Living Etc December 2019

There are three London treats lighting up my to-do radar this month. First, Walton Street Winter Market, which takes place on Saturday 7 December. Artisan makers, independent food stalls, cosy winter fashion and lively street entertainment all make for a delightful day out. Second, I have booked tickets for director Sally Cookson’s production of CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Bridge Theatre. It is transferring to London from Leeds where it was billed as ‘epic’ and a ‘theatrical miracle’; I can’t wait to step into magical Narnia. Third, I have bagged a few places at the communal table of restaurant Mãos at Blue Mountain School in Shoreditch. Led by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes and with just 16 seats and a supper club vibe, it has…

1 FORTNUM &MASON Think of the newly revamped confectionery department at the Piccadilly flagship not as a shop but a destination, its beautiful interiors lined with ‘sweet-filled amphitheatres’ (in F&M’s own words) over regular counters. Expect hot chocolate on tap, interactive tastings and a new Heinz Baked Beanz chocolate. Yum. 2 MAGIC AT CHRISTMAS Looking to inject your Christmas with a touch of spectacle? Channel Jo Malone London, whose seasonal campaign takes its cue from the magician's parlour. Think fringed velvet, circus stripes, gold and midnight blue, while satin gloves and a three-piece suit are optional. 3 THE NEW ROMANTICS Make way, minimalists, for the new school of avant-garde decorators, who are putting swirling pastels and eccentric florals firmly back on the interiors map. Check out the work of event stylists Studio Cruz, botanical sculptor…

candelabras Tabletop treats that’ll look beautiful and bold with or without candles……

Having worked as an interior stylist for nearly 15 years, Laura Fulmine knows only too well that the road towards art and sculpture hire was one littered with copyright issues, high stress and hefty price tags. Her solution? M.A.H (Modern Art Hire), a contemporary art platform for stylists, photographers and, most recently, residential clients, offering short-term lets on works by talented artists and makers. These include John Booth, Esther Cox, David Charles and Margate wonder weaver, Jo Elbourne. Under the umbrella of the Airbnb rental concept, the beauty here lies in the try-before-you-buy mentality. This savvy stylist also has two strictly-under-wraps hotel projects currently in the pipeline… watch these walls. (laurafulmine.com)…

glimmering BURNISHED GOLD This is one high-concept look; think Miss Havisham hits up Petersham Nurseries and channel great Dickensian dining halls flickering in candlelight. All in the name of creating a feast that, quite frankly, will be fit for a queen. folksy FESTIVE FANTASY Approach this one with a strictly more-is'more mindset and fire up the celebrations with blooming florals and naive prints. A punchy, multicoloured palette is showcased in joyful illustrations, intricate embroideries and patchwork effects for Christmas with a carefree, cabinet-of-curiosities feel. foraged NATURAL BLUSH Lace up your hiking boots and throw on a Puffa – this look is all about the forest floor, with woody tones and accents the colour of a glowing winter twilight. Think fallen foliage, rustic touches and soft hues that sit between purple and pink. graphic MODERN MONO With just black and white in…

every year, without fail, my mum buys me an Advent calendar. A chocolate one. She’s done it my whole life. It’s usually one with cartoon characters on it, or themed around a kids’ TV show. (Did I mention that I’m 40? I’m 40.) Then, every day in December, I wake up, open the right window and eat the tiny chocolate with my morning cup of tea. It’s a little ritual, but one that sets the tone for the season of luxury and small pleasures, away from the rest of the year’s rules and routine. When I was growing up in the Eighties, my sister and I insisted on the gaudiest, most tasteless decorations for the tree. Mum obliged, so we went to town. All the tinsel. All the colours of fairy…