A COLLECTOR'S CHRISTMAS: HELEN POWELL, DESIGN HUNTER
Design Hunter was founded by interiors writer and stylist Helen Powell in 2009. An interiors writer, social media consultant and photographer, Helen has been featured in publications including The Sunday Times, Enki, Elle Decoration, Domino, The Independent and Good Homes and received the 'Best Luxury Blog' award at the Amara Interior Blog Awards in 2014 and 2015 and 'Best Written Blog' in 2020. She works on Design Hunter alongside social media and content creation projects from her home in Warwickshire.
Design Hunter reflects Helen’s love of objects that are simple and honest in their design and use of materials, and her belief that the things we choose to live with should help create a home that is inviting, restful and a place of sanctuary.
We sat down with Helen to discover more about her personal collection of Robert Welch items and her Christmas styling tips!
What do you enjoy most about seasonal celebrations?
Extended family gatherings - sitting around a large table together wearing silly paper hats, eating too much cheese and long walks in our new Christmas knitwear. I know many of us will have an additional appreciation of these moments this year as we missed out on so much during 2020.
Do you have any traditions you follow each year?
I always make a wreath for the front door. I choose a different theme or colour scheme each year. This year it’s dried orange slices and cloves.
On Christmas Eve I’ll put some festive tunes on in the kitchen, decorate the table for the following day and make fresh cranberry sauce along with anything else I want to prepare ahead.
Then on Christmas morning we’ll dress up the dog in his Santa scarf and antlers and head out for our favourite walk before returning home to cook dinner.
How would you describe your Christmas styling and what would be your top tips to emulate your style?
Simple and natural with lots of greenery, candles and lanterns. There’s always plenty of spruce and eucalyptus, and pinecones too – I love to fill the house with Christmassy scents. I stock up with armfuls of foliage from my local florist and then forage in the garden for whatever else I can find - usually holly, bay leaves or rosemary.
What do you enjoy most about seasonal celebrations?
Extended family gatherings - sitting around a large table together wearing silly paper hats, eating too much cheese and long walks in our new Christmas knitwear. I know many of us will have an additional appreciation of these moments this year as we missed out on so much during 2020.
Do you have any traditions you follow each year?
I always make a wreath for the front door. I choose a different theme or colour scheme each year. This year it’s dried orange slices and cloves.
On Christmas Eve I’ll put some festive tunes on in the kitchen, decorate the table for the following day and make fresh cranberry sauce along with anything else I want to prepare ahead.
Then on Christmas morning we’ll dress up the dog in his Santa scarf and antlers and head out for our favourite walk before returning home to cook dinner.
How would you describe your Christmas styling and what would be your top tips to emulate your style?
Simple and natural with lots of greenery, candles and lanterns. There’s always plenty of spruce and eucalyptus, and pinecones too – I love to fill the house with Christmassy scents. I stock up with armfuls of foliage from my local florist and then forage in the garden for whatever else I can find - usually holly, bay leaves or rosemary.
As an avid collector of Robert Welch’s heritage collection, which items are a must that you bring out each year?
We use our Hobart candlesticks throughout the year but at Christmas they take centre stage on the table for Christmas dinner, surrounded by tea lights and greenery.
Later on, when we are curled up on the sofa watching familiar old movies on the TV, the Hobart nutcracker comes out and we’ll enjoy the festive ritual of cracking open walnuts and hazelnuts.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022? We loved watching your renovation journey, do you have any more plans?
Thank you. I’m looking forward to spending more time working on the garden next year. I’m a keen gardener and there is always something new to be planned. A garden is never finished, it’s continually evolving.
Follow Helen and her future projects @designhunter.
As an avid collector of Robert Welch’s heritage collection, which items are a must that you bring out each year?
We use our Hobart candlesticks throughout the year but at Christmas they take centre stage on the table for Christmas dinner, surrounded by tea lights and greenery.
Later on, when we are curled up on the sofa watching familiar old movies on the TV, the Hobart nutcracker comes out and we’ll enjoy the festive ritual of cracking open walnuts and hazelnuts.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022? We loved watching your renovation journey, do you have any more plans?
Thank you. I’m looking forward to spending more time working on the garden next year. I’m a keen gardener and there is always something new to be planned. A garden is never finished, it’s continually evolving.
Follow Helen and her future projects @designhunter.
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