‘I love bringing in wild berries and having cyclamen around the house, and the children and I always make a wreath for the front door’
uilt in the 17th century, Henrietta Balmain’s thatched cottage stands in the chalk downlands of North Wessex, in a village whose windmill still produces wholemeal stone-ground flour. At Christmas, the house is aglow with candlelight, and achieves the perfect balance between artful layering and festive cheer. “We decorate together and bring out favourite decorations made years ago by the children,” Henrietta says. “Lights are put up outside along the thatch, which is so pretty, and I love bringing in wild
