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18 Century Christmas

18 Century Norfolk home decorated for Christmas

North Norfolk is dotted with idyllic farms and ancient villages, the houses built mainly of red brick and local flint. Birdie Fortescue who trained with Percy Bass and Sybil Colefax & John Fowler interiors moved to the area with her husband and 2 children after deciding that their 18C holiday home would be the ideal place to live full-time and begin a new business venture in nearby Burnham Market close to the home village of the great naval hero Lord Nelson. In the summer of 2014 Birdie opened her own shop where she sells carefully chosen antiques alongside all manner of covetable contemporary products for the home from baskets and linens to fabrics and ceramics. Adjacent across the courtyard is The Kitchen, Birdie's newest venture bringing top notch coffee and modern food to an ever expanding group of customers. Neighbours at Anmer Hall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a weekend visit but we are not privy to Kate's shopping list that day! At home for Christmas Birdie decorates her house in a sophisticated but low key style where the antique oval dining table takes centre stage in the large open-plan living space between the sitting room and kitchen. The house features art work by a number of East Anglian painters reflecting local scenes such as crab fishing and the famous flat landscapes and big skies of Norfolk. It is a warm and cosy country house with old fashioned (but efficient) bathrooms, plump curtains, soft country colours and deep seated sofas and chairs, the rooms scented by log fires and candles. Most of the Christmas decorations now conveniently come from the shop, things Birdie chooses for herself like the Dutch-made waxed pine cones. Extended family dine on filet of beef on Christmas Eve and a traditional turkey lunch on Christmas Day with long walks along the beaches at Holkham and Wells in between. With the frantic run-up to Christmas in the shop and The Kitchen Birdie and her family can finally relax over the festive period and enjoy their own beautiful house and tree.