Colour and light

Mia Karlsson's cool style reflects her Swedish background and heritage. In her own bright and airy house in Hampstead, London, she mixes colourful furnishings and bold designs with softer Scandinavian features such as fur rugs and throws, alongside colourful art and posters on the walls. The front of the house faces south, with clean white shutters throughout filtering the sunlight and giving a distinctly continental feel. The sleek kitchen and dining area is located at the rear in an extension dug out beneath the garden at ground level, with a sliding skylight opening flooding the interior with daylight... view feature

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Space Saver

Sometimes it pays to wait, Alison Hill and John Taylor found this mews house after renting for a couple of years and now have a light, spacious central London week day home. The clean lines of the mews cottage are kept pristine thanks to the nifty work of designer maker Tim Newbold of Domus who created wardrobes, bed and bedside cabinets, and I value the quality of his work because I am writing this at a foldaway desk set in to bookshelves that he made! view feature

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Classic Contrasts

In love with each other and Italian design, this is a marriage between the original classic and a more modern playfulness straight from the heart. Together with their son Victor and the dog Jim, the couple hold down their fort in an apartment at Majorstuen in Oslo. A few paces up the street and around the corner, just far enough away for Jim’s morning walk, is Stian Hagfors’ architect’s office, BLOKK architect... view feature

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House of Swarovski

Most little girls go through a phase of clip-clopping around in Mummy’s high heels, bedecked in her jewellery and posing for all they’re worth. Five-year-old Thalia and her sister Jasmine, who’s three, are no different. Except that in their cases the heels are custom-made Nicholas Kirkwood numbers, the jewels bespoke pieces by Arik Levy, and the mummy, Nadja Swarovski, a crystal heiress and public relations supremo for the family firm. Crystal heiress Nadja Swarovski’s Chelsea home sparkles with treasures.. view feature

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Zoe's Apartment

Set on a quiet residential street overlooking the open expanses of Paddington Rec park is the apartment of Zoe V, a young fund manager who moved to London from her native Croatia in 2008. She found an Edwardian era mansion block apartment that hadn’t been refurbished in over 40 years, and being someone not to be daunted by any challenge, she set about hiring a team of builders and decorators to tear down walls, rip up floorboards, and bring it bang up to date. For the next 6 months, her life revolved around this project. Her evenings were spent overseeing the work and her weekends seeking out furnishings, artworks, and decorative objects, not to mention fireplaces, baths, window blinds and door handles. Her personal odyssey became a labour of love, and the results are stunning – a feeling of freshness, lightness and airiness flows around the spacious rooms, each decorated with taste and style. Bright sunshine permeates the spacious living area, a comfortable and welcoming room featuring, earthy tones, and a variety of textures, enhanced by the glow of the fireplace and the warmth of the oak floor. The kitchen is epitomised by the sleek and minimalist black granite and steel of modernity, and the apartment also features an outdoor terrace and an office for Zoe to work in... view feature

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The house of the future

Designed by an architect enthusiast, this town house is a technological innovation and located in the heart of Chateau-Thierry, it does not go unnoticed. Rebuilt on the ruins of an ancient house of shoemakers, it stands a tall facade of glass and wood. An amazing project designer, Eric Pace first took a contextual approach: the house is part of the Church of St. Crispin; although the outside has evolved into a modern house it was necessary to integrate the site. The habitat itself is spread over three floors: kitchen and dining-room, living room, bedroom and bathroom; the parts are connected by an interior staircase. Very pure design, the furniture is a natural in this high-tech atmosphere. "You can always make improvements for this type of habitat" and Eric Pace does not lack imagination. The evening's light sensors not only control the lights but also close the shutters to carefully preserve the privacy of any guests... view feature

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May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Chirstmases be white

Whatever colour Christmas you’re dreaming of you can explore your own individual style to design a celebratory atmosphere for festive entertaining. Whether you choose the classic holly and ivy for a traditional Christmas; a simple decorative setting inspired by the past; a natural and seasonal look achieved by bringing together treasured objects and plants from the garden; vintage candy shop with decorative baubles or a vibrant colour clash, flickering candlelight enhances every setting and makes your home look warm.

Our selection of Christmas homes feature the bright, fun and eclectic with explosions of colour; contemporary homes pairing muted tones with combined lighting and sophisticated subtlety; a modern conversion with creative design ideas; an alternative vintage style with hand crafted decorations and re-cycled crafts to an old fashioned country home where family heirlooms have been handed down through the generations. Each home creates a relaxed environment to gather family and friends to share the Christmas spirit.

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