A 19th-century chandelier inspired Michaela Pope to create a dramatic festive display of glass droplets, eucalyptus and white roses

Michaela and Simon Pope's pretty house in North Yorkshire is the perfect Georgian villa in miniature, from its porticoed entrance to the facade's beautiful proportions. In fact, this small-scale grandeur appealed to the couple so much that the minute they saw it they decided to buy the house.

In December 2001, some two months after that initial visit, they moved in – just in time for Christmas. “We really went to town with the decorations that year – using them to disguise the fact that we hadn't had time to stamp our own personality on the place,” Michaela says, but Christmas is always a favourite time of year for the couple and their daughter, Theadora. For decorations Michaela likes to use flowers and foliage and simple Christmas details in keeping with the elegance of the house. “This year I've mixed a lot of crystal with shades of silver and white.”

She loves to decorate mantelpieces, which is fortunate as there are four in the house. “I wanted a glamorous feel in what is essentially a grown-up room,” she says of the little sitting room. For the mantelpiece decoration sprigs of eucalyptus (“I love the smell, which the warmth of the fire emphasises even more”) are mixed with artichokes, thistles and fresh white roses. Delicate crystal droplets hang down and sparkle in the firelight.

With its red walls, the dining room has a naturally celebratory feel. “We place the Christmas tree just inside the room so that it can be seen from the kitchen, and this year I have decorated it in crystal and silver, with some faux white roses and a few fluffy white exotic birds, which Theadora loves.” Nestling among the eucalyptus and willow on the mantelpiece are gossamer-thin faux butterflies, artificial white verbena flowers and glittering mirror balls. The crystal theme is continued in the kitchen, with antique chandelier prisms tied with luxurious ribbons and glass globes suspended from a willow bough sprayed silver which Michaela and Simon have attached to the central beam.

This year, with the renovation work on the house complete, the family can fully enjoy the fruits of their labours. Michaela says that now Theadora is 18 months old, she is much more aware of what is going on around her. “She particularly loves having her grandmothers here to stay and the atmosphere is wonderful. For me, Christmas is all about the people, the food and the home – and I love making the house feel special for two weeks.”

MICHAELA AND SIMON'S SOURCEBOOK

BRASS BED The Iron Bed Company, (01243) 380600.
GISELA GRAHAM DECORATIONS Selfridges, 0870 8377 377, and Large Department Stores Nationwide
PAINT Farrow & Ball, (01202) 876141.
STAINLESS-STEEL DRAWERS Ikea, 0845 355114.
TAPS, SHOWER HEAD and RAIL The White House Antiques, (01347) 821479.
WALLPAPER Laura Ashley, 0871 230 2301.
WREATHS Dales of Malton (01653) 693242; The Willow Garden, (01422) 845616.

WORDS CAROLYN HARRISON
PHOTOGRAPHS BRIAN HARRISON

DECEMBER 2004