Claridge's unveils designer Christmas tree by Paul Smith
Claridge's
November 20th 2024
The Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2024 by Sir Paul Smith brings together two illustrious names in British luxury to reveal a traditional 20ft tree sitting in a signature striped barrel and decorated with colourful baubles, ribbons and more than 100 bespoke birdhouses.
Paul Smith has collaborated with two “friends of the house” to create the decorations – British artist Nik Ramage, who has made the mechanical birdhouses, and design studio Studiomama, which has supplied whimsical “Off Cut Creatures” to sit around the base of the tree. When designing the tree, Smith said he “automatically thought of a birdhouse”. He said: “It felt like the most charming of ideas, friendly, optimistic” and he wanted to use an everyday object such as a birdhouse in a repetitive way. He said: “You can find inspiration in everything, and if you can’t, look again.”
Adding to the festive ambiance, Paul Smith’s Merrymaker fragrance will scent the hotel lobby, and a chorus of birdsong will be projected from the tree throughout the day to welcome guests.
Smith has even transformed the hotel lobby into his living room, with a geometric Paul Smith stripe Rug Company rug, while reupholstered Maharam by Paul Smith fabric pieces surround the fireplace. Other surprises include “Paul’s Pick n Mix” trolley of sweets, which will be available for guests to taste.
Smith said: “My wife Pauline and I have been staying and dining at Claridge’s for many years. We have spent so many special moments like Christmas and New Year at the hotel with our grandchildren and so it is often a family affair.
“It’s a great honour to be asked to create this year’s Christmas tree and it’s something I hope people will enjoy and find fascinating and fun. When designing this year’s tree, I automatically thought of a bird house, friendly and optimistic, a symbol of home which reflects the welcoming spirit of Claridge’s.”Claridge’s general manager, Paul Jackson, said: “Christmas is the most magical time of year for us all here at Claridge’s and we look forward to seeing guests and visitors immerse themselves in the creative and colourful world of Sir Paul Smith”.
This is 16th year Claridge’s has invited a fashion designer to reinterpret the Christmas tree in their own distinctive style. Last year it was created by Louis Vuitton, which replaced the tree with a pile of giant travel trunks.
