CUPID’S MAGIC TOUCH FOR OUR FIRST EVER VALENTINE’S AT HOME

LANASSIR LAWES, 42, is an interior designer and lives with her partner Andrew, 44, a finance director. She says:

DAYS after we finally got around to putting our two faux Christmas trees back in the loft, I had an irresistible urge to get one of them down again.

It’s now in the dining room bedecked with playing cards from the suit of hearts, plus red heart trinkets and pretty little envelopes that I sourced online — each one bearing words about love. The colours really pop against the tree’s black and charcoal branches.

I’ve used similar decorations to trim the chandelier that hangs from the vaulted ceiling of our barn conversion above the 12-seat dining table, as well as a large branch cut from an oak tree in our garden that’s suspended from the minstrel’s gallery and bunting that spells out ‘love’.

On the table is a display of gorgeous red tulips, white branches and long stems of pussy willow for added romantic drama. And handily, as the tree is the centrepiece, I’ve spent less than €50 on new decorations.

Andrew took my request to get the tree down again better than I expected, and even whipped the scaffolding out to help me decorate. We only moved in together last Easter so it’s our first Valentine’s day under the same roof, hence a shared excitement and my desire to make the house feel special.

With all the high ceilings and large rooms, the barn can feel a little empty, especially after Christmas. But now it’s full of Cupid’s magic.

I’m renowned for trimming the interiors according to the season, but when March arrives I’ll put the tree away again till December — I promise!