The English Home December 2016

Everyone has a certain tradition that holds symbolic resonance and starts their personal countdown to the festivities. For some, it is Stir-up Sunday – the last Sunday before Advent – when the Christmas pudding is prepared; for others, it may be writing and posting Christmas cards to loved ones far afield or perhaps buying a new bauble to hang on the tree. In my own home, the most momentous traditions are choosing and dressing the Christmas tree – which we always do in the middle of December – and hanging a wreath on the front door. My family and I set aside a whole day to revel in the ritual. On goes the Christmas music as a merry backdrop to the careful unpacking of decorations. Out comes a plateful of…

Creating a homemade wreath has become one of my seasonal rituals. The first I ever made was basic – bay leaves, ivy and ribbon on a circlet of wire – but with each passing year, I have become more adventurous. The florist Jay Archer offers an insightful guide to follow (page 118), and the wreath above, created by Darling & Wild for the home feature on page 58, provides inspiration, too. Planning a theme for wrapping presents is another lovely creative outlet. Last year, I opted for brown paper tied with raffia, to which I attached greenery, cinammon sticks and dried orange slices. This year I’m considering hot colours in dark fuchsia and burnt orange for a vibrant and jolly pile of presents under the tree. Making Mary Berry’s vodka…

Take inspiration from Mother Nature when decorating for the season, with a palette of greens, mistletoe whites and natural hues to set a soothing scene harking back to a simpler time. Brown paper packages tied up with string and decorated with foliage make a quiet promise of treats in store. Dove-white paper bunting has a nostalgic feel whilst mirrored decorations add sparkle and magic.…

Children adore colour, at Christmas just as at any other time of year. And it is perfectly possible to set their anticipation alight by decorating the house in a jewel-box of vibrant hues whilst still maintaining a tasteful end result. Tartan stockings add a jolly sight at the fireside or end of a bed on Christmas Eve, whilst iced biscuits dangle temptingly from tree branches and colourful crackers set the most convivial of festive tables.…

Polar Post Can you keep a secret? Charlotte Wood can. She is the close confidante of a certain important man in red and knows his address. Her business – Polar Post – enables children to write to Father Christmas and receive personalised replies written in exquisite calligraphy. These beautiful childhood keepsakes will delight every boy and girl peeking through the curtains on Christmas Eve hoping for a glimpse of reindeer pulling a sleigh laden with presents across the twinkling night sky. polarpost.co.uk All aboard The Polar Express For a special atmospheric Christmas treat, young children will be thrilled to ride a real-life train inspired by the The Polar Express – the Tom Hanks film and the book by Chris Van Allsburg. As in the story, children will board the train…

Christmas at Birdie Fortescue’s home has changed in style since she and her family moved from Suffolk into their holiday home in north Norfolk. Having worked as an interior designer and as an antique dealer specialising in continental antiques, Birdie now runs a shop and cafe in nearby Burnham Market – a lovely village near the sea with old houses and shops facing a classic village green, and her forays into trade fairs to find items for the shop have led her to opt for a gentler palette at Christmas. “We are overwhelmed by choice and colour when buying for the shop, which has persuaded me to use soft colours and more natural materials when getting the house ready for Christmas. I think a decorated tree must blend into the…