HAWK K&B


Dressing the Dining Table

Dressing the Dining Table

The festive period is all about catching up with those near and dear, gathering together around the dining table, making Christmas the perfect occasion to lay your table with some elegant dinnerware.

This is the time to bring out your best crockery and cutlery, stacked plates and bowls and rows of knives and forks, hinting at the feast to come. Nothing complements festive décor quite like metallics and with copper and gold being the tones of the moment, why not try using gold cutlery to add richness and warmth to the table. Elegant glassware will also add that finishing touch to your special meal.

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Image via Zita Elze Flowers

A table centrepiece will automatically enhance the dining table and create an area of focus in the room. Creating it from natural seasonal materials such as pine cones and cinnamon sticks will also fill the room with a rich festive scent. Through combining these natural elements with some glamorous baubles, you can create a Christmas table that is both elegant and richly evocative.

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Image via Neptune

The most luxurious and festive thing to add to your table décor are candles. Simple, beautiful and effective, they add instant chic, warmth and atmosphere to a room with their fragrant glow. There is a sense of luxury, spirit and visual beauty in a candle that just can’t be beaten.

For your Christmas table the long slender shapes of tapered candles can look very elegant; however the key is to use them in large numbers, either lined up individually or displayed en masse in beautiful pots or glassware.

However you chose to capture the true magic of Christmas at your table, treating your guests to a festive feast for their senses will make the day all the more merry and memorable.

Standout Entertaining Spaces

For many, the most important part of the festive period is the entertaining. From a lavish family Christmas dinner to canapes and cocktails with friends, the kitchen becomes the focus. Creating the correct atmosphere in your home will make your guests feel immediately welcome and with the right space to do so, you can put on a party that everyone will enjoy, including you, the host.

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Image via Hawk K&B

An open-plan living and dining area works wonderfully for entertaining and for each of our open-plan kitchen projects we always create a space plan that will achieve the perfect balance of socialising and cooking. In the kitchen above, we designed the cooking area to face outwards towards the living area so that the client could socialise whilst cooking.

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Image via Hawk K&B

Plenty of seating is also key, with a variety of seating options available. A spectacularly laid dining table is essential for a family Christmas dinner and in this open-plan setting, the guests and hosts can intermingle, creating the perfect social atmosphere.

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Image via Hawk K&B

Coupling your dining area alongside a cosy seating area means guests will also have somewhere to relax and recline after dinner.

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Image via Hawk K&B

An informal seating area, on an island or breakfast bar is great for evening entertaining. An island can act as a great focus in a room, particularly when laden with beautiful food and drink. People will congregate around it and any high stools will allow guests to take a seat without feeling left out. An integrated wine fridge or wine rack will also add a great touch.

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Image via Hawk K&B

Finally, lighting will create the ultimate party atmosphere. Multiple light sources are key to achieving a layered lighting effect that can be adapted to suit any mood. Above, the combination of under-cabinet lighting, an illuminated extractor and orange bar stools creates an atmosphere worthy of any top London bar.

Preparing the Perfect Guest Bathroom

At this time of year there’s always a constant flow of friends and family coming and going from our homes and it’s important that visitors feel welcome. If you are opening up your house to overnight guests this festive season, it’s important not to forget about the guest bathroom and ensure it is just as warm and welcoming as the rest of your home.

Creating a spa like feel through simple, subtle details will automatically create a relaxing atmosphere in the bathroom and therefore promote a good night’s sleep. Stock up on little amenities that your guests may need such cotton balls or buds and small bars of soap. Alongside little luxuries such as sea sponges, bath salts and loofahs you can treat your guests to a spa-like experience in your own home.

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Image via Hawk K&B

Fresh flowers or plants are also a great addition to a bathroom, adding a natural element to the room. However it’s important to pick a plant that is happy in an often hot and humid atmosphere. Orchid’s make great bathroom plants as they naturally flourish in this environment and don’t require much maintenance.

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Image via Hawk K&B

Scent is extremely important in a bathroom. A beautifully scented candle will not only create a wonderful scent and ambience in the room, but nothing is more relaxing than a bath by flickering candlelight. A diffuser is also perfect for a bathroom as the small space will always be filled with a subtle scent.

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Images via Hawk K&B

A luxury guest bathroom cannot go without some luxe linens. Ensure you have plenty of fluffy warm towels, stacked or rolled and for the ultimate finishing touch, add in a bath robe and some slippers to really make your guests feel at home.