DUST off heirlooms, take doors off cupboards and scour junk markets for a fun take on home decoration
Here's some good news for all you bargain hunters – it's the season for outdoor markets and car boot sales. It seems that, now that the weather is warm enough for us to be happy to linger outside, stallholders are assembling their trestle tables in e
very green space or carpark. However, it can be bamboozling to see so much lovely "stuff" laid out.
If you went to the Meadows Festival in the capital earlier this month, you'll know what I mean. So, if you want to confidently wade into the fray of ornaments, knick-knacks and bric-a-brac, then first of all arm yourself with a carrier bag, a pocketful of loose change and a copy of a new book – Bazaar Style by interior stylist Selina Lake, journalist Joanna Simmons and photographer Debi Treloar.
At a time when we're all a bit strapped for cash and worried about being environmentally friendly, buying secondhand objects to get this look is almost guilt-free. But, if you're used to 1990s minimalism, then the spaces pictured in Bazaar Style may seem untidy to you. Look closer at the photographs and you'll find it's an artful, considered clutter. For example, a collection of ceramic salt and pepper pots and china money boxes on curvy, contemporary shelves, with a bright-orange background, may look random at first. But, on further examination you'll see the way the pieces work together; the bright shades of the objects echoing the colour of the wall, with the faces on many of the ornaments creating an idiosyncratic little crowd scene.
"I love this kind of thing," says Lake, an interiors stylist for Marie Claire and Real Homes magazine, among others. "I'm a big fan of open shelves that show off a montage of collections, like brightly coloured mugs and tins."
In Britain, we're prolific collectors. "When it comes to displaying your collectables, play around with the objects you have, trying out different groupings until you find a mix that pleases," says Simmons, a contributing editor for Living etc magazine." One of the delights of bazaar style rests in giving unusual pieces a centre-stage position: in teaming the conventional with the curious, the simple with the ornate. Theming your displays can help. Glass bottles and vases, metal tins and pots, black-and-white pieces – the possibilities are endless."
Some people may think it's nerdy but, if you've got a collection of egg-cups, postcards, perfume bottles or memorabilia, the book advocates displaying them proudly. Take the doors off your cupboards and show off what's hiding in there. It might mean you have to pay attention to storage areas that were previously a little messy but, hopefully, the visual impact will be worth it.
Lake's favourite images in the book are the close-up shots of three kitchen cupboards (with no doors, natch). Inside one there's a Japan-meets-Morocco influence, with a jade-coloured Buddha and temple, surrounded by pretty tea glasses in pastel hues and a metallic green lantern.
Another has a display of granny-chic canisters, illustrated with images of birds perching on branches – exactly the kind of item you might find at a flea market.
Or, rather than amassing more stuff, you can air the heirlooms that you've previously kept in a cupboard or photo album.
"This look is very personal and it's about what you love," says Lake, "So, get out your family pieces and display your souvenirs."
It doesn't have to be overly busy either. In one simple, modernist room, a glass coffee table is decorated with a pair of colourful vases, glass ornaments and, surprisingly, a couple of wooden skittles.
However, perhaps ornaments aren't what floats your boat and, instead, your imagination is captured by vintage fashion. No matter, because, "it's all about expressing your personality", says Lake. So, if you're into clothes, then the book showcases a surprising number of ways to show off your collections.
In one image, precious shoes and handbags are reverently stored on open shelves – a look reminiscent of an art installation.
In another, cute eco bags with clashing patterns hang from coat hooks in a living room and, in a bedroom, a selection of vintage dresses with bows, frills, tiers and beading are hung at different heights all over a plain, white wall.
Perhaps the most memorable picture is of a fabulous, canary-yellow 1930s-style gown hung above an acid-coloured PVC couch. "That's lots of people's favourite," says Lake. "It's the living room of a fashion designer called Julia Clancey, and that's one of her feather-fringed dress designs hanging on the wall." It's uncompromisingly loud in its use of colour – a pink paisley-print throw and red cushions give it even more clashing confidence.
That room is definitely not to everyone's taste but then, that's the whole point. It's been designed to speak volumes about the owner of the house's personality, and nobody else's. When researching the book, Lake had to track down the type of person whom she thought might have the right kind of house to feature in Bazaar Style. She discovered, as you might expect, that artistic types often have flamboyant houses that reflect their characters.
"The real work for the book was in sourcing the houses," says Lake. "I approached people with creative businesses, who I thought might have a nice home. The main houses featured in the book are owned by people who run a fabulous shop in London called The Cross. One of their rooms is shown on the front cover – it has amazing oversized cushions."
The book also features the homes of interior and fashion designers, artists, and the owners of the old-fashioned sweet company, Hope & Greenwood.
Still, don't be disheartened if you're an accountant. Perhaps there might be an exuberant sense of fun underneath your suited exterior. If you think there is, then get down to your nearest market stall this summer and choose pieces that grab your imagination. First of all, heed Lake's advice: "Just make sure that if you see something you love, you buy it right away," she says. "If you leave it, someone else is sure to nab it and you'll definitely regret it." sm
• Bazaar Style is available for the special price of £16.99 including postage & packaging (rrp £18.99). Tel: Macmillan Direct 01256 302 699 and quote the reference GLR U04. Visit
www.rylandpeters.comThe full article contains 1087 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
