We Wish You a Rustic Christmas

Another year, another Christmas that’s crept up upon us, or at least me. I love writing an annual Christmas decoration blog, as it gives me the chance to have a good look at what’s new. This year I decided to move away from the glitz and glam ornaments and have a little look at the more rustic decorations; which can be a really interesting and low key way to dress up your home this season. If you enjoy a more laid-back, farmhouse or minimal style take a look at some of these Christmas treats.

For a little Nordic style, this wooden Christmas tree from Amara is perfect for a relaxed Scandinavian interior. It’ll sit nicely as a special addition on the other side of a fireplace, opposite a log basket. Or a small Christmas reminder in your bedroom.

Wooden Christmas Tree Ornament from Amara

A smaller rustic Christmas tree can be found at Rockett St George. This set of six look great as a collection, or could be spread out amongst other decorations. They’ll keep the festive charm, but the neutral colours will stop things from going over the top.

Set of 6 Neutral Christmas Trees from Rockett St George

I love a good star decoration, it’s great for the festive season, and can also be used permanently as well. This wooden star from Amara has a gorgeous rustic charm; use all year round lying flat on a coffee table, and lean against a wall with some small fairy lights wrapped around for Christmas.

Wooden Star Decoration from Amara

These distressed iron stars from Rockett St George are a lovely design too, they’ll make a great wall display or could be hung from the ceiling in the hallway.

Distressed Hanging Iron Stars from Rockett St George

For a few irregular guests to the Christmas party, these owls from Abigail Ahern and these flying pigs from Baileys will add a little humour and character to your Christmas décor.

Orla Owl Sculpture from Abigail Ahern

Flying Pigs Decoration from Baileys

If you like a minimal style, there’s no need to compromise at Christmas, you can still get into the spirit and keep your look. These baubles from Anthropologie are made from chipboard, they’re relaxed and cool with a little hint of retro style.

Merry and Bright Ornaments from Anthropologie

Sara Candle in Ash from Heals

Add a few off these Sara candles from Heals in a few different sizes around a table or sitting area to create a minimal, romantic Christmas environment. If you’re not into the traditional style of wreath, or want to try something new this year, this minimal wreath from Trouva is a stylish alternative.

Walter and co Boxwood Wreath from Trouva

Add a touch of nature to your fairy lights with these pinecone and star ensemble from The White Company. They’ll look pretty draped around a mirror or door frame.

Pinecone Fairy Lights from The White Company

A festive Christmas doesn’t mean having to be a big, bright one, create your own little haven this season with some sensational rustic Christmas charm.

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Christmas is Coming!

Whether you rejoice at the news that Christmas is just around the corner, or tremble with a little disbelief at how fast the year has gone, there’s no denying that the festive season is upon us, and what better way to embrace it with with some fab decorations. I tend to pull a bit of a face at the masses of tinsel you usually find adorning every possible surface at this times of year and other conventional styles of decorating you home, so this year I wanted to make it my mission to find some decorations that not only are full of festive glamour, but could also be worked into an interior all year round. Whatever your style there’s something for everyone that’ll turn your home into an ultra-glam setting 365 days of the year.

If you’re not into your traditional red and green Christmas colours, opting for a crisp all-white theme will really add some style to your home this year. A great way to make sure that your decorations are suitable for all year round use, is to find pieces that don’t follow a seasonal motif too closely. These paper stars from Rose & Grey are contemporary way to kit out your home. Hang them from a high ceiling to make a fairy-tale style feeling, and pair with these lovely lanterns from Rockett St George to really get into the spirit. Once the Christmas season is over, the paper lanterns are the perfect decorations to create a dreamy bohemian-style room, or to dress up a child’s bedroom.

‘Nine Point Paper Stars’ from Rose & Grey.

‘Set of Three Paper Lanterns’ from Rockett St George

This carved skull from Angel & Boho is perfect for all year round use. It’s a fun and interesting way to play around with the animal head trend, the carving detail is a sweet addition, and the bright white colour means that you’re free to add some individuality to yourself, even decorating it horns with some tinsel if you really wanted!

‘Tribal Carved Skull’ from Angel & Boho

For a little rustic charm, a few rattan stars from Holly’s House are sure to do the trick, they’ll look great on a shelf or mantel, surrounded by some fairy lights at any time of the year.

‘Set of Three Natural Rattan Deco Stars’ from Holly’s House

To give your home a touch of luxury this Christmas time, why not go for some decorations that are full to the brim with glamour and exotic style. If you’re less into shepherds and sheep and more into glitzy, romantic settings something like this lanterns from Angel & Boho are perfect. Surround a dining room table for an extra special Christmas meal, or dot around various surfaces for Christmas drinks, and then for a dramatic and romantic year just simply keep them there!

‘Tall Filigree Lantern’ from Angel & Boho

‘Venezia Oversized Gilded Lantern’ from Angel & Boho

The ideal companion for some striking lanterns, are some extravagant candlesticks. You can mix and match the lanterns and candlesticks around the room to create a beautiful, romantic setting, or fill a table up with a wonderful arrangement of candlesticks to set the tone. This set from Graham & Green come in all different sizes, which is a good idea if you don’t want your arrangement to look too stiff. Their antiqued glass style can work with various existing styles from bohemian to traditional to glamourous contemporary.

‘Mercury Antiqued Glass Candleholders’ from Graham & Green

Decoration doesn’t have to always be about adding extra drama to your interiors, it’s also a great way show off your fun side and add little hints of quirk and playfulness to a room without going overboard. This Llama from Graham & Green is just the ticket if you want to have a good laugh this Christmas (and everyday afterwards!), and is a good twist on a traditional reindeer. It’s perfect for hanging decorations off of and for being a wonderful decoration itself. It’ll make a great addition to your home if you enjoy not taking life too seriously, positioned over a fireplace or perhaps a bed.

‘Pom Pom Llama Mount’ from Graham and Green

These painted hearts from Re-Found Objects will make wonderful colourful decorations this festive season, and can go on to brighten up your home afterwards. For Christmas time, place them in a more concentrated area, decorating a dresser, or staircase. For the rest of the year, a collection of them would make a lovely touch scattered around a wall, it’ll add a youthful and fresh take to your home, plus they’d go rather nicely with the llama!

‘Hand Painted Hearts’ from Re-Found Objects

If you like fun festive decorations, and want to find a quirky alternative to tinsel, you might want to take a look at finding some pom poms! They are absolutely everywhere these days, so you’re bound to find some in a style to your liking. These red and orange poms from The Conran Shop are oh so cute, but they use contemporary colours, therefore avoiding an overly twee feeling.

‘Pom Pom Garland Festival’ from The Conran Shop

At Christmas time, you can get away with going a little overboard if you fancy, and if you like going all out over the holidays, chances are you probably like doing it all year round too. If you want to add a bit of nature to your interiors, you might not want to stop at just a Christmas tree. These indoor outdoor trees from Cox & Cox are adorable and add a theatrical element to a room without being too dark or mysterious. They can be used inside to get into the holiday spirit, and then when the New Year comes by, place them outside to really enchant your garden.

‘Indoor Outdoor Birch Trees’ from Cox & Cox

The same can be said for these lights from Cox & Cox, use them to decorate your interiors over Christmas and then afterwards they can be used to light up a garden, or transform an archway.

‘Indoor Outdoor Twinkle Light Garland’ from Cox & Cox

There are all sorts of way to create a wonderful winter land this Christmas, and even more ways to get creative and make magical interiors all year round!

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Last Minute Christmas Delights

Christmas is nearly at our doorsteps, so here are a few more little treats that will be the icing on the cake of your decorations and Christmas celebrations this year.

If you want to spruce up your tree there are some absolutely lovely decorations and baubles around at the moment and here are a few of our favourites.

‘Five Metal Pressed Feathers in Silver’ from Cox & Cox

These feather decorations from Cox & Cox are a subtle, contemporary addition to a tree if you’re looking for something simple.

‘Six Magical Tree Baubles’ from Cox & Cox

Another charming, inventive touch from Cox & Cox to add to your collection, these Christmas trees in baubles are brilliant.

‘Large Party Chihuahua Decoration’ from An Angel at my Table

We couldn’t resist adding in this Chihuahua decoration from An Angel at my Table, a great find for those who like to keep things a little less traditional and a little more quirky. If this is a tad too left field for your taste but you’re still looking for something with a fun edge, these owl ornament are marvellous!

‘Pair of Vintage Style Brown Owl Decorations’ from An Angel at my Table

If the rest of your house isn’t looking as festive as you might have liked there are plenty of ways to add a little oomph to your surroundings.

These thistle tea light holders from ANTA are divine, I especially love the cup and saucer combo.

‘Cream Thistle Orange and Cinnamon Tealight Candle’ from ANTA

Decorate a window sill with these beautiful antique looking metal birds, perfect for Christmas and all year round!

‘Three Little Birds’ from An Angel at my Table

Treat yourself to some pretty copper pieces from Cox & Cox with these lovely bells and lights.

‘Copper Jingle Bell Garland’ from Cox & Cox

‘Copper Maroq Lights’ from Cox & Cox

Get into a contemporary Christmas mood with these creatively designed paper star decorations from Bodie and Fou, they’re great if you’re not too keen on embellishing your home with all things sparkly.

‘Paper Stars in Black and Grey’ from Bodie and Fou

I love this rather special card from An Angel at my Table, it’s an elegant way to do Christmas in style, and if you don’t want to send it to someone it would make a lovely, understated decoration in your home.

‘Pop up St Paul’s Cathedral Card’ from An Angel at my Table

Not to leave your kitchen feeling left out, this sweet robin and holly tea towel from Thornback & Peel is a delightful addition, the design is also featured on aprons, oven mitts, crackers and many other things in case you want to spoil yourself!

‘Robin & Holly tea towel’ from Thornback & Peel

Last but not least, make your gifts extra special with some beautiful wrapping paper, this starry designed paper from Cox & Cox is marvellous!

‘Mini Stars Wrapping Paper’ from Cox & Cox

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, full of wonderful household treats!

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Chickens and Easter Eggs

Easter excitement has hit the Angel and Blume office and we have gone a little bit chicken and egg mad but with an eye on trying to keep our good taste on track, we have found things that we would genuinely want to keep in our homes after the Easter celebrations (and the chocolate) are finished.

This delightful range of fine bone china from Sophie Allport features hilarious little Speckled Maran hens

Lovely ivory metal egg holders from Red Lilly – perfect for all your eggs, chocolate or otherwise.

Brilliant designer Vanessa Arbuthnott’s first fabric collection was the Cockerel Collection which looks as good today as it did when it launched.

Bring a little bit of French country living into your kitchen with this charming egg holder made from chicken wire, of course. www.dibor.co.uk

Lovely little chicken jug which is perfect for flowers from The Easter Home at Not on the High Street

Perfect for more contemporary interiors, this smart egg tray from The White Company is made from a lovely grainy ash wood.

The most gorgeous Campine design from Wendy Bray is produced as wallpaper and fabric by the Warner Textile Archive

Wishing you all a very happy and restful Easter break

 

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Christmas is a comin’

I know you don’t want to hear it but there are just six weeks to go until Christmas. I too have been in denial but the arrival of the Rockett St George Christmas catalogue has finally stirred my festive spirit. It is a lovely collection of things we don’t need but really want and I have picked some of my favourites for you below – three of which I have already placed an order for. So that’s my Christmas shopping underway then.

Of course we want these for the Angel and Blume tree!Two snow doll candles – Stargazer and Wish Maker

Glass Christmas Trees – sold separately but they look great as a trio

Moroccan inspired fairy light

Christmas Stickers which look great on plain brown paper

Fabulous gold wall sconce – this is not going to be taken down after Christmas!

Lovely tea light holder

I bought these fab cards but what I really want is the gorgeous box they come in!

Lovely metallic Christmas wreath

A must have Christmas item

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Colourful Christmas

In complete contrast to my restrained and tasteful White Christmas blog (see November 6th) I now bring you a colourful, festive and frankly unashamedly gaudy festive ideas – really, what is not to love?

Hang these deliciously colourful Christmas stars from The Contemporary Home on your tree, in the window or anywhere else you can find – the more the merrier!

Some of you are going to love these angelic little feather birds from Petra Boase, and others of you are going to hate them! Personally I love them. And they would be perfect clipped to the branches of your Christmas tree.   

From the same company, these paper ball garlands are an updated version of the paper chain classic. Pick your colours from 17 available and use as many as you can!

  

For a burst of festive colour, hang these woollen baubles from The Contemporary Home on your tree, or better still, in a cluster on their own for maximum impact.

Two wonderfully colourful and ever so slightly disco bauble options from Graham and Green – if you can’t pick between them, put both on the tree, in as greater quantity as you can manage!

And finally, there is no reason that your front door shouldn’t be as splendidly colourful as the rest of your house and this Christmas wreath from Habitat fits the bill perfectly.

Happy Christmas decorating!

 

 

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Dreaming of a White Christmas

I know it is a tad on the early side to be thinking of Christmas but when I saw these gorgeous, understated decorations on the Cox and Cox website, I just couldn’t resist a little bit of festive musing. These delightful earthy ornaments will give you a natural minimal look for a very stylish Christmas.

Pine Cone Candles £8.50

6 Wooden Stars £10.50

Birch Heart £10.50

Midwinter Street Gift Tags £5.50

Fluted Paper Light Garland £45

Deer Window Stickers £5.50

Magical Paper Tree £40

12 Felt Snowflake Decorations £7.50

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