a priority. If you are concerned about your electrics, have them checked by a certified electrician. Try to avoid trailing cables, multiple outlets or adapters.

Lights tend to get left on when you have a house full of people, so swap old-style lightbulbs for new energy-efficient LED versions.

Clear gutters Nothing is more uninviting to guests than to see damp patches on walls and ceilings. These are often caused by water from overflowing gutters or blocked downpipes running down and saturating external walls, so ensure all rainwater goods are free of leaves and other debris, and that none are cracked or damaged. Don’t forget to clear gullies at the base of downpipes. Take care on ladders and wear gloves and other protective clothing. Consider installing a ‘gutter brush’ to stop debris collecting.

Be safe and secure 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. Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. It’s also a good idea to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor; a fire blanket in the kitchen is essential.

Christmas is a favourite time for burglars so test that all locks are working. If you have a burglar alarm then now is a good time to get it serviced and always switch it on when necessary.

Outside welcome With friends and family arriving in their droves, ensure paths and steps are safe and free of moss and weeds that may make them hazardous and slippery.

If freezing weather is forecast, buy de-icing salt or grit from a builders’ merchant ready to spread on paths, and invest in a snow shovel - they make the job of removing slush and snow a lot easier than with a conventional shovel.

122 Period Living

Over the festive period, look at ways to reduce energy use around your home in the coming year: O Buy an energy monitor, or have a smart meter installed by your gas or electricity provider so that you can keep an eye on energy consumption throughout the year.

O Insulate your loft space or top up the existing insulation to a depth of 270mm.

O Fit draught excluders to the bottom of doors.

Alternatively, make or buy ‘sausage’ type excluders that can be laid in front of doors.

O Consider curtains on the inside of external doors and at the bottom of stairs.

O Draughtproof letter boxes in doors using a proprietary draught excluder, a weighted piece of heavy fabric or a wooden flap.

O Have windows overhauled by a specialist company. As well as making repairs they will install draughtproofing strips designed to improve energy efficiency and cut noise.

O Consider secondary glazing as an alternative to draught strips on windows. Secondary glass or plastic panels simultaneously cut heat loss through the glass and draughts around the frame.

O Fill gaps in floorboards using string glued into place or propriety draughtproofing systems. The gaps between the floorboard of an average-sized room can cause a draught equivalent to leaving a small window open.

Useful contacts DRAUGHTEX – floorboard gap filler. Tel: 0800 088

7311; draughtex.co.uk DYNO – drain unblocking, plumbing and heating.

Tel: 0333 305 6495; dyno.com ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST – source for help and advice. electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk ENERGY SAVING TRUST – independent, impartial advice. Tel: 020 7222 0101; energysavingtrust.org.uk HEDGEHOG GUTTERBRUSH – gutter brushes.

Tel: 01558 610512; hedgehog-gutter-brush.co.uk MITCHELL & DICKINSON – loft insulation, secondary glazing and draughtproofing specialist.

Tel: 01237 429826; mitchellanddickinson.co.uk NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIMNEY SWEEPS – index of members. Tel: 01785 336555; nacs.org.uk NICEIC – database of registered electrical contractors. Tel: 0333 015 6625; niceic.com STOPGAP – floorboard draughtproofing system.

Tel: 029 2021 3736; stopgaps.com VENTROLLA – nationwide window renovation.

Tel: 0800 378278; ventrolla.co.uk

Little round hedgehog bauble, £7.99, Dobbies

Frosted leaf and cone wreath with red bells, £36, Gisela Graham

DECK THE HALLS

SHED ENVY While the weather outside is frightful, a potter in your potting shed should be delightful. Kit it out with finds like the Gardman metal watering can, from £14.99, and stainless-steel tools, from £42, at Wyevale Garden Centres. Then fill up your flask with a warming brew – or tipple – and head to the shed for a seasonal garden fix.

St Ives Sparkle garland, £65, The White Company

GARDEN jour al Festive treats for g and places to visit t

Glaze over

Feature Michelle Guy

Trailing plants look fantastic in this orange and blue cord hanging pot, handmade by Hackney-based potter Milo Liren McKeand. With its glazed white inner and unglazed outer, the planter will add a focal point to any room. £75 from A New Tribe.

s

Red berry bauble, £5, Wyevale Garden Centres

Glittery gold clip-on bird, £2.50, The Contemporary Home

cover e ak T

Brighten up rainy days with this new Flowers in a Vase umbrella, £22 from the National Gallery Shop. Inspired by the beautiful painting by Paulus Theodorus van Brussel of the same name, the umbrella depicts the blooming still life in all its glory.

GIVE IT SOME WELLY If you have a dedicated spot for storing muddy wellies, make it official with a boot room sign from Yester Home. Made from solid cast aluminium, the handpainted plaque, £35, is durable enough to fix to an outside wall, too.

Period Living 147

Perfect little Christmas treats for under £20

Enamel twine dispenser, £9.99, John Lewis Gardener’s Favourites beauty treats, £19.95, Weleda

Woodland scene mug, £11, Sophie Allport

RHS endorsed flower and fruit snips, £9.95, Annabel James

Festive days out For a spot of merry magic, head out to one of these winter-themed events this season Christmas wreath making, Daylesford Garden Workshop, Cotswolds selected dates, 9.30am– 1pm; £125 per person (daylesford.com) Christmas Glow lights installation, RHS Wisley 1 December – 2 January, 4–8pm; adult £11, child £7 (rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley) Table flowers and tablescapes for Christmas, Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden 14 December, 7–8.30pm; £150 per person (petershamnurseries.com) 148 Period Living

Christmas at Kew, after-dark trail of lights 22 November – 5 January, 5–10pm; adult from £16.50, under 4s free (kew.org) Christmas floristry workshops, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Yorkshire 3 December, 10.15am– 12.30pm; £56 per person (nationaltrust.org.uk) Storytime with Father Christmas, Saltram, Devon 1–3, 7–10, 13–17 & 20–23 December, 3–6pm; adult £4, child £8 (nationaltrust.org.uk)

Silver hedgehog pot hanger, £8.50, Marquis & Dawe

ON THE BOOKSHELF In At West Dean, The Creation of an Exemplary Garden (£40, White Lion Publishing), Sarah Wain and Jim Buckland share their 25-year journey, meticulous work and artistic vision that went into transforming and restoring this glorious garden at the foot of the South Downs in Sussex.

Illustrated with stunning photography by Andrea Jones, the book provides inspiration and sound advice for all gardeners.

POINSETTIAS… NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS? Mick Lavelle, gardening expert and senior lecturer in horticulture at Writtle University College, offers seasonal advice In recent decades, the cheery red bracts of the ‘Christmas Poinsettia’ have become a seasonal staple. For many, though, this fleeting winter blaze of colour is a one-off event, with plants soon discarded. But with care – and a lot of patience – you can keep them all year and even get the bracts to colour again the following winter.

BRIGHT AND LIGHT Start by keeping the plant healthy in your home. Poinsettias need bright, filtered light, and should be kept away from strong sun and draughts in a room that does not fall below 13°C (55°F). Even a short cold spell can damage them, so be careful when transporting poinsettias from the shop to your home. If the plant starts to wilt once you get it home, this could be because it was stored in cold conditions before you bought it.

Buy plants from a reputable supplier, and avoid those on sale in open-air markets or displayed outside. Only water them when the surface of the compost begins to dry out, to avoid root rot. Regularly misting them helps prolong the flowering-season.

LET DARKNESS FALL Many people successfully grow their poinsettias the following year, but fail to get the red bracts to reappear.

To achieve this, the plant needs 14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness every day from early October. Cover the plant with a large upturned box or container, or put it in a completely dark cupboard every night. Remember, however, that even a tiny chink of light, or removing the cover for just a few seconds, will ruin the process, and your efforts will be wasted. During its 10 hours of daylight, the plant needs good light and warmth. By December, the bracts will start to colour. The daily covering can now cease and the poinsettia can go back on display.

A path winds up the terraces packed with azaleas and rhododendrons, flanked on either side by shrubs and topiary frozen in the icy grip of a hoar frost

Gardens

An enchanting scene Ice-encased stems and a loch glittering in the low winter sun add a magical air to this family courtyard garden, set in a peaceful valley of the Scottish Borders Words Antoinette Galbraith | Photographs Ray Cox/Gap Photos

isp, sunny winter days are special joy to be savoured any garden. But to find a ell designed courtyard garden, verlooking a glorious landscape f mature trees surrounding a mall, ice covered loch shining are treat. This is the scene o Easter Weens in Roxburgh, n and John Curtis.

Surrounded on three sides by a converted stable block, the courtyard garden’s fourth, east facing side, opens up onto the Rulewater Valley in this beautiful area of the Scottish Borders, with views over Bonchester Hill, where the rolling countryside is punctuated with beech, oak and Douglas fir. In the foreground is the small loch that Christian and John made shortly after they inherited the house from Christian’s parents in the late 1970s.

It is a magical and intimate landscape, and one that must have entranced the late renowned landscape designer, Percy Cane, when he was invited by Christian’s parents to design the garden.

It was, Christian admits, an unusually small commission for someone who was used to laying out large country house gardens such as at nearby Monteviot House, the family seat of the Marquis of Lothian; The Royal Stuart’s residence Falkland Palace; and Ardencraig near Rothesay.

‘My parents met Cane when he was in Ethiopia designing the palace gardens for the Emperor Haile Selassie,’ she explains. ‘He offered to design the gardens of the stable courtyard, which they were on the point of converting. They’d had the good ³ 152 Period Living

Gardens

KEY FACTS Character A semi-formal garden with formal parterre and naturalistic herbaceous beds Size Approximately one acre Aspect East facing Soil The courtyard soil is neutral due to having been improved over the years, but the soil in the outer garden is acidic enough to support rhododendrons and azaleas Owners Christian and John Curtis, who inherited the property in the 1970s. The stable conversion was originally part of the family home at Easter Weens, which had been sold. The family then bought back the stables in the early 1960s Property A Victorian stable conversion in Bonchester Bridge, Roxburghshire

Top left: Neatly clipped topiary trained into geometric and softer shapes, stands above the rhododendron bank and leads the eye to views over the small loch.

The loch was created by Christian and John soon after they inherited the stables in the 1970s

Above: The view from the heather bed across the Percy Cane-designed courtyard garden, towards the converted stable block. The quirky turquoise window frames of the property help to link the planting in the herbaceous borders, which are themed according to their exposure

Period Living 153

Left: This wrought-iron arched gateway covered in frosted skeletal stems, leads through into the courtyard

Below left: Clipped box cones line the wide stone paths that run around the magical garden

fortune of being able to buy back the stables of our old family home, which had been sold off years before.’

The input of a great designer explains the perfectly proportioned garden laid out in an elegant classical style, which has withstood the test of time. It consists of a central square lawn surrounded by wide stone paths backed with herbaceous borders. ‘In Cane’s design the formal, rectangular beds were filled with hybrid tea roses edged with wild thyme,’ Christian explains, but she chose to replace the roses with heathers in a soft palette of colours. When she and John hand over the house to their son Roger, his wife Alison and their family, Alison plans to replace the heathers with a box parterre in a geometrical design. ‘Gardens should evolve,’ says Christian, who is delighted at the sense of family continuity.

The couple plan to move to the south west wing of the stables to make way for the next generation and the upkeep of the garden will be shared, with gardening advice and wisdom handed down. ‘The outer herbaceous borders in the courtyard will remain and Alison will tend these,’ Christian explains. ‘This should be manageable for her as she has two small children and a busy job.’ Christian, however, will take responsibility for the lower part of the garden, where terraces lead down to a slope packed with azaleas and rhododendrons, which merge into the surrounding trees. Here, in late winter the woods are carpeted with snowdrops. ³

Gardens Under a crisp, clear blue wintry sky, the man-made loch shines like a sheet of glass, while from late spring the azaleas and rhododendrons filling the bank leading up to the converted stable block, steal the show with their riot of colourful blooms

Right: Clipped conifers punctuate the terrace planting Far right: An ornate wrought-iron gate leading into the courtyard stands between stone urns spilling with trailing plants Below: The Rule Water river runs through this beautiful area of the Scottish Borders

Left: Bright red holly berries provide rare pops of colour among the wintry scene of frost-covered evergreens

Right: A tup’s head stone carving sits nestled among a bed of ivy

156 Period Living

An enthusiastic and knowledgeable plantswoman, Christian used Cane’s plans as a guide when planting, ‘but I did not follow them exactly,’ she says. Each border is themed according to its specific exposure – sun, shade or wind – but merge together forming a seamless whole.

The courtyard is entered through a wroughtiron gate flanked with pink Rosa bonica and crimson, repeat-flowering Portland rose, their ice-encased stems bright in the winter sun.

Turning left, the path takes you down the side of the north-facing border towards the front door.

‘We walk past this border every day, so it was planted to make sure there was always something of interest,’ Christian says. Structure is important and is demonstrated by a basic framework of yellow and gold shrubs, including variegated laurel and an unusual golden hypericum set against a background of green and gold ivy.

For summer interest, the shrubs are underplanted with hosta, astrantia, rodgersia and a very special Meconopsis ‘Slieve Donard’, hybridised by Christian’s grandfather in Ireland.

Lower plants include brunnera and trillium, while close inspection reveals a couple of surprises hidden in the planting: a sheep head enclosed with frosty ivy and the remains of a wrought-iron gate.

The front door, its steps softened with a mixture of containers, marks the start of the west border.

In early spring this is packed with a variety of mixed bulbs and pots of succulents, while pale pink Rosa ‘New Dawn’ is the star of the summer show, when the south-facing border is also brimming with hot plants in a range of reds and deep pinks.

The path then leads through the lower wroughtiron gate to a flight of stone steps flanked by box, yew and a pair of round Osmanthus × burkwoodii, which in spring are covered in fragrant white flowers. This vantage point affords fine views over the loch, where ‘in summer we enjoy taking the boat out and sitting there with a gin and tonic,’ says Christian, who has enjoyed teaching their grandchild the basics of sailing in the loch, watching and calling instructions from the bank.

One can hope that Christian and John’s children may in turn do the same for their grandchildren in years to come, in this wonderful family garden, set to continue throughout the generations.

IRS festive frolics

Wrap up warm, grab a mug of mulled wine, and explore the fabulous seasonal events taking place around the country

B 158 Period Living

edecked in boughs of holly and glazed with a thin layer of frost, our country is transformed in winter into a magical place.

With wooden chalets and stalls bringing roast chestnuts and handcrafted Christmas gifts to our streets, and stately homes and castles decorated with awe-inspiring Christmas trees hosting a wide variety of festive events and workshops, there are plenty of opportunities to help you get in the festive mood.

SCOTLAND & THE NORTH

Feature Holly Reaney Photographs (left) Chatsworth House Trust, (above) Iain Cameron, (bottom) Visit York

Enchanted at Belsay Hall Thu 6 – Sun 9 Dec Discover the stunning gardens of Belsay Hall transformed by light. Trails of fairy lights, mirror balls hanging from the trees, and scenes illuminated by coloured lights, will turn the property into a mystical wonderland. Enjoy further festivities in the Stable Yard, with mulled wine and mince pies, before enjoying a fairground ride or browsing in the Christmas gift shop. Running from 4.30–9pm. Tickets (non-members), adult £12, child £7.50. (english-heritage.org.uk)

Chatsworth’s Land of Make-Believe Fri 16 Nov – Tue 4 Dec Nothing is as it seems as you wander through the storybook world of Chatsworth House, where Arthur the Dragon guards the North Entrance and the Pied Piper roams the rooms. Featuring both traditional and more recent classic tales, including James and the Giant Peach and Charlotte’s Web, it’s sure to be a hit with young and old alike. Tickets from £25, include access to the farmyard, house and garden. (01246 565300; chatsworth.org)

Edinburgh Christmas Fri 16 Nov – Sat 5 Jan With a variety of rides, attractions and traditional market stalls, Christmas in Edinburgh promises to be a winter wonderland. The romantic festive market offers a unique shopping experience, as it spreads across George Street and Princes Street Gardens. The family-friendly Santa Land is home to the Christmas Tree Maze, Santa Train and Reindeer Ride, making it a fabulous family day out. (edinburghschristmas.com)

Christmas at Harewood House Sat 24 Nov – Sun 6 Jan Taking inspiration from the two little boys who lived there in 1929, Harewood House creates a festive dreamscape of the 1920s throughout the house and gardens. With live music, events, demonstrations, experiences, and even a visit from Father Christmas, there’s something for everybody to enjoy. Tickets, adult £16.50, child £8.50.

(0113 218 1010; harewood.org)

York’s St Nicholas Fair Thu 15 Nov – Sun 23 Dec The magical cobbled streets of York are brought to life with the scent of spiced mulled wine and twinkling fairy lights. Meander through the streets and explore a hundred traditional-style chalets packed full with Christmas gifts, decorations and festive delights. Then continue on to watch the panto at The Theatre Royal or pull on skates and enjoy the beautiful city by ice. (yorkshire.com) ³

Opposite: Explore the living pictures at Chatsworth’s festive Land of Make-Believe Above: Princes Street in Edinburgh will be full of seasonal spirit Below: York comes alive against the backdrop of the minster, illuminated by festive decoration

WALES & THE MIDLANDS Victorian Christmas at Aberdulais Fri 14 Dec and Fri 21 Dec Be astounded by the beautiful Welsh countryside on a candlelit walk to the Aberdulais waterfall at the Tin works, before taking a Victorian adventure to Santa’s grotto, where children can hear fascinating festive tales. Tickets, adult £5.90, child £2.95. (nationaltrust.org.uk)

Birmingham Royal Ballet presents The Nutcracker Fri 23 Nov – Thu 13 Dec The second city’s internationally renowned ballet company returns with The Nutcracker. Directed

by Sir Peter Wright, it is considered to be one of the best performances in the world. Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score will sweep you away along with gorgeous costumes, vast sets and delicate dancers.

Tickets from £20. (0844 338 5000; brb.org.uk)

The Malthouse Collective Selected dates until Tues 15 Jan Celebrating the best of local talent, The Malthouse Collective’s ‘The Merry Maker’s Shop’ offers a variety of artisan gifts as well as a bespoke cracker-

Above: Karla Doorbar stars as Clara in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker Below, clockwise from top left: Find a unique gift at The Malthouse; a royal Christmas at Windsor; Sudeley Castle

making station featuring vintage wallpaper and trimmings, and a quaint Christmas gift. (themalthousecollective.co.uk)

Stoke on Trent Winter Wonderland Thurs 15 Nov – Tue 2 Jan Adopting a traditional Bavarian style, Stoke’s Winter Wonderland combines all the best elements of Christmas in this festive spectacular. Ranging from the traditional chalets selling gifts, fresh coffee and seasonal sweet treats, and a Bavarian bar, to a huge ice rink and even the opportunity for a Santa visit - there is something for all the family to enjoy. (winterwonderlandstoke.com)

Sudeley Castle Select dates between Fri 9 Nov – Fri 14 Dec This year, the 12th-century Sudely Castle is hosting a series of craft workshops in collaboration with Cheltenham-based Rose & Willow. Try your hand at marbling your own festive wrapping paper, hand lettering cards, making a set of Christmas crackers, or baubles that will be the perfect addition to your tree. Tickets are £45, which includes entry into the Castle and Gardens and festive refreshments.

(01242 602308; sudeleycastle.co.uk)

Fairs

LONDON, THE SOUTH & THE EAST OF ENGLAND Bath Christmas Market Thu 22 Nov – Sun 9 December With more than 200 chalets winding throughout the Georgian streets of Bath, the Christmas event returns. The market prides itself on celebrating locally produced handcrafted gifts and festive foods, making it a great place to discover artisan gifts and decorations. (bathchristmasmarket.co.uk)

Photographs (top left) Bella Kotak, (Windsor) Royal Trust Collection/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018, (above right) Bath Christmas market.

Blenheim Palace: A Cinderella Tale Fri 23 Nov – Sun 6 Jan As the clock strikes, Blenheim is transformed into a fairy tale. The rooms are decorated with story book scenes, including Cinderella’s bedroom with her handmade gown hanging ready for the ball.

Tickets, adult £27, child £15.50. (01993 810530; blenheimpalace.com)

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Sun 23 Dec Broadcast around the world, Cambridge’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College returns to the heart of Christmas. Even if you’re not religious, the atmosphere of this stunning spectacle is unlike anything else and will certainly get you into the festive spirit. (kings.cam.ac.uk)

Above: Bath Christmas market is the perfect place to find a unique gift, celebrating local handmade products Below: Oxford market sees sellers and visitors flocking from all over

Longleat Festival of Light Selected dates from Fri 9 Nov to 6 Jan Voyage alongside the fearless Harry, Brave Bea and their beloved terrier Monty as they journey from the exotic to the Arctic in this mesmerising showcase. With nearly 650 lanterns, the aweinspiring illuminated displays will astound the whole family as the trio venture to the four corners of the world. Tickets (online), adult £31.45, child £23.55. (01985 844400; longleat.co.uk)

Ickworth House, Winter Housekeeping

Oxford Christmas Market

Sun 25 Nov Taking inspiration from its 1930s heritage, Ickworth’s basement comes to life as the museum hosts a day of living history. While the family are away, the Christmas preparations are underway downstairs.

From stock checking to servant shenanigans, it provide a fascinating entrance into a bygone age.

Tickets, adult £13.50, child £6.75. (01284 735270; nationaltrust.org.uk)

Fri 7 – Sun 22 Dec Established in 2009, the Oxford Market will once again fill the historic Broad Street with its quaint wooden stalls selling myriad beautiful handcrafted gifts and ornaments. Local bands and choirs will perform a variety of carols throughout the market, ensuring that everyone is in the Christmas spirit. (oxfordchristmasmarket.co.uk)

Ice Skating at Somerset House Wed 14 Nov – Thur 13 Jan Take to the ice day or night on Somerset House’s 900-square-metre outdoor rink this festive season.

Skate in the 18th-century courtyard or enjoy the rink-side pop-up shopping experience from Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas Arcade, all against the backdrop of the iconic neoclassical building bedecked with a stunning 40ft tree. Tickets from £8.50. (020 7845 4600; somersethouse.org.uk)

Christmas at Windsor Castle Sat 1 Dec – Sat 5 Jan Windsor Castle opens its doors to visitors through the festive season. At the heart of the display is the magnificent 20-foot-high Nordmann fir Christmas tree in St George’s Hall, which is dressed in beautiful gold decorations, while decadent wreaths and garlands also decorate the gorgeous State Apartments and Semi-State Apartments.

(030 123 7304; royalcollection.org.uk) Period Living 161

tockısts S A New Tribe 0815 534545 anewtribe.co.uk Abrams & Chronicle Books A 01903 828503 abramsandchronicle.co.uk

Aga 0800 111 6477 agaliving.com Alfies Antiques Market 020 7723 6066 alfiesantiques.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Ambience Home 020 8770 3870 ambiencehomefurnishings.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Arada Stoves 01297 632050 aradastoves.com Ardingly Antiques Market iacf.co.uk/ardingly Ashmolean Museum 01865 278016 ashmolean.org At Home in the Country 01484 865359 athomeinthecountry.co.uk Audenza 0116 2986393 audenza.com B&Q diy.com Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com B Bert & May 0203 744 0776 bertandmay.com

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Cambridge Imprint cambridgeimprint.co.uk Caroline Gardner carolinegardner.com C Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk

Chelsea Textiles chelseatextiles.com Chesneys 020 7627 1410 chesneys.co.uk The Christmas Boutique 01933 359436 thechristmasboutique.co.uk Christopher Wray 020 7013 0180 christopherwray.com Clearview Stoves clearviewstoves.com Clippings 020 3808 9449 clippings.com Cloudberry Living 01332 824166 Cockpit Arts cockpitarts.com The Contemporary Home Ltd 0845 130 8229 tch.net Content by Terence Conran 020 8150 8380 contentbyterenceconran.com Contura contura.eu The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com Cotswold Grey 01608 650446 cotswoldgrey.com Cotswold Trading 01386 853331 cotswoldtrading.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Craig & Rose 01383 740011 craigandrose.com Crosswater 0345 873 8840 crosswater.co.uk Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com

Daisy Park 01769 579077 daisypark.co.uk Darlings of Chelsea 020 7371 5745 D Daylesford 01608 731700 daylesford.com

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H

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Gardens Shop 0208 332 3123 shop.kew.org Kitchen Worktops Online kitchenworktopsonline.co.uk K Kew Labour & Wait 020 7729 6253 labourandwait.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com L Laura Ashley Bathroom Collection 01225 303900 lauraashleybathroomcollection.com Lemonbaum at Etsy etsy.com/shop/lemonbaum Lights4fun 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk Lime Lace 0330 058 4158 limelace.co.uk Linum linumdesign.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Living It Up 0116 269 5960 livingitup.co.uk Liz’s Country Kitchen lizscountrykitchen.wordpress.com Lloyd Loom lloydloom.com London Art Week londonartweek.co.uk Louisa Grace Interiors 07956 650895 louisagrace.co.uk Ludlow Stoves 01584 878552 ludlowstoves.co.uk Lundhs lundhsrealstone.com/uk

Made by Hands made-by-hands.co.uk Made in Design 020 7692 4001 madeindesign/co/uk M Made.com 0344 257 1888

Mailg maileg.co.uk Marina Mill 01634 718871 marinamill.co.uk Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8555 marksandspencer.com Marmor Paperie marmorpaperie.co.uk Marquis & Dawe 01925 767 611 marquisanddawe.co.uk Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Maud Interiors 020 8675 4637 maudinteriors.com Melody Maison 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk Millabe millabe.co.uk Minions of Craft minionsofcraft.co.uk Morsø 01788 554410 morsoe.com Mulberry Home at GP&J Baker gpjbaker.com Museum Selection 0844 499 7120 museumselection.co.uk Mushroom London mushroomlondon.com My Furniture 0800 092 1636 my-furniture.com

National Gallery Shop 020 7747 2870 nationalgallery.co.uk N National Portrait Gallery Shop npg.org.uk

National Trust 0344 800 1895 shop.nationaltrust.org.uk Natural History Museum Shop 020 7942 5000 nhm.ac.uk Natuzzi natuzzi.co.uk Neptune 01793 427450 neptune.com Nest.co.uk 0114 243 3000 Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nutscene 01307 468589 nutscene.com

Ocean Lighting 01642 245 066 oceanlighting.co.uk Oka 03330 042042 oka.com The Old Cinema 020 8995 4166 theoldcinema.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com

O

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Peony & Sage 01289 388650 peonyandsage.com Peony & Thistle peonyandthistle.com Petersham Nurseries 020 8940 5230 petershamnurseries.com Pines and Needles 0203 384 9420 pinesandneedles.com Pipii 01342 823921 pipii.co.uk Pooky 01242 821415 pooky.com Printer + Tailor 01432 265094 printerandtailor.com Pure Bathroom Collection 0845 634 4321 purebathroomcollection.co.uk Pushka 020 3056 7556 pushkahome.com

Rais rais.com Raj Tent Club 020 8847 2212 rajtentclub.com R Raystitch 020 7704 1060 raystitch.co.uk

The Real Flower Company 01730 818300 realflowers.co.uk RHS rhs.org.uk River Island 0344 576 6444 riverisland.com Ross & Brown 0345 600 3315 rossandbrownhome.co.uk Rowen & Wren 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk The Royal Collection Shop 020 8692 4463 royalcollectionshop.co.uk

Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636262 sainsburys.co.uk Shakespeare Birthplace Trust shop.shakespeare.org.uk S Smeg 0344 557 9907 smeguk.com Smithers of Stamford 01780 435060 smithersofstamford.com Sofa.com 0345 400 2222 Sofas by Saxon 01204 368413 sofasbysaxon.com Sophie Allport 01778 560 256 sophieallport.com Sophie Conran 020 7603 1522 sophieconran.com Spode 01782 743427 spode.co.uk Stable Antiques Broadway 07799 035873 Steel steel-cucine.com Stovesonline 0845 226 5754 stovesonline.co.uk Sunbury Antiques sunburyantiques.com Susie Watson Designs 0344 980 8185 susiewatsondesigns.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com Swoon Editions 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com

Talking Tables 0207 627 6767 talkingtables.co.uk Thomas & Thomas 01608 664022 thomasthomas.net T Thornback & Peel 020 72427478 thornbackandpeel.co.uk

Tingewick Pottery tingewickpottery.co.uk Toast 0333 400 5200 toa.st/uk Tobias & the Angel 020 8878 8902 tobiasandtheangel.com Tobias Interiors tobiasinteriors.co.uk

unbound.com Urban Avenue 0330 221 0565 urbanavenue.co.uk UUnbound V V Rouleaux 020 7224 5179 vvrouleaux.com Valspar valsparpaint.co.uk V Venoor Living 020 382 68859 venoor.com Very very.co.uk Viva Lagoon 020 7129 1309 vivalagoon.com Volevatch 07463 959412 volevatch.co.uk

Waitrose 0800 188 884 waitrose.com Wallace & Sewell 020 7833 2995 W wallaceandsewell.com

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Home 01746 710 777 yesterhome.com Yonder Living yonderliving.com YYester ZZara zara.com/uk

Period Living 163

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In the Picture

1966 – Snowman

1976 – English embroidery c1330

1997 – Father Christmas riding a snowball 178 Period Living

The first Christmas card appeared in the UK in 1843; the first red pillar box in 1853. But it wasn’t until 1966 that Royal Mail released its first Christmas stamps. Snowman (pictured far left) and King of the Orient were the two winning entries in a children’s art competition launched on BBC1’s Blue Peter. Since then, the mini works of art have become just as much part of Christmas as mince pies and we can’t wait for this year’s big reveal on 1 November. Meanwhile, here are our all-time favourites: check out 1997’s 150th anniversary of the cracker stamp, and 1976’s evocative medieval embroidery design.

1968 – Girl with doll’s house

1978 – Singing carols round the Christmas Tree

2003 – Icicle star

1969 – Herald angel

2005 – Come let us adore Him

2006 – Reindeer

Words Karen Darlow Stamp images © Royal Mail

TO BE PERFECTLY FRANKED

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