At the heart of Christmas is light: candle flames against the dark, lanterns in windows, fairy lights strung through trees. More than decoration, light is symbol — of hope, of renewal, of winter’s end. Candlelight Rituals In Scandinavia, Saint Lucia’s Day crowns a girl with candles to banish the darkness. In churches, midnight mass glowsContinue reading “A Christmas of Light”
Category Archives: Design
Jewels of the Season
Christmas has always glittered — in candlelight, in snow, and in jewels that capture the season’s sparkle. Jewelry has long been tied to festive rituals: as gifts, as adornment, as symbols of light in the darkest months. Fabergé and Imperial Winter The House of Fabergé turned gifting into art with its legendary jewelled eggs andContinue reading “Jewels of the Season”
The Winter Feast
The Christmas table is as much about taste as it is about sight. Across centuries, festive meals evolved from medieval spectacle to Victorian tradition to modern comfort — a culinary story of abundance, ritual, and memory. Medieval Banquets In the great halls of Europe, feasts featured roasted boar’s head, spiced pies, and gilded confections. TheseContinue reading “The Winter Feast”
Festive Fragrance: Scents of the Season
Scent is memory’s most powerful key, and at Christmas, it is the invisible architecture of atmosphere. The sharp resin of pine, the spiced warmth of clove, the sweetness of orange peel studded with star anise — these are the notes that summon the season before a single decoration is hung. Ancient Aromas Frankincense and myrrh,Continue reading “Festive Fragrance: Scents of the Season”
The Christmas Tree Through Time
Few symbols of the season are as instantly recognisable as the Christmas tree. Whether crowned with an angel, dripping in glass baubles, or pared back with candles and citrus, the tree has become a universal emblem of winter celebration. Yet its story is as layered as its branches — a tale of pagan ritual, royalContinue reading “The Christmas Tree Through Time”
The Golden Age of Christmas Cards
Before Instagram posts and glossy adverts, the Christmas card was the medium through which the season’s spirit was captured and shared. Sent across continents and tucked into mantelpieces, these small works of art carried not only festive greetings but also the design sensibilities of their age. Today, they remain symbols of both tradition and creativityContinue reading “The Golden Age of Christmas Cards”
The Art of the Christmas Table
Every December, the table becomes more than a place to dine — it becomes a stage. It is where families gather, where traditions converge, and where the season’s beauty is distilled into linens, glassware, and candlelight. The art of the Christmas table is timeless: part ritual, part design, and part theatre. From Banquet to IntimacyContinue reading “The Art of the Christmas Table”
Fortuny: The Venetian Alchemy of Light and Fabric
Fortuny is not merely a brand; it is a myth. Born from the vision of Mariano Fortuny (1871–1949), the Spanish-born, Venice-based artist, inventor, and designer, Fortuny stands as one of the most enigmatic and enduring names in fashion and interior design. Known for pleated gowns that shimmered like water and fabrics that seemed to holdContinue reading “Fortuny: The Venetian Alchemy of Light and Fabric”
Arne Bang: Sculpting Denmark in Clay and Glass
The story of Danish design is usually told through clean-lined chairs and functionalist architecture, but just as vital is the quieter artistry of ceramics and glass. Among its masters, Arne Bang (1901–1983) holds a singular place. A sculptor, ceramicist, and designer, he spent much of his career at Holmegaard Glassworks, shaping objects that married modernContinue reading “Arne Bang: Sculpting Denmark in Clay and Glass”
Royal Copenhagen at 250: Porcelain, Craft, and the Danish Imagination
In 2025, Royal Copenhagen celebrates 250 years of porcelain making — a quarter of a millennium of craft, culture, and design. Founded in 1775 under the patronage of Queen Juliane Marie, the manufactory has become Denmark’s most enduring emblem of elegance and national identity. From its signature blue-and-white “Blue Fluted” pattern to bold contemporary reinterpretations,Continue reading “Royal Copenhagen at 250: Porcelain, Craft, and the Danish Imagination”
My World of Interiors 