How To Lay The Perfect Christmas Table

If there’s one thing which will help make your Christmas Day extra special, it’s a beautifully laid table. But putting together a stylish arrangement is an art – one which can be easily finessed with a few helpful pointers. With that in mind, we went to the tablescaping experts for their advice.

Consider The Event As A Whole 

“It’s good to start with the number of guests, the size of the table and then move on to flowers, fragrance, decoration, linen and napkins,” says florist Nikki Tibbles from Wild At Heart. “The ambience of the room is so important, too – you want it to feel cosy and relaxed.” 

Once you know how many people are coming, think about how many courses you're going to serve. “That way you know what you need to lay out, with regards to the crockery, cutlery and glasses etc,” says Alice Naylor-Leyland. “Then, decide on the theme and the flowers, as these are what will make the table feel Christmassy. Arrange them once the linens are down so you know how much space there is left to play with. The key element has to be the decorations, though,” she adds. “There aren’t many other times when you can get away with having nutcrackers, reindeer, trees and glitter all in the same place.”

Work Out Your Linens

“Start with the base, which is table linens,” says tablescaping expert Fiona Leahy. “That is the canvas and the start for everything else. This year, I’m going for a burgundy hand stamped Italian linen tablecloth, which will inform everything else.”

It’s also worth investing in seasonal linens which you can enjoy year after year. “I have really lovely linen and napkins that match, designed by Karen Nicol. They are hand embroidered with holly and mistletoe,” says Fiona. “They are beautiful and always make an appearance at Christmas.” 

Seb Bishop of Summerill & Bishop suggests preparing the tablecloth well in advance. “Lay the tablecloth the night before if you can, so it settles. Give it a gentle mist of water to help any creases and folds fall away, too. That way, when you wake up the next day, there’s a ready-made canvas waiting for you to embellish. Part of the fun is to keep adding to the table as the day progresses.”

Make Space For Flowers 

Before it becomes necessary to make room for the vast array of serving dishes, decorate your table with fresh flowers and foliage. Nikki uses lots of winter foliage, including pinecones, holly and mistletoe. “Try adding petite Christmas trees to the table, which can be decorated or left as they are to add a festive feel. Then add beautiful pale green hellebores and white parrot tulips and anemones in small vases.” 

For Christmas, Alice mixes white berries and eucalyptus. “White ranunculus are beautiful as well as white parrot tulips, if you can find them. Arrange them in a selection of bud vases and maybe one or two larger vases. You can also place flowers around the room using oasis and planters, as it helps them stay in place.” 

Small vases are very useful to add floral touches without overpowering the table, and they can be easily moved around when it comes to serving lunch. “Bouquets that are as natural as possible, say powder colours or monochrome, are my preference” says Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, co-founder of The Invisible Collection. “Bouquets in mini vases are where you can really let your imagination run wild.” Seb also suggests scattering gypsophilia stems: “Scatter them along the tabletop in delicate little bud vases – it’s like having snow on the table.”

Add Magic With Candles

“For me, candlelight is the most important element to encourage that Christmassy feeling,” says Fiona. “Go for burgundy or forest green tapers and many, many of them. Lots of tea lights also look magical – I like the mix of tall and lower – that is the art of tablescaping, the mix of higher and lower elements.”

“Gold candle holders and taper candles in pale and dark green are my favourite,” say Nikki. “Tealights also look wonderful when they’re carefully placed on the table. Candlelight is so flattering and creates the perfect atmosphere, too.” 

You can also use candles to highlight elements of your table decoration. Anna Zaoui, Isabelle’s co-founder, explains: “Place little candles close to the flowers to create a more dramatic ambiance, and then have some more generously scattered across the table, all at varied heights to add interest.”

Don’t Forget Place Names

Even if you’re hosting a smaller crowd than usual, don’t scrimp on the final touches, say the experts. “Handwrite the place settings, even if it’s just the two of you – these are the little things which make all the difference” says Seb. “Paper cards will do, or think on your feet and use dried leaves from the garden – trust me, these can look beautiful. Or, if you have any little helpers, ask them to write the place settings – when everyone contributes to the table, it feels warmer.”

If you’re worried your table may be getting overcrowded, try incorporating names into the elements you are already using. “You can use the crackers – place your guests initials on the bows or if you have time, embroider them,” says Fiona. “If you have room, you can use snow globes for place cards and write your guest names inside using calligraphy.” You can also use your decorations, which is a fun way to combine the two. “Try incorporating the person's name with a little animal. This Christmas, I have the sweetest glitter reindeer which I plan on using,” says Alice. But if you’re really tight on space, use the crockery – “Sometimes I simply write names on the plates in gold,” says Nikki. 

Source: https://sheerluxe.com/2020/12/14/how-lay-perfect-christmas-table

Designing a Tropical Surfer’s Paradise

For it’s sixth season, we collaborated with Coppa Club to design and curate the transformation of their Tower Bridge terrace. This year we decided to go for a Surfer’s Paradise theme to warm the Summer months. One of the most noticeable additions is the Vintage VW Camper van bar from Beetle Juice, that sits in place of the front two igloos. This was a perfect fit to the theme and terrace, providing customers with amazing drinks and surfer’s vibes.

The pods also got a makeover by the wonderful team at Cameron Gardens. They dressed the pods with tonnes of leafy foliage and cute little hanging pineapples. We paired this with tropical plants supplied by Patch, that work together to create a lush paradise.

It wouldn't be a surfer’s theme without some surfboards. We gave them a splash of pastel colour and placed them around the terrace and entrance. We also used one of the surfboards to display the Bar Menu which leans casually against the camper van.

Another great aspect of this year’s terrace, is the ‘epic swing’. A bespoke surfboard swing that sits in the corner of the terrace, perfectly framing Tower Bridge- one of the many curated photo ops! A stainless steel ‘Surfer’s Paradise’ sign completes this little corner, along with tropical plants and rocks.

If you haven’t already, we highly suggest going down and enjoying a cocktail this Summer. Hurry, they're booking up fast!

Gucci's Pop Up Decor Apartment

One of the main events in the design calendar has come and gone with a bang. From nature inspired kitchens designed by Tom Dixon, to an 8ft sculpture of the Maesta Sofferente sat infront of Duomo di Milano. There were heaps of quirky, creative and inspiring installations with many great suppliers showcasing their designs at Milan Design Week.

Amongst the weird and wonderful, Gucci opened a pop-up apartment to house their latest houseware collection. The apartment itself can be described as Gucci overload, with maximalist decor covered in the brand’s signature patterns and prints.

The actual homeware collection is displayed in real life scenarios, depicting how they would be utilised. Gucci created lovely vintage scenes with such luxury and sophistication poured into them. Velvets, bold prints and a huge marble fireplace, help make this space feel majestic.

For anyone who missed it, the store will remain open till June.

Kate Moss’s London House

Kate Moss has revealed her ethos for designing the perfect bathroom. In an interview with Architectural Digest, the Model spoke on her eclectic taste and control freak tendencies. “I love mixing old and new things, all different eras”. She states how old movies are a big influence to her bathroom design, with their sophisticated chaise lounges and huge claw-foot bath tubs. Extravagance oozes from all aspects of this room, with a James Worrall Vintage Chandelier hung directly above the tub and hand painted silk wallpaper designed by bespoke wallpaper company de Gournay. “They created a silver-tinted ­anemone pattern (according to Greek mythology, the flower is thought to ­symbolise luck). The result of an intimate design process, Anemones in Light depicts cascading blooms overlapping shards of solar radiance, and will become part of de Gournay’s permanent collection. “I’ve always loved what they do. It’s like vintage jewellery—it’s special,” she says”.

Kate mentions having a similar characteristic for her country house-

“My bathroom in the ­country has a chesterfield, and when I have my birthday parties there, we always end up hanging out in it,” Moss explains. “It’s got a record player, it’s cozy, it’s fun—there’s potions and lotions and smelly things. Everyone’s welcome.”

We love the sound of Kate Moss’s bathroom and think all houses should take note. Having the ultimate suave space to relax at the end of the day. Adding a sense of luxury to the everyday.

PreFAB

Prefabrication is a well known form of structure that is produced offsite and then brought on site, this can be as a flat packed piece or a fully stabilised structural element. Prefabrication is a modernist approach to home furnishing and is becoming more and more popular. The ready made scene has been around for many years, the first instance dating back to 1624 when the English brought a wooden panellised building to Massachusetts.

However it is only in the last decade or so where prefabrication technology has allowed architects to produce some amazing feats of Architecture. Architecture studio Precht has designed this concept for a Vertical farm with modular houses. The concept was to allow residents in the city to grow their own agriculture and live in a sustainable way. They have managed to create a vertical community in the city, proving how natural resources can inspire modern Architecture. Prefabricated A frames are used to form flexible living areas, using another sustainable element, Cross Laminated Timber.

Everything is previously thought out and tested so that the pieces come together as a unit and all included aspects have a use. Designing this way allows you to get creative with the necessities and give every joint, joist and structure a make over. There is an art in beautiful joinery and prefabricating structures allows for all of those elements to shine and take centre stage. The best benefit to prefabrication is that construction time is a doddle. Many buildings of this nature are put together on average of just over one week! So why not be on the front line of up and coming Architectural technology, and move into your dream house sooner than you know it.

Accent Walls

They've been around for some time but we still love them. There are so many different options to add that touch of excitement to any room. It isn’t just walls that are having eclectic make overs, but ceilings and floors too. From bold geometric prints to just a simple splash of a contrasting colour, here are our favourites for sprucing up that one boring wall.

Murals by Anne Kyyrö Quinn:

I came across this company at the surface design show 2019 and was amazed at the craftsmanship. These felt designs are hand made and beautifully executed. One wall of this soft and luxurious creation will bring warmth to your senses. Murals come in many different materials, prints and crafts but they all have that power of indulgence due to their amazing and innovative designs. 

Gallery by Desenio:

We are in an age where more photos are taken than ever. Why not put those digital delights to use and create a personalised gallery in your home. Go for a range of different sizes and map out the arrangement before you go in with the hammer. Desenio offer a range of different frames in multiple sizes and also have a great poster selection. You can choose from their inspirational quotes or their quirky prints, to decorate your wall just like your instagram feed. The best thing about this is that if you nail the arrangement *excuse the pun* then you can change the prints to suit the ever-changing trends or use the growing stack of photographs.

Tiles/Panels by Wall Decor 3D:

The tiled effect may be over but these quirky 3D panels bring a wave of fresh and innovative creativity to any wall they adorn to. The flowing textures are perfect for a dining room, creating an elegant backdrop for your dinner party. They come in a variety of materials which allows you to move on from the standard plastered walls we are all used to.

Paint Job:

It’s the simplest way to bring warmth and a sense of character into your home. Choose your shades wisely so they compliment existing furniture and decor. Go for light and soft tones such as pastels, if the room is small as this helps open up and brighten the space. Or if you're going for a cosy vibe, a cleverly selected wall covered in a luscious teal or deep bordeaux brings a glamorous feel with their rich and royal tones. Selecting the right colours can help transform your desired room into the best spot in the house. You’ll never want to go back to plain old magnolia again!

Big Job, Small Space: Creating a Compact and Functional Home Office

Office buildings are often huge and contain everything necessary to run a business, but many people do the same exact work from an area no bigger than a hallway bathroom. How? They prioritise efficiency and get creative. If you’ve recently made the switch to a home office, here are some tips on how to best utilise every square inch of your available space. 

Compact and Convenient

There’s no way of getting around the need for office and computer equipment. But when you’re limited on workspace, you’ll have to downsize. Thankfully, that’s the easy part. 

Start by swapping your bulky desktop computer for a powerful laptop or all-in-one model. These are every bit as capable as a chunky PC but can fit comfortably on a small surface, such as a built-in desk. This type of desk can be made to fit your home’s layout, meaning you can take advantage of otherwise dead space, such as a spare closet, basement, or the hallway. If you put your office in an out-of-the-way area, you might want to consider adding a WiFi amplifier to ensure you have a strong internet connection.

A wireless printer, which can be moved out of the way when not in use, and an overhead light will also help free up space on your desk. Get creative in your storage efforts, and don’t be shy about pinning things to the wall that would otherwise sit in an ever-growing pile of things to do. Ensure that your chair slides underneath your desk to reduce your office footprint.

Double-Duty Decor

When you’re short on space, you have to make sure that everything in your office has a purpose. You may not be able to display your favourite family photos right next to your computer monitor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create an aesthetically pleasing environment. Stick with simple designs and solid colours that won’t overrun your senses. Just as a cluttered and heavily decorated classroom can affect the learning abilities of young children, too many colours, shapes, and other distractions can pull your attention from work and reduce your productivity.

Look for office furniture and accessories that serve more than one purpose. For example, there are many desktop organizers that pull double duty as a phone charger. If you don’t have a ton of wall space to store papers, you can also add storage to the back of your chair. This chair pocket from SewCanShe.com is a great DIY solution you can customise according to your decor.

Lighting Is Essential

No matter where you add your home office, keep in mind that you should have access to plenty of natural light. Not only is sun exposure good for your mental health, but it also promotes energy and can keep your stress levels low when things get hectic. Be mindful, however, that you do not have a direct view out of your window since this can also serve as a distraction.

The Cost Consideration

Moving your workspace from a standard office to a home office is a cost-effective way to get things done. However, it’s not a truly free space, and there may be additional expenses to consider. For example, if you’ll have clients on site, you may need to invest in additional insurance, and being home all day will add to your electric bill. A computer can easily run $1,000, and a new desk will typically set you back between $275 and $1,200. 

You don’t have to have a massive workspace to be productive. And as they say, necessity is the mother of invention, so don’t be afraid to get creative.

Image from https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/home-office-decor-ideas

Written by Alice Robertson

Igloo Mania - Coppa Club Igloos ... how everything began 2016

It actually all began that we wanted to create an outside space that guests could enjoy throughout Summer and Winter.

Coppa Club Tower Bridge opened in May 2016 and the terrace was in full every single day throughout the Summer, then as soon as it got colder we immediately saw our numbers dropping. 

The problem is that due to our location being next to the tower of London, we are very limited with what we can do to cover the terrace. A fixed pergola/awning structure is not an option, as this would block the view to the tower. So we had to come up with a solution that would be temporary, would not block the view and have the ability to be installed very quickly to avoid any additional loss of traffic and revenue. Would also mention here that we still wanted our guests to still be able to enjoy views of The Shard and Tower Bridge.

That’s when then the idea of the igloos was born. They are off-the-shelf products from Germany that could be delivered within a week. The rest was quite easy for me to design. I grew up in a ski resort and just brought the charm of the alps to the river Thames in London! People got very attached to them and so were we.

The igloos were announced in the Evening Standard on a Monday evening, by the Tuesday morning we already had 5,000 emails with booking requests in our inbox, on Wednesday that number was 20,000!. No one expected that we had to hire 10 office angels to take care of the bookings. As soon as we were able to answer all these emails, we realised we could not even come close to meeting the demand.

In a nutshell:

PRE-LAUNCH

 25k sign ups to the newsletter through partnership and social media competition with Secret LDN 

DAY ONE

Demand was so high that the website crashed within 10 minutes

•14.5k cover bookings in the igloos

•28.4K opening rate on newsletter - 50% (21.71% industry average)

•18k click through on newsletter – 63% (1.33% industry average)

Website Page Views www.coppaclub.co.uk

•Day one total - 112k (daily average 10k)

•Day one by hour – 15k (hourly average 500)

Social Stats

•2k+ new Instagram followers in past 7 days

•1k Instagram likes on the igloo announcement

•32K reach on Facebook post

•12.9k impressions on announcement tweet

featured in:

https://archpaper.com/2016/11/london-pop-igloos-thames-riverbank/

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/at-londons-coppa-club-dine-in-an-igloo-along-the-thames-this-winter

https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/rejoice-those-igloos-by-the-thames-are-coming-back-101217

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/restaurants/coppa-clubs-riverside-igloos-return-to-tower-bridge-a3660036.html

http://uk.businessinsider.com/coppa-club-tower-bridge-festive-igloos-by-the-thames-winter-season-2017-10

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/nov/19/are-pop-up-igloos-the-new-christmas-markets

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/best-winter-pop-ups-in-london-from-cosy-igloos-to-rooftop-ice-risks_uk_5a05cc4ce4b05673aa58fd95

https://thenudge.com/london-things-to-do/winter-pop-ups/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42012732

https://sheerluxe.com/2018/05/15/summer-pop-ups-you-need-know-about

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/this-arctic-igloo-resort-is-winter-honeymoon-goals/

https://metro.co.uk/2017/10/27/all-the-cosy-igloos-you-can-visit-in-london-7029729/

https://www.ad-magazin.de