Innehållsförteckning för December 2016 från Living Etc

Tablet edition Read us on the go! Download a copy from the App Store Newsletter Sign up to our weekly newsletter for stylish ideas, news and offers – lifestyleetc.co.uk. Blog Follow our daily posts on lifestyleetc.co.uk. Instagram See behind the scenes @livingetcUK. Facebook Join the chat @livingetc. Twitter Catch up on the gossip @livingetc. Pinterest Discover our latest style inspirations at LivingetcUK. Subscribe! Take advantage of our fabulous online offer on page 12. L ast Christmas, I put my son in charge of the tree decoration – traditionally, it’s a big moment in our household, one that requires carols and pine-scented candles and not a little styling nous. The result was perfect in the eyes of a six-yearold, with all the lights bunched around the lower branches and the decs…

Designer Andrea Branzi, 2010. Details Stainless-steel and wood nutcracker, £69.95, Alessi. Background In design circles (yes, that means us), the term ‘a perfect marriage of form and function’ is frequently used to describe an object – one that melds together the creative instincts of, say, an architect (whose head is often somewhere in the clouds) and the more prosaic attitudes of an engineer, whose sole concern is that his product actually works. So an architect who also happens to be a professor of industrial design, should, in theory, be the perfect exponent of these two competing disciplines. Step forward, then, Signore Andrea Branzi, who brought that theory thrillingly to life with his iconic Scoiattolo (squirrel) nutcracker. Known for his radical questioning of the relationship between nature and culture, origins and…

Set the scene for a dazzling event with a customised feathered wreath. Create a riot of pattern and texture in the hall with cascading iridescent decs and a fabulous peacock/leopard print. Dress your tree with unusual shapes and eye-popping colour – dipping feathers in glitter is a sure-fire way to add more glitz. To create a Christmas-in-the-tropics vibe, layer-up palm prints, leaf motifs and swathes of fluttering butterflies. With a tree made entirely out of paper, up the luxe factor with marbled walls, exotic animals and lashings of gleaming gold. Take your cue from Santa’s travels and show off festive favourites from across the globe in a series of spectacular displays. Pink and gold make an enchanting combo – add a seasonal spin to the scheme with some shimmering illuminated…

LIVING AREA With such a huge expanse of floor space to play with, Alastair has clustered furniture at different points in the loft to create what he calls ‘pit stops’. Many of these are practical, others are intriguing and some are there simply for sheer merriment. Get the look The vintage Percival Lafer seating is from Alfies Antique Market and was reupholstered by Ainsworth Broughton. The Willy Rizzo Bar table for Cassini was found at The Furniture Cave. The Twiggy floor lamp is by Marc Sadler for Foscarini. The rug is from SCP. The graffiti, opposite, is by the loft’s former owner, Mickey Wiggs. This is the Drift bench by Amanda Levete for Established & Sons at Liberty. HOME PROFILE THE OWNER Alastair Cumming, an actor, plus Italian greyhound Roxy…

HIDE AND SEEK Running out of room in the kitchen? Then it’s Neil Lerner’s island to the rescue. The seemingly unassuming worktop (which comes in an array of materials, such as composite stone or granite) slides aside to reveal the hob hidden beneath, while simultaneously adding to the surface space. The party’s in the kitchen then. From ￡8,500 (neillerner.com) [Drink smart] Crack open a bottle with Joseph Joseph’s innovative Barwise collection. The Corkscrew twists corks free without force and the Waiter’s Friend will pop corks in one pull. Cheers! From £15 each (harrods.com) PLUMB THE DEPTHS Settle back for a soak in the Oyster bath by Glass 1989. Made from natural materials, such as sand, quartz and marble, it’s crafted into a gentle elliptical shape that defines relaxation to a…

Background You only need to search for ‘Rustic farmhouse + exposed beams’ on Pinterest to know how much of a thing wood rafters are. Once the mainstay of timber-framed houses, for centuries beams were hidden away, only ever encountered on forays into the attic. Essential, but rarely seen – they were the architectural equivalent of showing your underwear in public. But when the Seventies nostalgia movement heralded a revival of all things olde worlde, the exposed beam found its place in the style pantheon. More recently, the clever juxtaposition of modern materials with raw timber has seen the exposed beam graduate from the Tudorbethan pub to hip barn conversions and urban loft developments, plus improvements in insulation mean we’ve no need for such space-depleting extravagance as a false ceiling. Today,…

MORNING BLISS If there was ever a sofa for opening presents on, it’s Habitat’s Hendricks chaise design. There’s room for all the family, its wide arms are perfect for balancing newly unwrapped selection boxes on and there’s no nicer prospect than settling into its lush emerald velvet for The Great Christmas Bake Off. No no, don’t get up. ￡2,400 (habitat.co.uk) STAR BUY It’s a cracker, but not as you know it – Fortnum’s has given it a bit of an overhaul. All the best bits are still there – the explosive noise, the paper hats, the hilarious jokes – but the tubes have merged into one, star-like hybrid, so there’s more room for the prize! Which, in this case, is a fun-filled activity for the group, so everyone’s a winner.…

FRONT LIVING ROOM This reception area is dressed for the season, although many of the decorative elements are permanent features in Lucy’s scheme. ‘At Christmas, the cherub statue gets a crown and some fairy lights,’ she says. Get the look The Balsam Hill tree is topped with a crown from Hobbycraft. The wrapping paper, here and throughout, is from notonthehighstreet.com. The coffee table, cushions, illuminated letter and some of the Christmas decorations are from Rockett St George. The sofas are vintage Ikea. This is Tom Dixon’s Mirror Ball pendant. The Ikat Bamboo rug is from The Rug Company. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue estate emulsion. HALLWAY The ivy, eucalyptus and pine garland is fake, but looks amazing,’ says Lucy. ‘The baubles can just be weaved…

Christmas is a time when family and friends come together to celebrate and there’s no better place for this than round the dining table. With most of the entertaining undertaken there, it’s crucial that your setting makes the desired impact, from the table and chairs to the festive sparkle and theatrical flourishes. To help impress guests and make your Christmas lunch a stylish affair, Livingetc has teamed up with luxury Italian brand Calligaris for an exclusive evening filled with design advice, style tips and expert discussions. Taking place on the evening of 7 December, the event will be hosted by regular Livingetc stylist Marianne Cotterill, who will take inspiration from this year’s key festive trends to create a selection of stunning table settings. Showcasing Calligaris’ incredible range of dining solutions,…

HOME PROFILE THE OWNERS Joanna Shipton, a former model who’s now a full-time mother, her husband Mark, a company director and co-owner of Hertford House Hotel, and their children Emmie, nine, Harrie, six, and Hardy, four. Betty the French bulldog also lives here. THE PROPERTY The ground-floor apartment of a Hertfordshire manor house. There is an open-plan living/dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, children’s bedroom, family bathroom, dressing room, utility room and WC. DINING AREA Tom Dixon pendants find their natural métier, set between contemporary drawings and the Georgian room arch. Joanna and Mark found stacks of drawings in the basement and hung them over the dining table, along with a modern painting. ‘It felt right that they should be on display here,’ says Joanna. Get the look The dining table…

1 HOT FLASH Always in style, a flash of metallic can up the glamour wattage anywhere in the house, but it has a very special place in the boudoir. ‘Mix dark colours with metallics for a sexy, grown-up bedroom,’ says Lucy St George, cofounder of Rockett St George. They can also give a contrasting hard texture to the room’s soft fabrics. Unless you want a full-on showbiz vibe, use gold, silver or bronze sparingly – a little can go a long way. That said, metallics can offset an overly neutral or Scandi interior, adding a little oomph when spaces get that bit too refined. Project details Without its über-bold gold metallic headboard, this room at the Hotel Borgo Nuovo in Milan would be tasteful, but a tinge pedestrian. Metallics can…

White chocolate candy cane truffles Makes 45 * 125ml single cream * 40g unsalted butter, chopped * 550g white chocolate buttons * 10 small candy canes (120g), crushed * 160g icing sugar, sifted Put the cream and butter in a small saucepan over a high heat and bring to the boil. Put the chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl and top with the hot cream mixture. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and, using a metal spoon, stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Add the candy canes and mix to combine. Allow to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, or until just firm. Spread the icing sugar on a large baking tray. Roll teaspoonfuls of the truffle mixture into balls…

Forget polishing the silverware for Christmas Day, there’s only one metal we want to see this year and it’s the very brightest of golds. The autumn/winter 2016 catwalk was gilded to perfection, with Erdem’s runway a flurry of gold fringing, while all Lanvin was missing was the frankincense and myrrh. In the home, embrace the trend with Yuletide decs and statement gold pieces that’ll work all year round. MDF Italia’s lustrous table will make any meal a glamorous affair, especially when eaten with Nordic House’s gleaming cutlery. How many carats do you want with that turkey? 24, of course!…

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Christmas is the peak season for entertaining. From neighbourho od drinks parties to family get-togethers, it’s the time to open your home to friends and family. So it needs to be looking its best. Prepare for this busy time for socialising by ensuring you have enough furniture to accommodate all your guests comfortably, then create a welcoming atmosphere by giving your home a festive twist. Next Home has everything you need to furnish a modern home, from beds to sofas, dining tables to mood-enhancing lighting, plus a fabulous trenddriven accessories range, which ensures your space is dressed in the style of the season. This year, it’s all about drama, with plush velvet upholstery in rich berry shades, quilted and embroidered textures and damask patterns in rich jewel colours such as…

‘Candles and twinkling lights create atmosphere and a palette of white, soft silver and greenery works in any home’ MARK WINSTANLEY RETAIL EXPERT Although he originally trained as a textile designer, Mark has spent his career in retail, working for various international lifestyle brands developing and evolving their ideas. His current role as chief creative officer for The White Company chimes perfectly with his neutral and elegant approach to style. Here, Mark reveals how he creates a warm and welcoming Christmas scheme in his West Sussex cottage. How would you sum up your style at Christmas? My focus is on making the house feel welcoming and comfortable – candles, roaring fires and as much greenery as I can gather from the garden, with white hyacinths and narcissus scenting the rooms.…

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