Carly Madhvani, of Hampstead interior design service NW3 Interiors, offers her tips on styling a beautiful festive table and where to source products locally
Choose your style
Discover one style and run with it - whether it’s minimalist, modernist or culturally inspired. Find a theme you enjoy and don’t be tempted to deviate! Go to Pinterest for inspiration and decide a layout (I sketch these first) and colour palette before you buy anything, as this will prevent a sparse or crowded table and prevent impulse buying. It will also highlight which existing pieces you bring-together. In terms of trends, this year we’re seeing lots of rich reds, strong blues and bold brass.
Beautiful china and glassware
To compliment the oriental interiors at our showroom we enjoyed using a local key brand; Richard Brendon who hand makes this Willow collection with bone china in Stoke-On-Trent. Incorporating an Asian motif as a nod to its ethnicity and origins. Adding a gold (22 carat!) plate edge detail to add glamor to this timeless design. Their crystal glassware is mouth-blown ensuring you take pleasure from each sip which reflects candle light beautifully around the table creating that perfect Christmas sparkle.
Kitchenware
Hampstead High Street is lucky to have our very own Borough Kitchen shop which offers a vast range of festive accessories and useful utensils. Always greeted with a friendly face and super service, it’s where I source a lot of my kitchenware, napkins and cooker pans. You must pop and see their list of cooking workshops too - there’s everything from a Chinese dumplings cooking class to a chutney making session. They make for great gifts!
Crackers
Purchasing our Christmas crackers just up the road from our fave beauty boutique SpaceNK benefits everyone with to a little pamper in these cold, face-drying days. The exciting selection of mini treats keeps everyone happy, even my dad!
Finishing touches
Polish off the table decor with pretty votives, holders, stands or lanterns and candles to create a warm and cosy space with an ambient glow. The perfect setting for hours of conversation and laughs over wine with friends and family.
Table
The red marble table pictured is from Knoll’s new collection and sits strong in our Hampstead showroom, creating a stunning base to complement the tableware.
Local suppliers
Richard Brendon
Richard Brendon’s collection is available through NW3 Interiors
Borough Kitchen Shop
1 Hampstead High St, Hampstead, NW3 1RG
Space NK
62 Hampstead High Street, Hampstead, NW3 1QH
Knoll
The Knoll table pictured, along with other high-end furnishings by brands such as Vitra and Fritz Hansen, can be viewed at Carly’s showroom in Hampstead. Visit nw3interiorsltd.com for more information.
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