A quirky cottage in Belgium decorated for Christmas

The run-up to Christmas is always an extremely busy time for Paul Klunder, an events designer and florist. ‘Every year, my team and I dress clients’ trees and decorate their homes or businesses – that’s thousands of fairy lights,’ he says, clearly excited by the prospect. Luckily, the festive season is Paul’s favourite time of year.

And when it comes to his own home, a quirky cottage in the woods just outside Antwerp, Paul embraces the Christmas spirit by late October. ‘It all begins with orange pomanders, which my dear old mum makes,’ he says. ‘They exude a wonderful spiced aroma all the way up to Christmas.’ Their delicious scent, combined with freshly cut pine and the cheery sight of an open fire will greet his guests on Christmas Day.

Paul bought the cottage 11 years ago, having spotted an advertisement online. ‘I was immediately smitten by the unusual exterior, which features yew tree trunks around the windows and across the walls – it’s a unique feature and I was hoping that the inside would have just as much character.’

Indeed, the former forest warden’s home had only recently been brought into the 21st century and was filled with original features. ‘The cottage had been inhabited by two elderly brothers who had been workers at the château to which the building belonged,’ explains Paul. ‘They lived very simply, without electricity, and their water came from the well outside.’

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What is now Paul’s kitchen was once a stable and home to a cow, several chickens and a couple of sheep. While this might have put some people off, the palpable sense of history only made him love the property more. ‘I must have spent my former life in the 18th century,’ he says, ‘because I have such an affinity for the old days.’

This love of the past is evident in the way he has furnished the cottage, filling it with carefully chosen antiques picked up on his travels. A pair of Austrian wing chairs are particular favourites. A large, glazed cabinet in the corner of the sitting room is filled with sensitively curated curios and, rather like the house, ‘each and every piece has a story,’ he says.

While Paul goes all out to transform his clients’ homes into breathtaking winter wonderlands at Christmas, at the cottage he focuses his attention on the table setting. When it comes to creating exciting decorations, Paul recommends doing one thing and doing it well. ‘Resist the temptation to do lots of little things,’ he says.

‘If you dress a tree, make it spectacular. If you decorate the table, make it a real conversation piece. And with the table, it always starts with good linen, nice napkins and lovely china. You can never treat yourself enough when it comes to these things and just a few quality items can turn even a simple afternoon tea into a special occasion.’

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Even though Paul loves to conjure the atmosphere of the past, he is not afraid to ditch the age-old red and gold tradition. ‘I always go with white flowers for Christmas,’ he says, ‘and hellebores, amaryllis, and vanda orchids are some of my favourite options.’

This year, Paul has opted for a rustic look, using high-stemmed ilex trees and hellebores as centrepieces, with pine cones and bark-wrapped tealights completing the woodland look. ‘Stick to a few colours and textures, and repeat those throughout your design,’ he advises.

Handmade fur stars bear guests’ names and a sheepskin on each chair adds an additional touch of luxury. Paul takes his inspiration from nature. ‘I was raised in the forests of Gelderland and my passion for plant life grew from there.’

It has now been 22 years since Paul started his career as a florist and decorator, and his passion for adding festive magic to parties, interiors and, of course, his own home, shows no sign of waning. There is nothing he enjoys more than creating stunning floral arrangements that have his guests wide-eyed with wonder. ‘I follow my heart and triple what it tells me to do. After all, it’s impossible to overdo Christmas.’