A maximalist Christmas at Sean Pritchard's 17th-century Somerset cottage

Deep in the Mendip Hills, garden designer Sean Pritchard has turned a labourer's dwelling into a charming home
A maximalist Christmas at Sean Pritchard's 17thcentury Somerset cottage
Tom Griffiths
Tom Griffiths

Sean's bohemian approach to the decoration of his house is reminiscent of the Bloomsbury group's homes, as well as gardens like Great Dixter. It's no coincidence he cites both as sources of inspiration. These are places where things were 'allowed to sprawl and creep', moving on their own with a sense of magic. 'Once we finally bought this cottage I felt a real excitement,' says Sean. 'I could try and create some of that magic myself.'

There's a spirituality to this ethos that spills out beyond the cottage and into the village. For Sean, Christmas presents a particularly good chance to engage with local folk traditions. 'A midwinter ritual in this part of Somerset is to wassail,' he notes. 'All these streamers and ribbons that you see strung up in the cottage go on to decorate the apples trees and orchards to encourage a strong harvest.' It's a Twelfth Night tradition that often involves singing, dancing and festive merriment, as well as feeding the trees a slice of toast.

'In anything that I’ve done in the house over the last six years, even if it’s been painting a wall or putting the Christmas decorations up, it’s always in the back of my mind that I’m giving the house a hug,' says Sean. ‘I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s like we’re guardians of it.’