Our feature in The Sunday Times!

We were so chuffed when The Sunday Times reached out to us just before Christmas to do a shoot here at home and the lovely Marie Kelly interviewed me on all things Christmas decorating! Here are some of the images from the shoot if you fancy a look!

One of the first things on my list to do at Christmas is order a fabulous big eucalyptus wreath and loose foliage bunches from my go-to's Wicklow Foliage Farm and The Foliage Florist, both selling the most gorgeous Irish-grown foliage.

The tree is decorated with ornaments I've been collecting for years, some of them passed down from my Mam's collection and decorations the kids have made at school and of course some from the shop! Garlands of fresh cypress are tied to the stairs and draped across mirrors and the cooker head, I can't get enough of it!

I made the mantle arrangement using dried hydgrangeas and wintery branches on a scrunched up chicken wire base. The kids helped make the dried orange slice garland with fishing wire which is draped from the mantle beam. Velvet bows are added to branches, on top of picture frames, vases - nowhere is safe!

It's safe to say I love to go all-out at Christmas and I wanted to make this year extra special as my sister was home from Australia with my new little nephew. I wanted the table to feel fun and whimsical with lots of colour texture.

The table is draped with a jazzy green and light blue striped cotton tablecloth and matching napkins. Nothing is too stiff or matchy-matchy, I've used a mixture of red and turquoise velvet napkin bows with our Italian ceramic splatter plates. Handmade red bow place cards and menu cards from the fabulous Jess at Pink Moon Designs. I like to keep the floral arrangements simple and low so you're not fighting over them to talk! Here I've used hyacinth bulbs and cyclamen in some of our bowls and footed vases.  I love using fruit to decorate the table and here I've used clementines and pears studded with pearl-headed pins. Our tapered candles are the finishing touch. 

Images Bryan Meade Photography