Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i The English Home

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…

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.…

An inglenook fireplace, a real tree and a roaring fire set the scene for a cosy Christmas in an English country cottage. Decorating ideas are simple and beautiful, and blend creative homemade decorations with rustic pieces and a touch of vintage style. The ‘country Christmas’ style is all about getting crafty, home baking and being creative with what nature has to offer. Whether you live in a rural setting or a city dwelling, you can create a country look with my decorating ideas, a couple of pots of heather and a few vintage elements. I’ve been collecting vintage tree ornaments for years, and I search charity shops and flea markets looking for pretty hand-painted glass baubles throughout the year. I use them to decorate our Christmas tree in the living…

TASTE SALLY CLARKE, CHEF At Sally Clarke’s eponymous restaurant on Kensington Church Street, London, the imminence of Christmas is marked by the scent of spices she and her team include in mince pies, and the deeply coloured flesh of blood oranges that are in season at this time. “We use a lot of blood oranges, and the smell of the peel and zest is always very evocative,” she says. Over its 31 years, the restaurant has become synonymous with good food that is simply prepared, and, unsurprisingly, Sally advocates keeping Christmas dinner within achievable limits. “I sense that in most families there is such an anticipation of everything going perfectly, and every cook in the land wanting to do their very best, that I do feel people tend to overcomplicate…

Who would you like to see in The English Home New Year Honours List 2017? Nominate your favourite brands of 2016 and you could help spread the word about inspiring people and products and allow a business or brand – whether fledgling or established – to shine. Simply visit the New Year Honours List page on The English Home website (address below) and let us know if, for instance, you love a particular scented candle, have a much-admired collection of china or frequent an interiors emporium you think deserves to be more widely known. We would love to hear from you. The chosen brands will then be published in our January 2017 edition. The categories are: • Best home/lifestyle retailer Which retailer stocks the brands that inspire you? • Best independent home/lifestyle…

• THE REAL FLOWER COMPANY Wreaths with beautiful large ribbon bows, from £70, realflowers.co.uk • JAY ARCHER Wreaths with a naturally wild style, from £65 jayarcherfloraldesign.com • WILLOW AND BLOOM Seasonal greenery wreaths, from £50, willowandbloom.co.uk • WILD AT HEART Classic and contemporary wreaths from £90, wildatheart.com • THE FLOWER STUDIO Wild hedgerow wreaths, from £65, notonthehighstreet.com/theflowerstudio/ product.wild-hedgerow-wreath • SARAH RAVEN A choice of green wreaths, from the fresh eucalyptus wreath to the bright red berry red wreath, from £45 sarahraven.com • HAYFORD AND RHODES Wreaths inspired by seasonal trends, from £65, hayfordandrhodes.co.uk • WILD WOOD LONDON Rustic-style wreaths, from £75, wildwoodlondon.co.uk • INTERFLORA A wide range of wreaths, from £30, interflora.co.uk • PHILIPPA CRADDOCK Classic and decadent wreath collections, from £65 for the classic range and £165 for the decadent…

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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…

“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most.” John Ruskin (1819–1900), art critic, social thinker and philanthropist “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens (1812–1870) Picture a traditional Christmas and, invariably, a richly coloured scheme, dressed in decorations of red, green and gold, will spring to mind. Such colours aptly adorn a classical festive setting, but we need not be constrained to such a limited choice. The addition of bronze, navy blue and deep teal brings layers of jewel-like iridescence to the expected colour palette without losing any classic allure. If seeking inspiration, consider looking to the rich hues of the medieval era, and the Arts and Crafts movement, with its…

Whilst it is a pleasure welcoming guests, it can also, inevitably, be somewhat hard work – especially at Christmas. That said, ensuring that your home is fully prepared, whether you are hosting a family dinner or having friends over for the weekend, is really just a matter of being well organised. Start thinking about it well in advance, make a few lists, and do a little every now and then and, by the time your guests arrive, your home will be a welcoming haven in which you can all relax and celebrate together. BED TESTERS Looking at the big picture, it is wise to start by checking the guest bedrooms. How are the mattresses and pillows? The latter are often relegated from the master bedroom after they have gone past…

Pretty biscuits in a variety of seasonal shapes always go down well at Christmas – and they are so easy to prepare. Make batches of shortbread or gingerbread dough, bake, then ice and decorate with edible glitter and sugar pearls and serve on a platter or hang them on the tree. Lakeland and Hobbycraft both have a good selection of biscuit cutters and decorating equipment. If seeking festive biscuit recipes try nigella.com/recipes/edible-christmas-treedecorations or jamieoliver.com/recipes/uncategorised-recipes/stained-glass-biscuits White linen napkin with raspberry stitching, £12.50; linen napkin in dove grey, £7.50, both The Linen Works…

• COX & COX Our eye has been caught by the brand’s smart blue-and-gold and brown-and-white wrapping paper. coxandcox.co.uk • SOPHIA VICTORIA JOY Glitz and glamour, with either gold and white chevron paper or gold stars on brown or white paper, sophiavictoriajoy.com •BLOOMFIELD & ROLFE Making your own wrapping paper is a particularly charming weekend activity to do with children. For ease, bespoke rubber-stamp makers Bloomfield & Rolfe have large Christmas stamps that will not cause too much mess. bloomfieldandrolfe.com •ROWEN & WREN Embellishments and decorations are a chance to decorate with discerning personal flair. Rowen & Wren’s silver and gold metallic stars and leaves are designed to be easily threaded onto string and tied around presents, alongside a sweet ‘With love’ tag. rowenandwren.co.uk • JOHN LEWIS With personalisation remaining…

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.…

Bedlinen and bedding not only impact on the look of a bedroom, but also add significantly to a deep and comfortable night’s sleep, so it pays to invest in linens with pleasing textures, and bedding that cossets and supports. Generally speaking, with bedlinen, the higher the thread count, the smoother the texture. However, whilst the thread count is a useful indicator, the texture also depends on the calibre of the raw yarn – long, smooth fibres will weave into a smoother and more durable finish than shorter, cheaper fibres; and the type of weave selected for the finished fabric. Of the weaves, a plain weave, such as percale, offers a tighter weave – smoother and crisper in finish and usually with a matt look – and value for money. A…

Whether it is the moment when the entrance hall is decorated with sprigs of mistletoe; when the first batch of Christmas biscuits fills the air with the scent of cinnamon spice; or when the star is finally placed atop the Christmas tree, there is a certain instance when the excitement of the festive season sets in. Much of the magic and delight of Christmas is created in the build-up to the great day and the special family rituals and traditions that we take great pleasure in during the month of December. Although there are certainly several elements to organise in time – from buying and wrapping presents to writing and posting cards, not to mention preparing all the food – there are ways to involve the whole family in these…

MARY BERRY'S VODKA TRIFLE WITH CHERRIES & ORANGE Serves 6–8 This trifle is colourful as well as delicious. It is best made the day before, so that the flavours have time to develop. Trifle sponges often come in packets of eight and are usually in the custards and jelly section of the supermarket. This recipe is taken from Mary Berry's Christmas Collection, £20, from Headline Books 1× 250g (9oz) tub mascarpone cheese, at room temperature 4 tablespoons vodka Finely grated zest of 2 oranges 300ml (½ pint) double cream, lightly whisked 12–16 trifle sponges 2/ 3 of a 600g (1lb 5oz) jar Bonne Maman cherry compote 3 oranges, peeled and segmented 8 Cape gooseberries to decorate Sieved icing sugar for dusting • Measure the mascarpone, vodka and half the orange…

INSPIRED BY DARCY Stunning bone china baubles are the must-have Christmas gift for every labrador owner! Part of a collection of labrador printed linen home accessories, fine bone china, and stationery. The designs are based on ‘Darcy’ the owners’s chocolate labrador, who inspired the creation of exquisite British-made products. To discover the full collection of black, chocolate and yellow labrador ranges, visit inspiredbydarcy.co.uk | Tel: 01823 740004 BOND & KNIGHT Bond & Knight personalised leather wallets, handmade in England, and personalised as standard with initials or printed design, making the perfect Christmas gift. Made using a single piece of folded Italian leather, these wallets have zero seams or stitches. 10% OFF with code: englishhome10 bondandknight.com | guyknight@bondandknight.com CARPET BAGS Carpet Bags has been making luxury bags, luggage and accessories since…