Christmas Gifts For The Five Senses No. 2 - Sight!

 

Christmas Gifts For The Five Senses No. 2 - Sight!

Last Night I Dreamt I Went To Amberley Again......... Only This Time It Wasn't A Dream! Good Morning & Greetings from the South Downs National Park ! The move was not without its hiccups but we are finally ensconced. We spent our first night at 'The Black Horse' in the village (amberleyblackhorse.co.uk) so that we didn't have to hare down the motorway at the crack of dawn to let in the removal men. It was a very civilised way to begin, and the food (from head chef Tom Hayler) was as glorious as the scenery!  Our neighbours have been so kind and friendly and we even received a 'welcome pack' from the village! I am currently propped up in bed listening to the dawn chorus and gazing across our garden to the hills beyond (pictured) and it is as blissful as we imagined it would be. I have no idea what to expect from life in the country, but thus far it is idyllic - I can see sheep when washing-up! Of course I am cheating slightly and will be back in East Dulwich in December to serve in the shop ( I LOVE being behind the counter helping people select for their nearest and dearest). How very fortunate to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds! We have worked very hard, unpacking hundreds of boxes and trying to fit a lot into a small space, but I was very proud that on day 1 we managed to make our front parlour look very chic indeed with new olive green velvet sofa (replete with fire safety labels!) and golden velvet cushions from RW. We were so chuffed that just had to stop for a glass or two of Tattinger to celebrate! And with the bucolic scenery came a proposal! The Good Doctor is making an honest man of me and we are 'getting hitched' in early February! Rings have been ordered from a lovely jeweller on the island of Orkney(!) and am currently feeling like the luckiest person alive! But enough of me! How are you? Well and warm I trust? Yuletide is only a month away now - are you feeling festive yet? Even the onslaught of TV advertising has failed to dampen my Christmas spirit and I intend to make the cottage very merry indeed - wreath on the front door and a nice tree in the window - we want to make a good first impression!

Shop Now - Candle Holder - Gold Metal Drip - £92.00

And so to our Gift Guide. I must say that it is bit of an easy one as I have long championed colour and the store is positively bursting with vibrant hues! However, I have mixed it up a little and included some pattern and shapes to augment the experience and inspire. Please prepare your retinae for a feast! I will hold my hands up and admit that I purchased the gold 'Drip' candle holder for myself ! There, I confess, but you must admit that it is a thing of beauty! Designer Pascal Smelik used liquid wax to create the model, and this brass-plated candlestick is a large, statement piece that will look equally dramatic at a banquet or dinner a deux! It is taking centre stage on our Christmas table and I absolutely adore it!

Shop Now - 60's Inspired Hinged Candelabra - £65.00

Shop Now - Milanese Glass - Bubble Teal Light Holder - £12.00

And, if 'Silver' is more to your taste (and decor), then look no further than this folded, nickel-plated candelabra! The minimal, spacey, futuristic design oozes 60's style and is articulated so can be arranged in any number of different configurations. Finally, we have a gorgeous glass pebble from Milan which holds a single tea light - the pure, simplicity is a joy to behold and the perfect gift for design enthusiasts.

Shop Now - Coloured Glass Bottles With Bubble Stoppers - Set of 4 - £265.00

Our Super-Sized, Glass Bottle Set With Bubble Stoppers are HUGE and what an impact they make on an interior! I mean, who could possibly not covet them?! What I love is that this is maximalist minimalism - gorgeous, simple clean-lines, exaggerated in size and colour. An explosion of joy in any room - just don't fill them with gin like I did!

Shop Now - Wool 3D Cushion - Honey Comb - £155.00

Shop Now - Wool 3D Cushion - Waves - £135.00

3-D Cushions - These sculptural, 50 x 50cm cushions are show-stoppers! The amazing, 3-dimensional designs will add contemporary panache to any sofa, whilst the colours are curated to attract attention! These are made in high-quality wool, farmed and milled in the mountains of Portugal. We have two designs - 'Honeycomb' and 'Wave',  which really do shout 'style'!

Shop Now - Hand Painted Seeds - Dinner Plates - Set Of 4 - £90.00

Seed Plates - The fantastic, spiral, sunflower seed pattern lends an organic feel to the retro colour palette. Hand decorated, tactile stoneware.

Shop Now - Lacquered Stool / Side Table - £225.00

These lacquered 'Zig Zag' stools/side tables are incredibly well made and actually extremely practical - use as a bedside table and re-purpose as a stool if needed. Bright, vibrant and graphic, again they are incredibly charismatic and minimal in a 1960's spacey kind of way!

Shop Now - Tricolour Ceramics - Platter - £51.00

My obsession with bowls is a matter of record - you simply cannot have too many! -  and these are my new favourites. Handmade and painted in Portugal, they simply sing on the table and make a gorgeous centrepiece filled with fruit or can be used to serve pastas, salads etc. A lovely, practical present with tons of pizzazz!

Shop Now - Kaymet Tray - Diamond Ribbed - £103.00

Kaymet trays are another icon. Handmade in South London since 1947, they actually look Art Deco - they have that 'Ocean Liner' glamour about them -  and the GD has ordered two for the cottage. If one is going to indulge in TV dinners then at least one can do it with style! Classic, practical and the colours are gorgeous - everyone needs a good tray or two and one might as well choose the best!

Shop Now - Hyacinth Vase - £6.50

A really charming gift, our Hyacinth Vases are designed to hold a bulb which will send its roots down into the water (infused with a few drops of Baby Bio!), and then produce a beautiful, sweet-smelling flower. I like this idea as it is very thoughtful and one can purchase a bulb in any number of wonderful colours - 'Midnight Mystic' is a lovely dark blue or there's the magenta of 'Woodstock'. The vase can obviously also be used for posies throughout the year and I find is the perfect size for my dining table as one can see over the flowers!

Shop Now - Decanters, Carafes & Jugs - From £40.00

Carafes/Decanters are an excellent choice at Christmas as they are so versatile - they can be used for wine or water, for sherry or port - anything and everything. I have the amber piece on the left, and I even put marigolds in it sometimes as the colours work so well! It is also nice to gift a bottle of something special to decant -  a vintage Port perhaps or a lovely, velvety Bordeaux!

Shop Now - Ceramic Vase - Seed Pod - £25.00

Shop Now - Ceramic Vase - Giant Seed Pod - £65.00

And last, but by no means least the 'Seed Pod Vases'! I adore these as they are simple, sculptural and very chic indeed. They look like they have been dropped from space but are also familiar and organic - like giant seed pods from some extraterrestrial plant( hence the name! ). We have two sizes - the large will hold a bouquet, the smaller would work with a few stems - Gerbera or Zinnias are perfect. Please don't forget that we are here to answer any questions that you may have - can take pictures, advise on sizes, colours and shapes or on transport across the world. I am just about to send a Syrian lamp to Chicago! Please call us or email and we will be only too pleased to help with anything at all!This weekend we are unpacking, moving a few pieces of furniture around and generally nesting. I am hoping to embark on a scouting mission to Petworth, as the antique shops are excellent for furniture and we have a couple of spaces to fill! The GD has plans for a completely contemporary space, but I like to mix things up so we shall have to see - compromise is the secret of a happy marriage! I'll send you some pictures once we have curtains!

Finally, just as I was feeling thoroughly content, I received this image from the beaches of Barbados! Now obviously I am delighted that Roullier White has such a long reach, and that our jute totes clearly make practical beach bags(!), however I shall admit to more than a pang of jealousy!  Just look at the colour of that sand! Never mind - I shall turn this into a positive and start planning our honeymoon! Have a smashing weekend everyone - next time we shall indulge in the slightly erotic sense of 'touch' ! Michael x