Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Living Etc

‘THIS ISN’T JUST A CORKSCREW,’ says interiors editor Emma Breislin – it’s also a work of art (as are most things by Alessi). ‘INSPIRED BY THE IDEAS ON PAGE 32, I’ll be embellishing gifts with ribbons like this from Rowen & Wren,’ says deputy editor Ellen Finch. THE MOST FUN NAPKIN RINGS around? We think so – this is senior art editor Emily Smith’s pick from the Zara Home x Collagerie collab. CASTLERY’S CHIC AVERY OTTOMAN in a performance boucle is ‘dream extra seating for hosts,’ says design writer Olivia Wolfe.…

Gifts for the style-obsessed Perfect presents for pets What to buy the trickiest people Spirited finds for teens Big ideas for little ones…

Murano glass has been having another moment. Martin Brudnizki, Studio Duggan and Barlow & Barlow have all used it as lighting in recent projects, allowing its delicious – and often amber – glow to filter down over their rooms, bathing the spaces in golden light. And it’s why the fabulously well-priced brand lights&lamps was moved to create the Lonso chandelier, which was only launched in 2024, but became such an instant classic that it’s already spawned a redo in another colour. A jewel-toned jewel in the crown of the offerings at lights&lamps: its Murano-meets-mid-century inspirations sees it give off a warm, rich light – opulent all year and particularly welcome at Christmas. ‘The glass has such an incredible texture,’ says Niki Wright, one of the brand’s co-founders, who designed the…

CLASSIC TWIST Moody stripes are the order of the day for photographer and stylist duo Our Food Stories in this festive tabletop concept. Featuring linens from Lovely Linen, ceramics from Dirk Aleksic and vintage glasses and cutlery, the red and grey scheme is punctuated by hits of autumnal orange in the candlesticks and berries – a perfect contrast to that traditional festive red. PERSONAL TOUCH Customised details can make all the difference to a guest’s dinner experience, and this set-up from Skye McAlpine – from her new book, The Christmas Companion (read more on page 23) – is a perfect example of how to do it. ‘It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or expensive – even just something as simple as writing out their name by hand on a…

FULL GLOSS It’s in no way explicitly Christmassy but, for reasons we’re not quite sure of, this new dining table from Trove by Studio Duggan just feels right for the festive season (and, of course, for the seasons beyond – a table’s not just for Christmas). It could be the jolly red hue, yes, or the glossy lacquered finish that invites glamorous soirees set around it – and the brass edging, which emphasises the table’s unique hexagonal silhouette doesn’t hurt. A tribute to 70s design, handcrafted in solid wood, it’s a genuine showstopper. Rizzo dining table in Oxblood, £6,500, Trove by Studio Duggan…

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Hot tropic The eagerly awaited collab between Bert & May and exclusive Caribbean resort Cobblers Cove has landed – and we anticipate a a dash to get them. Cobblers Cove’s owner, Sam de Teran, led the brief to create a spirited tile collection that celebrates Barbados’ exotic foliage and motifs. It features three striking ‘rug’ schemes in the hotel’s signature greens and pink/reds and includes central panels, borders and corner tiles in porcelain or cement. Cobblers Cove tiles, from £144sq m, Bert & May High style Can a toilet truly be an object of desire? Trone says yes – and proves it with Callipyge. This wall-hung model is a stunner from every angle; it features rimless flushing and a soft-close timber seat and is available in eight bold colours. Callipyge…

ON THE BENCH Yes, banquette seating is clever, versatile and super smart – but if you don’t have the option to build in, you can still apply many of its most appealing qualities to a space-making bench. Make yours tall enough to delineate areas and create drama – as in this scheme by Paris-based Batiik Studio – and opt for an opulently upholstered finish. ROUNDING UP As smart as a sharp-edged dining table looks, there are ergonomic advantages to opting for rounded shapes, as in this scheme by London’s Studio Vero. As many dining areas are now in open-plan, often multi-use, spaces, circular or oval tables create more space to manoeuvre around them. They are also generally more sociable than squared tables, allowing the people seated at either end to…

1 Grace La Margna, St. Moritz, Switzerland Grace La Margna is a rare breath of fresh air in St. Moritz, the first new hotel to open in decades. Masterminded by Divercity Architects and interior designer Carole Topin, it combines a beautifully restored art nouveau building with a new minimalist limestone wing. Rooms are divided between the two wings, but our suite in the new addition was a highlight, with views of Lake St. Moritz and the Piz da la Margna. The vibe here is about all-day comfort. Breakfast brings a generous buffet, made-to-order plates and a croissant cart filled at the table with chocolate, hazelnut or pistachio cream. The View, the hotel’s signature restaurant, delivers elegant Mediterranean-inspired dishes, while evenings are best spent with cocktails by the fire. Unlike many…

Well, the holidays have come round fast, haven’t they?! Since 2021, I’ve been using the phrase ‘Christmas as cashmere’ to describe the mood we desire at this time of year, sensing we want luxury, warmth and an understated richness. But now, ‘Christmas as caipirinha’ feels more fitting – quite grown-up, a little unexpected, full of personality and, most importantly, fun. I mentioned this to Mrs Christmas herself, Anya Hindmarch, during our interview on page 40. The designer has taken the lead on festive style with her annual Grotto, and the concept of a cool, cocktail-inspired aesthetic resonated with her. She said she didn’t want anything to match, to feel too perfect, and instead it should be about creating spaces in which to make memories. Her objective gives us permission not…

BRANCHING OUT Arguably, the best Christmas tree is one that could feasibly stand on its own, unadorned, and still look impressive enough to hold attention – and Cox & Cox’s Ultimate offering does just that. Since there’s little time during the season to mess around with lights and wires, the thousands of micro LED bulbs that illuminate this design are very helpful – all that’s left is to adorn with your favourite baubles and step back to admire your (not very hard) work. Ultimate Lights pre-lit Christmas tree, £575 for 7ft, Cox & Cox…

Sophie Sellu, the maker behind south Londonbased wood studio Grain & Knot, creates a worthy collection of tableware, sculptures and what she describes as ‘a mixture of the two’. ‘I have always been drawn to objects of use and how I can improve the everyday experience,’ she tells us. She’s been carving wood for 13 years now, using ‘basic’ carving techniques that she has adapted, developed and improved over time to fit her style. Her objects – made from storm-fallen, sustainably sourced and reclaimed timber – are best described as organic, free-form pieces. ‘They’re tactile, textured and show the marks of production,’ she says. There is something particularly inviting about them. Many of the objects are smaller in scale – they beckon to be picked up and held in the…

1 Scent subtly ‘I wouldn’t go down the scented candle route in a main party space, but having one flickering away in the bathroom and the hallway helps elevate those spaces,’ says interior designer Lonika Chande. 2 FORGO YOUR USUAL TABLE LINENS ‘My perfect Christmas table combines homemade, personal touches with some of my favourite purchases over the years,’ says Tiffany Duggan, founder of Studio Duggan and Trove by Studio Duggan. ‘I love using leftover fabric scraps from projects where I can: thin strips do a beautiful job of tying napkins or cutlery, perhaps with the addition of home-grown foliage. I like a mix of eucalyptus, rosemary and mint for the scent.’ 3 TRY TRAD ‘We love to fill studded with bowls with oranges cloves and dot them around the…

Verdant interiors have sprouted and grown into huge forests over the past few years. We’ve all tried green in our homes in some shape or form, but eucalyptus imparts something different from the standard bringing-the-outside-in aesthetic. The grey within its fresh green-ness makes it feel as if it’s veiled in a dusty coat, imbuing the usually botanical shade with a feeling of the architectural or minimalist. Eucalyptus may be drawn directly from nature, but it’s a green that implies a sense of quietude. The colour’s slightly silver tint gives it a grace and a delicacy that speaks not of exploring jungles or marching through woodland, but of stillness and contemplation. ‘Eucalyptus adds calm to a space; it’s a tone we lean into for its grounding quality,’ says Alexandra Donohoe Church,…

Nina Takesh made a cash offer. That’s how confident the designer was in a Beverly Hills home yet to hit the market, built in the 1950s for Leslie H. Martinson, the film director behind the original Batman. ‘The energy is what drives me to these homes,’ says Nina, a self-described serial house flipper. ‘And the energy was there.’ Although time-worn, the home had maintained its mid-century layout (it never left the Martinson family’s hands) with memories of vintage Hollywood soirees still hanging in the air. Nina could just picture the types of stylish gatherings: screenings in the projector room, cocktails in the walnut-panelled bar, maybe a late-night dip in the pool. It was, and remains, a home built to entertain. Leaning into its cinematic past, Nina embraced the social layout…

the couple who lived here before had two children and very classical Parisian taste,’ says designer Laurence Simoncini, gesturing around her transformed Marais apartment. ‘Dark floors, white walls – you know, completely predictable.’ It’s hard to imagine it now when surrounded by the warm ochre walls and gleaming brass surfaces that make up her current home. When Laurence took over the space nearly two years ago, she knew exactly what she wanted to achieve. ‘I chose to use two feng shui themes: earth and metal,’ she explains, settling into one of her bronze velour sofas. It’s a philosophy that’s evident in every corner – from the many different shades of ochre on the walls to the brass cabinet doors that catch and multiply the already abundant light. The transformation started…

PERFECT CASTING We’ve had sculptural baths, so it’s about time our basins got a bit of love, too – and Whitebirk Sink Company is delivering with a new autumn-winter palette for its Kréte collection of eco concrete-cast designs. The architectural countertop basin Matala is our favourite – and now in colours including warm terracotta, deep moss green and moody blue, there’s plenty more to love about this rich range of design-led bathroom centrepieces. Matala basin, from £669, Whitebirk Sink Company…

At a glance Nordic and fresh, Helsinki is a seaside city where urban culture and nature intertwine, its character shaped as much by its inhabitants as by the rhythm of the seasons. The backstory Helsinki is a small city, but it still manages to be at the forefront of culture and design. Its remoteness allows us to distance ourselves from fast trends. People here are very well dressed, but not in the traditional sense. Finns strive for individualism and rely on their irreverent style to stand out from the crowd. Nailing the balance between the oddness and peacefulness of Helsinki while tapping into the more sustainable side of design: that’s what Juslin Maunula’s clothing and homeware is all about. Art trail We really appreciate the curation of Helsinki Contemporary, where…

REASON TO CELEBRATE The Claridge’s Christmas tree is top of the cultural agenda for anyone in London over the festive season – last year’s design, a collaboration with Paul Smith, was delightfully bright, bold and showstopping, and this year’s will no doubt follow suit. But don’t sleep on the rest of the hotel’s decorative efforts – its art deco-inspired restaurant is the place to be not just for its interior (though this star-adorned centrepiece from last year was truly memorable) but also for its menu, thanks to a very exciting collab with New York restaurant and cocktail bar, Dante, on until 1 January.…

1 Fab feast Food-themed decorations remain a Christmas trend this year, but make yours a little fancier with these fruity designs. Baubles, from £6.50, Petersham Nurseries 2 Season’s greetings How we haven’t stumbled across Wish Cards sooner, we don’t know. Whimsical, cheeky designs accompanied by a match, candlewick and strike pad make them more than just greetings cards – they have a fun sense of occasion about them, too. Founder Orfeo Tagiuri gives us tips on how to use them in an unexpected way on page 52. £12 each, Wish Cards 3 The high-street buy handy for holiday hosting Habitat’s AW25 collection delivers on tasteful contrast, combining grounding neutrals with sculptural forms and bold prints – it’s the place to go for stylish and well-priced buys. We love this table…

PIP RICH One of the things I love about your approach to design is that it always feels a bit tongue-in-cheek. I’m thinking of things like the crisp packet and cereal box bags, and then the Berocca and Advil and Nurofen charm pouches in this latest collection. Why do you think you are drawn to such irreverent things?  ANYA HINDMARCH Fashion can get a bit serious and we all need a bit of light relief. I am achingly serious about how things are made, but beyond that, we need things around us that have a sense of a smile. Especially at home – you can be all grown-up in your daily life but you need a balance in your off time. PR Does that same sense of wittiness apply to…

WOW WREATH A large-scale wreath layered with an abundance of festive-style foliage can instantly make a space feel both seasonal and chic. For a similar look, opt for a tonal ombré-style colour palette of foliage and flowers (you can use fresh, dried or a mix of both) and layer it together with a ‘more is more’ maximalist approach. Wreath by Juliet Glaves Flowers, using dried flowers from Atlas Flowers. FLORAL FLOURISH A floral arrangement provides a fresh alternative to staple Christmas decor: opt for something that feels both contemporary in style and generous in scale, raising it up and onto its own plinth, just as the interior and events designer Gregory Blake Sams has here. TAKE A BOW A shapely and whimsical festive cue, the humble bow is to be…

Q I believe in the Unexpected Red Theory, but pillar-box red is too bright for the vibe I’m going for. How can I work with reds to create a sophisticated, calming and warming scheme? I also subscribe to the Unexpected Red Theory, that idea that a little dash of it can elevate a room. In my own home, I have a red Burmese bowl on a shelf and it draws the eye to that area. But if you’re scared of red, it doesn’t have to be anything permanent. You can try the theory out with a bunch of flowers – because I do think you need to be careful with reds. They can be over-stimulating, which is why I stay away from crimson and vermilion, favouring terracotta and brick reds…

embracing white has become a bit of a classic Scandinavian design signature, along with the likes of Finn Juhl chairs and Hästens beds. Allowing that cool, Swedish light to bounce off pale walls is a look that has influenced countless designers and decorators the world over and seen a proliferation of different whites on paint colour cards. ‘I’ve always loved the sense of calm and light that white brings to a space,’ says Lisa Abefelt. The paediatric nurse-slash-influencer lives in this period all-white apartment in Stockholm, with its 3.4m-high ceilings painted in Farrow & Ball’s All White, stretching above walls finished in Little Greene’s Portland Stone. ‘It feels fresh, timeless and surprisingly practical when done right. With children, it does require a bit of extra thought, but we choose wipeable…

Cold call Cold brew is trending as the smoother, less bitter coffee choice, and Smeg’s new Espresso and Cold Brew coffee machine lets you enjoy it faster than ever. Skip the 12-24 hour wait for grounds to steep – just press a button for a fresh cold brew espresso in two minutes for a single shot or four minutes for a double. With customisable temperatures and a sleek design, this retro star will deliver your caffeine fix, be it hot or cold, pronto. ECF03, £499.95, Smeg Handle it If cabinet handles are on your mood board, check out Hendel & Hendel’s new Hoxa Collection. With a smart linear knurled texture and industrial aesthetic, these British-designed pieces blend precision engineering with serious style. Whether it’s a sleek T-bar ribbed knob or…

The most memorable bars feel effortless yet refined,’ says interior designer Laura Hammett. And while a home bar’s success lies in a considered layering of intricate details, it’s the ability to seamlessly bring people together that creates a lasting impression. Drawing inspiration from those of luxury hospitality venues and members’ clubs, designers are helping us to reimagine such spaces in the context of our own homes, showcasing how subtle, intrinsic components can be combined to produce a memorable sensory experience. It is this inspiration that will help in the planning stages of your own home bar. ‘Begin by gathering images of bars that inspire you as it will help you to hone your ideas,’ advises interior designer Tiffany Duggan. ‘Think about how the bar might relate not just to the…

VINTAGE GLAMOUR SUITE IN A SENTENCE As a three-bedroom holiday stay, the Vintage Glamour Suite makes a hip alternative to traditional Helsinki hotels and comes wrapped in leafy views of the centrally located Laakso neighbourhood, with bespoke interiors by local studio Meja Design. DESIGN DOWNLOAD Housed inside a beautifully preserved 1950s building, the design-driven residence feels bold, unexpected and fun, sculpted into shape by wavy lines, mirrored passageways and statement walls. ON THE MENU The Vintage Glamour Suite is a self-catering property, but a short walk south from the house, you’ll find Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, a cultural hub with an array of dining options; Ravintola Carelia, a charming, candle-lit brasserie bringing a taste of French savoirfaire to town; and Ravintola Elite, a time capsule fitted with retroinspired interiors that’s been serving…

Bad taste is like a splash of paprika. So said the great aesthete Diana Vreeland, and I agree: excess is the little bit of spice that adds instant va-va-voom. And Christmas isn’t the moment to hold back. Bright lights are a Christmas essential. Yes, they should flicker; yes, they should be multicoloured; yes, they should make people feel like they want to dance. Opt for a childlike sense of wonder with the decorations. Anything sparkly. I love tinsel! Look, I’m a Jewish American so I don’t know about the snobbery Brits seem to regard it with, but clinging to your normal taste levels can impede fun. Focus, instead, on fun. Go for the classic green, red and gold colour combo. You can’t really do it at other times – and…