A crackling fire and a cracking read: twin treats for the time between Xmas and New Year when short, dark days offer long hours for pleasure on the page. From crime to cookery, young love to Hollywood hedonism, Katie Law selects the books to covet now. 

Once Upon A Christmastime…

Designer, retailer, cook, author… as a member of the Conran family, Sophie has creativity in her DNA. Her greatest passion is her interiors store, which offers a feast of festive design at Christmas, so who better to quiz about chic celebrations.

Christmas with Sophie Conran

Stylish and sybaritic, there’s a unique allure to this Moroccan city. Its exotic blend of sights, sounds and scents draws many a return visitor, including Collagerie’s Serena Hood, who opens her Marrakech address book to share a few favourite haunts…

The ultimate guide to Marrakech... | Collagerie.com

Serena’s Secret Marrakech

With a long line of artists in her family, and antique dealers for parents, it’s perhaps no surprise that watercolourist SJ Axelby merged these influences to paint interior portraits. Here she shares the festive traditions celebrated inside her own home…

Christmas With SJ Axelby

Some women have such innate style, everything they wear defines the mood of the moment. Alexis Foreman can claim such sartorial heft, and her modern minimalist chic has led to a successful creative career. Here she shares the designs on her fall radar.

Alexis Foreman

Professional chef Julius Roberts abandoned his frantic London life to embrace sustainable living on his own Dorset small-holding. From growing his own food to rearing livestock, Roberts’ country escape lead to a TV series and now his first book, with stories and recipes (including this delicious roast chicken dish) inspired by life on the farm. 

Nature Boy

The turning seasons bring a change in our literary mood as summer’s beach reads give way to autumnal tomes for duvet days. Cue historical novels, emotive memoirs, poignant poetry and cook books with words (and recipes) to warm the soul…

Spread The Word

There are many mesmerising reasons to visit Milan – from Leonardo’s *The Last Supper* to the contemporary art institution Fondazione Prada – but style lovers know the city as Italy’s fashion capital. So who better to share Milan’s hot spots than Coco Brandolini d’Adda, the Italian style icon, fashion executive and designer behind boho-luxe brand, D’Adda.

Magical Milano

A lifelong passion for furniture and fabrics has found design consultant Flora Soames renovating properties worldwide with her trademark medley of old and new. Now at the pinnacle of her profession, Flora shares the details that capture her discerning eye.

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