Open Lightbox: (new)  Collection contains 50 images

Christmas in Narnia

Nottinghamshire farmhouse decorated for Christmas

With its secret stairwells, moveable walls and Narnia-style wardrobes opening onto concealed rooms, Val and Philip Foster’s Nottinghamshire farmhouse, part of which dates back to the early eighteenth century, is a truly magical place to spend Christmas. Val has always collected decorative antiques and twentieth century design pieces and she delights in decorating and furnishing her home. Most of the furniture and accessories are antique or vintage and they all have a story behind them. Val and Philip love getting the house ready to welcome back their three children with their partners and their grandchildren, as well as various extended family members. There is always an eight foot tree in the entrance hall framed by the sweeping staircase, a pretty wreath on the front door and something baking in the Aga. On Christmas day itself, after a traditional Christmas dinner, four generations of Fosters spread out around the house. You might find a group playing charades in the lounge, a snooker match going on in the Orangery, a jigsaw being put together besides the fire, and children playing hide and seek all over the place. A perfectly English Christmas.