Indie of the Week #13: B&T Antiques

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French-born antique dealer Bernadette Lewis has been involved in the trade for more than 40 years. Through her shop B&T Antiques in west London she sources French mirrors and glamorous Art Deco mirrored furniture, as well as other period pieces such as 1950s Scandinavian furniture. After twenty years in Notting Hill, the shop has cult status in the area and a loyal following.
Who are you? Bernadette Lewis of B&T Antiques
Where can we find you? 118 Talbot Road, London W11 1JR (020 7229 7001) www.bntantiques.co.uk
Describe your store in five words: French, eclectic, different, original, welcoming.
What makes you different? I source all my antiques myself and then put everything together in my showroom, mixing period and vintage pieces. Ever changing stock makes frequent visits a must and original window displays attract people day and night.
How you decide what makes the cut? I have been collecting and dealing in antiques for over 40 years and I follow my taste, my eye and gut feeling.
What were you doing before you did this? Bringing up kids and living in both Paris and London, but I have always collected and dealt in antique furnishings.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Always be curious and stay enthusiastic.
What are you most proud of? That my clients have remained loyal, have followed my evolution and keep coming back after all these year and also bring with them a younger generation of inspired customers.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Not really as I only buy things that interest me.
What's hot for 2013? Colour as opposed to muted tones. I've just bought a gorgeous red leather sofa by Borge Morgensen.
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

Interview: Stephen & Flo Bayley

The March issue of The London Magazine is out, a bit of news I'm particularly interested in as inside is my interview with Stephen and Flo Bayley at their fab home in South London. Read the full article here.

The stunning photographs are by Andreas von Einsiedel. 

The plane was a present from Flo to aviation-fan Stephen, she found it in a junk shop.

The plane was a present from Flo to aviation-fan Stephen, she found it in a junk shop.

Stephen and Flo Bayley at their dining table and behind them the open shelves which are a feature around the house. 

Stephen and Flo Bayley at their dining table and behind them the open shelves which are a feature around the house. 

A beautiful arrangement of pictures and objects in the couple's bedroom.

A beautiful arrangement of pictures and objects in the couple's bedroom.

​Flo's collection of ebony hand mirrors in the bathroom

​Flo's collection of ebony hand mirrors in the bathroom

​French hydrographic surveys of lakes which Stephen found and had framed.

​French hydrographic surveys of lakes which Stephen found and had framed.

​"I find the real French antiques terribly depressing, but I think their brocante is lovely", says Flo. 

​"I find the real French antiques terribly depressing, but I think their brocante is lovely", says Flo. 

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[Indie of the Week #12: The Lollipop Shoppe]

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*************** PLEASE SEE COMMENTS THREAD BELOW ******************* 
If you are looking for an injection of sleek, contemporary design then this place is your go-to destination. Located on the edge of Spitalfields Market it's part shop and part shrine to the Modern aesthetic. The collection is edited with a discerning eye and ranges from classics, by manufacturers such as Vitra, Knoll and Fritz Hansen, to up and coming designers. Enjoy the visual feast, but be mindful that a stool can cost nearly £400 here. 
Who are you? Marco Di Rienzo of The Lollipop Shoppe.
Where can we find you? www.thelollipopshoppe.co.uk; 10 Lamb Street, London E1 6EA.
Describe your store in five words: Style. Design. Art. Evolving. Exciting.
What makes you different? Exclusive product lines, inclusive customer/product interaction and straight up honest advice when it comes to large furniture purchases. 
How do you decide what makes the cut? Aesthetics. Function.
What were you doing before you did this? Working in the energy markets.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Only focus on what you are doing and where you want to go. 
What are you most proud of? My twins.
Do you have a favourite thing in store right now? Re-Turned birds by Discipline.
What’s hot for 2013? New ranges from Hay and Discipline. 
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

Let the sky fall

Some property porn from Florida for you today.

These pictures are of a new collection of 26 super-luxe homes which will sit on top of, and next to a, refurbished 1950s hotel in Miami Beach. Designed by minimalist architect John Pawson, The Residence at The Miami Beach EDITION are off-the-scale luxury homes with vast ocean views, private lap pools, outdoor kitchens and access to the concierge services of the hotel. 

The project is the brainchild of the hotelier Ian Schrager (of Studio 54 fame) who brought the glitzy Delano Hotel to South Beach, Miami in 1996. Back then he was partnered with designer Philippe Starck and together they pretty much invented the nineties trend for the 'boutique hotel' with places like the Mondrian in LA and the St Martin's Lane Hotel in London. These were hotel lobbies you remembered walking into - and that was the whole point, they were design with a capital D. 

Fast-forward to 2013 and things have changed a bit, as have the clientele. Today he's catering to a new breed of super-rich globetrotter with highly sophisticated tastes and expectations. Schrager has hooked up with Pawson, whose style is the exact opposite of look-at-me design, to create a kind of home/hotel. It comes fully kitted out (right down to linens, dishes and towels) and has all the amenities of hotel (someone else to do all the drudge work), but you actually own it.  

It's the sort of thing you might like to purchase with the spare change from your superyacht. The cost? Pah! If you have to ask . . . 

Indie of the Week #11: Life@Nettlebed

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To the country this week and the Oxfordshire borders where just outside Henley you will find this delightfully unexpected interiors shop. Located in a converted church hall with vintage chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling Life@Nettlebed is a glamorous outpost nestled deep in the English countryside. Most of the items are sourced from Europe, the owners buy from Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Sweden. It has a sort of Country Life meets Richard Curtis's Notting Hill vibe with a cafe and deli, The Field Kitchen, functioning post office and village shop next door. 
Who are you? Sue Beales & Karen D’Arcy of Life@Nettlebed
Where can we find you? Church Hall, High Street, Nettlebed, Oxon, RG9 5DA (01491 642062) www.lifeatnettlebed.co.uk
Describe your store in five words: Glamorous, Eccentric, Individual, Unique, Inspiring
What makes you different? Scale of furniture and mix of styles, from large pieces of bleached oak furniture and giant chandeliers to bespoke hand dyed silk velvet cushions and antler footstools. Our services range from interior design, upholstery and paint consultations to styling events and property staging.
How you decide what makes the cut? Instinct - we look for things that excite and inspire us, hopefully they will inspire our clients too.
What were you doing before you did this? Karen was doing graphic design and property development, Sue was involved with IT sales in Europe.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Don’t expect too much too soon, it takes a long time and a huge effort to establish a following. Be open to change as your business will evolve, and get used to the sleepless nights.
What are you most proud of? Our beautiful new premises in a newly restored church hall and the way we have grown our business organically, on our own terms, over the last eight years. We always manage to achieve the ‘wow’ factor – customers walk in and say “what an amazing shop”.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? The 6ft wide vintage French bed which we have restored using Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe and re-upholstered in a soft grey French linen.
What's hot for 2013? Mateus ceramics, especially their butterfly plates and bowls, painted by hand, beautiful pastel shades, definitely raspberry for this year.

Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

Monday blues-buster

Design for good.

Ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight (25th February - 12th March) comes this interesting project by children's book author and illustrator Chris Haughton who wrote 'A Bit Lost', featuring the owl, above left.

The idea behind Node Rugs is to connect a network of groovy designers and artists with traditional Nepalese carpet makers to create beautiful handmade rugs. Here's a short video showing how it all happens.

I like the premise because it acknowledges the fact that people want to do the right thing (fair trade), but maybe don't want to buy something that looks like it was picked up on a gap year. These ones definitely don't... and have been created by designers such as Marimekko illustrator Sanna Annukka and textile star Donna Wilson. 

The rugs will be exhibited at '18 rugs x 18 artists' at the Design Museum in March, for more info click here. 

Indie of the Week #10: Roost Living

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Flying the flag for Britain is Laura Binns of Roost Living, born in England but brought up in Australia, she only sells things that have been designed and made here. Passionate about craft and interiors she has been supporting British designer/makers, such as Nadia Sparham and Rory Dobner, through her online shop for the past six years. 
Who are you? I’m Laura Binns from Roost Living, a curated collection of homeware designed and made in the UK.
Where can we find you? Online at www.roostliving.com; Twitter; Facebook; Pinterest.
Describe your store in five words: Beautiful handmade products for the home
What makes you different? The selection of products is out of the ordinary, it brings together some of the best designer makers in the UK plus a few more up and coming ones too.  Many of the products are designed exclusively for Roost Living so you won’t find them anywhere else.
How you decide what makes the cut? It has to be beautiful and it has to be made in the UK.
What were you doing before you did this? I was a PA, so completely different – but always working in the creative industries.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Plan Plan Plan!  I think I went into it all a little blind and without a grand plan. But with planning comes vision and direction, I’ve learnt that now.
What are you most proud of? I feel very proud whenever there is great press. It always makes me stop and think wow, here is this thing that I have created, and the press think it’s pretty good. That is a great feeling.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Has to be Fliff’s Golden Hare Butter Dish and Sugar Bowl – elegant, but a bit quirky at the same time. 
What's hot for 2013? Great designers coming up including Tori Murphy, Richard Brendon’s Reflect cups and saucers, plus more great designers yet to be revealed... watch this space.

 

Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

Monday blues-buster

Delighted by the news that the BAFTA for visual effects went to Life Of Pi. Saw this in 3D last month and it was mind blowing. With its lush colours and wildly imagined digital scenes featuring humpback whales, schools of shimmering fish and a Benga…

Delighted by the news that the BAFTA for visual effects went to Life Of Pi. Saw this in 3D last month and it was mind blowing. With its lush colours and wildly imagined digital scenes featuring humpback whales, schools of shimmering fish and a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker it's the perfect antidote to the gloomier months. If you still haven't seen it... go (we'll talk about the ending later).

Indie of the Week #9: The Mint List

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The Mint List is furrowing a path to interestingness on the internet. If you are looking for something a bit different you will certainly find it here. Since September 2012, Camilla Kelly has been selling items on behalf of eccentric antique dealers, and carpenters working out of barns in Wales, who might otherwise not be seen online. "It has quite a tailored feel to it," she says, with some understatement, of the items which range from tables to taxidermy. Yep, those are squirrel lights (see below).
Who are you? Camilla Kelly, of The Mint List.
Where can we find you? Online www.themintlist.com; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest
Describe your store in five words: handpicked, offbeat, unusual, original homewares.
What makes you different? Quality control. Every single one of our pieces is unusual, hard-to-find and in most cases unique, but even though each of our items has stand-out appeal, they all sit together well as a one strikingly eclectic collection. When you buy something from us it's a certainty you're friends are going to ask where you got it from. We've put in the hard work finding independent sellers offering hard-to-find vintage, antique and designer finds so that style enthusiasts can now shop online from one well-curated, easy to use website. We also do wedding gift lists and couples can spend their gift money by shopping directly with our artists, antique shops and design studios so because of this our partners [sellers] are not solely vetted on their creative credentials - we make sure they're lovely people too.
How do you decide what makes the cut? It's hard to say exactly what draws me to products we sell. Having grown up in the antiques industry, I have a genuine love of all things antique and vintage and I think that reflects in the pieces.  I want to emulate the joy that you get from stumbling across a wonderfully stylish item in a french flea market, a salvage yard or an unknown artist's gallery; that excitement of knowing you've found a real gem that you can't wait to take home. Every item that goes on the site should evoke that feeling, whether it be an artwork a china plate or a piece of furniture.
What were you doing before you did this? I worked in advertising, specifically commercial TV production. 
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Slow down, not everything needs to happen all at once. Make sure you get one thing working properly before you move on the next.
What are you most proud of? All of our partners [sellers] have something completely original to bring the the site and I'm proud to have found such an incredible collection of creative individuals.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? I think it would have to be Daniel Heath's antique mirrors etched with hand-drawn imagery of birds and foliage. These can be inscribed with personal messages or dates. So romantic.
What's hot for 2013? Bold, colourful design pieces like Melanie Porter's upcycled, vintage cinema seats reupholstered with brightly coloured knitted wools - seriously cool and incredibly cheerful too. If you had these in your home you couldn't help smiling all day long.

Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

Monday blues-buster

All photographs by Michael Franke

All photographs by Michael Franke

I love it when something just jumps out at you like Christopher Jenner's design for perfumer Penhaligon's store on Regent Street. It's a kaleidoscopic blast of jewel-like colours and geometric madness. Done in the designer's signature pointillist style, and inspired by the Aesthetic Movement, it's a rare instance, for me anyway, where more really is more. 

Check out this great little high-speed film about London architecture which I found on his website - this guy sees patterns everywhere.

Indie of the Week #8: Papa Stour

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Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

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Former London interiors stylist Rosie Brown has been championing the work of Scottish designers and makers for the past eight years. She set up Papa Stour - an online showcase for local craftsmen - after moving back to Scotland to sort out her work/life balance. It's the kind of company the internet was made for, giving these products an audience way beyond national borders. Brown has also refurbished, and rents, a holiday cottage called Callakille so you can live out your Highland fantasy, if only for a week.
Who are you? Rosie Brown of Papa Stour
Where can we find you? Online at www.papastour.com
Describe your store in five words: finest contemporary scottish craft & design
What makes you different? Papa Stour is a curated collection of work by designer/ makers based in Scotland. We like people to think about how they source homeware and gifts and we offer beautiful handcrafted work at affordable prices.
How do you decide what makes the cut? Our artists are often Art School graduates based in their own studios all around Scotland, they produce fresh designs and a quality product which we feel shows off the finest of Scottish design. Our Collections show pieces which we believe would look fabulous in any home.
What were you doing before you did this? I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone Art School (Printed Textiles) and Glasgow School of Art (MA). I was then a freelance stylist based in London working with interiors editors at magazine such as Elle Deco and Living etc. I loved London, but returned home to Scotland to get the right work/life balance.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Planning is all important, make a date to regularly review how you are doing. It's too easy to focus on what you are doing and not how you are doing it - take a step back and you'll get lots new ideas.
What are you most proud of? I set up Papa Stour in 2005, and it has continued to grow from 20 artists (many of whom are still with us) to over 60. We are proud to support them and delighted when we can get them national and international press coverage and awareness. We're also proud to get mentions such as The Sunday Times Style section saying we are one of the online retailers: "revolutionising the way we kit out our homes".
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Ooh... a luxurious handmade suede Kindle case which is handcrafted using local leather and lined with charcoal coloured felt. It's fun because it's embroidered with a graphic embroidery motifs in sign language to spell out the word B -O - O - K.
What's hot for 2013? We love the fresh colour in Yoke's bright prints such as Hello Sunshine, the ethereal quality of Elin's hand blown glass work and Sharon's beautiful wooden Key Hooks which are sculpted using the shape of the wood so each is unique and unusual. 

Indie of the Week #7: Ben Pentreath

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Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

 

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Ben Pentreath is an architectural designer who set up his eponymous shop just off Lamb's Conduit Street, in Bloomsbury, in 2008, with his friend the decorative artist Bridie Hall. The pair sell well designed, beautiful and often quite unusual things that are not easily found elsewhere. They also run an interior design service and last year Ben published this book. 
Who are you? Bridie Hall, Creative Director of Ben Pentreath Ltd
Where can we find you? Ben Pentreath Ltd, 17 Rugby Street, London WC1N 3QT; 020 7430 2526; www.benpentreath.com; Facebook; Twitter
Describe your store in five words: Good things for the home.
What makes you different? We only stock what we would like to own ourselves, and normally do own ourselves.
How you decide what makes the cut? Whether or not we could live with it ourselves.
What were you doing before you did this? I was a specialist painter.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Be confident in what you are doing and just get on with it!
What are you most proud of? The reaction we get from customers who are fans of what we do.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? The Tiny Trays by The John Derian Company.

Take six things

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Put them together and you've got a drawing machine. Wind it up and this little doodlebug rolls around making swirling patterns as it goes. It's a cheerful companion and an essential piece of kit for the professional procrastinator. It's made by Ed for his company All Lovely Stuff. 

Indie of the Week #6: The Hambledon

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Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.

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The Hambledon has been described as Winchester's answer to Liberty and it's easy to see why. This urban outpost is a haven of highly covetable homeware, beauty products and fashion which have been hand-picked to fit a certain aesthetic and customer. It's the kind of place where people don't just like it, they love it.
Who are you? Victoria Suffield, owner of The Hambledon.
Where can we find you? 10 The Square, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9ES and online www.thehambledon.com

Describe your store in five words: Friendly, varied, inventive, funny and serious.

What makes you different? We're sort of ploughing our own furrow. We're a bit like a department store but we just sell what we like. We're obsessive about the look of shop. And we're very enthusiastic.
How you decide what makes the cut? We have to really love something. And we like to have an imaginary mood board for the season when we start buying. We then try to shoe horn things to fit our mental image. Spring is all about soft colour with flashes of neon. 
What were you doing before you did this? My mum has always had a shop (The Hambledon Gallery, Dorset) so I was brought up with retail. I've worked as an art dealer, for a film company and had a mail order business but there is nothing better than good old fashioned shop keeping.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Try not to fret, don't procrastinate and buy the bloody building.
What are you most proud of? Most of the time I'm pretty proud of the shop as a whole and I work with the most lovely, lovely group of people. It's not really for me to be proud of them but I am! And we're still here, 13 years later.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Womenswear for Spring is just being delivered and it's very, very pretty. We're all looking at quite hefty personal orders!
What's hot for 2013? I'm loving new paper cups and plates from France- geometric designs and subtle colours. Roll on the grown-up party.

Indie of the Week #5: Solid ID

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Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store?  I'd love to hear from you.
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I stumbled across Solid ID at Design Junction last September when my eye was caught by the fabulous anchor light shown above. It just seemed a really fun and playful way to show what you can create through the re-use of materials and the re-imagining of what things could be. Perhaps I should have guessed there was a Dutchman behind it (I'm married to one) as they are known for their ebullient approach to design/life. Eelke Jan Bles is from The Netherlands, but now lives in Spitalfields, and Solid ID is his quirky shop on London's Fulham Road. 
Who are you? Eelke Jan Bles of Solid ID.
How can we find you? 273 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9PZ, online Solid ID, or on Pinterest.
Describe your store in five words: Off-beat goods for the home.
What makes you different? We source and curate our collection of individually designed items with care and a quirky eye.
How you decide what makes the cut? The main proposition is: we only sell what we like and or would have in our own homes. As long as items sit well together, being old or new does not matter, they just need to talk the same language.
What were you doing before you did this? I started my professional career as an interiors and food photographer. I own bespoke floor company Solid Floor and I also work as an interior designer and am very passionate about contemporary art.  Solid ID is a natural progression of what I have done previously.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? To have more patience and to be bolder.
What are you most proud of? The bestselling items in the store have been those we have individually designed or re-worked ourselves: the flower cage lamp, the hand painted storage jars and the resin topped butcher tables. It’s really gratifying to see that these pieces have had such a resonance with our customers.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Vintage butcher tables with cool resin tops.
What's hot for 2013? Vintage re-invented with a bit of colour. Heritage pieces paint dipped and re-worked to suit a modern interior.