The December Edit

Folky influences everywhere, house shoes, expensive homeware that I can but admire, and five new-to-me (and hopefully you) stays

Welcome to my last Edit of the year! I started writing this the week before Christmas, and am now frantically attempting to finish it by the end of the year. Life got in the way, as usual, but these Betwixtmas days are proving to be the perfect opportunity for finishing newsletters (they’re also proving useful for finally getting around to updating my portfolios and improving my website).

This is my twelfth edition of this Edit; I’ve had a look back over the past year-and-a-bit of compelling them and discovered two things. One, I am drawn to the same colours again and again, with bright red, icy blue, warm oranges, shades of pink and hues of green appearing in my collages. Two, folk inspiration runs rife in what captures my attention and catches my eye. This December edition is especially folky — which is no coincidence, as I much prefer the traditional winter solstice/yule/Saturnalia aspects of the winter holidays than Christian Christmas celebrations. Give me a roaring fire, a tree in the corner of my living room and glugs of wine over church carol services.

My folksy fancies seem to incorporate everything from hotel interiors to embroidered frocks. The Edit below includes a marketing campaign for a luxury accessories brand themed around Polish solstice (and weaving) traditions, Greek slippers inspired by the Tsarouchia and handwoven in the Peloponnese, and papier-mached paper swans in the Delhi (NY) home of a writer and florist. Read on for all this and more, followed by a bumper edition of book recommendations as I share both my recent reads and my favourite books of the year.

Happy new year!

I’m currently obsessed with hotels that look like they fell out of a fairytale, and Hoby Kulle Herrgård perfectly fits that mould. Housed within a dusty pink manor house in the southern Sweden countryside, it feels like it’s stuck in time, filled with decorative antiques, embroidered bed linen and canopied beds. I’ve been enamoured by the interiors for some time now, but this perfectly timed article was published just a few days ago, divulging the secrets of how magical it is to stay there over the festive period. Think traditional decorations, multi-course feasts and a pantry converted into a dessert room.

I hadn’t come across Polish accessories brand CHYLAK until I fell in love with their winter and festive marketing campaigns. Based and made in Poland, their designs are timeless, intricately crafted and beautifully designed. I am particularly drawn to their heritage collection, inspired by traditional Polish clothing and accessories (hand-sewn collars inspired by the traditional outfits of the city of Żywiec, embroidered accessories inspired by the Lemko people, and a line inspired by the bobbin-lacemaking of the town of Bobow). The caroling star seen in the image below is one of the most recognised symbols of Polish festive celebrations, rooted in both winter solstice and Christian celebrations.

Lisa Przystup’s Christmas decorations are a thing of beauty. I’m endlessly inspired by this Delhi (Upstate New York) based writer and photographer, but this festive season she’s truly outdone herself, transforming her home into a colourful, maximalist wonderland. I adore everything about her festive decor, from the red and blue colour palette to the oversized bows and paper chains — and not forgetting her duo of papier mache swans. She fully commits to both the theme and the celebrations, dressing in statement gowns and disco-ball dresses and fully going to town with elaborate feasts. Next Christmas, I want to be a little more Lisa.

Luke Edward Hall’s latest design project is fairytale-esque retreat just opened in the Haute-Savoie. Hotel Saint-Georges completely steps away from the usual dated and dull chalet style with enchanting, theatrical interiors hinting at both historical and folkloric influences. Pierre Frey fabrics, colourfully tiled bathrooms and alpine wallpapers combine to create unique rooms and suites that juxtapose traditional, contemporary and kitsch aesthetics. It’s right at the top of my list for my next alpine adventure.

Although it’s a brand that is very much beyond my budget, I’m drawn to Sea’s folkloric influences across their designs. In particular, their Kit dress has completely captured my imagination; it feels like the dress I’ve been dreaming of for years. Completely covered in intricate embroidery and edged in a crochet trim, it feels like a heirloom treasure discovered in a Swedish vintage store. I’m daydreaming of experiencing another Swedish Midsommar, dancing around the maypole wearing this beautiful piece of art.

I love a comfy, simple, oversized jumper — which is something that new British brand, SWEN have committed to doing very well indeed. At the moment, they have just two designs (the Agnes, boxy and cropped and the Barbara, oversized with saddle-shaped sleeves) in a limited colour palette. Their supply chain is fully British (100% British wool, British spinners and knitters) and each knit is produced in small batches to reduce waste. They’re not cheap, but they’re high fashion yet timeless jumpers designed to last a lifetime.

Remember I said I wanted to flounce around my home dressed to the nines, inspired by Lisa Przystup? This is the dress I’d want to be wearing: Kindred of Ireland’s Puff dress in this delightful off-white mallow hue. As photographed below by my talented friend, Katy. It’s just the right side of pouffy, effortlessly romantic, and generously oversized for hiding a multitude of sins as you snaffle your way through Christmas cheese and chocolates. It can be worn with the deep V at the front or back, and is easily thrown on with everything from a pair of battered old boots to your favourite heels.

Photo by Katy Lawrence

Crafted in East Sussex is the latest British bolthole to capture my attention. Surrounded by 78 acres of ancient woodland and pastures, it’s that perfect combination of bucolic landscapes and interesting interiors that always appeals to me. Outdoors, there’s a sauna, lake to cool off in or paddleboard upon, and a wood-fired hot tub. Inside, the bedrooms are a little too ‘Instagrammy’ for my taste, but I love the look of their dining rooms and lounges, adorned with art in collaboration with Lewes-based Southover Gallery. Locals can sign up to their membership which gives you access to everything from wellness spaces, a members-only lounge, co-working spaces, and a packed programme of creative workshops.

I’m currently on the lookout for the perfect pair of house shoes. My house is freezing cold (fingers crossed we’ll be rectifying this with a big renovation next year) and my current pair of slippers are very scruffy (read: literally falling to pieces). Naturally, I’ve fallen in love with three distinctly different shoes and I can’t buy them all. Do I go for a pair of timeless Sabah Fort Worth shearling Baba slippers for the combination of warmth and style, Vibae Roma leather woven mules which aren’t as warm but I’m besotted with them and would also wear them outdoors in summer so would get much more wear out of them, or embrace cosy slippers and treat myself to a pair of Give A Pon slippers, inspired by traditional Greek Tsarouchia shoes and handwoven in the Peloponnese?

Always a fan of a beautifully designed beaded necklace, I recently discovered Decadorn’s designs and swiftly added one of their creations to my wish list. Crafted from gemstones, their designs vary from simple strands to necklaces featuring elegant boltrings or gem pendants. I’ve particularly fallen for the beads that feature Dalmation Jasper gem slices, a grounding stone which boosts positivity (something we could all do with in the depths of winter!).

These utterly charming foot stools are crafted by Uncommon Ancestor, a London-based studio who combine solid walnut frames with hand-drawn sketches embroidered onto velvet bases. The motifs vary across each stool (a capsule collection of different coloured velvets across round and rectangular designs are available), featuring sunbursts, birds in flight, flowers, crescent moons, fish and fruit among more unexpected elements such as boxes of matches and bottles of wine. The designs were inspired by haiku verses, bringing intricate storytelling into your home while allowing you to make your own interpretations.

I’ve long been enchanted by Upstate New York, it’s landscapes, it’s hotels and it’s charming towns. Bovina Farm & Fermentory is the latest addition to this obsession; a 20-acre homestead with a cluster of buildings for drinking, dining and staying overnight. Their dining room opens to outside reservations for Saturday dinner parties and kitchen suppers (very Glebe House) while guests at the inn are additionally welcomed for farm breakfasts, daily snacks and suppers. Choose from three bedrooms in the main house (the light and airy Bedroom, bucolic Pasture Room with it’s private entrance and hillside views, and The Maison, a sprawling space upstairs with its own kitchen and lounge) or The Cottage, a private dwelling nestled in the woodland. Naturally, I’d choose to stay in the cottage, lighting the stove and snuggling up in the bed nook with a pile of books.

I’m not planning on getting married anytime soon (likely never) but was captivated by Paula Matthei Atelier’s wedding dress designs (plus those luscious sky blue canopies and the bronze moon she’s captured her dresses amidst). Her romantic, ethereal designs boast strong vintage influences, crafted from lace, tulle and silk. From a three-dimensional crocheted cape to a dress crafted from a 1900’s embroidered quilt, her designs are just the right side of whimsy.

Domaine de la Cavalerie is currently right at the very, very top of places I would love to stay in and photograph. Located in the Luberon, this regenerative estate specialises in olive oil production — La Cavalerie is certified organic and was awarded GOLD at the 2024 Concours Général Agricole in Paris. Each harvest produces around 2000 litres, maintaining its exclusivity. There are two historic properties located on the estate which can be rented together or separately. La Commanderie boasts seven bedrooms, while La Bergerie sleeps eight and also features an outdoor spa. There are two swimming lakes on site (always a welcome addition!). The interiors of both properties are ornate, featuring statement tiled kitchens, an impressive antique collection, exquisite tapestries. Imagine hiring the whole place for a big birthday celebration and spending lazy summer days beside the lake before creating feasts in the vast kitchens!

Oh to be rich! And by rich, I mean having a spare £900 to spend of these delightful Scene by Chloe ginko leaf lamps. Crafted from hammered metal, they’re that perfect juxtaposition of a statement piece that won’t date, fitting in effortlessly with every interior aesthetic. I’d stick them either side of my bed (atop the non-existant bedside tables that I’d have to purchase first).

What I’ve been reading lately … (affiliate links below)

We Love You Bunny by Mona Awad — I hated this. Didn’t finish (nowhere near). Angry at myself for spending the best part of £20 on a hardback. I loved Bunny when I first read it, but how much I hated this made me wonder if I now have completely different taste in books.

Flat Earth by Anika Jade Levy — This is a very pretentious read, but I loved it. There’s hints of My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Happy Hour, for sure, but it’s also very much its own story. It feels very zeitgeisty, witty, and is sure to be one of those ‘cool’ books girls in the know are pictured with (ironically). The plot is basically a young woman flirting with older men and bad jobs while her best friend becomes more and more successful in the art world. Alternate chapters (which I assume are to be taken with a pinch of salt) chronicle the downfall of society.

Strange Girls by Sarvat Hasin (pr) — There were so many aspects of this book that I loved: that it is split between the present day and flashbacks to the late 2000s/early 2010s, that it examines a complicated friendship, and that it tells it’s story from both perspectives of this friendship. Examining the first meeting of Ava and Aliyah at university, their instant electric connection, and whether their intense friendship stood the test of time had me hooked throughout. My only disappointment was the ending. It was so abrupt that I genuinely thought pages were missing from my copy of the book.

Heap Earth Upon It by Chloe Michelle Howarth — I loved Chloe’s debut, Sunstroke, so her sophmore novel was much anticipated. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this anywhere near as much, although I did enjoy it. It’s definitely a slow burner, but I stuck with it and was absorbed in the complicated story of four siblings in the Irish countryside in the 1960’s by the second half. Things that I loved — the setting, the unreliable narrators, the dark undertones of the story.

Arboresence by Rhett Davis (pr) — More and more, I’m picking up and enjoying literary reads that offer commentary on climate change and our slowly dying planet. In Arboresence, more and more people all around the world are choosing to head outdoors and slowly transform into trees. It sounds bizarre, but it’s a beautifully written speculative story that questions what it means to be human and our impact on the planet.

Crux by Gabriel Tallent (pr) — I read somewhere that this upcoming release does for climbing what Tomorrow x3 did for gaming — that you don’t need to understand all the lingo and background of the subject to enjoy an epic story of friendship. I really enjoyed Crux, but I do think you’d get more out of this book if you have some interest in climbing. I loved the characters (especially Tamma) but the long sequences discussing climbs in minute detail did lose me.

I couldn’t sign off the year without discussing my favourite books of the past twelve months! When I scrolled through my list of what I’ve read in 2025, I jotted down the names of the stand-out books that I was still thinking about for weeks after I’d put them down — and there were conveniently an even ten (I’m not going to rank them, though). The Bee Sting by Paul Murray was my first read of the year, and completely captivated me with its deep dive into a family’s past, narrated in turn by each family member. Gliff by Ali Smith was that perfect blend of dystopian narrative and literary masterpiece that I lap up — I adored how she played with language while weaving a dark yet utterly believable near-future, and can’t wait to read it’s companion novel, Glyph in January. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy was possibly my favourite read of the entire year, reducing me to a puddle of tears as I devoured this atmospheric tale of a father raising his children on one of the most remote islands in the world. I was similarly gripped by The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden, a novel that turned out to be so much more than I expected, beautifully written with compelling characters that are still on my mind, six months on. I adored Esther Freud’s new novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, but it was her debut, Hideous Kinky that captured my heart, introducing these beloved characters as young girls and their nomadic mother. Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje is a beautifully written love story centring around a couple ten years after their divorce, which I couldn’t believe is the author’s debut. Focusing on a young woman returning to Palestine for the first time as an adult, I devoured Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, learning so much more about Palestine’s history while becoming utterly gripped in the novel’s story. Sunbathing by Isobel Beech was, by contrast, a light read, but I adored the writing and simple story of an unnamed character dealing with grief while staying with friends in the Italian countryside. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley made me fall in love all over again with it’s Cornish countryside setting, while introducing me to my favourite protagonist of the year, a young man named Jago who is living with his uncle on a remote farm while recovering from a traumatic brain injury. And, finally, Terrestrial History by Joe Mungo Reed delivered a literary sci-fi novel with heart, fusing beautiful storytellinh with terrifying visions of a probable future.

Thank you to each and every one of you for subscribing to and reading Postcards this year. There are 1,700 of you subscribing and 2,900 of you following now — which is huge. I don’t write on Substack to chase numbers or to make my fortune, but I do spend a significant amount of time writing my newsletters, so it’s good to know that my writing here is being read.

Coming up for my paid subscribers over the next couple of months, I’ll be publishing my December diary (I’m planning on writing more diaries next year, as these seem to be well received), sharing a bumper list of the hotels and hideaways I’d love to stay in during 2026, discussing my hopeful travel plans for the year ahead (although, for the first time in years, I have absolutely nothing booked at the moment), writing about the cosy pubs-with-rooms I’m dreaming of hibernating in over winter (including a couple of new places opening soon), and publishing my next few interviews with the creative women working within the travel industry who inspire me (coming up: a photographer, a duo of editors, a writer, and a hotel guru). Happy new year — see you on the other side!

Emma xx