Antiques shopping

Have you ever wanted to go antiques shopping but had no idea where to start? I’ve received a few emails recently asking for suggestions and I spent a long time putting together a list of the places I have been to and I thought it might be nice to share this with you.

Now, unfortunately, this list is very much based around London, so apologies to all my lovely followers from America, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, India (the list goes on – I LOVE checking out the locations of visitors to the site! It always amazes me that someone from Indonesia or Iceland has found my little blog). However, to all of you from other parts of the UK and the world, please do leave a comment and tell us all the best antiques shops or markets near you just in case we visit your part of the world soon. One of my favourite things to do on holiday is to spend the day wandering around flea markets, brocantes and antiques shops.

So here goes (in no particular order)…

1. The Old Cinema – 160 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1PR

Huge shop with a variety of antiques, vintage finds, upcycled furniture and reproductions.

The Old Cinema vintage and antiques shop

The Old Cinema

2. Alfie’s Antique Market – 13-25 Church Street, Marylebone, London, NW8 8DT

Church Street is a treasure trove with shop after shop filled with all sorts of antiques.

3. Bermondsey Square antiques market – corner of Long Lane and Bermondsey street, London, SE1 3FD

Right up the street from me, this market is open every Friday – get there early as a lot of professional buyers pick up all the good stuff. Each stall is filled with different antiques from jewellery to cutlery. This market isn’t about fine antiques – think more car boot sale.

4Lassco – 30 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LG and 41 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3PA

This is one of my favourite places ever. It’s an enormous Georgian manor house slap bang in the middle of the Vauxhall roundabout. Every room in the house is filled with different antiques: baths, sinks, radiators, salvaged floorboards, door knobs, apothecary bottles, furniture, street signs etc. There is also a cafe and all the furniture is for sale! Love it.

Lassco vintage and antiques shop

Lassco’s cafe.

5. Stella Blunt – 75 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH

This shop is full of lovely vintage finds: 1950’s Formica tables, G-Plan, 60’s glasswear, handpicked curios, art deco mirrors, Victorian kitchen tables.

Stella Blunt vintage and antiques shop

Stella Blunt

6. Kempton antiques market – Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ

A sprawling mass of antique market stalls. Go prepared with a keen eye, car/van, comfortable shoes and stamina.

7. Bleu – 327 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London, SE23 0JN

Mid-century and modern vintage furniture and lighting.

8. Barn Antiques Centre – Station Road, Long Marston, Warks, CV37 8RP

This is near my mother-in-law’s house and it’s a huge barn divided into smaller sections filled to the brim with all sorts of affordable antiques.

9. Vintage Heaven – 82 Columbia Road, London, E2 7QB

Based on Columbia Road I love popping in here whenever I go to the flower market. Overflowing with vintage china, pottery and glass wear.

Vintage Heaven Columbia Road vintage and antiques shop

Vintage Heaven

10. Crystal Palace Antiques – Junction of Westow Hill & Jasper Road, London, SE19 1SH

Four floors of antiques and vintage finds.

11. Two Columbia Road – 2 Columbia Road, London, E2 7NN

Mid-century heaven!

12. Eltham Palace Art Deco fair – Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE

The Art Deco fair happens here twice a year and the Great Tudor Hall is filled with beautiful Art Deco pieces as well as a marquee. Well worth a visit as you can see the Art Deco house and beautiful gardens at the same time.

13. Northcote Road Antiques Market – 155a Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QB

This is a bit of a tardis as it opens up into different sections run by different dealers. There’s also Braemar’s just up the street.

Northcote Road Antiques Market

Northcote Road Antiques Market

14. Modern Shows – various locations around London

These fairs show case the best of mid-century and modern vinatge design. This October they head East to the recently refurbished Grade II listed Haggerston School, Erno Goldfinger’s only secondary built between 1964 and ’65. Buy tickets in advance or on the door.

15. The Modern Movement at Brockwell Lido – Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA

For the last six years the recently refurbished 1930’s lido at Brockwell Park has hosted the Modern Movement. Sellers bring their mid-century furniture and sell it around the pool. Pop into the cafe there, too.

Brockwell Lido modern movement

Brockwell Lido Modern Movement

15. Home Barn – Wilton Farm, Marlow Road, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3RR

A gorgeous barn filled with vintage and rustic pieces. A really lovely place to visit.

Home Barn antiques and vintage shop

Home Barn

16. RE-found objects – Bishops Yard, Main Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5LA

If you can’t visit here, make sure you check out the online shop. A collection of vintage pieces that you won’t be able to resist.

RE found objects

RE-found objects

17. Tower Bridge Antiques – 71 Tanner Street, London, SE1 3PL

Reasonably priced antique furniture. Can take a bit of effort finding the gems here but there are definitely some to be found.

18. Camden Passage – Islington, London, N1 8EF

This collection of vintage and antique shops, along a cobbled pedestrianised street, is the perfect weekend visit.

19. Arch 389 – Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN

An arch under a railway filled with retro furniture and knick knacks. Good for a dig around.

20. Cobbled Yard Vintage Store – 1 Bouverie Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AH

A rough collection of Victorian, retro and industrial furniture – hunting is required here!

 

Please, please, please leave your favourite antiques shop, market or fair in the comments section (no matter where you are from) – would be AMAZING to build up a personally recommended directory! x

 

Top 10 wallpapers

I often get asked the same questions over and over again in relation to interior design: Where are the best antique shops?  Can you recommend paint colours? Where can I buy an original lampshade? What floor shall I lay? Can you help me choose tiles?

One of the most frequents questions is about wallpaper. There are millions of wallpapers out there and it can be quite a bold design statement so I think people feel nervous about making the choice. Wallpaper can also be expensive, as well as a job to hang, so you don’t want to get it wrong.

Personally, I have never, ever used wallpaper and I can not wait to experiment with it when we no longer live in a new build flat, where neutral is always best for re-sale purposes (boring!). However, that has not stopped me from making a mental list of my favourite papers that I would like to share with you today (in no particular order)…

Top 10 wallpapers Mini Moderns Whitby wallpaper washed denim

I am in LOVE with everything Mini Moderns and this Whitby wallpaper is definitely near the top of my list. This is also available in a Lido blue.

Top 10 wallpapers Lorna Syson Flock Sunrise

I featured this Lorna Syson print in a previous post when I used the fabric to re-upholster a seat pad. I really like the retro edge of this Flock Sunrise print, especially in wallpaper form.

Josef Frank wallpaper

Oh yes. This 1940 Josef Frank design, Varklockor, is just beautiful.

Top 10 wallpapers Abigail Borg Polka Polka

This has been a firm favourite of mine for quite some time. I’ve got the cushions, and now I would like a whole room in this Polka Polka wallpaper by Abigail Borg. The rich, deep colours and bold print is timeless.

Top 10 wallpapers farrow and Ball Orangerie

Something a bit more classical from Farrow and Ball. The complementary paint sets this off perfectly.

Top 10 wallpapers Graham and Brown Hemingway Do the Stretch

What about this Do the Stretch print from Graham and Brown Hemingway? Combined with mid-century teak furniture – perfect surely?

Top 10 wallpaper Cath Kidston Woodstock Rose

Apparently, this Cath Kidston Woodstock Rose wallpaper was inspired by the fact that it was used to paper a lot of the stores and the customers always asked if they could buy it. I can’t say I am a massive fan of the average Cath Kidston print, but I adore colours and genuine vintage feel of this paper.

Sometimes the classics are the best: William Morris Limestone/Artichoke.

Top 10 wallpapers Rachel Powell Woodstock

I really like the overall effect of this small print and how it changes according to how close you are standing to it. Rachel Powell has many great designs, not only this Woodstock paper.

Top 10 wallpapers Sanderson Wrappings wallpaper

If I could recreate this whole look in my own home I would be ecstatic. I think this has got to be my number one favourite! Sanderson’s collection of 1950’s inspired prints are inspired and this Wrappings paper is the best!

So, there you go, my round up of my current favourite wallpapers – have you discovered any great designs that you’d like to share? Please leave a link in the comments section.

Perhaps I’ll tackle the best vintage/antique shops in London question next! I hope you all have a great weekend x

 

 

Design classics – yes please!

An interiors magazine did a photo shoot for a feature about my flat this week. I had to make a list of where I have sourced my furniture from and I realised that there are only about five pieces that I have bought from new. Also, the things I have bought second-hand are all very cheap. Surely, this means I can buy some new furniture with no guilt…

Ercol loveseat

I have wanted this Ercol loveseat for sooooo long. Wouldn’t it be perfect in a hallway? Or in a kitchen? Heal’s is currently selling new editions but you can also get them from eBay a lot cheaper.

Vintage enamel topped kitchen table

I love anything that is enamelled, especially enamel topped tables. Could be used in the kitchen or even as a dressing table in a bedroom. Buy at bargain prices on eBay.

Vintage chapel chairs

These chapel chairs (called this as they originally held bibles and prayer books in churches) make such sweet dining chairs. Want! Again, buy cheaply on eBay.

Anthropologie tufted filigree rug

A pretty rug I have my eye on for our bedroom – add to floorboards with an iron bedstead and vintage quilt. This rug is being sold in Anthropologie.

G-Plan Danish retro teak coffee table

I’ve been thinking about a new coffee table and I’ve always liked this G-Plan one. Again, buy on eBay for a good price.

Vintage stripy deck chair

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pair of proper vintage stripy deck chairs? Yes, please.

1940's enamel bread bin

Labour and Wait is one of my favourite shops and I like this 1940’s steel bread bin very much. You can also get an original from the brilliant A Rum Fellow.

Japanese enamel tea pot

This is also from Labour and Wait. Oh yes.

It is my birthday soon so you never know x

 

Ikea kitchen storage solutions

What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought at IKEA? The next time you venture there, all you need to buy are these four items, which have helped me transform my kitchen storage issues:

1. BYGEL rail £2.

Attaching these rails to my pots and pans cupboard door to hold lids has stopped me screaming every time I open it. I can now find the right lid for the right pan. Do it, if you haven’t already.

2. VARIERA shelf insert £2.

These little shelves have doubled my cupboard capacity. Is it going too far to say they have changed my life?! You NEED to get these.

3. BEKVAM spice rack £3.

Attaching these spice racks to the inside of your food cupboard doors adds so much extra storage. They also makes things easier to see.

4. KNUFF magazine files £6.75.

Screwing these to the inside of kitchen cupboards adds space to store more bulky items like chopping boards, cleaning products etc.

I know this post is a bit dull (and I promise it is not sponsored by Ikea) but adding these items to my kitchen cupboards really has made a difference. Just wanted to share the storage love…

Katy x

 

Jelly moulds

When I was a child I had the most amazing birthday parties. Highlights were the games, the novelty cake my mum always made (the Care Bear one was my favourite) and the rabbit shaped jelly. We had a burgundy plastic rabbit-shaped jelly mould that I have always remembered. Anyhoo, I’m getting off the point.

The point is I love a jelly mould. The more vintage, the better. When I came across these jelly mould hanging planters from Angus and Celeste I was at the ready with my bank card. However, I realised they were very expensive and the company is based in Australia and the shipping alone was going to cost $45! I just couldn’t justify spending that much on a hanging planter – although I would happily accept it as a present (Jules, I hope you’re reading this).

So, feeling inspired, I am going to try to make my own next week, but I want to show you the original, just in case you are feeling richer than I am…

Angus and Celeste Hanging jelly mould planter collection

Angus and Celeste Hanging jelly mould planter white

Angus and Celeste Hanging jelly mould planter green

Angus and Celeste Hanging jelly mould planter blue

Angus and Celeste Hanging jelly mould planter pink

Angus and Celeste hanging jelly mould planters

Angus and Celeste hanging jelly mould planters cream

If anyone can tell me why jelly is traditionally made in the shape of a rabbit, please let me know!