How to pull out all the stops with your Christmas decorations

Hannah Newton
·6 min read
Industrial styling collides with glamour in the dining area, which is decorated in black and gold tones. The print is by Joe Tilson, while the antique mirror printed with the words, ‘Who are you going to be today?’ is from Vinegar & Brown Paper. A pair of kitsch Mary and Jesus figurines from Ardingly Antique Fair sit on top of the antique sweet cabinet. -  Claire Worthy

'For Christmas, I say pimp it up,’ says Lucy St George, one half of the duo behind cult interiors brand Rockett St George. ‘That’s what I love, creating something with a twist. Life can be boring, as we’ve all discovered this year, so it’s good to add sparkle and humour.’

If you are one of the 202,000 followers on the brand’s Instagram account, you’ll know that @rockettstgeorge.co.uk is devoted to glamour, glitz and kitsch, and St George’s north London house at Christmas is the undisputed apex of this style. She likes her home, she explains, as she likes her shoes, ‘with bling and studs’. And this year she has gone all out.

Dressed in black, she matches her kitchen (and bedroom, and bathroom, for that matter). ‘My house is an extension of my personal style,’ she says. ‘I like black, whether it’s shiny, matt or even lace; if you mix different textures together it becomes interesting.’ The dark hues in her kitchen are pimped up with festive golden disco-inspired crackers, plates, trees and ornaments; long strings of gold balls are entwined with ivy and draped around champagne glasses.

Lucy St George at her north London home  -  Claire Worthy
Lucy St George at her north London home - Claire Worthy

Her interior style is a mix of industrial and glamorous luxe, with a dash of maximalism tossed in. Her parents were antique dealers, so she grew up surrounded by unusual pieces, and she maintains a passion for the ‘eclectic and quirky’. In the kitchen, an old-fashioned sweet cabinet, found on eBay, is filled with fairy lights and twinned with an enamel fairground horse that lights up. Reflective tin tiles on the ceiling give the room a twilight ambience – even the shiny black fridge has an afterdark vibe.

‘I wanted it to be a symphony in black, and when I added the tin tiles, I realised I had created a nightclub,’ says St George with a laugh. ‘I think it’s just me: although I like earthy colours and natural materials, once I add my possessions, my life and my friends, it naturally turns into a party place.’

St George’s love of dark hues is on full display in her sitting room. ‘When you decorate a room, you have to have a starting point,’ she says. ‘We had a brown sofa and I wanted to match the colours tonally to create an immersive feeling.’ The walls are painted in Briarwood from RSG’s paint range with Craig & Rose, accented by gold woodwork -  Claire Worthy
The bedroom has been decorated with faux ivy and fairy lights; to the right hangs a black dreamcatcher that St George bought in Mexico, where her brother lives. The steel bed frame is balanced by the cosy textures of the H&M Home cushions. -  Claire Worthy
The bedroom has been decorated with faux ivy and fairy lights; to the right hangs a black dreamcatcher that St George bought in Mexico, where her brother lives. The steel bed frame is balanced by the cosy textures of the H&M Home cushions. - Claire Worthy

Rockett St George, which was launched 13 years ago, reflects this fun attitude. St George met her business partner Jane Rockett when they were both in their early 20s and pregnant, and they immediately hit it off. The pair spent years trawling car boot sales and negotiating with young makers at Greenwich and Spitalfields markets, before designing their own products, all the while bringing up five children between them. At the time, their business model, selling purely online, was somewhat groundbreaking.

The panelling and bath surround are painted black to tie in with the art deco-style wallpaper – Lotus by Farrow & Ball. -  Claire Worthy
The panelling and bath surround are painted black to tie in with the art deco-style wallpaper – Lotus by Farrow & Ball. - Claire Worthy

Today, RSG has a concession in Liberty, the biggest ever offered to an interiors brand, and they are currently collaborating with the heritage fabric brand Morris & Co on developing a bespoke wallpaper. ‘There is never a dull moment,’ says St George. ‘It is full-on and fabulous!’ Rather like her sitting room, where a gilt Christmas tree competes with gold cornicing, a chain-mail lampshade, mountains of cushions and a huge potted palm.

A row of antique leather seats taken from the back of an old bus and discovered by St George at the antiques fair in Ardingly is the perfect resting place for weary dancers. The dancing sign is from Rockett St George, as are the aloe plant and unicorn. St George’s love of pop art and graphic prints is on full display here. -  Claire Worthy
A row of antique leather seats taken from the back of an old bus and discovered by St George at the antiques fair in Ardingly is the perfect resting place for weary dancers. The dancing sign is from Rockett St George, as are the aloe plant and unicorn. St George’s love of pop art and graphic prints is on full display here. - Claire Worthy

A well-stocked drinks table, an enormous disco ball and plenty of space to dance are guaranteed here this December, where Christmas will be a strictly female affair – St George and her daughters, Ella, 23, and Grace, 17, will be joined by her mother. The party might be small, but it will still be a party. ‘Have the lights, the tree, the feast: I believe you should decorate in a way that makes you feel happy,’ she says. ‘Christmas is the time to indulge and celebrate in style. I’m going to pull out all the stops this year and really go over the top.’

Lucy’s office is white, to contrast to the rest of the house. The gold hand seats were part of an RSG collaboration, while the cherub was a gift from antique dealer Pure White Lines. -  Claire Worthy
Lucy’s office is white, to contrast to the rest of the house. The gold hand seats were part of an RSG collaboration, while the cherub was a gift from antique dealer Pure White Lines. - Claire Worthy

How to give your decor a festive edge

  • Add some sparkle Take a cue from Lucy St George and use fairy lights everywhere. Choose warm white bulbs for an atmospheric glow.

  • Glam it up Add a glitter ball: it doesn’t need to hang from the ceiling; St George has hers on the floor (left). Mini hanging mirrorballs give the tree a party vibe and reflect spots of light around the room.

  • Drinks, anyone? Set up a dedicated cocktail area for the festive period. It could be a hall table, a console or a tray on top of a cabinet or chest.

  • Go all out If you’re up for a decorating project, consider painting your woodwork gold, as St George has done. It will look festive over Christmas, and will give the room a luxurious feel once the decorations are down.

The kitchen is painted black (Zeitgeist from Craig & Rose); a wall of exposed brick adds warmth. The ‘Cash Only’ sign was painted by the artist @hudsonsigns, whom St George met at a car boot sale. -  Claire Worthy
The kitchen is painted black (Zeitgeist from Craig & Rose); a wall of exposed brick adds warmth. The ‘Cash Only’ sign was painted by the artist @hudsonsigns, whom St George met at a car boot sale. - Claire Worthy

Find out more: rockettstgeorge.co.uk