I keep it simple it may surprise you to know yes I want charm and grandeur but in a rather toned down sort of way. Christmas card displays are a no no for me, though delightfully festive they are something of a style challenge which I realise is not the point but then again they leave any room less than stylish which surely is the point no?
For me its all about candles the most beautiful way to lighten a home during the Christmas period I think. From small clusters of t-lights in beautiful little containters to big fat church candles in lanterns. Outside I fill my garden with jam jars containing t-lights and cluster them on tables or suspend from bare branches. It drives everyone potty as I am out there for hours but hey ho to that. Foliage is another big thing for me – wreaths and lots of vessels containing berries, branches and mistletoe. My christmas trees have just literally been layered with white fairly lights and apart from fairy lights strung over paintings and across mantles thats pretty much me done. Whether you plan a full on artfully decorated look or something simpler like me its all about doing what you want and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Simple, beautiful, sophisticated – nails it for me. Photography by Mel Yates.
I agree with the Christmas card thing. I always feel guilty as I put them in a drawer as soon as I have read them and when the festive period is over I can’t wait to recycle them. I have no particular style when it comes to dressing the tree, I just like it when it looks as though all the things on it have fallen from the sky and landed on the branches.
Glad I am not alone with displaying cards – mine don’t even make the drawer I hate to say which is why so very few people send me cards – bar humbug that I am
I totally agree about Christmas cards, even though I’m guilty of sending them. I usually hang them on cotton in the hallway, out of sight, if I put them up at all. I get especially upset when they start arriving at the beginning of December!!! I bet your house looks amazing at Christmas – I also do the candle and t-ight ceremony every evening and it takes me ages too!
Thanks for your continued inspiration Abigail and happy candle lighting.
The hallway isn’t a bad idea since its such a transitional area- whilst I probably wouldn’t hang them mine are sitting in a pile on the stairs which is as far as they are going I hate to say.
Oh finally! Thank you for the Christmas card redemption. I’ve been feeling guilty about disliking them for years, and have not even been able to recycle them. Now I can, knowing that there are others out there as well.
And I really agree with you on the decorations – I have a large box full of perfectly nice decorations, I just never feel like putting them up. Tea lights and candles and fairy lights do it for me. With maybe the addition of two large snow globes I got as a kid, with lovely winter scenes inside. (And these are actually beautiful – they’re made out of glass and porcelain and hand-painted, maybe I’ll have to dig them out of the cupboard…)
Have a lovely Christmas!
P.S. I am just about to move into a completely gut-renovated apt. It is absolutely beautiful, I’m totally in love with it. But. The living room window is almost at level with the window in the opposite house, and even though there is a fair distance, I would still like to be able to be sure of my privacy come nightfall. The rooms are tall and everything has been beautifully done, but there is nowhere to put curtains. The window is in the middle of the end wall of the apt, and I was just wondering – would you recommend blinds or curtain rod or what? I don’t want to mess up the beauty of the room, and am a bit stumped. Especially as I really don’t love curtains, I always want to maximise the light.. Thanks in advance for the help.
Its a difficult one the blinds v curtains thing – I am torn I have to say between the two – blinds will maximise your light and show your window to the full so maybe thats a better way to go than curtains – plus you can totally manage the quality of the light with a blind something like a roller in the palest milk will diffuse it so gently and yet still give you privacy. Hope that helps x
=D
Love the way you think!
I`m almost a bit ashamed of myself now, hoho! Our house is filled up with stuff that don`t even fit into any style at all! Normally I go for dark colors, (Abigail-inspiration!) and now all the red?
Thanks for making me think twice!
Mona
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I have been trying to source the branch flower lights you have on your wall in the above picture and have had no luck the only place that did sell them was Graham and Green and they no longer sell them. Could you please advise if you know of anywhere else I might purchase them I have run out of ideas! such a brilliant alternative idea to having lamps ! x
Unfortuantely I brought them yonks ago at Habitat and they have subsequent discontinued – haven’t seen anything similar I hate to say apologises to disappoint and good luck on the search.
success!! i have purchased the flower lights today at habitat they look amazing – was too impatient to wait until I painted the room downpipe so will take them down when I repaint next month! I love the rooms in your recent blog from the NY apartment such inspiration !! x
Thats great news didn’t realise they still sold them – congrats