Coffee Pot love

I have a confession to make: I'm ever so slightly obessed with retro coffee pots.

It started with a trip to Pop Boutique in Manchester. I resisited The Want for everything as usual, trying to stay focused on only buying something I really really liked, and I saw this:

I think it was the shine of the chrome, the sleekness of the design, and the fact that I could carry it back home to London (couldn't say that about the amazing G-Plan dresser it was sat on. As much as I had The Want for that, there was no way ot was going in my suitcase). Very pleased with myself, i paid my £8 (bargain!), and left.

Then there was the time I was in Mitcham (random yes, but there's a good concentration of charity shops, and I can get the tram there. Genius), when I saw this amongst the tat:

My heart swooned. It's so amazingly retro and the pattern reminded me of the old 1970's curtains in the house I grew up in (it was the '80's, but still...)


I was sure I'd seen that pattern before, so i looked at the base which told me it was a Hornsea Herloom piece. On to Ebay I went to find matching pieces, and that I did. But I also saw more, and more and more reto coffee posts - chrome, ceramic, '50's, 60's, 70's ...and my obsession was in full swing. The latest is this beauty from Germany. Check out those flowers!

So yes, I am obsessed. Ironic really as I don't even drink coffee....

The Joy of Charity Shops: Oslo style

Myself and The Boy went on a weekend break to Oslo recently; it's a great city with my favourite combination of good shops, good bars and a good vibe. I spent a lot of time gawping at the beautiful traditional wood houses painted in red, blue or white and the ornate city buildings...but me being me, I was most excited by the chartity/vintage shopping. I'd done some reading before we left and knew the best area was Grunerlokka. Luckily for The Boy, there were plenty of cafes to sit in, as his usual waiting outside the shop routine was out of the question when the average temperature is minus 5 degrees.

I saw lots of lovely things, but the best store was Fretex Unika - a part of Salvation Army Norway. Lots of good stuff, not cheap (but nothing is in Oslo. And i mean nothing), but it is well worth a visit.

I got these beauties; a gorgeous pale grey leather 1970's handbag and a pair of red leather gloves with a furry lining. Very pleased with myself. Well, I was until I got my credit card bill...

The Old Suitcase - updated

Here's my lovely old suitcase again - this time, i updated it with a (much needed) re-lining of the bottom section.

I know, I know, it's the Orla Kiely wallpaper again! But i have loads left and i'm detirmined to make good use of it.

Good no?

I made this! Perpetual calendar

I made the mistake of going to Aria and Twenty Twenty One just after new year; two amazing furniture/decor shops in Islington that gave me a bad case of 'The Want' for everything in there.

Mmmm...Eames rocker (or the RAR, if we're being particular). I want.

Luckily (I guess) most things are so expensive it would involve a re-mortgage to pay for it anyway, so actual temptation is limited.

However, i saw this little beauty. Its the Max 365 Calendar by NAVA. And I wanted - really wanted....but I couldn't justify. At £47 for something you'd use for years, it's not too expensive, but I had other pressing things to pay for (you know, bills and stuff), so i walked away.

But me being me, i decided it wouldn't be that hard to make my own version. And so I did. Not being a designer or in possesion of a printing press, it involved good old cutting and sticking, and some patience (try printing out and cutting out all those numbers. I nearly went mad).

And here it is - total cost approx £6. It's a bit 'homemade' looking, but that's what makes me love it so.

Nice, no?

The Old Suitcase

There's something about old suitcases. I love how they look, and i love to imagine where they've been - holidays with loved ones, weekends away, trips to remember, to forget - I really wish this one could speak. It is an Ebay find that i plan to use for storing my jewellery. I wonder who the initials belonged to....

I'm planning on re-lining the case to with new fabric or paper; hopefully giving it a new lease of life without taking away it's character. I'll keep you posted.

Inside: Mara and Justin's quirky character flat

Friends of mine recently invited me around to their new flat for brunch - Mara and Justin had moved in just before Christmas, and were just settling in. Mara had let me know that it was a little 'quirky' and full of character. I knew it was a good idea to take my camera...!

Located in Belsize Park (gorgeous area - gave me serious house envy), they live in an upstairs flat in a converted house. And what a house! Every nook and cranny was filled with visual delights - Mara and Justin have impeccable tatse that blends perfectly with the amazing original details of the property.

Lovely church pews make for a more interesting way to sit at the dining table.

Justin's record player.

Great light from the original leaded windows.

Justin's lithographs and some art owned by their landlady.

The kitchen might just have been my favourite area. I love old kitchens from the 50's and 60's. Not always the most practical, but they make me want to put on a pinny and bake a cake. This oven is to die for - and i've been told it works really well too.

Original William Morris wallpaper - sigh.

And to top it off, they live opposite the iconic Modernist Isokon building, home at one time to Agatha Christie and Marcel Breuer among others. What a view!

Oh - and the brunch was lovely too.

I made this! Fascinator 3

I've been at it again - here is another fascinator, here modelled by my gorgeous friend Claire. Beautiful, no?