“Christmas is all about traditions and the cosy anticipation leading up to the day itself. It’s when the children’s excitement is at its peak, and I get to indulge my desire to spoil the ones I love,” says Helle Mardahl, who alternates between celebrating Christmas with family in England and Denmark. The two countries have very different scripts for the season, which is perhaps why, for Helle, the lead-up to Christmas holds greater meaning than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself.

Her preparations are a colourful mix of tradition and playful invention. The decorations change every year, and the result is allowed to be a little unconventional – even a bit whimsical – as long as it’s magical and visually intriguing. That same sense of wonder defines Helle’s Christmas Table.