GLAD TIDINGS Dining interiors’ tips for festive-season hosting

Comfort and joy

TALLULAH RUSHAYA FINDS OUT, WITH THE HELP OF EXPERTS, HOW TO BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST THIS FESTIVE SEASON

ALL IS BRIGHT Opening page:

AMARA's chic Gemstone theme is white and gold

Opposite page:

Vintage-style prints in Christmas colourways embody a comforting, rustic feel. Case in point: these Joy of Print x Tori Murphy Zig Zag tea towels in Berry, £32 each, which have been fashioned into no-waste crackers

The most wonderful time of year has nearly arrived. With family and friends coming from near and far, this season’s festive hosting duties have fallen to you. While Christmas arrangements can be both a joy and a challenge, there’s no need to fret. There are many elements, from dining to decor, that can ensure a good time will be had by all.

Sam Hood, co-founder of AMARA (amara.com), highlights the importance of adding depth to your dining with cushions and throws for cosiness. “Whether it’s a family lunch or a dinner party, the season for hosting is upon us and we’re talking all things plush,” she says. “Keep your guests comfortable this winter by layering up dining chairs with plump cushions, faux-fur seat pads and perhaps a blanket or two so they can keep cosy. Plus, it’ll look great too!”

Christmas is a time to share. With dining – and particularly kitchen dining – Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens (devolkitchens.co.uk), emphasises using design to evoke sentiment and happiness. “Entertaining should be fun, not stressful, and with all the di erent areas in this space, you have lots of choices for display, serving and prep,” she says. “The rustic look allows you

to be creative with your decorating options: branches on beams, natural decorations, and collections of neutral-tone, simple ceramics would create a calm and understated theme that will feel less opulent, yet more elegant. There’s something so convivial about open spaces and freestanding kitchens – they have a bar-restaurant vibe which puts friends and relatives in the mood and there’s no better feeling than hosting a fabulous party where everyone wants to stay all night!” A considered dining-table choice “THE RUSTIC is also vital, notes Anke Summerhill, LOOK ALLOWS founder and creative director at Minotti London (minottilondon.com). “For YOU TO BE smaller spaces, a round or square table CREATIVE works best. In a traditional dining room, a long rectangular or oval table WITH YOUR works best, either with a fixed top or DECORATING extending,’’ she says. “A round table is OPTIONS” the most sociable of tables. As there are no edges, it can fit the maximum number of people. It can give more of an informal feel. Oval is of course an excellent option. It gives you the best of rectangular and round. A heightadjustable dining table is becoming a bit of a trend.’’ Ruth Galbraith, creative director at Ercol (ercol.com), explains how chairs can be used to play with dimension.

TABLE MANNERS Clockwise from top

left: The Les Airelles range from Summerill & Bishop evokes alpine whimsy; Zanat table, £4,630, Curio; Brussels table, £3,600, and Vera chair, £525, Jonathan Adler; Adam Lippes dinner plates, £275 for a set of four, OKA; Rupert Bevan dining chair, £3,960, Curio; Cotswold Company has an elegant array of dining and decor options for Christmas

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FESTIVE TOUCH Below, left to right:

AMARA's Regency line offers a classic take; Alice Wilkes's velvet monogrammed ribbons add glamour

“Dining chairs with a curved profile are the best style to pair with a round table, to soften and break up harsh lines in a tight space. Although, using a chair with a contrasting straighter line, is a great way to play with scale and draw the eye away from encroaching walls.’’

As designer, potter and author, Jonathan Adler (uk.jonathanadler.com) reminds us, design rules can be broken. Paul Middlemiss, founder of Merchant and Found (merchantandfound.com), illustrates how contemporary and vintage can be paired. “Vintage works with anything in a room – with Simon Pengelly, we created a range of modern tables that fit perfectly with vintage chairs – it’s a simple design that works with almost any vintage chair,” he says. “A recent project also married vintage rush chairs with a contemporary table from The Conran Shop which work perfectly and add depth.’’

Style and comfort go hand in hand when planning the perfect festive gathering. Sue Jones, co-founder of OKA (oka.com), details how to combine both, with a luxurious twist, that plays on the opulence trend for 2022. “If, like me, you love long lunches or evenings spent at the table, then comfortable dining chairs are essential. Go for something that also adds a bit of luxury, such as velvet in jewel tones,” Jones explains. “Lighting really sets the mood, so make sure to line the table with plenty of candles to cast a flattering glow, and pair lamps with warm coloured shades to add to the ambience. I like a bit of drama in the dining room, and a great way to achieve this is with a statement pendant light above the table —brass or gold tones add elegance to the setting.”

Personalisation is an added detail that will never go

out of style and will always be treasured by guests. Event planner Alice Wilkes (alicewilkes.co.uk), suggests reusable monogrammed ribbons, handwritten menus and even candles with calligraphy can make wonderful tokens. “Find inspiration in a wonderful Liberty pattern, then weave this into your own table linen and menu designs. Opt for complementary candles and flowers, as these can be changedregularly to tie back to your theme,” Wilkes explains. “Why not steer clear of the usual festive foliage and go for dried hydrangeas in autumn hues instead? The more candles the better too – there’s no “THE MORE such thing as too many candles.” CANDLES THE It’s all about creating the mood, says Shalini Misra, interior designer and BETTER TOO founder of Curio (curio-space). “To – THERE’S NO enhance the mood and experience, ensure your lighting is on a dimmer SUCH THING switch so you can adjust the light levels AS TOO MANY CANDLES” to create an intimate setting. Supplement your main light source by placing table lamps on a sideboard and a floor lamp in the corner of the room as these will bring in that warm glow,” she advises. “With the table itself, play with di erent settings by varying the table linen, adding candles, foliage and even lanterns to set the backdrop for the meal ahead. Bring large indoor plants into the space to allow you to connect with nature, even during the winter months, and if your dining room has garden views, highlight plants and trees throughout, to draw the eye to these beautiful features.” L

PHOTOGRAPH: REBECCA SEARLE PHOTOGRAPHY