1 If we all had an army of elves busying away all year, we might be able to cram the whole of Christmas into just one night too, but we are not Santa – and life doesn’t work that way. So my first tip is not to treat this month like an un-merry marathon or to bite off more of the metaphorical mince pie than you can chew. My list is really a non-list list of things that are nice and helpful to do, but not essential. If you skip a step or two, panic not, have a marzipan fruit, or perhaps a sherry – Christmas will still be magical.
2 When it comes to pre-Christmas entertaining make nothing individual: no canapés, nothing that comes in its own cocotte. Instead, serve big platters of big food – chicken thighs baked in marmalade, oil and spices, or tomatoes, potatoes and onions roasted with chickpeas and lemon zest in a light white sauce. Your guests will thank you for the break from seasonal stodge, and you’ll thank yourself for making it so stress-free.
Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av Homes & Gardens.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av Homes & Gardens.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE NEW SHANGRI-LA
Across the globe, garden designers are creating paradise-like spaces by embracing the flora and heritage of indigenous landscapes
A QUIET PLACE
The beauty of this restored Mallorcan villa is its stillness, both inside and out - and it makes whoever comes to visit completely relaxed
THE HOUSE OF FUN
Fearlessly flamboyant is the best way to describe every space of this 1960s French Regency-style mansion in the hills of Los Angeles
HEART & SOUL
A sophisticated use of fresh colours and playful patterns has ensured this modern Singapore apartment is full of character
IT'S WARM INSIDE
In designer Stephanie Barba Mendoza's home, everything was chosen to make her feel cocooned, looked after and full of joy
Shopping trips
This month, Joy Moyler details her strong desire to travel and the pieces she loves collecting along the way
A step ahead
A staircase has a dramatic impact on an interior and a great one is both beautiful and practical
Make an entrance
Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan opens the door planning and styling a small hallway
STATE OF THE ART Collector's piece
Six interior designers tell us the artists we should be investing in right now
Mexican revolution
Creatives are restoring abandoned homes from the Yucatán's golden era and there's lots to learn from these historic houses