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For this December issue of House & Garden, we’ve truly decked the halls to offer myriad ideas for your own celebrations. Our decoration team dialled up the retro references when putting together this month’s Style Story, poring through archive issues of the magazine for inspiration. They found much to admire, some highly amusing features (when did we all become so terribly serious?) and a few confounding cocktail recipes from the 1970s, the lethal ingredients of which explain much about the era. Go behind the scenes of the shoot, before savouring the results of their endeavours – including jolly ornamental jellies.
On the subject of feasting, food editor Blanche Vaughan and chef Anna Tobias serve up recipes for a Christmas meal with some novel twists (the choice of duck over turkey might ruffle a few feathers). And, Blanche shares the suppliers and producers she favours to curate a well-stocked larder for the Christmas holiday and beyond. Our cover star, actor Joely Richardson, has both an envy-inducing pantry and the kitchen of dreams – an exquisite mix of green marble, polished brass and iroko wood, designed by Create Studio. The centrepiece of her London flat, the kitchen is a true collaboration with her friend, the film director and interior designer, Gaby Dellal, whom Joely describes as ‘incredibly creative’. Seeing them work, laugh and cook together, it is clear why the room looks so elevated yet feels so comfortable.
At Christmas, Joely favours decorating her home with natural foliage (‘It’s always a real tree!’), pomegranates and candles. Decorations are often handmade by her mother, the actor and activist Vanessa Redgrave, and Joely (who deplores waste) wraps presents in brown paper and string. It’s all timelessly chic and naturally stylish – much like Joely herself. This year, I’m looking forward to using the time off to read actual books (farewell e-reader). Top of the pile is Mary Keen’s Diary of a Keen Gardener (John Murray Press, £20); it’s one of garden editor Clare Foster’s literary recommendations inspired by gardening and gardeners.
As well as getting horticultural, I’ll be trying to follow digital director Virginia Clark’s indispensable advice on decluttering, as I attempt to make sense of the 300 boxes of belongings that have recently arrived in London from Dubai. Wish me luck. To quote the Japanese home organisation queen Marie Kondo, I hope that whatever you unbox this Christmas ‘sparks joy’. One thing’s for sure, my pussycat Mini will appreciate the boxes more than their contents. Maybe she’s onto something.
