Spruced up

At Hedsor House, florist Sue Barnes gives a masterclass in festive flourish that comes with the Middletons’ stamp of approval. By Jennifer Goulding. Photographs by Simon Upton

Decking the halls at the grand Hedsor House

‘PINCH THE LEAVES, quite hard, then breathe in. Isn’t it wonderful?’ Florist Sue Barnes, of Lavender Green Flowers, is standing amid the branches, blooms and berries of an extravagant festive display she has created at Hedsor House, a Georgian stately home in Buckinghamshire, holding a sprig of waxflower. ‘You can grow it in the garden and it lasts really well in arrangements, so it’s perfect for Christmas.’ She gestures to a small Christmas tree. ‘These glass drop decorations come from chandeliers; I bought them at Sunbury Antiques Market. I like to include unusual pieces in floral arrangements.’

Clearly, her enthusiasm for her work is undimmed, despite having opened her first shop in Maidenhead more than 27 years ago. From the beginning, she had a clear vision. ‘We had a wide variety of flowers at a time when the fashion was for chrysanthemums and carnations, which we displayed with big vases and crockery, and interesting furniture.’

Her creative, theatrical style lends itself to large parties and events, of which her company does about 1,400 a

year, the most high-profile to date being the weddings of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. The grandeur of Hedsor provides a fitting backdrop for her work: the house was designed in the mid-18th century by William Chambers, the architect of Somerset House; badly damaged by fire in 1795; and rebuilt in the style of an Italian villa in 1868, when it became a preferred teatime haunt of Queen Victoria. After a major restoration, it opened as a venue in 2008, and Barnes has been designing flower displays there ever since. ‘I always aim for understated opulence and a naturally beautiful, seasonal display, and Christmas is no exception,’ she says.

The surroundings at Hedsor may be somewhat more expansive than the average home, but Barnes insists that the displays she has created here could easily be translated into a more modest setting. ‘The entrance is tremendously important, whatever the venue,’ she says. She has decorated the steps here with little Christmas trees in hessiancovered pots, silver-edged storm lanterns sprinkled with fake snow, and white pillar candles. ‘This works for any front door. It’s fun to tie big bows around the pots too.’

For the double front doors, she has created ‘a pair of gin-and-tonic-inspired wreaths, which have the botanic ingredients of gin, including lavender, bay and peppercorns. It is a party house after all.’ Barnes encourages people to craft their own wreaths. ‘It’s a chance to express yourself. If you are a foodie you could decorate it with lemons, limes, dried chilli and garlic. The result might be a bit homely but that just adds to the charm.’ A fir frame can be bought at a garden centre, local florist or supermarket, and decorations attached with floristry wire. ‘Florists are the most helpful people in the world,’ Barnes says. ‘They will happily supply the correct gauge of wire and show you how to use it.’

‘Express yourself. If you are a foodie, decorate your wreath with lemons, chilli and garlic’

When considering arrangements for an interior, she suggests walking the route guests take and decorating places where the eye falls, such as the mantelpiece. Her garland for the mantelpiece at Hedsor includes pine, eucalyptus and blue hydrangeas. Barnes likes using scented materials such as the eucalyptus, waxflowers, bunches of rosemary and clementines, as the warmth from the fire spreads the fragrances around the room. ‘It is so much more economical than a scented candle,’ she notes.

The staircase and atrium balcony at Hedsor are festooned with fir garlands adorned with cinnamon sticks and slices of dried orange. ‘Dried citrus fruit is so easy to make: just put slices of fruit in the Aga, or a very low oven, for a couple of hours. But if you leave the fruits whole, remember to score them, otherwise they explode.’ Those without a balcony or grand staircase can drape trailing ivy around curtain poles. ‘I do mine on Christmas Eve. It takes five minutes but it makes a big impact.’

For Barnes, a Christmas tree with a

Above In the entrance hall, an 11ft Nordmann fir tree, planted in an oak barrel, has been decorated with dried blue hydrangeas, tassels and baubles. Above right Sue Barnes at the entrance to Hedsor House (hedsor.com), which she has decorated...

Near right Small Christmas trees in hessian pots, interspersed with silveredged storm lanterns, create a pathway to the entrance of Hedsor House. The lamp posts are wrapped in bluepine garlands, and a pair of ‘gin and tonic’ wreaths – made with...