With Love, Meghan, is back for a Christmas bonanza episode and we couldn't be more excited. This episode sees all of the culinary skill, celebrity cameos and crafting genius that we've come to expect from the series, but this time it is given a festive spin. Possibly most alluring about the show, however, is the wondrous kitchen it is filmed in (which was also used as the setting for the previous series of the show), which sits within a house reportedly worth $6 million, belonging to Meghan's neighbours in Montecito, the Cipolla family.
Nestled within a gated community, the estate includes eight acres of lemon groves and avocado trees. The house itself is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom archetype of American design, which is characterised by clean lines, white walls and plenty of glamour. It is easy to see why Meghan chose it as a backdrop for her show – the kitchen (which is now decorated elaborately for Christmas) is a cook's dream. From the Ceasarstone countertops, the large island and the cream cabinetry, to the Thermador range cooker and glut of Le Creuset pots and pans. Outside, a vegetable patch offers delicious-looking ingredients ripe for the picking.
The show exists as part of a $100 million deal struck between the Sussexes and Netflix. Much like its namesake star, it is beautifully polished and deeply aspirational – from the carefully arranged flowers and meticulously presented dishes to the white clothes Meghan manages to keep clean.
The special Christmas episode promises to give us all the tools for stress-free Christmas hosting. In Meghan's words, ‘There's nothing more stressful than watching a stressed-out hostess. You can get so fussed about everything being perfect that you lose the magic that happens with mistakes’. We can only hope that we learn to see the magic in our mistakes.
