Heritage style meets contemporary cool in a spacious and airy home where heirlooms mix easily with modern design classics
Meet + Greet
Jess Britten, 29 (stay-at-home mum, formerly in PR and events), Warren Durling, 32 (chief operating officer of Dovetail Studios), and Stevie, 1.
Tree styling tips
- Lights first and plenty of them! Nothing says “fa la la la la” like an abundance of pretty sparkles.
- Stick to a colour theme. Take your cues from interior trends if you want to steer clear of the classic red, green and white.
- Think about scale. The bigger the tree, the smaller your decorations are going to look (and vice versa). Large faux flowers work nicely to add colour and texture to a large tree and finer dried flowers such as baby’s breath (gypsophila) look sweet on a small tree.
Christmas Floral Styling tips
We are so lucky to enjoy beautiful summer flowers at Christmas time. Try using hydrangea, cosmos, dahlias, scabious, achillea, delphinium and cow parsley.
For a hallway arrangement, take the largest jug you can find and fill it with long stems of cosmos or similar. Flowers en masse like this have a just-picked air that feels lighthearted and laidback. When the jug is as full as it can be, place a simple bowl of summer fruit next to it, then go about your day.
For your table, select smaller flowers to dot down the table in mixed-height bottles or tumblers. The flowers will appear to weave naturally between the plates of food and wine glasses. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.
Festive table tips
Choose your tablecloth (if using one) and select napkins that match or create contrast with a pop colour or pattern.
Create a floral centrepiece in the form of several small vases or one large arrangement that can be set aside at meal time.
Avoid spills by using simple glassware that’s easy to hold and isn’t too tall. Place water jugs within easy reach of every guest.
Use lightweight bowls and platters that will be easier to pass down the table to Nana.
Add special touches such as name cards and ornaments – we love the look of small decorations tied around loose napkins.
Grapefruit paloma
- Run a lemon wedge around the rim of your glass, then dip rim in a fine blend of flaky sea salt and pink salt.
- Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add a pinch of salt, 45ml blanco tequila, 30ml pink grapefruit juice, 1 Tbsp sugar syrup and 1 Tbsp lime juice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into your glass (filled with one large ice cube).
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and thyme sprig.
Serves 1.
See more of Jess & Warren’s Christmas style below
1/8
Jess and Warren have found that when your ceiling is 18 feet high, it pays to go large with your Christmas tree or it will end up looking like a pot plant. This year’s eight-footer has been entwined with beautiful, oversized artificial flowers (from Alison’s Acquisitions) for a lush, summery look.
2/8
The soft apricot, peach and pink tones from the tree are repeated in the fabric-wrapped presents (with a punch of paprika too) and in the flowers on the table for a cohesive look. The rug is from Nodi Rugs and the loveseat is an antique.
3/8
Liv Wakem from Kensal Flower Studio arranged all the flowers in the home, including the casual little clusters of roses, green viburnum, cow parsley, roses, ranunculus, geranium and anemones on the table. Fawn napkins tied with white ornaments keep the colour scheme soft and natural (and link in with the cute deer).
4/8
5/8
This clever idea is a great festive project for craft lovers. All you need are some little boxes, wooden numbers (or rubber stamps), cord and decorations – available in any craft aisle or hobby shop. Plus 25 teensy gifts to go inside.
6/8
Stevie’s cot is from IKEA, the forget-me-not cot blanket, stocking and linen bedspread are from Citta, the olive pillowcases are from A&C Homestore and the ply tree is from Father Rabbit.
7/8
The soft tones of 112-year-old brick create a calm, warm ambience in the bedroom.
8/8
Small, simple decorations, such as a deer from A&C Homestore and house and tree ornaments from Citta, provide a subtle festive touch.
Tree details
- Christmas lights from Farmers.
- Ceramic baubles in mustard and cameo, Bonnie cushion cover, bolster cover, Hepburn coupe, Radial coffee table from Citta.
- Reindeer ornaments from Father Rabbit.
Table details
- Acacia cake stand, napkins from A&C Homestore.
- Talo side plate, Scale glass, Hepburn coupes, porcelain acorn and bell, papier-mâché polar bear from Citta.
- All reindeer from Father Rabbit.
- Cake forks from Farmers.
- Peach and passionfruit cake from The Caker.
- Vases from Ceramics by Jodie.
- Jess wears trousers by Kate Sylvester and top by Karen Walker.
Bar cart details
- Porcelain house candleholder in cameo, porcelain 3D tree in mustard from Citta.
- Martini and high ball glasses from Farmers. Deer ornament from A&C Homestore.
Styling by: Sam van Kan. Photography by: Belinda Merrie.
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