Art, sculpture and inspired colour palettes turn a home into the story of a life Vanessa Branson lives in a mews house set back from a cobbled street. At one end is an old synagogue, at the other a Greek Orthodox cathedral, and beyond the little courtyard is a home that, as soon as you enter, feels like the most comfortable art gallery in the world. For all its rickety glamour, this house is significantly smaller than Branson’s previous home, a large townhouse in west London. “I have four kids who were all living with me with their partners, and then I had a friend who moved in for a long week ..read more

Cost of housing at all-time high, Halifax reports, as mortgage lengths and borrowing multiples grow Another month, another record for house prices. On Friday, the UK’s largest lender, Halifax, reported that the average cost of a home had risen to just under £300,000 after a 1.3% jump in November. After a pandemic, a cost of living crisis and a mortgage market meltdown two years ago, you might have expected prices to be roughly where they were five years ago – instead, they are up by more than 25%. So, how did the market defy the odds ..read more

Experts urge people not to post images of pricey presents on social media as they may be rich pickings for thieves Burglaries soar during the festive season, with new smartphones, jewellery, bikes and other gifts offering rich pickings for thieves. So it’s vital to know if you will be able to make a claim on your home contents insurance if you do fall victim to theft ..read more

Christmas decorations needn’t be tacky – just ask Matthew Williamson, Harris Reed, Kelly Hoppen and other tastemakers, who share their tips for a chic festive season. Not a singing Santa in sight … Do you bring out the same threadbare tinsel and tired baubles each year, throw some lights on a tree, and consider Christmas done? Well, it’s time to get a bit more creative. From scouring charity shops for vintage decorations to foraging for your own DIY wreath, there are better ways to have a stylish home this Christmas. We’ve asked style gurus from all disciplines for their tips and tricks. From ..read more

Is plastic better for the planet than a real one? Are there carbon neutral options? And should you have a tree at all? Here’s how to remain guilt-free this yule I call it the Biennial in our house: 2024, the Christmas tree returns to our living room after a two-year absence. I’m no Scrooge. I’m one of those people who goes big on Christmas. I can quote The Muppet Christmas Carol. I love pigs in blankets. I once chartered a Routemaster to drive through central London so my pals and I could admire the lights. But I can only face having a tree once every two years because it feels somewhat g ..read more

Property prices increase by 1.3% in November, the fifth consecutive monthly rise The average price of a house in the UK has hit a record high after a fifth successive month of increases in the value of properties, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender has said. Halifax’s monthly house price index found that the cost of an average home was £298,083 in November, up almost £5,000 on the previous record set in October ..read more

A bold, bright and bizarre succulent that’s hardy and otherworldly – if a little on the whiffy side Why will I love it? The starfish flower (Stapelia hirsuta) is an otherworldly succulent. Its thick, cactus-like stems create a striking architectural base, but the real showstopper is its large, star-shaped flower. These blooms are covered in fine hair – hence the name hirsuta, meaning “hairy” – and are often adorned with maroon or purple patterns. Light or shade? It thrives in bright, indirect light ..read more

It might sound like a drink special at your local cafe but the trendy shade is set to be everywhere in 2025 – according to the company, that is Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Alyx, I hear that Pantone has announced the colour of 2025. What is it? Every year colour company Pantone declares one shade to rule them all. Sometimes it’s a disastrous misfire: this year they picked “peach fuzz”, then slime green – which is several steps removed on the colour wheel – dominated the discourse. Sometimes they’re right on the money, like when they picked “Big Tech blue” just before the Covid ..read more

With high scores for friendly neighbours and access to services, Woodbridge in Suffolk has topped Rightmove’s annual list for the first time It may not have the bright lights of London or Edinburgh, or even the celebrity or notoriety of some of the Great Britain’s better known villages and towns. But in one respect, Woodbridge in Suffolk seems to trump them all: it is the happiest place to live in Britain. At least that is the conclusion of a survey by the property website Rightmove. Woodbridge, East of England, £441,569, £1,478 Richmond upon Thames, London, £939,329, £3,131 Hexham, North East ..read more

At about 130 times the price of the average home in the UK, the smallest apartments at 1 Mayfair are eye-wateringly expensive. So why are they proving so popular? Name: The £35m starter home. Age: Due to be completed in 2026 ..read more