Old school crime novels, well-dressed tables with mismatched ceramics, and extra horseradish in the Bloody Marys - Paddy O’Donnell certainly knows how to put on a good Sunday.
At LAMP LDN we know the value of time spent at home – creating memories with family and loved ones, enjoying quiet moments alone, sitting around the table to share a meal, pottering around in the garden, endless lists of DIY and, if we’re lucky, long baths with a favourite book.
Our Easy Like Sunday Lunch series gives us five minutes to share a cup of tea on a Sunday morning with someone we admire, as they talk us through their rituals for a Sunday at home. We also ask them to curate a list of their favourite pieces from the current collection at LAMP LDN.
This Easy Like Sunday Lunch is hosted by Paddy O’Donnell, international brand ambassador and colour consultant for Farrow & Ball, at his charming home in North Worcestershire, which he’s been gradually decorating.
You must be a dab hand at choosing the perfect colour for a room - tell us about a recent remodelling at your property?
It feels like I haven’t stopped decorating for 12 months! But a lot has been about being creative with what we had to hand. Even if something is rather ugly but functional, I’ll try and find a solution to use it. For example, our kitchen dining table is a very ordinary high street table, so I painted the legs a dark chocolate colour (Cola, from our archive), and found a beautiful block print table cloth to cover the pine - it’s grand now.
The most recent project has been my study, which has had a character shift from dark and atmospheric to bright and breezy. I’ve used one of our new wallpapers, Renaissance Leaves, which is such a sweet, one colour small print paper in Stone Blue. Add in a bit of furniture reconfiguration and it feels like a completely new space!
Talk us through your ideal Sunday at home?
As with most days, we are up around 7 a.m. (the dogs dictate our habit!) and the first hour is spent chatting or finishing the Saturday papers with gallons of coffee. BBC Radio 4 is a big companion on Sunday mornings with Desert Island Discs and The Archers omnibus, and depending on the weather it’s either visiting gardens or houses within an hour’s radius - we are blessed with rich pickings near home - or pottering in the borders around the garden, which often feels like a thankless task.
I’m usually in charge of Sunday lunch - and if you ask anyone who knows me well, I’m a total bore at mise-en-place and will happily potter away for hours prepping (with music and wine for company). When the days shorten, the jigsaws come out - we’re obsessed with the John Speed UK Counties jigsaws, based on wonderful 16th century cartography.
What’s on the menu for Sunday lunch at your place?
In summer the fare is always lighter - something like pissaladière with a green salad, or organic roast chicken with petit pois a la française and whipped potatoes. In winter it gets decidedly richer - beef casserole, or a very slow-cooked lamb shoulder with anchovies and red wine - totally yummy!
What’s your Sunday hosting essential and tips for someone new to entertaining at home?
Be as informal as possible. Nobody wants a highly strung host! And don’t overstretch yourself. People are coming for your company, so whilst the food plays a good supporting role, it’s the general conviviality that’s important. Oh yes, and plenty of wine (or sherry)! Or if it’s brunch, the best Bloody Marys with dry sherry and horseradish please!
Do you have a favourite Sunday lunch memory from your childhood?
As we’re not far from the North Cotswolds we used to go the Lygon Arms in Broadway quite a lot, which was good old school scoff and a favourite of my father’s.
Tell us about your style - when you’re hosting for family and friends what are they most looking forward to?
I always make an effort when hosting so detail becomes quite important - flowers, wine and hopefully the food. I was a professional cook many years ago, so I have some okay skills in the kitchen. I love a well dressed table. It shows you’re making an effort, but I do prefer it to have an informal vibe - rarely do the ceramics match, and the glasses are a muddle too, but it all comes together rather nicely in the end.
Sunday Lunch Quick Fire Round
Best place for a Sunday roast (pub or restaurant?)
I love my friend’s pub. The Beckford Arms, in Wiltshire. Or closer to home, the Bull in Charlbury is just spot on.
Favourite Sunday afternoon movie
I just love the Joe Wright version of Pride & Prejudice. The cinematography is just sublime, as are the locations.
Favourite vintage market or shop
Kingsettle Antiques in Semley. I always find something. Or Tinsmiths in Ledbury - Phoebe the owner really knows her stuff and is a huge supporter of British craft.
Your washing up playlist
Nick Drake in the colder months, Sault in summer.
The last book you devoured
My favourite recent novel was Still Life by Sarah Winman - utterly beautiful. But I’m gorging on Donna Leon at the moment. Old school crime novels set rather evocatively in Venice - total joy.
Your favourite item from our current collection at LAMP LDN:
I love the Casa Cubista striped bowl in pink. Imagine how gorgeous that would look with a radicchio salad!
