Celebrate with... Karen Howes, CEO of Taylor Howes Designs

This year we’re going to be in the countryside at our home near Winchester. It’s been a busy year for Taylor Howes and our other entities, Luxury Business Sphere and Atelier Howes, so this year will be spent with family, walking the rolling hills, eating and sleeping – not necessarily in that order. It’s time to take stock and recharge the batteries for the next decade!

Christmas is all about traditions in the Howes House, but I think we’re quite similar to others. It wouldn’t be Christmas without board games and the Queen’s Speech. The start of the festive period has been traditionally heralded by the Place2Be Christmas Carol concert for the past 10 years, which is always in the first week of December and sets the tone for the rest of the month.

Got to be Michael Bublé every time, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

The entire of central London is a special place to be at Christmas, the sense of community is overwhelming and the lights, for me, are simply spectacular. I recently performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre as a member of the cast of this year’s Interior Designer Pantomime and, leaving the theatre each evening, I was greeted by majestic lights, happy shoppers and stunningly creative window displays. You can’t beat Fortnum’s at Christmas; their windows are always the best.

Champagne all the way!