Inside printmaker Molly Mahon's Sussex cottage at Christmas
Printmaker Molly Mahon invites us into her Victorian cottage at Christmas, where simple traditions and handmade decorations create a warm, festive atmosphere.
Molly and her family have lived in this home on the edge of the forest for 14 years. Decorating it coincided with the blossoming of her business, which involves designing distinctive block-printed-style fabrics, wallpapers and homeware.
Warm pink shades, such as the Parsonage Pink by Papers and Paints in the living room, run throughout the home as it’s a colour that Molly has always been drawn to: 'It’s a happy and welcoming shade for me. I’ve designed several fabrics that combine red and pink, which probably breaks an old-fashioned rule, but I say, "Why not?" They make me smile.'
The family go Christmas tree-hunting together in mid-December with Molly and Rollo now allowing their teenage daughter Lani to oversee the decorating: 'She loves sorting through all our decorations, so I’ve delegated the task to her.' Strings of paper chains add more frivolous bursts of colour to the rooms, and paper stars hang from lengths of ribbon in the windows. Homemade stockings crafted from her fabrics hang by the fire. 'On Christmas morning, I’m always up first,' Molly says. 'I light the fire and wait to see everyone’s faces when they spot their stockings.'
Molly took a course in block-printing when she was looking for a job compatible with a young family. Her designs combine the traditional beauty of the Indian craft with motifs inspired by the local countryside. And at this time of year, the skills she’s honed mean she can turn her hand to nearly any craft, from needle-felted nativity figures to hand-printed cards. 'Even now we have teenagers, I still gather everyone around the kitchen table to make our cards,' she says.
In the dining room, the festive table is laid in beautiful jewel tones, with a deep teal blue tablecloth layered up with napkins and reusable crackers in some of Molly's vibrant patterned fabrics in jolly pink and reds. Brass candlesticks, Indian lassi cups and golden paper flowers scattered along the table add additional lustre, while candles in a selection of warm yellow, orange and red tones create a warming glow.
For Molly and her family, Christmas is about slowing down. 'We don’t rush off to the theatre or the shops; we love being at home,' says Molly. Living on the edge of a forest, there are plenty of dog walks. 'In every season, there's a magic to being in the forest, but Christmas is my favourite. Walking, for me, is a way to find stillness.'
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