Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från Homes & Gardens

As my team and I ready this December issue to be sent to the printers, I am struck by how jolly it looks... it is an abundance of Christmas cheer. This year we have focused on raising a smile and small ways to celebrate – from beautiful making ideas to decorating with fresh foliage and other festive schemes. I adore cookery author Skye McAlpine’s London home that’s dressed up to impress (three trees!). Our gifting pages are also pretty special. In lieu of a straight product round-up, we decided to champion independent sources and vintage shops and suggest some experiential gifts. It’s a fabulous mash-up of ideas and inspiration. I’m also thrilled to shout about the new homesandgardens.com. The relaunched site is now a trove of buying guides, meaty expert…

TWELVE TREATS & TREASURES The presents we hope Santa will bring this year ELEVEN LOCKDOWN LUXURIES Necessities for happiness at home TEN COURSES FOR CREATIVES Workshops for those looking to gain a new skill Cressida Bell: Lampshade Painting Masterclass Spend the day at Cressida Bell’s East London studio creating an original lampshade. Time: 10.30am-5pm Tools required: all provided Location: Cressida Bell, 24-26 Clarence Mews, London, E5 8HL Price: £160 Website: cressidabell.co.uk Salt Glass Studios: One Day Glass Making Course Learn a variety of skills from glass-blowing, shaping and applying colour to create your own sculpted vessel. Time: 10am-5pm Tools required: all provided Location: Salt Glass Studios, Studio 24, Roundtree Close, Norwich, NR7 8SX Price: £225 Website: saltglassstudios.co.uk The Little Surprises Company: Handpicked gift experiences Not sure what to buy someone?…

Skye McAlpine shares her style vision and loves GO-TO COLOUR Pink. It’s such a peaceful colour, but also elegant and feminine. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION Old cookbooks. I’m obsessed with first editions from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s by authors such as Arabella Boxer. Her First Slice Your Cookbook is a huge inspiration – the way she merges beautiful, timeless design with a deeply practical book. I also collect books by Ambrose Heath, with gem titles such as The Book of the Onion. WHAT’S ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE Lots of books (cookery, interiors and fashion); a Fornasetti scented candle; Cire Trudon matches (in a beautiful box); a Luke Edward Hall x Richard Ginori dish and a vase of blooms from Milli Proust or Wild At Heart (wildatheart.com). WORDS TO…

THE TALBOT INN Somerset is always a favourite for country getaways. If you want something sleepy and low-key, head to The Talbot, a 1480 coaching inn in the chocolate-box village of Mells, that delivers a traditional experience with modern flair. Bedrooms have contemporary four poster beds and large tubs, while food makes the most of the kitchen garden and there’s a healthy stock of local real ales. Rooms from £100 a night. talbotinn.com THE BRISLEY BELL A popular local institution, The Brisley Bell, dating back to the 17th century, was once an unassuming village pub in this rural patch of Norfolk. The current owners have greatly expanded the proposition adding dining spaces, restoring the gardens and converting barns into guest rooms. Interiors are classic and effortless, providing a relaxing bolthole…

MULLED MARMALADE GLAZED TURKEY SERVES 6-8 1 free range or organic turkey, 4-4.5kg 2 bunches of thyme and sage 70g butter Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE MARMALADE GLAZE 1 jar marmalade 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled 8 cloves 1 stick cinnamon 1 star anise FOR THE ROASTING TIN 4 shallots, peeled and halved 6 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces 4 parsnips, peeled, cut into 3-inch pieces 4 beetroot, peeled and quartered 1 whole garlic, halved through the centre 1 small bunch of thyme 1 small bunch of sage ■■ Start by making the marmalade glaze a day before you cook the turkey – we used a bird from mortonsfarm.co.uk. Place the marmalade in a small saucepan over a low heat to melt. Stud the…

The connection Emily Maynard and Ron Totton felt when walking into their first London home went deeper than the appeal of brick and mortar; it was the sense of connection they felt with its former owner that convinced them that it was the right choice. ‘What first captured our attention was the character of the flat and we could imagine bringing back the art-deco feel, but we also loved the lady that had lived here before. She had travelled to many of the same places as us and we still keep in touch with her. It just seemed right,’ says Emily, who works for LinkedIn, while Ron is an entrepreneur. The couple have three young daughters, aged seven, nine and 12, and have moved all over the world, but decided…

Hidden from the road by tall hedges and surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills, JoJo Bentz’s fairy-tale garden in Luxembourg is designed to surprise and delight all those who enter. And with over 1,000 visitors each year, she has quite a task on her hands. The garden that started for JoJo as a hobby over 18 years ago is now the setting for annual wine-tasting days at her family’s winery, Domaine Claude Bentz, run by her husband Claude and daughter Carole. It is also a private space for her and her family, a sanctuary next to her modern home at the winery’s headquarters in Remich on the banks of the river Moselle. Inspired by visits to gardens in Belgium and France, and ideas gleaned from books and magazines, JoJo set…

BRING THE LIGHT The classic wreath can often be far too beautiful to be left out in the cold, so if you decide to display one inside always consider how its foliage will work with your interiors. A design like this seed head and moss creation has a wonderfully pale and ethereal look, making it the ideal focal point for a darker corner in your home. In this setting, the curved shape of the demilune table echoes the circular wreath, while the white bowl picks up on the highlighted areas of foliage above. If you are looking for other options to add pale tones to a wreath, consider integrating white heather or snowberry as both will stand out in darker areas. € LEAVE A TOKEN Consider creating natural decorations that…

DESIGNER Stéphanie Coutas, director, SC Edition by Stéphanie Coutas, +33 (0)1 81 29 31 90, stephaniecoutas.com. THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom, 19th-century apartment in central Paris. DESIGN BRIEF For this Parisian pied-àterre belonging to two globetrotting art collectors, a sumptuous yet refined entertainment space was a priority. The practical side of the elegantly appointed kitchen was to fade into the background the moment guests arrived. DIMENSIONS 6.5x4m (kitchen area only) LAYOUT While 220sq m is by no means paltry for an apartment with prime views of the Eiffel Tower, Stéphanie maximised the feeling of spaciousness by uniting cooking, dining and relaxing into one glorious, light-filled room. ‘The kitchen, in particular, was very small and uninviting so we chose to demolish in favour of a big living room with the kitchen tucked…

FITTINGS The Solheim wall mounted bath shower mixer in silver nickel, £1,560, Catchpole & Rye. Il Bagno Alessi One 243970 drop-in bath, £2,729, Laufen SURFACES Bespoke hand-painted Flamingos wallpaper on sterling silver gilded paper with yellow ombre effect and waterproof glaze, from £1,495 per 91.5cm wide panel, de Gournay. Bespoke marble terrazzo tiles, from £126sq m, Mosaic del Sur ACCESSORIES Ottoman upholstered in Textured Boucle Furnishing fabric in Sienna, £25m, John Lewis & Partners…

SEASONAL DECORATING DO... ■ Try new textures and patterns – the warmth and vibrancy of kilim cushions and rugs are the perfect choice for this time of year. ■ Layer lighting by including wall lights and table lamps; bring additional comfort with colourful and textured shades. ■ Blend old with new. A considered and inviting room manages to make even the newest item look like it’s been there forever. ■ Consider fragrance – gently spiced candles and a real tree are at the heart of that unforgettable festive scent we all want in our homes at Christmas. “AT CHRISTMAS USE AN OLD CURIOSITY SHOP MIX OF HOMEMADE DECORATIONS, VINTAGE LANTERNS AND RIBBONED DETAILS TO CREATE CHARACTER” DON’T... ■ Leave the table bare – a simple tablecloth creates the ideal backdrop…

THREE OF THE BEST: SEA-LIFE BAUBLES No tree will be complete without decorations that fit the under-the-sea trend. Gradient octopus, £8, John Lewis & Partners; Seaweed bauble, £8, Gisela Graham at Heal’s; Crab ornament, £11.70, Bungalow Denmark LIGHT SHOW British lighting firm J Adams & Co has launched Nova, a collection of sculptural glass shades that have reimagined the classic globe light. The art deco-inspired design incorporates the brand’s signature use of brass, which appears to pierce through the centre of the shade. Nova pendant lights, from £450 each. DREAM TEAM This year, Naturalmat won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, so we’re delighted to announce we have designed a range together. The Naturalmat x Homes & Gardens collection features three beds and matching storage solutions, including the Buckland bed,…

Wave sofa, £3,260, David Seyfried; covered in Arbre de Vie, £93m, Nobilis. Cushions in Omega velvet in Adriatic, £73.69m, Linwood Fabric. Pom-pom trim, from a selection, V V Rouleaux. Cockpen lacquer coffee table, £3,720, Sybil Colefax and John Fowler. Corner seat fenders, £900 pair, Acres Farm; covered in All Over in Blue/Red, £195.60m, Pukka Print at Tissus d’Hélène. Red beaded Orb mirror, £1,528, Reid and Wright. Carrara marble chimneypiece, £985; cast-iron fire basket, £1,250; Framed Swedish birds, £45 each, all Lassco Brunswick House. Owl standing lamp in bronze, £3,080, Nicholas Haslam. Raffia scalloped lampshade with Red trim, £180, Matilda Goad. Three-Bird candelabra, £650; Fire Bird Shrine candelabra, £780, both Laurance Simon at Contemporary Applied Arts. Emerald beeswax candles, £42 set of six, Matilda Goad. Felt Folklore stockings, to order from…

CREATE A MODERN WREATH WITH FLORIST ANGELA MAYNARD Angela Maynard is the creative director of Botany, a plant and floral design studio in London. An advocate of the benefits that nature, creativity and mindfulness have on mental health, she runs workshops on houseplants and dried florals and seasonal wild flower walks. Here, she shares how to create a Christmas wreath that can be used year after year. With a few carefully chosen stems and a little inspiration, you can create an elegant wreath that will last beyond the festive season. These techniques can be used for a variety of different wreaths. Very few materials are needed to make something beautiful that can be added to year after year. The stems can be adapted, too, and you can add or swap…

Visionary, creative, energetic, optimistic – these are words written and spoken by design commentators to shine light on the life and work of designer Sir Terence Conran who died on 12 September aged 88. When Homes & Gardens was in touch with him as part of our centenary celebrations, he used a different word to describe his outlook as a young designer confronting post-war austerity. That word was hungry. He described being hungry for success, frustrated by the indifference to design in furniture shops. ‘I couldn’t let go of the idea that it had to be possible to sell intelligent design in a home-furnishings shop,’ he told us. Conran opened his first Habitat store in London in 1964. Inspired by market stalls in France and Elizabeth David’s books on cooking…

Artist Maxine Leslau didn’t start planning her family’s Cotswold home with fabric swatches and paint charts. Her starting point was the mood she wanted to create. ‘My work is always about emotions and I knew this house needed to feel calm. In London we live such a hectic life, so I wanted to feel as though we were escaping to our very own hotel or spa.’ A quick glance is enough to see that Maxine has pulled it off. Simple, tactile materials and a tranquil palette of neutrals and nature-inspired greens and blues have resulted in a home that’s elegantly considered and deeply relaxing. Maxine wanted somewhere she and her husband Nick could spend time with their three grown-up sons, their partners and families. ‘When my sons grew up, I…

Inspired by the betel nut infamously chewed in South Asia, Beetlenut is a red that can straddle between pink, coral and terracotta depending on the light. This lack of specificity is its strength, giving it versatility. It’s perfect for adding vibrancy to dining areas, providing a softer, more modern alternative to traditional red. The same is true for sitting rooms as the colour’s earthy hues create an inviting and relaxing space. Temper the shade with cool greys and taupe for an elegant look, but mossy green accents and warm metallics will evoke the spirit of Christmas.…

PAINTERLY PERFECTION Hattie Fox draws on influences from the natural world, visual art and botany for her creations at That Flower Shop How did it all start? My relationship with flowers is more of a familiarity than anything else. I grew up around farmers and growers. I launched my business in 2011 working from my warehouse flat then moved to a studio in Hoxton and a flagship store in Shoreditch High Street. We work with a lot of seasonal British flowers and have a small cutting patch in Kent so we have a low environmental impact. Sourcing responsibly is something that’s really important to us. What inspires you? Artists and photographers mostly, but also colour and form. Anything visual can be an inspiration, especially if you allow influences to come…

CABINETRY Custom cabinetry with specialist powdered marble finish, around £90,000, SC Edition by Stéphanie Coutas APPLIANCES Bertazzoni P906IM3G5NE induction hob in black glass, £1,699, Bertazzoni. 200 Series BOP 210 101 single oven, £2,250; BMP 251 100 combination microwave oven, £3,750, both Gaggenau. G7365 SCVi XXL integrated dishwasher, £1,599; KFN37452 iDE Integrated fridge freezer, £2,449, both Miele SINK & TAP Tara Classic single-lever mixer with rinsing spray set in polished chrome, £1,140, Dornbracht. 8 Degree under-mount 838mm sink in stainless steel, £1,042, Kohler SURFACES For similar oak parquet in Versailles pattern, try RECM4581 Sapphire Talpa rustic engineered oak, from £201.54sq m, Havwoods ACCESSORIES Aston Dining Little Armchairs by Rodolfo Dordoni, from £2,445 each, Minotti…

LINE UP Beautiful tiles are clearly in Claybrook’s DNA and its new Zeze Mosaic porcelain collection is influenced by traditional Japanese glazing techniques and comes in five eye-catching shades. The clever design means it can be tiled on curved walls and surfaces, giving it a lot more versatility than standard tiles. Zeze Mosaic tiles, £89.98sq m, Claybrook GEBERIT HAS UNVEILED A NEW COLLECTION OF FLUSH PLATES IN A RANGE OF FINISHES INCLUDING CONCRETE, MATT BLACK AND NATURAL WOOD. FROM £477.38. NEW EDITION If you love the original AGA but want to save on running costs, the new 13-amp AGA R3 cooker may be the answer. This latest model, which runs solely on electricity and comes in an exciting array of colours, offers a choice of two hotplates – one for…

1 . David Hicks is my design hero for his ability to mix modernity with an imbued sense of classical tradition. I’ve been highly influenced by his use of colour, pattern and layering. 2 . I first saw William Morris’s Willow Bough 25 years ago and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s been incredibly exciting to bring it back as part of my collaboration with Morris & Co. 3 . A small luxury important to me is spending time in our bothy on the west coast of Scotland. It is small and not very comfortable 4 . In decoration, the best rule is not to overthink. Follow your heart not your head. Hold on to the freshness of your first thoughts. 5 . In the age of Instagram everyone’s a…

RAVINDER BHOGAL, AUTHOR AND RESTAURATEUR Christmas is about being with the ones we love so I want it to be easy. I stock up on delicious artisan charcuterie and cheeses (La Fromagerie’s truffle brie a must), Fortnum & Mason’s florentines and smoked salmon and pickles from Panzer’s deli. My late father shared his birthday with Jesus, so Christmas is celebrated in his memory – we had birthday cake instead of Christmas pudding and I still do this every year. We join our restaurant’s community at St Marylebone Parish Church for midnight mass then Christmas Day is a late lunch, jazz in the background, a table dressed with clementines, flowers and candles. We drink Pol Roger champagne or Jikoni negronis (vermouth swapped for port and pomegranate molasses) and serve dishes like…

When bestselling cookbook author Skye McAlpine wanted her new house in southwest London to feel immediately lived in, who better to call on than architect and interior designer Ben Pentreath for help? Together with Ben, a master of combining comfort with patina, Skye and her husband Anthony decided to strip their then newly purchased four-storey Victorian terrace house back to its very bare bones and start again from scratch. The house, part of a row of Victorian terraced houses ‘cheaply and soullessly renovated’ by a property developer in the 1990s, had been on the market for a long time. Emptied of all its contents, ‘it looked incredibly sad,’ recalls Skye. ‘But it had a really good energy, which Ben felt too, with great ceiling heights and views of the park…

DISCOVER: THE ILLUMINATED TRAIL AT BLENHEIM PALACE There are few places more spectacular in the British Isles than Blenheim Palace and during the festive period it really comes alive. Returning this winter, following its success in previous years, are the light installations that make up the estate’s enchanting Illuminated Light Trail. There are lasers and projectors, colour-changing tunnels, treetop canopies bathed in light and all manner of luminous baubles. New displays include the Heart of The Stars and ethereally glowing Will-o-the-Wisps. And, of course, there’ll be seasonal gift and food stalls – mulled wine anyone? blenheimpalace.com DON’T MISS: A festive cookery class at the Bread Ahead bakery. Brush up on your culinary skills with workshops on celebration bakes or traditional Victorian Christmas fare, breadahead.com. VISIT: TRACEY EMIN AND EDVARD MUNCH…

This time of year always has a cyclical feel. Unless you are a person highly attuned to natural rhythms, time throughout the other seasons moves fast enough that we occasionally forget the rotation we’re in until it catches us; the blossom in spring or the first leaves falling can draw us sharply back in synchronisation. So as 2020 careers towards 2021 we feel the circle starting again, and although this is a human-made structure, we are resonating with the non-human world as it begins to recommence growth (in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway). Nature’s reliable cycles are fundamental to its function. Aside from seasonal change, closed loops exist in how nature gives and recycles nutrients, carbon, water and – relevant to humans – materials. Wood, my beloved and dearest material, is…

Shawn Henderson shares his style vision MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT The opening of the space by removing the wall that separated the dining area from the living area. GREATEST INDULGENCE Installing air conditioning and adding a half bath, both of which required eliminating a bedroom. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Adding brick tiles in the kitchen. WORDS TO LIVE BY Make it pretty. FAVOURITE BUILDING The Church of Light by Tadao Ando. LAST ITEM YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME A Jenny Holzer sculpture (projects.jennyholzer.com). FAVOURITE MATERIALS FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATING Simple, natural decorations, but I do love large coloured bulbs for the tree. IT WOULDN’T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT Setting up the Christmas village houses that used to be my mom’s.…

A vertical climb reaches up through the Montana mountains to two tree-lined crests that open out onto panoramic views across the valley below. At 9,000ft, you would be hard-pushed to find a more perfect location for a ski in-ski out chalet: a dream spot that would encourage even the most reluctant of skiers to rekindle their mojo. ‘It is the most beautiful setting and a wonderful project to have designed,’ says Seattle-based interior designer Kylee Shintaffer. For Kylee, a rising star in interior design on the West Coast of America, creating a client home starts with getting to know the family’s rhythm then overlaying cues from the location and prevailing architecture to build an authentic space. ‘Home should be a true reflection of the owners,’ says Kylee. ‘Our brief for…

‘I am going to decorate the table in rich, jewel-like colours using my Moon runner (above) as the main feature over a classic white tablecloth. I’ll then add tea lights, pomegranates and red roses in brass lassi cups to create a rich, sumptuous atmosphere. And for the finishing touches, the children will lay out their handmade crackers that we do together as a ritual each year.’ MOLLY MAHON , mollymahon.com ‘Bringing the outdoors in at this time of year is an effective way to decorate your table. A large vase of branches and garden foliage can look both dramatic and stylish. I like to mix these with a few decorations scattered across the table.’ RONNY DE KONING , global buyer, Petersham Nurseries, petershamnurseries.com ‘This year, I definitely think colours like…

DESIGNER Hannah Cecil Gurney, director of global marketing and development, de Gournay, 020 7352 9988, degournay.com. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, late Victorian townhouse, a short walk from Battersea Park, London. DESIGN BRIEF A committed ‘bath person’, Hannah wanted a quiet, child-free retreat – with a large bath – to enjoy her nightly soak, often with a G&T and a good book. Unsurprisingly, the design was led by de Gournay’s hand-painted Flamingos wallpaper, with the overall goal a cocooning, cosy haven that would feel inviting at the end of a busy day. DIMENSIONS 3.5x4m FITTINGS High-quality hardware was sourced from Hannah’s favourite supplier, Catchpole & Rye. ‘It’s like the jewellery to the outfit. Their fittings remind me of old country houses yet also don’t seem out of place in contemporary interiors,’…

NOW THAT the kitchen has evolved into a living space, its job description has broadened to encompass homeworking, entertaining and relaxing. Bespoke free-standing furniture pieces sitting alongside fitted cabinetry are called upon to provide extra storage, a pantry or study corner. And to up the comfort levels, instead of the cool colour schemes we’ve become accustomed to, warm tones of berry red and terracotta are seeping in, patterns are finding their way onto floors and textured surfaces are adding an extra dimension. In the same way that a well-tailored suit relies on the careful construction that’s hidden within, appliances from the LG SIGNATURE range wear their expert design credentials discreetly. Their sophisticated good looks can be smoothly incorporated in a contemporary or classic broken-plan or open-plan room. The LG SIGNATURE…