Have yourself a glittering new year with precious metal

All that is glittering in Oxford homes this Christmas doesn’t have to be dumped come the new year.

While glittery golds, sparkling silvers and classy coppers are stylish for the festive season, magical metallics can lasts well into 2015.

Just lose the reindeer and snowflakes!

GLISTENING GOLD

“Of all the precious metals, gold is undoubtedly the most glam,” says Alicia Kaper, head of curation at Joss & Main. “Warm and luxurious, a few gleaming gold accents can instantly refresh an interior, adding that all-important oomph to a tired scheme.

“The trick with gold is not to overdo it – integrating just a few precious finds will help you stay on the chic side of the trend. A statement rug, accent table or look-at-me mirror will have lasting impact, while anyone looking to dip their toes in this precious metal should start with candleholders and votives, for just a hint of glam.”

GET THE LOOK:
* LSA Garbo Champagne Saucers, £38 for a set of two, Heal’s, are perfect for Christmas Day (heals.co.uk).

* Laura Ashley’s large Gold Sparkle Reindeer, £22.40 (currently reduced from £32), would look gorgeous by the fireplace (lauraashley.com).

* Deck the halls and the tree with bargain baubles from larger Sainsbury’s stores: priced from £1 for a gold and silver reindeer decoration assortment to Dreamscape Glass Baubles, £15 for pack of nine.

SPARKLING SILVER

“Cool and crisp, silver has a fresh and timeless finish, which makes it a sophisticated choice for the home,” says Kaper. “Paired with blues and whites, this precious metal is a shimmering snow queen, while in the summer, it partners beautifully with pinks, mauves and greens, adding freshness to more vibrant tones. Lookout for silver mirrors and lamps, which can really open up a dark or narrow space, bouncing light into the room.”

GET THE LOOK:
* This Silver Christmas Tree T-light Holder With Bells, £14.95, DotComGiftShop, sets a festive scene (dotcomgiftshop.com).

* Clarissa Hulse’s Briar Silk Cushion, £55, taps into the silver trend without restricting itself to Christmas (clarissahulse.com).

* If you’re keen on the stag head trend, you’ll love this festive alternative: Diamante Reindeer Head (43cm), £39.99, Wyevale Garden Centre.

* Make metallics last all year with this eye-catching Fai Mirror, £200.95, Joss & Main (jossandmain.co.uk).

* Make your mantelpiece the star of the show: Let It Snow Felt Letters Bunting, £8.40 (reduced from £12); Stag Snowglobe, £17.50 (reduced from £25); Christmas Pomander Glitter Pillar Candle, £11.20 (reduced from £16); Selection of Christmas Decorations, from £4.90 each (reduced from £7); Set of three Scented Plaster Decorations, £9.80 (reduced from £14) and pack of five Handmade Winter Stag Christmas Cards, £4.90 (reduced from £7), all Laura Ashley (lauraashley.com).

BEAUTIFULLY BRONZED

“Copper is a bold but sophisticated metallic, suitable to use in all rooms of the house,” says Sainsbury's head of home design, Emma Mann. “Its burnished glow brings the perfect accent to a range of colour schemes. For a chic, relaxed look, coppers and oranges look beautiful with crisp whites, or for a richer look, team with darker golds, reds or deep indigo. For Christmas, copper complements forest green and berry reds for a rustic look, but it also looks stunning among other warm metallics, like gold and pewter, for ultimate glamour.”

GET THE LOOK:
* If you needed any proof that copper couldn’t look classier year-round, this is it: Cyprum Tara Mixer Tap, made using 18-carat gold and copper, £769, Dornbracht (dornbracht.com).

* Make the light twinkle with a Pols Potten Facet Tealight Holder, £12, Heal’s (heals.co.uk).

* Bring on the Christmas dinner and make a toast with Copper Wine Glasses, £7 each, Oliver Bonas (oliverbonas.com).

Prop up your festive table

Want to perk up your Christmas table without splashing out for special crockery and cutlery that will only see the light of day once a year?

If so, Lorna Whinney can help with an eclectic mix of vintage and new plates, servers, glassware, jugs, bowls, napkins, fabrics and cutlery to hire.

She has more than 1,000 items at her Banbury workshop, ready to be delivered by next day courier.

Lorna started Props-etc in March 2013 primarily as a supplier to the food photography sector. She’s provided crockery for Nutella and Sacla ads, for cookery books and her goods regularly appear in Prima magazine.

The items for hire are also available for private events, part of the business Lorna hopes to grow in the future.

“It’s a great way to get a unique and authentic look to your celebratory table,” says Lorna, who started the business because she wanted to work for herself after having son Leonardo, four.

“My mother is a food editor and stylist and along the years has built a large collection of props,” she says.

“I used to go buying with her a lot and started to add to the collection myself.

“When I had my son and was off work I saw it as an opportunity to set up the business.

“All the prop houses are mainly in London and what makes Props-etc unique is that it can all be done online and are delivered and collected to our clients.”

Lorna scours “antique markets, auctions, flea markets in France, pottery houses in Portugal, car boots and charity shops” to find her wares.

“I’m always on the look out wherever I am,” she says.

“If you’re a lover of all things mismatched, wonky worn edges, plates with a story to tell and linens with a history then props etc is perfect for you.”

For details see props-etc.co.uk

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