Period Living December 2021

Decorating the house for Christmas is not just a highlight of the festive period, but of the whole year. For our family, the process feels like a sacred ritual – we each have our own cherished ornaments to hang on the tree; my husband will put up all the lights and I’ll make a fresh wreath for the front door. We used to be quite strict about not decorating too early, but like many people last year we were so eager to surround ourselves with festive cheer that we embraced the spirit of the season the moment December arrived. As lockdown made it such a low-key affair, I am hopeful that this year we will all be able to spend quality time with friends and family, and celebrate properly. So,…

A STITCH IN TIME I loved reading Alison Miley’s column about patchwork quilts in October’s Antiques Journal. In the piece, she said that ‘quilts are a beautiful snapshot of time’ and this took me back 50 years to when I was at college, training to become a nursery nurse. Part of our coursework was to make a useful item and I chose to make a quilt (above). I can remember cutting out the materials and arranging the squares, then stitching them together. It was lovely reliving those memories of all those years ago as if it was yesterday. Jacqui Sutherland PUZZLING THOUGHTS I love doing jigsaw puzzles – they kept me sane during lockdown! While reading the October issue, it occurred to me that many of the beautiful photographs in Period Living would…

Time to celebrate Waking up on Christmas morning is a truly magical moment, so savour it by starting the day in a bed that is luxurious and comfortable. Combining Victorian detailing with high-quality polished brass and iron, the George bed, from PL’s collection with Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co, oozes sophistication. Handcrafted in Norfolk, the design comes in a variety of colours plus five sizes up to a super-king – spacious enough for all the family to join!…

If you’re looking for a day out over the holidays then don’t miss the Winter Festival at the newly reopened Museum of the Home, which promises to be a celebration of the many events that punctuate the winter months. From Diwali and Hanukkah to Lunar New Year, a range of festivals will be marked in different ways across the site, from a major light installation on the exterior of the building to the much-loved Christmas Past exhibition, which charts how Christmas celebrations have evolved over the years. From 28 October to February 2022.…

Farrow & Ball has teamed up with Liberty to launch an edit of timeless colour and print combinations. Experts from both brands have joined forces to curate a collection that pairs 15 shades from Farrow & Ball’s archive with complementary interiors fabrics from Liberty’s Modern Collector range. ‘I always feel that heritage pattern really comes alive when used with solid colour,’ says Genevieve Bennett, head of design interiors at Liberty. ‘Pairing our iconic designs with exquisite paint colours such as these really gives the pattern space to breathe and sing.’…

In a change to its usual collection launches, Linwood has released a new one-off whimsical winter wallpaper with a mid-century feel. Off-Piste is derived from a 1950s document discovered in a French archive and captures the fun, thrills and exhilaration of the slopes. Its stylised skiers have been captured in a chalky colour palette of red, yellow and green on a monochromatic ground that is true to the original. The wallpaper, priced £119 per roll, is only being produced in a small run and will be available from 1 December.…