1213PEOPLE H G
12 3 4 5 6 7 8 91011WHAT TRADITIONS DO YOU FOLLOW AT CHRISTMAS?
Neale: It’s hard to hold on to traditions when you
move from the other side of the world – and
hemispheres – as I did 20 years ago when I arrived in
Sydney [from the UK]. Cold-weather festivities are
in my DNA and probably always will be, so I’ve learned
to enjoy a different type of Christmas in Australia.
Before we made our tree-change to the NSW South
Coast, David and I usually made a road trip at
Christmas time – that became our tradition.
Now we live in the country ourselves, it feels
like we’re creating new traditions.
WILL THERE BE A FEAST AT YOUR PLACE ON CHRISTMAS
DAY? Yes! And David will definitely be head chef. I’m
not sure if that makes me commis chef or sommelier.
Basically I set the table and open the wine!
FAVOURITE WAY TO DRESS THE FESTIVE TABLE?
We keep it simple and traditional. The table will have
candles, beautiful napery, cutlery and glassware and
probably some frangipani from the garden. And every
place setting will have a Christmas cracker. But we like
the food and wine to be the real stars.
OTHER DECORATIONS? We love a beautifully decorated
tree but beyond that, we keep the decorations to
a minimum. One thing I personally love is fairy lights.
They remind me of childhood Christmases.
There is something both exciting and comforting
about their soft glow.
SUMMER DAYS INVOLVE... Getting up early and
enjoying a walk on the beach before the heat kicks in.
No two days are the same but generally speaking,
days without a plan are the ones we enjoy most. >
Neale will return to TV screens in 2020 as a judge
on the 16th series of The Block (Nine Network) and
co-host of Love It Or List It Australia (Foxtel).[
Country + classic
]1 Topiary 1 stoneware vessel, $3200, Nicolette Johnson Ceramics. 2 Berkano rug (2.4mx3m), $2880, Designer Rugs. 3 Green Gin & Tonic artwork by
David Bainbridge. 4 Hermetica fragrance in Patchoulight, $299, Agence de Parfum. 5 Buzzby & Fang ‘Spike’ clay planter, $150, The Plant Society.
6 Apero side table by Charles Wilson, $710, King Living. 7 Herbarium porcelain accent plate, $260/pair, Gucci. 8 Suede desert boots, $675, Tod’s.
9 PrimaDonna fully automatic coffee machine, $2499, De’Longhi. 10 Ruinart rosé Champagne, $150, David Jones. 11 Signature cast-iron casserole
in Meringue, $399, Le Creuset. 12 Adventure Troubadour men’s tote, $295, Troubadour. 13 Individual book by Jessica Bellef, $49.99, Murdoch Books.TOP PICKSTV personality and design aficionado Neale and his ever sartorially elegant
partner David opt for a mix of practicality and luxury.NEALE WHITAKER
& DAV ID NOVA K-PIPER
Text by Elizabeth Wilson. Styling by Olga Lewis. Photograph by Felix Forest. Grooming by David Novak-Piper.