This Christmas Pendant by Bengt Johansson is proof that you can have retro Christmas decorations without any hint of gaudiness.

Based on traditional Swedish designs, the pendants are made from pine using traditional methods. The pendants are available in a choice of sizes, the small measures 30cm and costs £33.91, whilst the large measures 42 cm and costs £51.30. The design is simple yet stunning and the only downside I can see is that you may not want to take it down after the festive period.

There is a three week delivery time from the Scandinavian Design Center, so you will have to order quickly to receive yours in time for this Christmas.

This year was the 150th Anniversary of Big Ben, which was the inspiration behind this Big Ben Wall Clock.

As pedants will no doubt note, Big Ben is actually the bell, rather than the clock or the tower, but the name is often applied to the landmark in general, which is what this item looks like. It consists of a 2 metre wall sticker, with a cut out pane to allow the separate clock face to show through.

The Big Ben Wall Clock costs £120 from Rockett St George.

Do you want your kids to know their Alexander Calder from their Alexander Girard? Well, rather than giving them too long a lecture in the history of design, try this Kid Made Modern book. Written by Todd Oldham it uses mid-century designers as the starting base for 52 different craft projects for kids. It details how to make a cardboard fort inspired by Luis Barragan or window decorations in the style of Russel Wright or even decorate a few wooden spoons to create an alternative version of the Girard dolls.

The projects look so much fun you may find yourself joining in! 

The book is for sale for £11.45 on Amazon

The countdown to Christmas begins in earnest tomorrow. There's always lots of tempting ideas for gifts on these pages but how do you collect together all your gifts in a suitably retro style? Perhaps this Christmas stocking from Roddy & Ginger can help. 

It's a simple white stocking printed with a bird motif, one of Scandinavian folk-art designs that Roddy & Ginger do so well. The stocking is available in two colour combinations - either red and pink or chocolate and blue - and is printed on cotton, though they will make it in linen for you on request 

And, very importantly, at almost half a metre long there's lots of space for your presents inside. 

The stocking costs $26 from their Etsy store

Ok, sit back and relax, I want to tell you the story of the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin 2 floor light, now reissued by Yamagiwa.

The original design was produced as a pendant light for a gymnasium back in 1933, but was modified for domestic use in the 1950s. Impressed with the indirect lighting effect produced by the ceiling lights, Frank Lloyd Wright amended the design to a floor lamp for his own Taliesin home - and this is that design.

A totem-like mix of cherry wood and incandescent bulbs (for the glowing light), it works either as a piece of domestic sculpture or functional design, not to mention a piece of hstory for your home. It retails for just over £1,000.

Find out more at the Panik Design website