Tate Britain's Christmas tree, decorated by Sarah Lucas. Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian.
As thoughts this time of year turn to hearth and home, so it is with Britain's artists. Damien Hirst has upped sticks to Devon to settle down with his family in a purpose-built house. You may have seen it featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs. Sarah Lucas, already a dab hand at limited edition tea-cakes, has decorated Tate Britain's Christmas Tree this year, Tracey Emin has graduated from unmade beds to tea towels and, more recently, wrapping paper for this newspaper. And of course, Grayson Perry, who won the Turner Prize for his pottery, is never happier than when clad in a pinny and he's recently unveiled a War On Terror-themed rug.
These developments aren't without precedent. Rothko famously played interior designer (albeit with subversive intent), creating monumental canvases as a backdrop for the Four Seasons restaurant on New York's Park Avenue.
At the other end of the scale, Michael Craig-Martin designed a Sainsbury's shopping bag. You might even count Alexander Calder and his mobiles.
So what's next? Damien Hirst fish tanks? Chapman Brothers bidets? A Michael Landy DIY crusher? Suggestions please: the best wins a Gary Hume all-purpose sander and drill set.
