Christmas is a wonderful time of year especially for designers. Shops are filled with such inspiration and it never fails to impress us here at April Hamilton Interior Designers. It gives us plenty of lovely ideas for dressing our own homes at Christmas, in addition to helping clients with theirs.
One of our most recent projects on the Isle of Wight was a delight to be involved in. The brief of “Complete Glamour for 12 Guests” was born with a bespoke dining table of polished wenge, double inset nickel bands to focus the eye towards the centre and topped. We sealed the look with an elegant floral arrangement at every place setting. At the centre of the table, we deliberately left ample room for the chef to delight dinner guests with delicious fine dining.
Our choice of place settings are found at Amiramour while the stunning china is sourced from Haviland. We also added other pieces from Ester & Erik and accessories by April Hamilton.
The luxury dining room in the Sussex countryside was a pleasure to design and dress for our client. Designed with a matrix of global brands and bespoke furniture designed exclusively by April Hamilton, the room beams with an elegant and festive atmosphere. Tall tapered candles from Ester & Elk (found on their website) also add an air of glamour and radiance. While the original storm lanterns are no longer available, I sourced these Outdoor Candle Lanterns as an alternative and they are currently on offer, so you may want to take a peek?
We delicately infused the room with the lovely scent of rose buds, complemented by the warmth of candles for a subtle, cosy effect. If you enjoyed the look, you can find the rose buds here.
Layered lighting is truly the best way to give a space lots of interest as it adds depth. For example, concealing the candles slightly behind the curtain creates a new dimension and is visible only to guests at the right of the image, whilst the guests at the far end of the table are treated to the wall lights, illuminating the commissioned artwork of landscaped gardens through the seasons.
To softly illuminate the bespoke cabinetry, we used electric candles for safety reasons. This gentle effect allows the cabinet to shine, saving it from being discarded and forgotten in the background.
Whilst we love statement pieces such as this beautiful chandelier from Porta Romana, it’s always a good idea to dim them as it can produce a harsh light and easily overwhelm an intimate setting. With the combination of dimmed overhead lighting, wall lights, lamps and candles, you have a truly magical mix for the perfect cosy Christmas atmosphere.
Here at April Hamilton, we often design and create the furniture for our projects on-site and this room is no exception. From the beautiful fretwork cabinet to the hand finished dining table and bespoke double fabric buttoned chairs, we created it exclusively for our client.
Our clients and their guests have plenty to look forward to this Christmas. If you’re feeling inspired by April Hamilton’s Christmas decorations, why not indulge your guests with these last minute ideas from Fortnum and Mason, including a sweet, one a kind baubles and crackers or these beautiful Christmas Hampers, filled with bubbles, wine and decadent nibbles. Sophie Conran’s Christmas Shop is also a magical place to find some Christmas-themed dining pieces. We also recommend Selfridges for last-minute trendy homeware, beauty or fashion gifts for anyone on your list. And if you’re interested in seasonal scents or cosy, indulgent and stylish gifts, The White Company is a wonderful place to browse.
With all the uncertainty we’ve faced over the past almost 2 years, perhaps more than ever, this Christmas is going to be extra special, so be sure to enjoy it.
Thanks for reading- Rosie and Charlotte
