At Christmas, more than ever, we want sweetness and light. Away from the traditional codes of indigestion of green and red, Alinea’s Head of Artistic Product Ioan Nicolli suggests taking inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea to create a friendly atmosphere.
At the end of the year, home is no longer just a shelter, a place where you feel good. It is used as a venue for parties, receptions and reunions. We put a tree there and enjoy decorating our interior in a temporary way to welcome family and friends. We also spend more time setting tables around which we happily gather to enjoy delicious moments. The desire to be together is paramount. To create this pleasant, warm and friendly atmosphere, let Ioan Nicol, artistic product director of the Alinea brand, guide you.
Heading south
For a southern-inspired Christmas, a patinated zellige table with stoneware is perfect. Narrowing
“We wanted in 2023, somehow, to be an antithesis of Christmas codes, far away from traditions, particularly Anglo-Saxon, red, green… Our year-end celebrations at Alinea are inspired by this. Mediterranean basin with color codes. a palette of sand and earth, with notes of green, but very small touches, all illuminated by a shower of light rays that attracted brighter materials such as enameled ceramic, glass… This table with zellige is definitely a little old, because the tiles, appear to be patinated, revealing an earthy magnificence, a great support for enhancing stoneware, raw, less expected than porcelain service. Stoneware can also be turned into water glasses and paired with more delicate clear crystal glasses and tumblers. The right complement: embroidered cotton napkins for a slightly rustic look. Everything is soft, timeless, but also joyful. An invitation to meet again.”
Comfort and warmth
Natural materials and glazed ceramic shards combine to create a cocoon that is a pleasure to be in. Narrowing
“At the end of the year, when the days are short, it is interesting to bring light into the house. It is he who brings this touch of warmth that is so lovely. This includes lighting and candles, of course, but also through playing with materials. In recent years, shiny coatings have been put aside. However, they return because they capture the light, sending it back. This also creates a slightly magical universe that is particularly suited to this time period. In the living room, therefore, I recommend placing enamelled ceramic candlesticks on the coffee tables, between the flames of the candles and the reflections reflected by the ceramics, we get quite magical effects. It doesn’t have to be “first rate” though. I recommend combining these effects with rougher-edged natural raw materials; we will prefer natural colored linen and wool for cushions, rugs, slightly rough cast aluminum tables, and vegetable fibers such as raffia in the form of lampshades adapted to glass or stone objects. legs, always focus on the contrast.’
Sunlight
Indoor/Outdoor Christmas Lunch…Dream! Narrowing
“We are a company based in the south. And we are lucky to have beautiful days even at the end of December. Sunshine and we might find ourselves outside for an aperitif or a quick lunch. A big sweater, a blanket… and you can enjoy the fresh air. Being outdoors this season calls for beautiful furniture that can withstand temperature swings and inclement weather. A solid wooden table is ideal. We don’t hesitate to add ceramic candle holders above, as well as cloudy glass tea light holders that allow you to sprinkle small lights. We don’t overlook the table linens, which add an elegant touch to this winter meal, which is often a real gift. If we are lucky enough to have a barn made of old stones, we will obviously set a table there. A barn can simply be transformed into a welcoming indoor/outdoor space by installing a wooden cabinet with glass doors and installing glass pendant lights for a more lived-in feel.”
High and low
Attention to every detail, including consoles, buffet tops, and more, helps create a warm atmosphere. Narrowing
“This season is the perfect time to add those little extras to your decor that you never notice. So we display the objects again on our panels and shelves. We always prefer sets in satin and matte materials. Enamels are perfect in front of a stone wall or on a wooden shelf, which are becoming very trendy again. They bring a brightness that contrasts with the rawness of these materials. We also play on volumes and heights. A large, low vase thus suits thinner and taller pieces. This gives a dynamic. This principle also applies to the design of the table.
Nature
Moss, branches, sandstone, soil colors… We set the Christmas table under the sign of nature. Narrowing
“I love the idea of having moss on the table. It is poetic, the green is reminiscent of Christmas. And it’s easy to find, whether on a walk or at the florist. This moss green goes very well with the bright yellow shade of enameled candlesticks, the earthy tones of embossed stoneware, as well as wooden or matte black cutlery. You can add branches collected from your walks. The idea of this table is really to bring nature home.”
Alinea.com
Source: Le Figaro
