Season's eatings

With her signature colour and culinary skills, Melbourne creative Jessica Nguyen prepares her Edwardian home for Christmas

- STORY JESSICA BELLEF | PHOTOGRAPHY TIM O'CONNOR

A bright idea The cheerful home of Jessica Nguyen (pictured) is styled with pieces that have been collected over time. Handmade paper garlands hang from the ceiling light above the rug, both from Leonard Joel Auctions. The dining table (opposite) is dressed with handmade crackers wrapped in Vandoros 'Nutcracker Stripe' paper, vintage Blue Willow by Churchill plates, Bonnie & Neil linen napkins, Reliquia 'Cascais' cups, Maison Balzac wine glasses and Coast to Coast Home 'Remy' cutlery.

Curating moments of joy and togetherness and togetherness comes naturally to Jessica Nguyen, a cook, consummate host, and all-round creative who lives in Melbourne with her husband Liam Condon and their two-year-old son, Jamie. Come Christmas time, Jessica embraces the festivities with a no-limits approach. She layers her young family's 100-year-old semidetached home with handmade decorations, and she sets her tables with an abundance of delicious food, drink and chic styling details, amounting to a feast for the eyes and the belly. “I’m putting in extra effort this year, because it’s Jamie’s third Christmas and I know the magic of the season will be really important to him,” says Jessica. “Plus, it’s our turn to host all our family.”