The Art of Gathering

Before guests arrive and the first glass is poured, a festive gathering often begins elsewhere—in the choosing. In the considered gifts, the generously laid table, and the little details that make a home feel welcoming during the holidays.

Many of the objects we bring out each season have a story. From Grandma’s well-worn china to a treasured find discovered on distant travels or a handmade gift from someone you love, too precious to part with. Over time, these pieces become part of the rituals and traditions that shape our lives, homes and celebrations.

For The Art of Gathering, we invited Perth-based interior designer and stylist, Jessica Rayment of Jessica Alice Design, to curate a festive gift collection through her own distinctive lens, alongside our wines.

Recent Winner of the Residential category in the Artedomus x The Local Project Emerging Designer Awards, she is known for creating spaces that feel collected rather than decorated. Drawn to objects with character, craftsmanship and history, she chooses pieces not simply for how they look, but for the conversations they spark.

We invited Jessica to share her perspective on entertaining, gift giving, and the festive rituals that she returns to, time and again.

Vase by Joia Ellery.

What makes a house feel like home during the holidays?

The people in it, mostly, but as a designer I’m definitely going to say the table setting looking beautiful too. There’s something about having the house full of people you love, food being prepared and the glistening decorations coming out of their boxes each year. I love when a home feels a little more magical at Christmas, whether that’s through candlelight, table settings, flowers, a heavily decorated tree or simply bringing out those pieces you only see once a year.

I think it’s the combination of all of those things that makes it feel like Christmas. The way the house looks and feels, the smells coming from the kitchen (or barbecue), the music playing in the background and, most importantly, the people filling it. It’s those little rituals and details that make a home feel especially warm and inviting over the holidays.

Which recipe carries the most memories?

I have both a very good and a very bad Christmas food memory!

The traditional one would have to be my grandma’s Christmas pudding. There was always a lucky penny hidden inside, and before serving it we’d pour brandy over the top and set the whole thing alight. It’s a special one, that immediately takes me back to Christmases with my family in the UK.

The less glamorous memory is my Aunty’s custard. One Christmas she somehow managed to make it so thick that you could stand a fork upright in it, and when you lifted the fork, the entire bowl would come with it. To make matters worse, she made us eat every last bit of it. It was basically rubber. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at custard quite the same way since...

What do you bring to a gathering that can’t be wrapped?

Love, kindness and a lot of laughter. I think the best gatherings are really about the traditions you create with the people around you, rather than what you bring with you.

My family are all still in the UK, so Christmas in Australia has been a bit of a process of creating my own traditions. After nine Christmases here, I’ve realised that those traditions don’t necessarily have to come from your family. They can be things you build with friends and the people who have become your family. There are now little rituals, meals, places and people that I associate with Christmas in Australia, and I think that’s something really special.

Bow by Rose Van-Eyk.

What do you look for when choosing festive pieces for your own home?

Definitely something more timeless than overly seasonal. Within my interior design work, I love mixing the old and new, so I’d rather invest in something handcrafted or unique, with its own story behind it. Locally made always feels like the gift keeps giving too, knowing you’re supporting an artist or maker as well as giving something that feels really thoughtful. For me, the best festive pieces are the ones that feel like they belong in the home all year round but somehow become a little more magical at Christmas.

Where do you start when choosing a gift?

I always start with the person rather than the occasion. You look at what they are they drawn to, what they already have, or what they may not think to buy for themselves. I’m very fussy when it comes to cards too and spend ages choosing the one that’s just right. I think I’m very lucky that I meet such talented people within my work, it does make it easier to shop locally and buy beautiful things.

Chess table by Marshall Wood.

What object makes a space feel lived in?

I think a home starts to feel lived in when everything doesn’t feel too perfect. Art plays a big part in this for me. A house never really feels like a home until there’s art on the walls, pieces that have been collected over time and have a story of their own. I love collected objects that are actually used, ceramics, beautiful bowls, pieces that have been passed down through a family, even a stack of books. Your home tells a story, so make sure it’s an interesting one, filled with treasures.

What is something you’ve inherited?

Definitely a love of gathering people around a table. There’s something very English about making an occasion out of food, setting the table and taking your time over a meal. I think those little traditions are some of the things we inherit without even realising it!

 

Discover Jessica's gift collection, or visit her website or @jessicaalice_design to see more of her design work.