The party season
is in full swing… And, however you feel about the festive period, it’s hard not to find the gatherings that this time of year brings rather joyful. But, while the Champagne fizzes and glasses clink, it’s also one of the few times when we open up our homes to the scrutiny of our nearest and dearest, which, let’s face it, can feel a little daunting.
Fortunately, we can help. This issue includes our 16-page entertaining special (p57), packed with ways to get your home party-ready, whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner or a decadent drinks do. As well as the most beautiful tableware and glasses, we have gorgeous ways to decorate, plus some really useful tips and advice from those who make a living from creating events with wow-factor. Think of this as the interiors equivalent of donning your favourite party outfit – a few winning ways to add some sparkle that will make you feel en pointe when your guests arrive.
Surrounded by the glitter and glamour of Christmas and New Year, it’s an apt moment to evaluate the concept of luxury and what it means for homes. In preparation for the predicted uncertainties of 2018, this seems as good a time as ever to embrace all things luxurious, or at least dream of doing so. To help you do this, our featured houses this month offer a dose of indulgent escapism, from understated elegance to the unashamedly OTT.
For me, luxury is all about texture and touch (see the apartment of Gabriele Salvatori, owner of the eponymous stone brand, for a lesson in how to maximise marble, p118), so it seems apt that we’ve used a wonderfully tactile paper and a special thick, glossy cover for this issue. As with all things, the devil is in the detail.