INTERIORS
Festive
interiors
It’s beginning to look
a lot like Christmas …
Peter Turner, managing director of Teesside-based interior design studio Cocoon and Bauer, has
designed Michelin starred restaurants, five-star hotels and some of the most exclusive addresses
in the country. This issue, Peter answers some festive-themed questions from Tees Life readers…
How do I dress my home for Christmas
without it looking gaudy?
If you have kids in the family they will
want your home to resemble a mini Santa’s
grotto! The main point to avoid is coloured
lights, for the interior or the exterior. Simple,
warm-white lighting provides a perfect
backdrop to glow up your more colourful
decorations.
Which colours are on trend this Christmas
season?
Rather than following trends, I’d recommend
a Christmas theme that ties into your
interior decoration. I have quite a masculine-
looking home, so I’ve opted for dark blues
which resemble the colour of night and are
incredibly relaxing. If you really want to try
something different go for the snowscape
theme which should be big once again this
year. It can work in any home in any room
and always looks fab!
I’m cooking Christmas dinner for the family
- can you suggest some lovely festive gifts/
tableware or glassware
to make my table look
appealing?
Add glamour to any
table setting with
these quartz and gold
coasters from Graham &
Green (pictured). If you
want to go a little further,
team them up with this
gorgeous cutlery set from
Cutipol (pictured).
Should I get a real tree
this year or stick with
artificial?
A real tree is more
traditional and looks more
impressive but is best
suited to more traditional
homes where high ceilings
and wider spaces can cope
with the varying sizes. In modern homes,
fake trees can be an astute purchase – not
just for their longevity, but also for their
space-saving narrowness.
How do I use lighting to create a cosy
atmosphere in my lounge this Christmas?
Stick to warm white lighting for any
decoration and try having numerous
sources of light within your lounge. Try
candles spread around the room, including
a centrepiece of candles on the coffee table,
table lamps and even a scrunched bundle
of spare tree lights gathered in the base of
plants.
I want guests to be impressed with
my home at Christmas – what can I
do to make it stand out?
Simplicity is the key.
Impress with a wreath
on the front door using
freeze-dried fruit
with twigs and acorns
(pictured). The smell is
incredible! Once in the
hallway, wrap the banister
of your staircase (both sides
if you have two!) with a quality
garland that includes holly and
berries. If you can, further wrap the
banister with lights. This will create a lovely
frame for the staircase. To add drama, place
tall candelabras at the foot of the stairs.
PETER’S
TOP TIP
If you have any
spare Christmas
lights, gather them
together and place
them in hurricane
lamps, put them
in the corner of an
unused room and see how it adds a
little festive sparkle as you pass by!
tees-life.co.uk
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