‘Tis the season for decorating – whether through subtle decorative accents or all-out extravagance, at this time of year, more is acceptably more.
In keeping with our mission to bring you inspiring stories and ideas that can be adapted to your own living environments, Design Dispatch presents its Christmas editorial – a romantic interpretation of festive decorating for the home.
For the first in a series of articles, we explore how subtle details can bring an understated elegance to any piece of furniture, be it an ornamental plate or a console table. And nothing does this better than nature’s bounty.
From fresh or artificial loose foliage such as fern, holly, pine and eucalyptus, to aromatic cinnamon sticks and dried fruits, there are simple and effective ways to embrace the warmth and richness of nature, which can also define your festive decorating colour scheme.
Shot on location at Camilleri Paris Mode‘s flagship Rabat store, stylist and interior designer Enrica deGabriele used natural elements provided by Il-Qronfla to bring colour, texture and scents associated with this season to the spaces used. “Filling bowls with hand-picked pine cones, dried oranges and cinnamon or hanging a wreath indoors or on the front door to symbolise the start of a new and cosier season is a simple and effective way to decorate.”
Experiment with quantities and composition, shifting bits around and introducing fresh seasonal fruit with a long shelf-life that complements the colour scheme into the fold. And don’t be in a rush to pack everything away at the start of the new year.
“These natural elements can be used to decorate our homes for the entire season and not just Christmas time – once the Christmas decor has been removed, the home tends to feel bare so leaving some seasonal pieces can help that transition,” says Enrica.
Smaller pieces of furniture are an ideal playground for having fun with festive decorating, be it a sideboard, a console or a low table. We were drawn towards the classy Lady Alpaga cabinet with its tactile, golden fringe, above which is an artistic and abundant hand-made dried flower wreath – the kind that will draw admiration long after the tree has been packed and fairy lights taken down.
Use beautifully-bottled fragrances or candles to set a stylish mood, such as the Renaissance-inspired eau de cologne by Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, as well as dried, neutral-coloured foliage mixed with a burst of festive colour, such as a bunch of berries, to tie it all together.
Venue, furniture, decor & accessories: Camilleri Paris Mode | Foliage & dried fruits: Il-Qronfla
Styling: Enrica deGabriele | Photography: Tonio Lombardi
If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in: These all-over pattern interiors embrace ‘more is more’ with indulgent decorating
