Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i The English Home

Welcome to the festive edition of The English Home, which we’ve designed to offer some tranquillity as well as inspiration in the midst of the excitement and build-up to Christmas and New Year. This is a magical time to spend with friends and family and one where the preparations should feel achievable and enjoyable in anticipation of seasonal events at home, so we’ve shared ideas for planning, setting the scene, dressing the table and decking the halls, all in beautifully simple ways so you can enjoy the process as well as impress with the final results. The quiet time just after celebrations and festivities are ones I also look forward to each year. Those days when time seems to slow down and we can rest, reflect or make resolutions and…

NAKED AMBITION Following on from the huge success of its showroom in London’s Bloomsbury, Norfolk-based bespoke kitchen company Naked Kitchens has now opened another London outpost, this time on Fulham Road, in the heart of the Chelsea Design District. Naked Kitchens is a family-run business that creates kitchens designed to be lived in and made to last – built for life in every possible sense. For the best experience, the owners suggest booking a discovery visit with one of its designers, who will be able to talk to you about your project, show you some examples and begin the journey of bringing your kitchen to life. nakedkitchens.com CELTIC CERAMICS Bring a little Irish charm into your home with the new Glenmalure collection from travel-inspired tableware brand Acquerello, which pays homage…

The lighting industry is moving quickly and new developments, such as rechargeable lights, are expanding into all types of lighting. The concept of what a light should provide has also shifted, with a focus on the decorative details, as well as the functionality. We have rounded up some of the latest multifunctional designs suitable for creating a scheme or simply adding a new light into existing spaces. Current collections The future of lighting design is increasingly centred on quality, longevity and the use of beautiful materials, believes Charlie Bowles, director of Original BTC. As consumers become more conscious of sustainability, there is a shift towards lighting that is built to last and crafted with care. This approach not only minimises waste but also ensures that each piece remains a timeless…

TAKE A PEW This is a time for a little extravagance and elevating dinner to something memorable, so adding decorative details will make all the difference. Consider using the chairs as a spot for adornments – this unexpected addition will create impact as guests take a seat. An oversized bow fixed to the back of each chair would look rather special, or be creative with an elaborate arrangement, using foliage and baubles for a truly festive look. These chair dressings can tie in with central arrangements for an impressive, cohesive decorative scheme. THE CENTREPIECE There are a number of options for creating a focal point in the dining room. A traditional central arrangement is strong and impactful, but if space allows, a garland weaving down the centre is a classic…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Merry and Bright: A Colourful Christmas Relish the spirit of the season with Molly Mahon’s joyously exuberant new festive collection which feels fresh while exuding warm nostalgia with its handmade touches. “I enjoy creating handmade decorations such as paper stars, paper chains or floral garlands that I can make with the children, which we then hang over the table creating a jubilant display,” says Molly. “When it comes to gifting, I believe in making it personal. I love to wrap gifts with lots of creative touches and there is nothing more heartfelt than a piece of hand-printed wrap, a jaunty homemade decoration or even a simple, printed card.” mollymahon.com Eternally Artful Lora Avedian’s new brass decorations Mixed-media artist Lora Avedian has launched a collection of solid-brass hanging decorations…

‘I like to hang strands of silver tinsel on the tree. When I think there’s almost too much, I add a little bit more!’ At Christmas, Sarah Kirk goes the extra mile to lovingly and thoughtfully decorate every room in her home. Inspired by nostalgic memories of her childhood, she creates magical moments that will be treasured for years to come by her own children. “Our Christmas tree is a real spectacle every year,” she explains. “I’m partial to a more vintage-style tree and like to hang strands of silver tinsel on it. When I think there’s almost too much tinsel, I add a little bit more!” Sarah grew up in Maryland, USA, in an American colonial-style family home, choc-a-bloc with antique patchwork quilts, scrubbed-pine furniture and four-poster beds. On…

The couple invite neighbours, friends and local producers over before Christmas to celebrate the special community they have created together Jules and Steve Horrell’s first Christmas in their new home was very memorable. When they moved into the former cider barn in August 2016 with their children, Lauren, now 27, and Harvey, now 19, the house had no light switches, no kitchen, and none of the bathrooms had been installed. Nevertheless, they managed to finish the kitchen and the first of the bathrooms by Christmas, thanks to an unwavering determination and relentless dynamism, which they passionately apply to all their life ambitions. As a thank you to the team that worked with them, they prepared a Christmas Eve lunch on the 1956 Rayburn cooker that was already in the house,…

PITCHER COSMOPOLITAN Although Cosmopolitans are usually shaken over ice, they work well made in advance and chilled in a jug, which makes them handy for entertaining. Pretty and pale (and festive), this version can be made up to three days before guests arrive, as can the garnishes. Simply cover the jug and chill, along with the glasses if there is space. INGREDIENTS Quantities for one glass per person: 30ml vodka15ml Triple Sec, such as Cointreau15ml cranberry juice15ml fresh lime juice2 drops of orange bitters (optional)To garnish (optional) place 1 fresh or 3 dried cranberries on a cocktail stick, or add a twist of orange zest on the edge of the glass METHOD • Mix the required amount of the liquid ingredients together in a jug (pitcher), then cover and chill…

Looking around Joanna Wood’s London home, with its elegant schemes and intricate details, it is hard to imagine the arduous six-year-long journey she undertook to reach this point. “Every interior designer should plant a tree, write a book and build a house. I’d planted the tree and written the book, so I decided to dig a hole in the ground in the middle of Belgravia and build a house. I must have been completely mad,” she laughs. Having started trading in 1985, Joanna had long been a resident of London’s iconic Pimlico Road with her interior design practice and shop. “I absolutely loved it but I was paying a great deal of rent and I needed to expand. I asked an estate agent friend to keep an eye out in…

RING IN THE NEW See the New Year in with a little added panache by changing festive decor to something celebratory and fun. A cascade of stars down a stairway emulates the sparkle of midnight fireworks to set the mood for a party. Make this change a sustainable one by opting for paper decorations which fold down flat to be used again next year. Paper is an affordable way to add impact with large-sized pieces, too. This neutral scheme is understated and chic to suit the house decor, but this range of decorations also comes in rich berry tones for a different look. Maddox paper decorations, from £8, Garden Trading…

As a new year dawns, our minds start to turn towards resolutions and self-improvement, and, of course, making improvements to our homes, one of which could be to buy more sustainably. This can seem overwhelming, particularly when trying to decide whether a product is genuinely sustainable or only seems to be thanks to ‘greenwashing’ – used to persuade buyers that a product is environmentally friendly even when it does not have a meaningfully reduced impact on the planet. Start small “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and it can be hard to know where to start on your sustainability journey, so start out small,” says Jules Haines, founder of online eco shopping platform Haines. “Choose one thing you know is achievable and once you have done that, start on the next…

A fireplace garland can be just as much of a festive centrepiece as the Christmas tree. The secret to a luxurious look is generously and evenly layering textures and colours throughout the garland. Take inspiration from this example by interior designer Kit Kemp. The base incorporates different types of natural foliage, including swathes of pine and eucalyptus leaves, which add a variety of shapes and scents. Individual branches are sprayed with metallic floristry spray and positioned throughout. Stems of holly berries then add a rich colour; faux branches are a good idea for safety (if young children may be present) and for an abundance of berries on each stem. Pinecones and strings of LED lights tucked in the branches bring the garland to life. The lavish mood is completed with…