Christmas at Louise Keats’ home will be bittersweet this year. The fabulous farmhouse in the NSW Southern Highlands will be filled with all of her favourite people on Earth: husband, children, parents, sister and her sister’s immediate tribe. Champagne corks will fly at kick-off, marking the start of the celebrations, while stockings will be filled with homemade nougat and tables will be piled with fruit mince pies and gingerbread. There will be glazed ham, cured gravlax and stuffed roast turkey with all the trimmings. But this year also marks the family’s first Christmas since losing Louise’s grandmother, Margaret Fulton, the legendary Australian food writer and national treasure. “She was custodian of all our Christmas traditions,” says Louise. “She always made sure we had crackers and wore our hats. And she made an amazing Christmas pudding with flaming brandy and homemade custard, studded with sixpence saved from her childhood in Scotland.”
Although her absence will weigh down heavily on the family, Margaret’s spirit will be felt in the Royal Copenhagen dinnerware on the table and the fizz of the champagne (always French). And, while Louise’s mother Suzanne is on pudding duty this year, it’s a safe bet whoever finds the sixpence will be thinking of Margaret as they make their wish. “It’s still really raw,” says Louise, “but Grandma’s old traditions will continue and they will be passed on to her great-grandchildren.”
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Home Beautiful.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Home Beautiful.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HOT PURSUIT
NEED A NEW OVEN? WE DIVE DEEP INTO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INVESTING IN WHAT IS OFTEN THE MOST-USED APPLIANCE IN THE HOUSE
PERFECT MATCH
THIS HOLIDAY HOME OF AN EXPAT AUSTRALIAN LIVING IN FRANCE IS THE IDEAL BLEND OF LAIDBACK AUSTRALIAN BEACH STYLE AND FRENCH CHIC
ENDURING ELEGANCE
THIS SMALL BUT MIGHTY PREWAR HOME IN BRISBANE WAS LIFTED AND EXPANDED, TOP AND BOTTOM, TO PRESERVE ITS CHARACTER AND ACCOMMODATE A GROWING FAMILY
ROOM TO GROW
WITH BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND A VISION FOR THEIR OWN SECRET GARDEN, THIS GOLD COAST FAMILY CULTIVATED THEIR DREAM HOME FROM THE GROUND UP
Shades of style
VIBRANT HUES AND A MIX OF VINTAGE, GLOBAL AND MODERN PIECES MAKE THIS BRISBANE HOME A SHOW-STOPPER
Beautiful SHOPPING
FASTA SAUCE DECORATING IDEAS AND STYLISH BUYS FOR YOUR HOME INOUBL
THE Art oF Sleep
Rest and rejuvenate with SleepMaker
PRINTS CHARMING
A LOVE OF BLOCK PRINTING, DISCOVERED IN THE HIMALAYAS, LED HOLLY FIRTH TO START HER RANGE OF QUILTED BAGS AND LINEN HOMEWARES
Holiday at HOME
FROM THE TOP END TO TASSIE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, DISCOVER 10 OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Small space masterclass PETIT PROPOSAL
A COMPACT APARTMENT GIVES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER THE CHANCE TO USE A CAREER'S WORTH OF TINY IDEAS