Christmas hearth and home

As families gather round the hearth, relatives from distant shores and absent friends all come together to celebrate the joy of Christmas.  The festive decorations whether antique heirlooms brought down from the attic, handmade ornaments or contemporary trimmings for a less traditional décor all create a focal point that gives life and colour to our home every season. 

Choosing the right one is difficult especially when there is so much to choose from - beautiful wreathes made of fragrant greens, lights twinkling in a multitude of colours, ornaments glittering. A resplendent dining room, a glorious meal in a beautifully created décor are also part of the festive celebrations that add to the merriment, joy and cheer all around. From cookies to the Christmas tree, from the ornaments to the chocolates, there are a lot of ways to display your individual creativity. 

Below is a selection of inspirational features, gorgeous homes from Mainstream Images and delicious recipes from Photo Cuisine UK. The extravagance of Christmas never needs justification!

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Wearing White and Gold for Christmas

With the cold, but oh so festive season approaching, the owner of this snow-white apartment in Oslo is wishing all her beloved friends a very merry Christmas. However, she's sending neither Rudolf nor Santa a jolly rsvp card this year. Instead, any child in the neighbourhood or young family members may stop by for an improvised Christmas workshop or some homemade cookies at her table. Just about a year ago, Oddfrid, a young designer of cool costumes and accessories for films and theatre in Norway, found herself the owner of a slightly tired and well-worn apartment in the Oslo neighbourhood Adamstuen, painted in various shades of ice-cream. She set out to give the place a Christmas present the likes it had never seen before. Almost single-handedly, she has refurbished this bright and classic apartment so that now it almost seems like an extension of her; with a pure and gentle background allowing for cool vintage finds and stylish details. Given that her daytime job is as a designer and artist, the renovation of the apartment has just been one more outlet for her creativity and distinct style... view interior feature

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It has to be white

The classic elegance and splendour of a beautifully presented meal in a timeless setting... view food feature

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Homemade Christmas with a Bang

At the Bang family home, Carsten, Gitte, and their two girls, Cecilia 14 years and Sofie 10 had become weary of the stylish Christmas where everything must match. Instead, they have embraced a decor with all sorts of colourful Christmas decorations; which assumes that anything fits together. Now, they use as many different colours and keep things as fresh as possible. When the family prepare for Christmas, they start with gluing, cutting, knitting and sewing at the beginning of November. The Christmas cake, muffins and cake figurines are baked to really get into the Christmas mood and get the taste and feel of Christmas. Cake tasting happens while they make ornaments consisting of hearts, angels, banners, monsters and advent wreaths. Homemade Christmas gifts for themselves, each other and the rest of the family are created. Cecilia and Sofie also make brooches out of small pieces of fabric in various colours, patterns and decorate them with beads. With a lot of colourful homemade decorations, the family and their grandparents have a Christmas more exciting and full of fun... view interior feature

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A-Z Perfect Christmas Party

Everything you need to make a Christmas a roaring success. From aperitif canapés, blinis with salmon to guinea fowl, panettone to zucchini bakes an offering of new Christmas dishes... view food feature

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Christmas tree, handmade decorations...

Let your senses delight in the cosy rooms of the old Smakkegård where the scene is set with a family of four to celebrate the year's big event, Christmas. The pale wood flooring, white washed walls, the white-painted beam ceiling and small-paned windows provides the perfect setting for the imaginative theme for Christmas decorations from nature, for the Christmas tree, fireplace, cookie jar and not forgetting all the packages that can be found under the tree. The scent of pine and clementines tickles my nose wherever you are in the house and you can hardly wait to bite into the sweet smelling Christmas cookies. It rustles in the red embers in the fireplace and you feel the heat quickly, resulting in apple red cheeks. Let your eyes be captivated by the lush green fir, with its simple and exclusive ornaments that invite one to explore around the tree and investigate each hand made decoration... view interior feature

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A chic little Christmas

Traditional dishes with modern accents: seafood dishes foie gras terrine and chocolate, almond and toffee cake YUM!.. view food feature

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Christmas Special

This St Albans home of a couple who run a successful mail order business is shown in the throws of preparations for Christmas. Many of the decorations are hand painted or custom made including trees balls inscribed with their children’s names. The dining table is dressed with fine wire trees supporting groups of tiny robins and even the front door is wreathed in lights and festive holly... view interior feature

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Christmas from distant lands

Nine recipes to tantalise your taste buds, mouthwatering dishes with an international flavour... view food feature

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Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Driftwood decorations, a beach barbecue, gifts delivered by boat: the Biggs family’s festive traditions are inspired by their love of the coast. The family’s love of water brought them to Totnes, on the banks of the River Dart, but within easy reach of the sea and beaches. When it comes to Christmas water plays a big part in the festive celebrations. “On Christmas Eve, we take our rowing boat down river and drop off presents to friends who live along the bank”, says Penny. “On Boxing Day, we like to get out of the house and head to one of the many windswept beaches nearby”. The beach combed treasures that have been accumulated over the years have become a part of the family’s festive decorations... view interior feature

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Christmas by the sea

Celebrate Christmas with delicious seafood: seafood filo parcels fish terrines, oysters, whole fresh food recipes and caviar... view food feature

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Here's one I sold earlier

When you visit Kally Ellis’s North London home, you’re guaranteed to be impressed by the flowers. Given that she’s one of Britain’s best-known florists, and her company, McQueens, has styled the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party, you’d expect nothing less, but there’s much else to admire too. From the moment you walk through the door and into the hallway hung with convex mirrors, you sense there’s something different about the place. In the sitting room, on one mantel, huge vases are filled with branches from which glass teardrops are suspended. There are unexpected combinations and attention-grabbing glimpses of colour – a flash of green on the front panel of a coffee table and yellow buttons on the sofas... view interior feature

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Tonight it's Christmas

An enchanting and festive lifestyle food feature amongst candle light and gold... view food feature

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